Q: or specifying something everyone goes through or a balance of the two?
A: i think the way i originally approached it was i tried to write only for myself and about myself, then when that didn't work at all i tried shattering the entire atom, and that was fun, and then it gave me fuel for writing about myself more, and occasionally the 'simple' technique you mentioned which never resulted in anything more than a line or two, .... then at some point a couple years later i learned how to 'finish' 'unfinished songs' ..... so that was a huge breakthrough .... which led to being able to combine all 3 techniques. at least that is vaguelly how i remember getting to where i am today