I did a 9 month internship with a successfull, local (philly) songwriter / producer. Like everything else in the music biz, there is no 1 way of doing things, but many avenues to go down. To make it as a songwriter takes a lot of tenacity and luck, not to mention talent. Most songwriters I've meant usually approach it as a craft, not an art, cranking out more songs within a year then the average singer/songwriter writes in a lifetime.

I think the big difference between having a "name" and not having one is: when you have an established reputation artists will come to you seeking songs, when you don't your forced to hussle. Which is pretty much true in all aspects of the industry.