Do real-life emotional experiences affect one's creative ability?

Question

I have heard people say that music only flows from a broken heart. But I have never yet in my life been heartbroken in a big way. When I sit down to write music, not one melody comes out from me that isn't similar to something that I have already heard before. Do real-life emotional experiences contribute to one's ability to create music? Is a good set of emotional experiences necessary for the creative process?

Answer 1

It is true that life experience can contribute to a richer emotional palette to work from however there are plenty of famous prodigies that made unforgettable music at a very young age and were not old enough to know heartbreak, love, loss to the degree an adult can.

For those of us that are not child prodigies, my advice would be to work every day on your art form and ALSO seek interesting life experiences that will enrich your work.