Gene, when you get lots of feedback and helpful suggestions around here, it means you're on the right track!
I guess there are no hard & fast rules with structure.
Playing in my covers band makes me realise how simple many great songs are. You'd be surprised how many just find a chord progression and stick with it from beginning to end (Gloria, Talking 'bout a Revolution..)
..but even if you stick to a relatively conservative structure you could always spring a surprise or two in the instrumentation.

My apologies for the grammatical correction - spend my working life at the office doing that kind of thing and I just can't stop myself!

all the best,

Marc