Learn the craft of songwriting. Learning to write songs well isn't something you learn overnight. The process is ongoing. The more writing techniques you learn, the better your songwriting becomes. Book and music stores are full of books on the craft of songwriting. Purchase a copy of "Music Composition for Dummies" from the popular "Dummies" book series. It's a comprehensive, easy-to-understand songwriting guide that you should keep by your side as you hone your skills.
Write whenever you can. Choose your method of composition. Some composers write with an acoustic guitar, and others use a piano. Some composers hear the music in their heads and have the ability to write it down without using an instrument. With numerous songwriting methods, the key is finding the one that works best for you.
Keep a notebook handy at all times. Carry one with you when you go somewhere and keep one beside your bed in case you wake up in the middle of the night with an idea. Jot down lyrical and musical ideas whenever they come to you, even if they are only bits and pieces.
Keep regular hours. Don't wait for the muse to strike. Take your songwriting as seriously as you would take any job. You may not always turn out something you can use, but writing regularly is the only way you will make the progress you need to succeed.
Register your songs with the U.S. Copyright Office (see Resources) for protection. Do this before you start looking for markets for your work. You can register your songs online.
Pursue avenues of income for your songs. Visit local clubs to find bands that are looking for a songwriter. Check music trade papers. If you can afford it, advertise your songwriting talents. Find the management agencies that represent some of the singers you'd like to write for and approach those companies with songs written specifically for the artist the company handles. Most important, get a copy of the "Songwriter's Market" put out by the same company that publishes the "Writer's Market." This book tells you where and how to submit your songs to get them into the hands of recording artists who can turn them into money-making hits.
Register with the Association of Composers, Authors and Publishers. These are the people who keep track of performances of your songs. They collect royalties for you and distribute the money to you. It isn't necessary to register with them, but the service they provide is extremely valuable. Once you begin selling songs, consider signing up.