Margarita,

I am sure there are several writers whose work you appreciate. An important intellectual task for you is to sit down with some work you like and to try and determine why you like it. Get beyond the subject matter and dig down into the structure of the song.

As mentioned above, there are nuances in rhythm and in how words sound. You will find there are certain structures that are helpful, alliteration and repetition for examples.

If you want to write, you need to make a commitment to it by setting some time aside each week to write. Many lyricists find it helpful to find others who can critique their work and give them new ideas. Many larger cities have songwriting groups who do that on a regular basis. If you don't have that, consider friends who care who can also give you feedback about your work.

Buy yourself a rhyming dictionary. One can be a source of inspiration in times of need.

This summer there will be many gatherings that will include teaching songwriting. Common Ground, the Augusta Heritage weeks, and the Swannanoah Gathering are three that come to mind. If you want ones in your area, start a thread and ask.

Contact your local community colleges and music stores. There are often opportunities to learn song writing through these organizations.

A device some people use is to assign themselves "song projects". One writer took a book and asked people to call out page numbers and line numbers. Each person was then assigned to write a song about the phrase captured by the page number and line number they called out. Others take a newspaper and find one article about which they can write a song. Another asked people to write a song that had no rhyme scheme.

Woody Guthrie did that with "Plane Wreck at Los Gatos" (also known as Deportees). I never noticed that the verses did not rhyme until it was pointed out to me. The one rhyme in the verses matches "dry leaves" with "Deportees" and to me it makes the two lines stand out. That's how dissecting a song can be helpful to you.

I am about to start rambling so I'll stop here.

Roger in Baltimore