Gee, Mike: I sure didn't mean to be discouraging. I think songwriting is easy. I think talking about songwriting is hard, because it is such a personal pursuit for me. I've also found, talking with other songwriters, that it seems like many of them write songs in all different ways... many have had parts of songs come to them in a dream (which doesn't even qualify as "writing," and even those who usually start with lyrics, or start with the melody first have had some songs come to them differently... melody first for the lyricists, lyrics first for those who start with melody usually. Some songs come out almost whole, and some have to be nurtured along for months, or even years.

I think the advice that you start with yourself is excellent. In the long run, we all end up talking about ourselves(me included.) That's the thing we know best. Sometimes, the only thing we know..
Just sort through all of these ideas and figure out what would be good for you. And then, the people who are attending the workshop will lead you at times as much as you lead them..

Jerry