Make your songs the best that they can be and develop an original voice in your lyrics or music. Learn to play an instrument and study music theory to broaden your musicality. Listen to various styles of music and study the elements that make songs successful so that you can incorporate some of those concepts into your writing. Practice your craft regularly and continue to try new things musically so that you can evolve artistically.
Work with other writers, musicians and producers to expand your repertoire and find inspiration. Get feedback on your songs from knowledgeable people and use it to look at your music objectively, so that you can improve it. You can find potential collaborators through music networking sites, music schools and local music venues.
Take care of the business side of your songwriting. Copyright your finished songs by registering them with the Library of Congress. Register with one of the three performing rights organizations; ASCAP, BMI or SESAC, so that they can collect royalties for your songs on your behalf. If you’ll be publishing your own songs, create a publishing company by registering your business name with your local City Hall.
Record a demo of your best songs to submit to prospective publishers, music managers and record labels. A typical songwriter demo contains three songs on a CD. You can record your demo at a professional studio or at home with audio software. The most important thing in recording your demo is that the composition of the songs shine through, regardless of the audio quality.
Choose the right avenue to sell or promote your music. If you want to write for other artists, mail or email your songs to labels that represent the type of artists best suited to your music. You can also register with an online music licensing company to submit songs for inclusion in TV and film productions. This is a common way for independent songwriters to get their music played, make a profit and attract the attention of music executives.