I reckon all of us songwriters would like to show a steady improvement in technique, quality and accessibility - which must involve an increasingly ruthless attitude towards what we write. Once you know your audience, whether local or spread further, and they know you, new songs can have a sympathetic hearing when they are tested out - that doesn't mean friendly and uncritical acceptance however, as it is often the performance in front of an audience which tells you yourself the worth or otherwise of a particular work.

I go to folk clubs because I enjoy hearing singers, musicians, songs -
not all, but enough to make every visit worthwhile. I perform the best I can - which usually does mean my own songs, because there's always others who perform other people's better !   I don't look for bookings, I'd rather be invited to do the occasional gig.