Based on the Podcast Episode: “Slow Walking Back to Songwriting with Katie Harder “ – Episode 66, The Magic of Songwriting with Francesca de Valence

When life becomes full and creativity starts to slip through the cracks, it can feel hard to find your way back to songwriting. But as songwriter and artist Katie Harder reminds us, returning to your creative flow doesn’t require perfect conditions — it simply asks for presence, trust, and a bit of structure.

Listen below for the full sonic experience, or read below for the key takeaways from our conversation that might spark something for you.

Here are a few lessons we can take from Katie’s journey to rebuilding her songwriting rhythm through I Heart Songwriting Club:

1. Start Small and Show Up

Katie didn’t wait for inspiration or long hours of quiet. Instead, she gave herself one hour a week — enough time to respond to the Club’s weekly theme and see what emerged. When we remove pressure and start small, showing up becomes sustainable. And consistency, not perfection, is what rebuilds creative momentum.

2. Let Go of Perfection

With limited time to write, there’s no space for overthinking. Katie learned to trust her first ideas — to let the song arrive as it wanted to. Some songs stayed as rough sketches; others became finished works. Each one had value because it was written. When we let go of the need to make something “good,” we open space for something real.

3. Write to Process Life

Songwriting became more than a creative act for Katie — it became a way to process what was happening in her life. Through challenges and change, songs helped her stay connected to herself. Try writing what you’re living, rather than waiting for a perfect idea. Songs born from life are often the ones that resonate most deeply.

4. Trust What Comes

Katie’s album Slow Walking grew from her one-hour songs. Many of them hardly changed from their original form. Trusting your first ideas — and the emotion that arrives in the moment — can reveal the essence of your voice as a writer. Sometimes the song doesn’t need more work, just more belief.

5. Keep the Joy Alive

Most importantly, Katie reconnected with the simple joy of writing — that moment when you lose track of time and let creativity lead. Regular practice keeps this joy close, even in busy or difficult seasons.

Katie’s story reminds us that songwriting doesn’t need to be complicated. With a gentle structure, a little time, and a willingness to begin again, creativity can easily find its way back into your life.

Looking for help to write your next album?

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