Susan: "MOST important-- do it YOUR way. Find your own process and then let it rip."

Yes, indeed, but it helps, when you are a rank beginner, to crib off of other peoples' processes. After a few years of following my own chaotic and unprolific process, I began reading about other folks' ideas, and rather uncreatively tried them all until I arrived at what (mostly) works for me.
Briefly, I borrow an existing tune that has something about it I like (appropriate mood, usually) and use it as a "reference." Then I write my lyric to fit that tune.
Later I throw away the reference tune, let the words percolate for a while, and finally write my own tune to fit the words I have.
The hitch may come if you are the type that has trouble disassociating tunes from words.
-Glenn