OK, Islansoul, you've gotten a bunch of useful advice. So . . . now what are you gonna do? Well, I'm in a bit of a similar boat, which is the only reason why I dipped into this thread. I've composed a fair amount of music, but only two songs. I define a song as a piece of music that has words, so in that respect I've written only two songs.

But recently I've become interested in seeing if I could actually write something besides instrumentals. So, I've begun listening to lyrics much more closely. Being a guitarist who played solo guitar in bands and also as a classical soloist, I don't usually pay much attention to lyrics, so this has required a bit of a mental gear switch for me.

And I've arrived at a basic conclusion with respect to song lyrics. Either they tell a story (that I can understand) or they're pretty much just a series of words thrown together because perhaps they sound cool . . . I dunno. Looking back at the two songs I've written, I think I'll be more inclined toward the storyteller route. And speaking of Jimmy Buffet, especially with respect to his older tunes, the man was very much a story teller. So, if that's the lyrical style you like, well then I guess you'll first need to think of a story worth telling. If not, then perhaps the music will generate a mood such that a sufficient set of lyrics will work.

Now, notice how I'm focusing in on lyrics right away. I think if you have a set of lyrics that this will sort of dictate at least a general mood that you will want to show in your music. If I might use one of my own tunes as an example, About halfway through writing the lyrics, I actually began to hear zydeco music. I mean the accordian (of all things) and the whole bit. I knew by the time I'd finished the lyrics what sort of music I was gonna have to put to it. But I'm finding out that the opposite is more problematic. I've recently composed a nice chord progression and I'm beginning to slowly eke out some melody ideas, but I don't have any idea if I'll be able to write a set of lyrics that will go along with a melody I might come up with. Maybe I should go with stringing together a bunch of syllables that sound good together, I dunno . . .

Anyway, I guess if I had a single suggestion it would be to keep things very simple at the start. Just concentrate on the lyrics or the melody, whichever is moving you most, and get that down. Then start adding to it. This gives you a direction, a focus, that you might lose if you try too much at once.

Best,
Michael

My Music:
https://soundcloud.com/michaelmcbroom/albums