Season 1 of Making Music: Writing and Editing
We’ve all been there - cycling through drum loops or synth presets, hoping to spark something.
If your DAW is your main instrument, that can be part of the process. But more often than not, real progress happens when you step away from the screen.
Season 1 of the music-making process is about writing and editing—just you and your instrument.
Why Step Away?
If you’re anything like me, endless choices often lead to endless indecision. Limiting your tools can sharpen your focus. Some of my best ideas—and even complete songs—have come simply from sitting with my guitar and refining ideas away from the screen.
Just give it a try.
Grab your instrument of choice.
Turn off your computer.
Focus on writing.
Use your phone’s voice memos to document ideas.
Don’t stress about everything being perfect from the start. The goal is to show up and capture inspiration in real time.
Edit With Intent
Once you’ve got a rough structure, don’t jump straight into producing. Spend time refining lyrics, melodies, chords, and arrangements. Personally, I’ve found it helpful to take a break - step away for a day and revisit the song with fresh ears and perspective.
Remember: writing is the core of your music.
If that isn’t solid, no mix or plugin will fix it.
Think of this season as sketching. You’re building the skeleton of a song before you dress it in sound.
Coming Up Next
In the next issue, we’ll talk about turning that skeleton into a living, breathing song—with scratch tracks and guide recordings.
What season are you in right now with your music? I’d genuinely love to hear how you approach things. Reply to this email and share your thoughts or feel free to reach out to me on the socials.
Wherever you are in your season, trust the process and keep making great music.
Until next time,
Billy
