Hi Roy:

After more than 1000 songs written and recorded (including co-writes) I've had just about every possible combination of little epiphanies occur. The worst are the 2:00 AM flashes that require immediate attention... meaning: 1. Get out of bed. 2. Find Pen/Pencil and Paper. 3. Write it down before you forget it. 4. Go back to sleep if you can after putting the "idea on paper" and into someplace safe like your midnight idea clipboard... or a nail on the wall. (For recovery in the morning... or as soon a normal life will allow.)

For me, this always seems to occur before falling into "REM" (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. As I age... and believe me, I am aging fast... REM becomes a precious commodity... and I seldom get there. My nights are usually a series of twists and turns, trying to get comfortable. Much as I want to, I can't get comfortable on my back. (Sciatica seems to be the culprit.)

Back in the day... these song rendering ideas seemed to flow best when I was "in motion"... usually driving out in the countryside and more often on an interstate highway... high speed and repetitive thumping of the tires on pavement cracks seemed to "trigger the process."

As I age, the lyric and song idea normally dictate the direction the music will flow... but even there, nothing is constant. Sometimes the melody flies into my head and onto the page as if being directed by an unknown force. (That is a rare event, though... at least for me.)

Creativity is a gift and you must find it however it happens. A young mind is fertile ground for song production. At my peak, I could easily write more than a song a day. (Not all of them good.) Now, I struggle to complete ten a year. Perhaps that is due to improved knowledge of structure, and being more critical of my work on a broad front. In most cases, the melody is the most important because it will connect with the listener long before the lyrics get absorbed by them.

In the end... do whatever works best for you... just don't expect it to happen "on cue."

That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. ----Dave

P. S.: Roy: Hope the "Project" is moving along nicely. Hugs to Helen.