This is an interesting thread folks. The same good advice has been given many times regarding contemporary upbeat and positive writing. I find myself generally clinging to the types of songs I like. But it's in just that place I found a description of what a song should do. In Paul Simon's "Kodachrome" he says :

gives us those nice bright colors
gives us the greens of summer
makes you think all the world's a sunny day

so I have begun to try writing as much positive upbeat stuff as possible. Now if I can just get myself to listen to contemporary stuff maybe I can get over the "hobby hurdle".

thanks so much Mike and Marc,
John

Whoever said the pen is mightier than the sword never had an editor.