I've played guitar and keyboard for many years. I'm quite experienced and confident in my playing, but my performances at local coffee shops have consisted entirely of playing "covers," and it's getting a bit embarrassing that I haven't yet written my own songs (even though I do my own arrangements of the songs I sing). As I've forced myself to actually start writing songs with lyrics, I've become fascinated with the process. This interview with James Taylor offers lots of food for thought. There is far more out there for those, who like me, are just now venturing into the world of music with lyrics (here are several basic approaches; Here is another good source of basic ideas.) At this point, I've written two songs with lyrics. I do like the result, but it has taken dozens of hours to get these tunes to a point where I find them acceptable. I don't know whether there is any way to speed up the process. It does feel, though, that I'm a the beginning of a compelling adventure.