The number 8 is considered auspicious by many Chinese because it sounds like their term for "prosper" and "fortune". A phone number composed entirely of eights sold for $270,723 US in Chengdu, China. Bruce Mau – I know, it's been a while, but I'm determined to polish off his manifesto in 2008 – approaches #8 as follows:

8. Drift. Allow yourself to wander aimlessly. Explore adjacencies. Lack judgment. Postpone criticism.

How this Relates to Songwriting

It's easy to feel stuck when you're short on song ideas or wondering how to proceed with a half-finished tune. Feeling stuck is only a hop, skip and a thump from actually being stuck (funny how the mind works, eh?), so when you notice this feeling it's a good time to apply #8 sauce. Be sure to choose unfamiliar terrain to roam and pack plenty of curiousity.