I've resumed writing song back and hear me this: Im just recording it in my head and guitar. I've lost all my gadgets few years ago and now my only barrier is not having a recorder. Guess Im back to basics now.
Now, to choose a genre you like is quite impossible. For example, you may like Cradle of Filth, and you desire to write songs that would hit just like that. But at the same time when you walk at town of just hanging out with your friends, a song strucked and played in your mind, say, a Bob Marley hit. Then you might just thought that you want to write that kind of song too bcoz at that point of time you would thought that that song does express who you really are. You'll began to ponder how on earth do they come out with that kind of song? What was on their  mind when they wrote it?
I have a friend in the local music scene (my place) and he said that just hum a note and try to complete it as it is a song. Then grab your guitar or violin and play other notes that crosses your mind and make that another song. Final step, try combine your hums and that melody you're playing with your instrument. It is like two completely different person, different set of mind contributing to make a song. I DONT BUY IT THOUGH. Sounds ridiculous?Maybe. Why dont you try it? My friend's music sucks anyway.