Hi James,

That's the way to do it all right but writing to a "melody" can limit the flow of words and force a metering that often becomes pedantic syllable-counting and that metronome-like limitation can stifle the freedom of the wording and be uninspiring to an outside composer.

I write with a vague melody that I don't pay attention to, because it is the background music to the cadence and RHYTHM and feel that I DO write to.

Perhaps that's more what you meant -- that you write to a rhythm, to a tempo. (?)

Cheers,
Terry