Inspiration for songs can come from the most random things and hit you at the strangest moments, but waiting for inspiration to hit before you get anything done can waste a lot of time. Use your past as inspiration to keep writing.
A journal is something that can really help with this. If you don't use one now is a good time to start. You don't need to write on a daily or even weekly basis. Just write about the events that effect you the most-that person you can't stop thinking about, your financial struggles, the drama at work, your friends sudden illness, etc. Keep a journal in which you write about those moments that evoke strong emotions in you.
Thinking about your past in a general sense can be less productive than focusing on specific emotions or moments. Use these prompts to help you develop ideas based on moments from your past.
-school fight
-a time you were really sick
-the first time you ever felt really guilty about something you did
-your first crush
-your first day at your first job
-an audition or interview you were nervous about
-your first date
-something you've always wanted to accomplish
-a nasty rumor someone spread about you
-a time you wanted to get revenge on someone who mistreated you
-a time someone assumed something negative about you
-a time you tried to impress someone who didn't like you
-your first bad grade or failed project
-a time you didn't get to do something you really wanted to do
-your first sexual experience
-the first concert you ever attended
-the first time you tried to write a song
-a bully that intimidated you
-a time you got in trouble at school
-an event that made you really late from something important
-a time you had to apologize for a big mistake
-a time your boss blamed you for something that wasn't your fault
-a time you blamed someone else for something you did
-something you said to someone that you've regretted ever since
-a moment you wish you could go back and change
-a moment that you feel defines who you are as a person
There are plenty of other moments you could use as inspiration, but hopefully this list at least got you thinking about some inspiring moments in your life. If nothing inspires you right now, look through a journal, a yearbook, or maybe even an old calendar. You might find something interesting.
~Eliza
