It's interesting you say that, because I was reading Stephen King's (the successful author) book "On Writing," in which he talks about his thought processes about writing. In it he describes his formula that he repeated for years and years to become top tier.
It was :
1. Read a lot of other people's books
2. Write a lot
Translated for music it would be:
1. Listen to a lot of other people's music.
2. Write a lot of music.
Translated for Neurosurgeons it would be:
1. Read a lot of other neurosurgeons books.. Listen to teachers
2. Hang out with the best neurosurgeons
3. Work on a lot of brains
#2 was an extra one and it relates to the Achilles heel of many producers because many of us want complete creative control.
But something seems oddly accurate about how these people got really good at what they do.
The fact is, no one ever became a professional NBA player playing by themselves. And no one became a professional NBA player by only playing with the kids on his block. You gotta hang with the best to be the best, hence, collaborating, finding producers better than you, watching vids on youtube (there are tons) and picking their minds.
There is no magic pill to get better, to get unstuck, there's no sudden breakthrough. Instead, there's just gradual progress, repeatedly.
"Just do it.... repeatedly"
If Nike can sell billions of shoes with it then you can solve all your problems with "Just do it." It's simple, it's powerful, we instantly get it.
We would like to think our most challenging problems are deeply complex and pervasive in ways we can't completely crack, but that's just our ego trying to save face. The reality is we suck and we would get better if we would "just do it," and each time you "just do it," you'll suck a little bit less, and eventually you'll suck so little, you'll actually be good.
So, "just do it."
With the caveat that you remain sensitive to your own rhythms and use them as best you can, that you push past pain more than you think you're capable.
I've found I can only produce a beat every 2 weeks. When I finish for the next 10 days for whatever reason I only have the wherewithal to make 8bar loops, then around day 12-14 I choose one of them and in a single day I finish that song, no matter what finaglry or odd music-smithing i have to do.
I've really just set the bar so incredibly low it would be impossible not to make it into a song.
Hope that helps.
-Nathan