Hi Kristi:

Thanks for sharing these important factors. Goldmacher left out one very important factor: Write it down! Don't wait. We have too many distractions in our lives today. If you don't get it down on paper (or whatever) it will vanish rather quickly.

It does not have to be perfect. Be prepared for a long "siege!" Don't be afraid to scrap the entire thing and start over with your original song idea. Never throw a lyric away, bad as it may seem today, it may sound perfect next week or next year.

The same idea should apply to your recordings. No matter how simple or complex, save a copy of the original if you decide to head off in a different direction. Nothing wrong with experimenting but being able to return to your "starting place" is a great option.

None of this relates to the difficulties of co-writes. That is another subject and I won't go there on this post. It can be done but requires patience, diplomacy and time.

All the best, ----Dave