In case it helps anyone, here's what I've done and had moderate songwriting success.
- Play with guitar until a catchy melody or chord changes grab me. (have to be open and in the right mood for this to happen - coffee helps, and privacy)
- Insert RANDOM words. I'm talking micky mouse eating ice cream type of thing, jus simply get words into the chord progression. It doesn't mater what the words are.
- find the worst phrase in the song you just made, and change it for something better or more coherent.
- repeat that last step until the song starts to make sense. Don't be afraid to change the tempo, chords, or whatever to match your newfound lyrical message.
Here's a song I wrote using that method (the first one I ever wrote, actually). I posted it in the other part of this forum a while back, but if you listen I think you can tell that the rhythm and melody came first and the words were patched in. I think it works, though.
THanks, and I hope it helps someone at some point.
Nathan
https://soundcloud.com/user-781639532/song1allmylife-1