Begin to immerse yourself into various different music scenes. From country to classical, pay attention to the lyrics and messages behind hit music and how the public receives it. If you're a writer who plays an instrument, download lyrics to songs from different genres and learn to play the music. Keep abreast of all the trends in songwriting, singing and production.
Join up with different lyricists. Some of the best music has been created when songwriters and artist are inspired to collaborate. Artists such as Elvis, Elton John, the Beastie Boys, Jay-Z and Celine Dion all crafted their sound by experimentation and collaboration. This will help you gain a first-hand sense of how other artists compose different styles.
Break form. More often than not, there are structures that different genres typically follow when writing lyrics. Pop songs usually stick with heavy repetitions of the chorus, as those are often the most catchy and memorable parts of the song. Rap songs focus on lengthy verses to relay the message. Form changes from genre to genre. Learn how to experiment with form. On the single "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," Elton John hired a classical arranger to help give the pop sound a unorthodox feel, which resulted in a hit. While rapper Twister used violinist Miri Ben-Ari to make his hit single "Overnight Celebrity" appeal not only to hip-hop music listeners but to pop and classical lovers who appreciated the freshness of combining a string instrument with rap.