How to write a song

1. Learn music theory. It is helps to learn from experts. Wikipedia is a useful start. Scores (midi files) in your genre to read, sing, or practice are good, too.
2. Use the clock. Try writing songs from 12 pm (Noon) to 4 pm. This is commonly known as "song writing prime-time" - when your creativity is at its peak. Don't miss out by sleeping in!
3. Stop thinking about writing a song, and start writing. Songs will not just come to you and say, "Hey, I'm a good song. Write me!". You have to listen to your surroundings. It's the song you'll hear inside your head, so you start singing it. Find the missing words you need for the song inside of you.
4. Think of a subject you want to write about. Whether it is about a break-up, or partying or even a very fun event, stay focused on that subject. It will make it easier!
5. Listen actively to a lot of music. Good poets read other people's lyrics. Good songwriters listen to songs. As you listen, think about what you like about a song. Are the lyrics unique? Do the song's chord changes perfectly capture a mood? Do you like the transition from one part of the song to another? Find out about song arrangement.
6. Get technical. You do not need a degree in music theory to write a good song. Song structure is good to know, because it mirrors poetic form. There are infinite ways to structure a song, and a common sequence is found in pop and hymns. As you listen, try to identify chorus (refrain) and verse. Check yourself by looking at lyrics online or in a music book; the parts of songs are often labelled in these media.
7. Be ready when inspiration comes calling. Unfortunately, inspiration usually does not always strike at convenient times, so if you get a good idea, then rehearse it. If you have the courage, then do it out loud. Carry a pen and paper with you wherever you go, or better yet, carry a tape recorder or digital audio recorder. Melodies can be extremely difficult to capture on paper unless you have a strong music background.
   
   
   • It would be helpful if you have a musical instrument (e.g. Piano, keyboard, guitar, etc.) so that you can explore the music. An added advantage is that you can easily write down the notes (or tabs) when you have a tune. Try recording it for feedback. Guitars plug directly into computer mic jacks with an adaptor. You can always go back to your recording. It helps. If you revise it, then record it again.
   
   
   
8. Figure out what you've got. Once in a while, inspiration will hit you like a full force gale, and suddenly you have a full song out of nowhere. Most of the time, however, just a small piece of a potential song will come to you, leaving you to do the hard, but fun work of fleshing it out. You should have a feel for what part of the song you've come up with.
   
   
   
   
   • If it's super catchy (either a lyrical phrase or a snippet of music), and you can envision it being a repeated theme in the song, you've got the refrain—the climax or summary of your musical story—and you need to write verses to explain how you know in detail.
   • If what you've come up with seems more narrative lyrically or subtler musically — a part of a story rather than the main idea — you've probably got a verse, and you'll need to write the rest of the story (more verses) and, usually, a chorus.
   
   
   
9. Set the mood. Make sure your music fits the story. If it is sad, then you may want your melody to evoke sadness (by slowing it down or adding some minor chords, for example) or you might want to add a twist and combine sad lyrics to upbeat music in order to create a sense of tension and ambiguity.
10. Say something. A song can get by with poor lyrics, and you have a better chance of writing a really good song if your lyrics are great. This does not mean they have to be serious, but they should not be cliché or ho-hum. Write your lyrics as though you are talking to somebody who you want to impress or to someone toward whom you feel some sort of deep emotion.
11. Make your words sing.Lyrics can appeal to emotions, and they should also appeal to the ear. Rhyming is the most obvious way to accomplish this, and you can employ a number of rhyme schemes. Learn about these and other tools of poetry, and try putting them to work for you.
12. Strike a balance between repetition and variety. Repetition is what makes a song catchy; repeated choruses, for example, stick in our heads even when the rest of a song does not. It is easy to ask people to join you in a refrain, which is why it is usually called a chorus. It is hard to beat Ode To Joy for that bit from Beethoven, even though that bit used from his ninth symphony has no chorus, and all lines have the same length, the same rhyme schemes, and the same chord progressions throughout. That is an exception to the rule, because the most common way to add variety is to insert a "bridge" into your song.
13. Look for the hook. The hook is that elusive part of a great song that captures your very soul and makes you want to listen to that song over and over. Hooks are frequently found in the chorus and often become the title of the song. Sadly, there is no recipe for hooks, but you'll know when you have one. Better yet, your friends will tell you, because it is the part of a song they can not seem to get out of their head.
    
    
    
14. Smooth the rough edges. If the pieces do not fit together, try building a transition. Put all the sections of your song in the same key. If your song suddenly changes in tempo (speed) between the two parts, try gradually changing the speed as you enter and exit the section that does not fit with the rest of the song. Try adding a short instrumental interlude that will carry you from one part to the next. While it is possible that two parts should not be in the same song, it could be that you started one part with the wrong meter or wrong kind of beat.
15. Get feedback. Play or sing your song for people and get their opinions. You will probably get a better idea of what they really think after you write a few songs. As they hear more of your songs, they might give you hints like, "It's good, and I liked that first one you wrote better" or "Wow, I've never heard anything like that, and I like it." and "That's a really good song!" Be prepared for a critic in the family that will accept nothing less than to hear it post-produced with all the bells and whistles that a band in a studio can offer.
16. Once you've finished your first song, don't stop. Keep writing and practicing, and you'll find yourself getting better and better. You may need to write a lot of songs before you hit on one you really like, and even after that, you may need to write a lot more before you get another good one. Work hard and have fun doing it!
17. Write music with someone If you feel blocked, then find a partner. The dues to pay in music involve a lot of volunteer hours. If (s)he does have inspiration (s)he could inspire you with writing your song, or part of it. Some great stuff became four parts through good interpersonal Chemistry.
18. Go for a walk. While you should write as often as you can, writer's block is inevitable and really can stop you in your tracks, even writing the worst song in the world becomes impossible and your pen simply refuses to touch the paper. To overcome this blank state of mind, stop writing and do something different; go for a walk, pick up a newspaper, get milk and bread in, and while you take a little break from trying to write, be aware of the sights, sounds and smells of whichever environment you are in. Perhaps someone is having a BBQ that smells amazing and you can even taste the smoke, or you can hear bells, birds, waves, cars, wind, whatever, just try to pick out all the different things going on that you would not normally spot if you were just on your way to work or school. That can be all you need to pick up a little inspiration or at least get you back into practising your writing...

• Use your imagination. Do not copy verses. One line might not matter, and stealing a verse would prevent you from releasing a recording without permission. Stolen tunes do not always prevent you from performing, say, a parody, in person. Adding or deleting words might not fix this problem, either. If in doubt, check it out. If you can play an instrement e.g Guitar, Piano, or drums they can help you create and just finish your song. Then you have to give it a name. Base your name on what your song is about e.g if your song is about your friend, then use her or his name.