I did find one person who was completely honest, but also helpful. It sounds corny, but he was a teacher in my first school, many, MANY years ago. However, I guess I was a bit too young then for the advice to sink in properly, but I remembered it. He was the one who told me to write in my style, not to try and copy anyone elses', and he also taught me alliteration and precis. If I wanted to spend a verse describing something, I could, but it would be so much better if I could get it into one or two lines that felt right.

Songs that are remembered best are those that have one or all of these:

a) a catchy tune that you find yourself humming an hour later
b) a phrase or lines that paint such a strong picture that you always remember it, the 'hook' that makes you want to go and learn the rest of the song. Something like 'grey ghostly figures still glide round the floor' (extra brownie points for whoever recognises that song), which was the hook for me.
c) a story specific to an event or person, that has affected you or others, that others can identify with - Green Fields of France, Sorry the day I was married, The Rose, for example.

LTS