I've been browsing this forum for a while, and it seems to me that a lot of people write their lyrics forcefully (I can tell by there being no flow or structure to the lyrics).
By forcefully I mean that they feel that they have to write them, even if they have no idea where it is going to go.
Personally, I only write when something pops into my head. From here, I develop a central idea to base my lyrics around, and to make sure the story I'm trying to tell is clear.
I've never written about a personal experience (drug addiction, suicide, going unnoticed etc.), but my story is clear because of the way I develop my ideas.
I have never forced myself to write, and if something isn't working the way I want it to, I close MS Word and don't save it.
I also write in complete silence. I turn the tv or my music off, and begin.
I also sing my lyrics as I'm writing them, to make sure they (the words) fit the style and the flow is working (I find this helps a lot).
Then, I record a brief part of the lyrcis (I can't sing at all though), just so when I look back over them, I know how the rhythm goes.
I don't do drafts.
Once the lyrics have been written, I do one proof read and then post it on a few websites so I can receive criticism. If the need is there, I might alter a line or two, but that's all that I'll do.
All this usually takes under 1/2 an hour (including all the pre-development stages).
What I'd like to know is how you approach your writing.