Everyone who's ever pursued a music career has days when they feel as if they're wasting their time. Here are some ways to stop focusing on the destination and embrace the journey to rediscover your joy and creativity.
Let's be honest—being a songwriter isn't easy. There are days when the rejections pile up, the co-writes fall flat, and the inspiration feels miles away.
Perhaps you've pitched a song you love and haven't heard back. Maybe you're questioning if your music even matters.
You're not alone. Every great songwriter—even the ones with Grammys—has faced these same moments. The key to surviving them is knowing how to stay motivated, even when everything in you wants to quit.
Here are some tried-and-true strategies to help you stay motivated when your music and artistry feel unappreciated.
Chances are, you didn't start writing songs for the sake of money or fame. Perhaps you started because:
Go back to that. Listen to the songs that inspired you. Revisit your early work, and notice how far you've come. Let that remind you: You can do this. You've done this. This is part of who you are, not just something you do.
When you measure success only in cut songs or streams, you'll always feel behind. Instead:
Success in music is a slow climb, and every small win counts.
Sometimes, pressure to "write a hit" is precisely what shuts creativity down. Give yourself permission to:
Letting go of pressure often brings joy and inspiration back.
Isolation kills motivation. Get out and spend time with other like-minded people and peers through:
Being around other songwriters reminds you you're not in this alone. Their struggles are yours. Their breakthroughs might be the spark you need.
Sometimes, a "quiet" period in your music journey is where growth happens:
Your downtime isn't wasted. It's the groundwork for your next breakthrough.
The truth? You may never know the full impact your songs have on others. But if they mean something to you, they'll mean something to someone else. Keep showing up. Keep writing. Keep going. The only way you truly fail is if you stop.
👉 At Country Demo Studio, we're here to support not just your sound, but your songwriting journey, whether you've written one song or 100. We believe in helping you keep the dream alive—one demo at a time. Feeling inspired? Let's turn your next song into something exciting! Scroll below to get started.