TheSpirit: Uninspired | Sputnikmusic

TheSpirit 05.04.11	Any help would be appreciated. I go through phases with this stuff (as I'm sure a lot of people here do) and right now I just can't seem to get anything down.
Maniac! 05.04.11	Don't think about writing at all, then when you listen to an album that inspires you, the words will come to you.
MO 05.04.11	I'd say try and write a review in a way you wouldn't normally, out of the comfort zone that whole thing. Read a couple by various different reviewers (which I'm sure you do already) and take a fresh approach to your writing. Oh and 5 rules.
Loanshark 05.04.11	What Maniac said.
TheSpirit 05.04.11	@Maniac! - yeah, the problem is I do feel like I want to write about these albums just every time I try I feel like I'm writing the same things over and over again. I've been trying to moreso develop my writing style but I guess I'm having trouble. @MetallicOpeth - Yes 5 does rule! And yeah I have been looking at other peoples reviews (moreso than usual). Users like Xeno, Sowing and a few others especially. I would definitely say my writing recently has been influenced by their work but it's just not quite as developed as I want it to be yet.
ConsiderPhlebas 05.04.11	Don't think of writing as a passive thing that requires inspiration, and don't listen to Maniac's mystical waffle. Just get stuck into a review - think of a punchy intro sentence, or a basic metaphor that you can fit the music to. Jot some ideas on paper, any old shit until something sticks out.
BigHans 05.04.11	CRUE DISCOG
TheSpirit 05.04.11	I was gonna do a Crue discog review but I got distracted somewhere done the line. Thinking about it now it would probably not be a bad thing to start that up again. I've listened to the first five Crue albums more than any other albums ever and do have a lot to say about them. Hmm.. Hans, you may be on to something.
Deviant. 05.04.11	Few ideas you could try out: Review an old favorurite, something you know like the back of your hand. Pick an album that you could talk about for hours and the words should come easily enough Review something from a genre you don't normally listen to. The inexperience should force you to concentrate harder Start out like a track by track, take each song off of one of these albums and write about them. You can make them as short or as long as you want. By the time you've done that you'll easily be able to tie the whole thing together
Crysis 05.04.11	Don't force yourself to write, just write when it feels like the words are there. Writer's block is a bitch, and if you force it you'll undoubtedly turn out a shitty review or two.
TheSpirit 05.04.11	@Consider - hmm that sounds easy enough, i'll give it a try @Deviant - Reviewing an old favorite really seems like a good idea actually, very much so for the reasons you stated. @Crysis - You're absolutely right, I've tried to do reviews on little to no inspiration before and they have always been my worst. It's weird, I feel motivated to write, it's just when I try I'm get all dumb and can't fully translate what I want to say into good thoughts for a review.
Maniac! 05.04.11	"and don't listen to Maniac's mystical waffle." wasn't mystical waffle, just telling him what works for me. then again, my reviews suck, so he probably shouldn't listen to me anyway haha
TheSpirit 05.04.11	You're reviews don't suck Maniac!, they are probably on equal standing with mine.
PinkElephants 05.04.11	Honestly, the only review I ever wrote that I'm proud of was the "Eleventh He Reaches London" review I wrote, and the reason I liked that so much was that I talked to a friend about the album before I reviewed it, then the points I realized I was spouting off about the album in a completely secondary nature would perfectly make up the review.
SCREAM! 05.04.11	I'd like a mystical waffle...with some chocolate chips and maple syrup
PinkElephants 05.04.11	and the point of my last post was if you're having trouble with what you feel like you should write, talk to a friend about the album you plan on reviewing, you'll realize you have more to say than you think. Then, while you're actually typing up the points and findings you have of the album, spruce it up with the frivolities.
TheSpirit 05.04.11	@PinkElephants - that too seems like a really good idea actually. Thank you everybody, all this advice is very much appreciated :]
AngelofDeath 05.04.11	My advice is to read. Read as much as you can from a wide array of sources: novels, news articles, editorials, etc. Should keep your mind sharp and maybe give you an idea or two. It's also good to channel your creativity into other outlets and then come back to writing.
PinkElephants 05.04.11	No problem man, I hope it all works out. Oh, and if you actually like reading other people's reviews, and this might sound completely egocentric of me, but check out my review of The Good Fight for Harmony (the Eleventh He Reaches London) album. I've gotten a lot of good feedback by people that read it.
TheSpirit 05.04.11	Will definintely check that out, thanks again man. For anyone interested (or willing to help a brotha out) I just posted the intro paragraph to my newest review in the 'review proof-reading thread) in the forums - any comments and/or criticisms would be appreciated.
PinkElephants 05.04.11	I'll go check it out :)
TheSpirit 05.04.11	thanks :]
Hyperion1001 05.04.11	I don't write until i come up with a good hook or something. Like crysis said, forcing it will undoubtedly make it bad. Like the solstice review i just did. I didn't plan on writing that, but i just thought up the first line randomly one night and thought "hey, that would make a kickass intro for that album review".
Crysis 05.04.11	^ That line was so awesome
Baphomet 05.04.11	Maybe it's the weather.
TheSpirit 05.04.11	BALS OUT i am in agreement with crysis, that line did rule. and thanks, that is actually something i've never thought about doing before.
Hyperion1001 05.04.11	Yeah, that's why idk if i'd ever want to write for something that required deadlines, i feel it'd just cause you to push out a lot of crap with a few good things in between.