It’s time for a creative challenge: Each of us can come up with one “impossible thing.”
Where’d I get this wacky idea? From this blog post about boosting creativity. The thought is to stretch your imagination by coming up with “impossible things.”
So, I’m thinking we can all take a minute today, stretch our creative muscle, and come up with an impossible thing or two. Something that’s not out there. Something impossible…
Ok?
Ready!
And….
…Stretch!!!
Pic by Desiree Delgado
In something that is best described as a 4 hour mind vomit.
I’m done.
I’ve been thinking about next year’s goal. It’ll definitely be a bit “less.” Maybe something like, 25 re-writes & 25 new ones. Somebody gave me that idea. And it stuck.
While the countdown has drawn to a close, I’ve reflected on what this whole writing experience has meant for me this year.
I can say one thing with complete assurance: It’s changed my life.
Period.
Aside from that, I’ve learned so much about my own brain. About my personality. About what I’m passionate about – how I handle stress – how I face the “impossible” in my life.
And I’ve learned a massive humongous gigantic quantity about songwriting. Namely, that I have a lot more to learn. 
So… We’re in the last month of the year. Time to reflect on the last year, and look forward to the next.
Let’s do some reflecting: What have you learned about yourself this past year? I can’t wait to find out!
I knew this day was coming, but I didn’t think it’d happen so soon.
In fact, I’ve done a number of things to prepare for it. And now, even though I’m way ahead of schedule. Even though I have a handful of half-written songs that I could pull from right now. And even though I have some song ideas in the back of my mind that I really believe in.
Even with all that, I’ve hit that place in 2009 where the mere thought of writing (what will likely be a really crappy song) makes me want to cry.
(And, let’s just be honest, everything makes me want to cry right now.)
My heart pounds at the thought of typing this: I don’t want to write.
I don’t want to. I don’t don’t don’t don’t don’t.
I think it’s the swirling spinning stormy combination of all the excitement in my life. blah blah I’m not complaining. I genuinely AM excited about life and what’s before us. I just need a nap. A nap that’ll last about 4 days, because, well, there’s a lot going on. (This is the part where I remind myself that “negative stress affects us in the same way that positive stress does.”)
I’ve got 5 songs staring me in the face. FIVE. And the 95 behind me are doing nothing to contribute to any creative momentum I once had…
The pen feels heavy.
My brain moves like molasses.
These 5 feel as impossible as the 100 I started with.
5 to go.
Piece of cake, right?
Well, y’all.
It’s been a while since I’ve posted a song on here. Believe it or not, I’m up to 93 now.
Here’s #92 – submitted to NPR in response to their weekend songwriting challenge… The song had to be original, written this weekend, and use at least one of the following words: Japan, firecracker, dog, lampshade, NPR. I’m one of the nuts who actually jumped at the chance – grabbing headlines and ideas from the NPR.org website.
Some of the others’ entries are fantastic. But, who knows? Maybe this’ll end up on the radio!
For all you songwriting geeks: I’m trying to grow in writing “story songs.” From what I hear, they are very … captivating. I’m also making an effort to use more descriptive words and very specific details. They say that detail draws the listener in and makes the song more believable. (“They” being the writers of all these songwriting books, articles, and blogs I’ve been ingesting as of late.) (“Ingesting” being a more descriptive and interesting word than reading. See? “They” would be proud! 
)
For all you music geeks: This is the first time I’ve employed the trick of playing a bass lick on the acoustic, then churning the tone down 12 notches to get a bass guitar feel out of it. I don’t know if it’s convincing – but I’m all about experimenting as I go.
ON NPR
~mandy thompson
I ran into his shop just the other day
crying for a cut&color or else I’d pull a lampshade
over this maddening mop of messy hair
A bombastic fog of fashion error
he started telling me about insurance for his dog
grab a green apple to get the whole Beatles catalog
David Archuleta is like the green bay packers
And all the chemicals packed in fire crackers
I had to stop … and ask him where he got
all this & he said
On NPR on NPR
It’s the kind of thing you hear about on NPR
between Keillor telling stories about Guy Noir
Edelstein reviewing Where The Wild Things Are
Scott Simon interviews Kareem Abdul Jabbar
It’s the kind of thing you hear about on NPR
& he styled & talked about Renee Montagne
and Earth and Sky and Day to Day
Echoes and Talking Plants and Lost and Found Sound
and Hearing Voices and Future Tense and Here and Now
And the American Battalion in Afghanistan
and Obama’s alliance announced in Japan
& when he finally finished with my hair
I thanked him & tipped & climbed out of his chair
& when I started my car I spun my dial to NPR
CHORUS
I’m one away from 50 songs, y’all. And hopefully, by the time my next post goes up, I will have crossed that threshold and begun the downhill slope.
I never thought I’d be able to do this, but I can see it. I can smell it. It’s at my fingertips. And much more attainable than I thought.
I’ve written some bad songs. And I’ve written some good songs. I’ve written many more songs than I’ve posted, becuase I don’t have time to get them together each time. There’s some stuff in the works that I’m excited about, but haven’t been able to properly record & post! You’ll have to wait & see.
I have no idea what’s next. But I’m LOVING where this has taken me so far. I can easily see how I’ve grown in the craft of songwriting. I’ve learned a LOT. I’ve co-written with some talented people. I’ve written a jingle for a radio show in England (I know – I didn’t tell y’all. Sorry). I submitted a song in a contest. I’ve done more jingles for a few podcasts. I’ve submitted a song to a Christian Literary Journal that will be published in the Fall. I feel like I’m finally… me.
And, I’m excited.
Yes. I’m excited.
So. I just wanted to give an update. And say “thank you” for continuing to cheer me on!
“THANK YOU!!!”
