How do you go about writing a song and getting the rhythm and pace right? How many songwriters are on this forum?

I've written a few. Do you play an instrument?

I right a lot of songs. Not lyrics, just music, and I do it in different ways. Sometimes I'll think of something at random and I'll have to go play guitar and figure it out, and sometimes it just comes from mucking about on guitar or piano.

Since just before I got into high school, I've written near a hundred songs. I spose that's alright, considering I'm 17 now.
The more recent ones are heaps better, but I wouldn't say mine are that great... other songwriters on this forum are probably heaps better than me!! lol

So you've written a hundred songs in a year? That's good. i have about maybe twenty songs, ten of which I consider professional standard. No lyrics tho.

not in a year... over about 5 years. I started writing half-decent songs a year or so before I got into high school, year 7... now i'm in year 12 (hating it, too) and i've written about a hundred.

Ok sorry, I don't understand school systems in other countries. Still it's quite a lot of songs.
What instruments do you play?

i was actually writing a song wen i came across this thread. i have writen maybe 30 songs in two years. bout 10 are worth sumthing. writing songs cant be taught, its got to cum from wit in you (depending on wat style of musik). but if you need help i will try just give me a tingle.

usually i write melody, then bass music, adding a little bit drums, and when it's finished i distort all

I don't play an instrument and have never yet written a song. I'm just becoming interested in the process of doing so. I have done some creative writing before, but I know songwriting is different as you have less words to play with. Good to see a number of songwriters on the forum. Thanks for the replies. One more question - On some modern albums I notice that some songs are credited as having been written by multiple people, perhars five or six. Am I right in saying that the first person mentioned wrote the biggest part of the song and the further out the less they hads to do with it? How do royalties work in this case. Is songwriting a collaborate effort more nowadays?