Don't follow Ron's advice--it is bad advice indeed, even though it is well intended.

Shame on you, Ron, for saying "Just because you can doesn't mean you should." That is poison talk--I've had a lot of respect for what you've had to say about most things in the past, but you are plain and simply wrong here--

If your family and friends tell you that you're music is good, go for it! It means that they support you--and artists need support--I have seen a lot of talented kids fall by the wayside because their family and friends weren't supportive--You have to fight extra hard when you have to fight your family first---

As to open mikes, maybe you can get performing experience, but the reality is that, for the most part, they are a dead end--most open mike nights consist of "regular"s, who mostly play for one another--not necessarily a bad thing, but not any sort of opportunity--Clubs don't hire their open mike night artists--

The Folk Alliance may be useful for making connections, and you can learn a lot from workshops, but if you want to learn to write lyrics and music, you should seriously study with someone who knows how and wants to teach others what they know--with a good writer or a good composer, often in a good literature or music department(but not always-sometimes they hide in YMCA evening programs and such places)or get involved with programs that ASCAP and BMI offers--

As far as recording the first songs you write--if you can, do it(it is getting easier everyday)---everyone has to start somewhere, and, no matter if the first recordings aren't very good, they make the second ones better, the third ones even better, til somewhere along the line, you get to be pretty good--(just don't expect Ron to play it on his show)--

The most important thing is to keep working, no matter what anyone says. Sooner or later, you find you audience--and remember, no matter what Earnest says, no one want to hear you play a hornpipe!