How do I write lyrics?

Too scared to write lyrics or form a band- how to overcome?

• Hello. I have, for the last 7 years, been wanting to form a band. But i am too nervous to meet people. I have been diagnosed with social anxiety by my doctor recently. On top of that, i cannot bring myself to create any more lyrics. I completed some lyrics a few years ago and i wrote quite frequently but i'm too afraid to do anything now. I usually have an idea for a song in terms of its story but am too afraid to attempt to put pen to paper and flesh it out. Without wanting to sound conceited, i think i have a decent voice and the songs i HAVE written are quite good and i would love to showcase them. I have told my family about my intentions to join a band but over time i think it has become a joke. I don't think they realise that i have a condition that holds me back from socialising and interacting. I don't have any friends that could join a band so meeting up with strangers is a frightening thought that makes me queasy just thinking about it. I have lyrics written and i have a dictaphone and i know how my songs sound but i wouldn't know how to show a future band member my material. It seems embarresing to show them on a dictaphone. What are we going to do? Sit there and listen to a dictaphone? I don't know the chords to my songs, only the melodies. Or is showing them the dictaphone the only way? I find that writing lyrics is a frustrating thing. Neither clever enough or simple enough, the whole thing frustrates me. I realise that most of the lyrics in the charts are quite simplistic but i also feel i can never reach the ambitious writing style that i imagine for myself. Aswell as social anxiety, i suffer OCD aswell meaning that things like labelling folders, organising things on my laptop etc take precedence over anything important. I'm 23 now and the last few years have flown by, i'm getting worried but i'm also becoming numb aswell in that i'm losing drive. But for all the numbness i fel now, it will translate into some SERIOUS regrets later down the line. I also feel very insecure about my looks and i have always been this way since i was about 7 which isn't what you want if your dream involves playing in front of loads of people! Can anybody offer a suggestion of where to start with this mess? P.S i have 6 songs written in full and they were written in about 2007/2008 Thanks!!!

• Answer:

  If you're afraid of people, why don't you upload videos of yourself and your band performing on YouTube? Promote your video well... people should see it. And when you start getting more and more views, you'll gain confidence that people do appreciate your singing and writing capabilities (that is if you're good, haha) Give it a shot! You're still young and can accomplish so much. If you don't do this now, you might regret it 20 years down the line.