I think it's fantastic to start from an idea and just build around it. I think the most effective songs are built around this climax where the listener is just emotionally, intellectually, and maybe even physically engaged. I think the verse, chorus, verse, chorus thing is OK for certain songs, but the best ones use this structure to build to something that the listener can really identify with. I aim to do that with my songwriting. It is most difficult, but, when done effectively, raises the listenability and impact of a song.

Generally, any song I think of starts with a motif or a rhyming scheme that gets stuck in my head, and I start to play around with it. It can end up being part of the verse or the chorus or neither, it all depends on where it fits and what occurs to me first. That said, my experience with song writing is entirely theoretical and has only started occuring within the last 6 months, I haven't actually gotten around to writing anything down yet, though there are a lot of half-songs floating around in my head...

I haven't tried writing a vocal song yet, but I'd start off with a verse nine times out of ten.

Chorus monkey
 

Usually if I can't get an idea out of my head it turns into the Chorus for a song I'll write later.

Usually if I can't get an event out of my head it's the verse.

The only rule is there are no rules...

Usually a skeleton break-down works the best for me. I have an overall message. Hit each point with a verse that coresponds to the overall theme. Fill in the blanks with a chorus.

See, I don't understand that. I mean, if you're using a timed guideline, and just filling in the blanks, are you really writing the song, or are you simply changing interchangeable pieces on the same song?

I personally just feel writing that way takes a song down a notch. If a line shouldn't be in a song, then why would it be in a song? Filling in the blanks is just sort of a way to force one to pad down a work.

To me, this seems the most logical approach mentioned. As any art form, it starts out an idea, an object. The secret of songwriting, from my findings, is to allow that object to gradually mold with time. Maybe it's just a personal preference, but it's never steered me wrong.

Absolutely no idea. I come up with bits and pieces and wether a certain bit ends up in a verse or chorus is completely arbirtrary. If the song ends up with verses and choruses at all, that is.

i voted verses simply because it's the norm

Haha who knows? It can be wildly different. I've written songs chorus first, verse first and ass backwards. Honestly, it pointless caring. Any way round can produce perfectly good results. The song I consider my best happens to be verse first but that doesn't mean writing around a chorus makes a song any worse. The last song I wrote had its chorus written months before I figured out a verse. Also, you're only 'forcing yourself into a structure' if you force yourself to finish a song. If you write a chorus and can't think of a verse then leave it and the right verse will come to you later and vice versa. Don't get tricked into thinking the orientation of your song writing will affect the outcome.

I don't make my own music, but I'd imagine it'd be the verse.