Now that I have a shit-load of free time I have been playing guitar more and more, and I have even written some basic lyrics but I cannot put the two together. Although I haven’t written an accompanying melody I cannot think of how to start. Also, when I look at the lyrics they look unwieldy in a musical context but I am grappling with the difference between poetry and music in terms of writing; particularly that effect and impact are more important than rhyming or making sense in music.

I like to think I have some talent with writing in general, and I am not so much asking how to write lyrics per say, more how do you write in a musical context? Like what is and is not important in making an effective song.

not always, but often.... a good chorus will help, something people will pick up on easily and can sing back with you.

and you need a hook in the music for sure!

I don't like chorus's much; at least lyrically, maybe less so in a melody. In term's of song writing I really dig the Velvet Underground and while I certainly don't want to copy them, I like the way most of their song's either only have a one word chorus or none at all; just a linier progression of lyrics.

That being said, I am finding it tricky to tie the verses together. I was thinking add in one line grunts and phrases but it's tricky to judge while it only exists on paper.

but it's tricky to judge while it only exists on paper.

Sing that shit out :)

I play metal, and I recently realized that lyrics have absolutely no effect on an awesome metal song. I noticed this after looking at some children of bodom lyrics. They have pretty much the most terrible lyrics ever, half of it doesn't even have correct english grammar. But, it totally doesn't matter.

Oh, and don't stress too much on singing in the same melody as the guitar or whatever. Just do it. Write whatever comes to mind and sing it over whatever song you wrote. If it sounds good, keep it.

Well you could make a start by learning that apostrophes aren't used when you're using the plural form of the word.

I really only came here to say that, but since I'm here I may as well actually offer something other than grammar.

What works for me is not to write lyrics and then try to sing them with a guitar bit but to sing and play at the same time. If you've written lyrics, they might not fit with what you're playing guitar, but you can usually adjust them fairly easily. It might help to record problematic bits and sing different lyrics/melodies over the top. For me the melody is usually obvious, it might not be awesome, but there's just a particular way that I'd naturally sing it. If you find that, then that's the easy way, but experiment with it as well.

Basically practice man.

I find that i like to write both gore lyrics and socially aware lyrics that address all the fucked up shit in our world. I often find that I judge the music and lyrics that I write too critically though. I always wonder if I'm writing a badass song or just a mediocre one at best. Sometimes I will listen to a song later after I've recorded it and i like it, but by then I've forgotten several parts to it. I don't particularly focus on ryhmeing the words often, and even though I have to, I often find it difficult to sing and play at the same time. keep in mind this is metal. I also get writing block for solos and feel as if they aren't fresh sometimes.