Push Your Comfort Zones and Write an Album of Original Songs by February 29th, 2012

By February 29th—four weeks from today—you could have an album completed. Written, recorded, done.

During February Album Writing Month (FAWM), songwriters sprint to complete an album’s worth of original songs by the last day of February. It’s like Novel Writing Month for songwriters: a month-long marathon.

FAWM’s great for songwriters who need a shot of adrenaline. If you’ve found yourself stuck, creatively blocked, overly perfectionistic, or otherwise holding yourself back, here’s your chance. Jump in, get your hands dirty, and push your comfort zones.

Without a deadline it’s easy to procrastinate while songs stall and languish. FAWM gives you a deadline; it’s a bullwhip smartly applied to the buttocks.

C’mon, sign up. I dare you.

Here are some common objections to FAWM:

• I don’t have any ideas. There are plenty of songwriting prompts on this website, and the FAWM website offers ideas as well. We don’t join FAWM thinking “I know exactly what to write!” Instead it’s a commitment to find things to write about. Have faith and take the leap.
• I don’t have the time. A song every two days is a fast pace for some. If you’re tight on time, you might have to make sacrifices: take an extended absence from Twitter, temporarily nuke your Facebook account, throw your television out the window, stay up just a little later at night, get up just a little earlier in the morning. Need more ways to clear time in your calendar? I’ve got a post for that.
• I only write lyrics/I only compose music. Either is fine. Feel free to focus on your specialty, or to look for a fellow FAWMER to collaborate with.

The important thing to remember is that FAWM is all about process. It’s not about creating perfectly crafted work; it’s about taking songs from idea to execution quickly and completely.

Immersion teaches well, and FAWM will hone your songwriting skills by putting them into immediate action. Even better, though: you’ll learn what you’re capable of when you’re determined.

You have 29 days to write 14 and 1/2 songs. Go!