Song writing process

how do you start?
techniques in creating melodies and original tunes?
problems during song writing?
final output and reconstruction?

these are some questions i'd like to know about... thanks in advance!

i usually start with a riff. not a long one. just a short riff. then i find chord progressions that would fit. not necessarily the complicated ones; a simple three or four chord prog will do. then we sit and gather around and build it up. we then arrange it for months. looking for possible improvements, pruning unnecessary stuff.

techniques? there's one, trust your capabilities and you'll come up with good stuff.

problems? personally, im not a good lyricist so that may be my problem.

problem--- a load of them! especially on writing a song:

---i don't want it to sound too poetic nor a trash...

i usually start at the keyboard then off to the strings.. of course help of others will come handy. coz im not that good at progressions. hehe

sample daw ry...