# 109 | Finding Inspiration as a Singer-Songwriter: The Work Before The Work Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/singer-songwriter-how-to-write-a-song-make-music-song-lyrics-music-theory-singing-lessons-6914560/109-finding-inspiration-as-a-singer-songwriter-the-work-before-the-work Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/singer-songwriter-how-to-write-a-song-make-music-song-lyrics-music-theory-singing-lessons-6914560/109-finding-inspiration-as-a-singer-songwriter-the-work-before-the-work.md Podcast: [Singer Songwriter | How to Write a Song, Make Music, Song Lyrics, Music Theory, Singing Lessons](https://stenobird.com/podcast/singer-songwriter-how-to-write-a-song-make-music-song-lyrics-music-theory-singing-lessons-6914560) Published: 2026-06-02T11:05:00+00:00 Episode link: https://reawakenyourvoice.podbean.com/e/findinginspiration/ Audio file: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/x4bdmt86zjq4yk3y/109_Finding_Inspiration_as_a_Singer-Songwriter_The_Work_Before_the_Workbv231.mp3 Processing state: not_requested JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/singer-songwriter-how-to-write-a-song-make-music-song-lyrics-music-theory-singing-lessons-6914560/episodes/109-finding-inspiration-as-a-singer-songwriter-the-work-before-the-work Duration seconds: 1304 ## Resource How do you find inspiration when you don't know what to create next? As singer-songwriters, we often assume we need a clear idea, a finished vision, or a specific project before we can begin creating. But what if inspiration doesn't come from thinking harder about what to make? What if it comes from paying attention? In this episode, we're exploring the work before the work — the often overlooked phase of the creative process where artists gather clues, follow curiosity, collect observations, and remain open to inspiration before a song, project, or creative vision fully reveals itself. I share some behind-the-scenes reflections from my own creative season of uncertainty, including revisiting unfinished songs, experimenting with new creative possibilities, and learning to trust the process before clarity arrives. We'll talk about: how to find inspiration as a singer-songwriter the creative season before clarity gathering creative clues and collecting ideas why inspiration often follows engagement, not the other way around living creatively with open eyes, open ears, and an open heart overcoming the pressure to have everything figured out trusting the creative process when you don't know what's next preparing the soil before the song emerges If you've been feeling stuck, uninspired, creatively restless, or unsure what project to pursue next, this episode offers a gentler approach: stay engaged, pay attention, and trust that something meaningful will emerge in its own time. <3 Lainey Next Steps: Join the Newsletter: reawakenyourvoice.com/insider Book a Coaching Session: reawakenyourvoice.com/coaching Visit the Website: reawakenyourvoice.com Write Me: hello@reawakenyourvoice.com ## Actions - request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/singer-songwriter-how-to-write-a-song-make-music-song-lyrics-music-theory-singing-lessons-6914560/episodes/109-finding-inspiration-as-a-singer-songwriter-the-work-before-the-work/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode. - read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/singer-songwriter-how-to-write-a-song-make-music-song-lyrics-music-theory-singing-lessons-6914560/109-finding-inspiration-as-a-singer-songwriter-the-work-before-the-work.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource. A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed. ## Transcript Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.