To copy delb0y:
My songs are mostly one idea but they develop the point. I don't think I repeat myself too much. Unless I'm repeating exactly. I think the bigger point here is to provide development, not have more than one subject.
I do think somewhat about the listener. There are songs I've made that I can sit there and sing to myself but they're just boring. I generally want my songs to be pretty lively even if they're depressing (a great fault of mine is being unable to write anything happy haha). But I am really writing for myself.
I cannot get my hand out of my mouth. When I write a chord progression for a song I just can't seem to get myself to do something that doesn't follow the vocal line in all ways. And I don't want that! As I said, I want my songs to actually sound interesting and lively and layered.
I listen to EVERYTHING. Generally I will listen to BBC Radio 1 mindlessly in the morning. I listen to older stuff... I must confess I rarely go back further than 1970s. With punk and early post punk and the begginings of electronica (Kraftwerk woopwoop!) it's just more interesting. I do skip all the way back to classical though. The modern current stuff I listen to is a bit confined though, it's mostly dance stuff because I like to dance to it aaaand, some (not all) of it is quite interesting, more so than I dunno, Ed Sheeran and his undersized guitar. I also listen to a lot of more alternative modern stuff, but I was talking about proper popular music there. With modern popular music, I listen to dance stuff.
I am very very guilty of not finishing songs, because as I said earlier I cannot get my hand out of my mouth so I am never happy with anything. Like I finish my lyrics, but that's it.
I also ryhme a lot but I try not to make it chliche. And I don't force it either, I just see where it goes.
I never promote anything.
I can get a bit enamoured with my songs I must say.
I mean... I do try and be orignal... I'm not too bothered but I really do try. I reject most songs that I try to escape the predictable storytelling singer songwriter vibe... usually by being a bit more dancey or dramatic. I generlaly try to add depth but seem sort of superficially catchy in a slightly unnerving way, which stops my songs from being too predictable I think. I really cannot see how trying to implement some originality would be a msitake.
I have definitely settled in the past. I think it's important for begginners to settle somewhat. They need to get stuff down and build up a flow. I try not to settle these days - I've gotten much more picky.
Overconfidence. I can be a bit on some levels, not on others.
No I don't take others opinion as gospel. I know a lot of people won't like my vibe. On here I think people get it, but some people have made some suggestions of me changing some things that on reflection I just don't want to change.
I mean, what do you mean by great songwriters? I don't listen to Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Simon and Garfunkel I dunno, those sort of guys that people say are great songwriters. I just don't care for the vibe. Maybe I'll try again. But I dunno, that is so removed from me. I am not an American man from the 60s - and I don't mean that literally I just mean I have nothing in common with that, and I should not write like that. I am British, prone to bouts of depression and not at all wealthy or glamourous - Ian Curtis, I feel ya. I am British, queer, very much able to laugh at sadness and just the stupidity of life, and caring about people being able to dance to my songs (as in The Smiths... not his later stuff I can't dance to that) - Morrisey, I love ya. I am a girl of the modern age, not really taking much meaning in being a girl, fed up of the shallow pleasures of current life, yearning for love - Jehnny Beth, you understand. I am just a bit of an anarchist - punks unite! I could go on. But yeah, I find it difficult to listen to old "great songwriters". I do listen to music of lyrical value, but not them. I am always trying to expand though so maybe at some point I'll get there.
Now what would I say is a big beginner mistake?
1. Not writing enough. As I said, I don't care if you settle a bit in the begginning, just keep churning them out and keep trying.
2. Not tapping into your emotions and/or using your experiences fully. I dunno, I used to just come up with lines and run with them. The song may have ended up catchy but it wouldn't be about anything all that personal. And yeah, even if your writing some fantastic story song I think it should tie into yourself. Otherwise how ar eyou supposed to perform it? And how do you expect anyone to connect if you don't? I was always holding back if and when I tried to do this, you have to pour yourself out on the paper, otherwise you'd be better off writing that song that's entirely removed from your emotions, because this ones just gonna be cliche and shallow.