Fame is not going to come find you; you have to hunt it down and grab it by the throat. Many brilliant songwriters remain undiscovered because they think that writing great songs is enough. It's not; you have to get them recorded and heard and keep at it until somebody gets it. You are not a planet or a scientific theory; no one is going to discover you unless you get someone's attention. Don't “gherm” people, but you can ask questions and advice of anyone you know. You can also watch the incoming newbies and be the first person to befriend those with talent and potential.

Most importantly, keep trying. If someone is too busy for a meeting, ask if you can send a CD or call back at a better time. When you have a meeting, get as much feedback as possible. Get specifics; if someone says, “Your lyrics need work,” ask if there are particular areas that need improvement. Find out which writers a publisher likes and study their songs. If a publisher says you can come back in a month or even a year, follow up on it and make sure you have some great new songs for the next meeting. If a host doesn't book you for a round after playing the open mike, ask for feedback and work harder to get in. Proving that you are focused and relentless will impress people as much as having talent.