While instructing a talented artist to "just write" is simple, there is a significant disparity between semi-baked lyrics and a guaranteed hit song. 

You definitely recognise where you are in your songwriting journey, your strengths and weaknesses. Getting better could potentially be as simple as being exposed to the right information and approaches and using them in your daily life.

Because knowledge is power, here are seven methods for improving your songwriting abilities.

Learn More Songs

Tom Lehrer a retired American musician, singer-songwriter, satirist, and mathematician once remarked, "Life is like a sewer." What you get back is proportional to what you put in.

And that also holds true for your songwriting mindset.

In other words, your songwriting ability is directly proportional to the number of songs you know from which you can draw inspiration for your own compositions.

The excellent thing is that songwriting is a never-ending journey and there's no end to what you can learn about it. The more you grow as a person the more songs you know and the better you become.

So know as many songs as you possibly can. Always keep an ear open for new music. Make your own playlists. Solicit advice from your friends. And don't just listen passively; bring out a lyric and listen closely to it multiple times. 

Discover what makes such songs tick. 

Attend Music Workshops, Classes, or Online Communities.

Surrounding oneself with like-minded musicians is one of the finest ways to become a better songwriter, both for the sense of community and the ability to interact and learn from each other.

There are countless workshops, classes, and other opportunities available throughout in Kenya both online and offline where you can discover new things, engage with new people, and frequently meet fantastic new songwriters.

Ask around to see what's available in your area, or do some online research to see what seems like a suitable fit for you.

In any of such forums, there is usually a mix of artists from diverse backgrounds and levels of experience.  Meeting other musicians, on the other hand, is a fantastic way to improve yourself as a songwriter, and it will be absolutely worth it.

Be Open to Co-creating

Two heads are better than one, as the old adage goes, and this is becoming increasingly true in the songwriting process.  

Nowadays, the majority of songs that top the charts contain more than one songwriter. Co-writing not only allows for the exchange of ideas, but also exposes you to the various techniques used by other songwriters. You could learn something new and apply it to your craft. 

Similarly, the other writer(s) may learn from you, and working collaboratively may result in a song that is completed faster and appeals to a larger number of listeners because it is composed from several perspectives.

Practice, Practice, and Practice Some More

If you're new to songwriting, this is especially for you. Once you've learned the art of songwriting, it's not enough to sit back and wait for your creative juices to strike.

Make writing songs a regular routine, even if you feel like you don't want to. The more tracks you write, the better you will become. Furthermore, the more songs you have, the more you widen your scope and chances of being a better songwriter.

Continuing to polish your songwriting skills is what will take you from good to great. 

Learn About Music Production

This is actually quite broad. It could be anything from learning how to make your own songs to listening to a lot of music in order to develop production standards. 

Naturally, being able to record and produce your own music can aid in the development of your songwriting skills. Listening to current and historical songs, on the other hand, will give you invaluable insight into the production approaches you want to use or avoid on your own compositions.

Be Open-Minded

When writing a song, try not to limit yourself to a single theme or idea. The creative process might bring you down a variety of paths, and you may never know which one will lead to the reward you desire. 

Rather than focusing entirely on developing one idea at all costs, it is recommended to record all of your thoughts on a certain songwriting topic and then arrange the sections that work best together.

Recognise When to Take Breaks.

Creativity necessitates the use of one's brain. 

Working on anything for long periods of time might result not only in a fatigued mental state, but can also dilute any project you manage to produce. A 20-minute break every two hours is the standard recommendation.

If your thoughts aren't flowing, it's better to pause, redirect your attention to something else, and then return to where you left off refreshed.

Seek Honest Feedback

It's easy to lose sight of how fantastic or dreadful your own song is after hours and hours of working, modifying, and producing it. 

So, find somebody whose advice and viewpoint you respect and ask them to analyse it for you. You could find that they have some fantastic suggestions for how to enhance it. You want honest feedback, not simply “ yeah man", so don't play it for someone who might be afraid to tell you nothing but the truth.

Wrapping Up: Remember to Write More

Quantity may not always mean quality but will help you in the long run. And the tips above won't make sense unless you actually put them into action. So go ahead and experiment with being uncomfortable. 

Make that effort to try something new!