I scan the newspapers for song ideas. I put all my energy into writing songs, and trying to write songs. I go to songwriting workshops given by people who make their living writing songs, I spend time with other songwriters, I read books on songwriting. Believe me, I am obsessed. The satisfaction I feel when I complete a song is tremendous.
Writing is difficult.
I am always challenged to do my best. Sometimes I feel like songwriting should be called song rewriting, because I spend the majority of my time rewriting and rewriting until the song is right. Yes, songwriting is hard work most of the time, but sometimes the words and melody simply flow. There is a mystery to songwriting I do not understand. This part of songwriting, the magical part, is impossible to map out.