I Wrote This Song With Broken Wrists in 12 Minutes

Hey Thousand Echoes friends,

You probably saw the viral story this summer about Forrest Frank writing his hit song "Lemons" while dealing with health challenges, then experiencing miraculous healing that inspired the track. It was an incredible story of creating through adversity.

Well, I've got my own story about creating under constraints that might just change how you think about limitations forever.

The Setup: When Everything Goes Wrong

Last summer at YMA Songwriting Camp, I was fresh out of wrist surgery with a splint on my left hand and a brace on my broken right wrist. I could barely hold a pick, let alone play guitar properly.

My students were wrapping up their practice sessions, and I had exactly 12 minutes to kill before the next workshop. Most people would have just scrolled their phone or grabbed coffee.

But I had an idea that seemed absolutely crazy at the time.

The Challenge: Prove It Works

I had just spent the week teaching these five powerful songwriting tools to my students, but I realized I had never actually demonstrated how they all work together in real-time under pressure.

So I thought: "What if I could prove these tools work by using ALL of them to write a complete song right now?"

The irony? My physical limitations were about to become my creative superpowers.

Instead of seeing broken wrists as obstacles, I turned it into a creative game. What could I accomplish with just a few fingers, a piano, and my voice?

This wasn't about overcoming limitations—it was about leveraging them.

The 12-Minute Breakdown: 5 Tools in Action

Tool #1: Object Writing

With my limited mobility, I started describing what I was experiencing right then: the feeling of the splint, the frustration, the determination. But instead of just writing about physical constraints, I started object writing about being "right here" in this moment.

That's when the song title emerged—because sometimes the most powerful place you can be is exactly where you are, broken wrists and all.

Tool #2: Active Listening

Even though I couldn't play complex chords, I started actively listening to what my limited finger positions could create. Sometimes constraints force you to find beauty in simplicity.

Because I could only use a few fingers, I was forced into this really simple, beautiful chord progression that I probably never would have found if I had full mobility.

Tool #3: Song Structure

With only 12 minutes, I couldn't overthink this. I went with a simple A-A-B-A structure—something my students could easily follow and replicate.

Tool #4: Nashville Numbers System

This became my lifeline. I could think in numbers instead of finger positions. When you can barely move your hands, simplifying the mental load becomes everything.

Instead of complex fingerings, I focused on 1-4-5-6 progressions that I could actually play.

Tool #5: Co-writing

After I wrote "Right Here" in those 12 minutes, Padraic O'Meara, another faculty member, heard it and said "We need to film this." What started as a teaching demonstration became a full collaboration.

The Plot Twist: From Demo to Studio

Here's what blew my mind—this 12-minute song, written with broken wrists as a teaching tool, was so solid that we decided to take it into the studio.

We filmed a complete music video, recorded it properly, and now it's become one of my favorite pieces of work.

The song that started as "let me show my students how these tools work" became "WOW, these tools really DO work."

The Lesson: Constraints = Creativity

Forrest Frank's "Lemons" showed us that personal struggles can become powerful songs. My "Right Here" experience taught me that creative constraints can actually unlock new levels of innovation.

Whether you're dealing with:

• ⏰ Time limitations (naptime songwriting, anyone?)

• 🏥 Physical challenges

• 🧠 Creative blocks

• 💰 Equipment constraints

Those limitations might be exactly what your creativity needs.

The question isn't "What's holding me back?"

It's "How can I turn this limitation into my secret weapon?"

Your Creative Challenge

What constraints in your life could actually become creative catalysts?

I want you to try this: Pick ONE limitation you're facing right now and turn it into a creative game. Set a timer, embrace the constraint, and see what happens.

Then reply to this email and tell me about it. I read every response, and I want to hear your breakthrough stories.

Before You Go...

If you want to dive deeper into the complete 5-tool system I used to write "Right Here," I've created a comprehensive guide that breaks down each tool with exercises you can start today.

Get the Complete Songwriting Toolkit Here →

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Stay inspired everyone!
Josh Schroeder
Founder, Thousand Echoes

P.S. Sometimes your biggest limitations become your greatest breakthroughs. "Right Here" proved that great songwriting isn't about perfect circumstances—it's about having the right tools and the courage to use them, even when everything seems to be working against you.

P.S.S. If you've read this far, you're definitely my people. Like and subscribe to my YouTube channel for more unfiltered conversations about songwriting, creativity, and building a sustainable career as an independent artist. Can't wait to see you in the next video!