[Small]

I concede the point, and like I said, even had I not conceded the point, I had no intention of doing anything more about it.

[northbayguitar]

Thanks for a great end of the week read on this thread! To me this is a topic always worth giving thought to and consideration. My take - I dunno. I do believe that there are gifted qualities in all of us, yet if they're not exercised they dull. So, maybe I would say "both". The net result however is or can be, the same. A song is a song is a song.

Couple books that might be of interest, by Malcom Gladwell - "Outliers" and "Blink". "Tipping Point" also has some good stuff. Outliers is the most recent of his books I've read, and in it he proposes that most of what society normally recognizes as "genius" is the product of a measurable amount of time and effort put in prior to the results that get recognized as "genius". Allowing for predispositions in individuals where their individual makeup provides a predilection for a given type of effort, he follows the line that history indicates that education, support, learning and long term effort are what most reliably produce high quality results. "Geniuses" and their work aren't born in his proposal, they're bred. Born with what they have, but that can be wasted or simply not developed if the long term effort isn't put in to produce results.

When it comes to songwriting (and could apply to other disciplines as easily) I think there is also the element of "inspiration", where something comes to an individual to express in a very natural and personal way. Where matters of faith and the human heart are involved, inspiration is often the product, be it a song, poem, or a simple and elegant piece of work.

Meaningful songwriting can, I believe, come from anyone at any time that their heart literally "bubbles over" and expresses itself clearly. That's a technique worth capturing and practicing I think - songwriters often keep pen and pad with them or nearby, to jot down ideas and phrases that hit them.

This gets to the definition of a "good" song, or one that hmmm, "sounds" good and being a "good" songwriter. If the goal is to get that response from others, the measurement requires others to hear it, and get something from it. To "like it".

I can think I'm a GREAT songwriter in other words, but the greatness is actually determined by the others who hear it and give it that value.

Also comes to mind - I like the lyric by Michael Franks in one of his songs that goes

"Practice makes perfect,
Sense when it comes to love."

It's a catchy line - practice usually does improve what we do. Love is widely considered as a natural thing, something that "happens" or "finds us", with a kind of unpredictable spark to it. Yet if we were to aspire to be good at it - wouldn't practice make sense?

Anyhoo - enjoyed the read. I wouldn't give up on songwriting if I were you, keep at it. It can only get better, and even if it doesn't, if you enjoy it - hey.