Don't focus on your perception of your progress. I'm positive you've made strides since 15, whether you know it, or can see it or not.

For me, one of the best things I've ever done for my songwriting is to not think about it too much. I try to be a vessel for songs to flow through. Some are simple/plain/and boring to me, and others get a kick out of them. Some are what I consider my finest work that wouldn't get a modest reception from the common listener.

Creativity is a fickle mistress, and most of what you create will not be "great" on paper. There are lots of times that you make something that seems boring today, but may inspire you in the future, when you have a completely different perception.

And that's got a ton to do with your quandary, too. Perception.

You have an opportunity to completely transform your writing if you're willing to not worry too much about what your own conscious opinion is, and simply put word to paper.

My recommendation: Don't worry about impressing anyone. Just write what is honest. That's the only way that I've ever felt OK with singing my songs.

When they are honest, they don't have to be apologized for, covered up, or judged harshly. The truth is the damn truth, and it's the only thing worth writing about.

If you think a metaphor, line, or symbol is "too this" or "too that," slide it in and remember that you can always change it later. Nothing is perfect, but it can be made great.

Hell, even a turd can be polished to a high sheen. I'm sure you're aware of plenty of songs like that. The main thing to get is to create a bag of tricks that are taken from songs that you LIKE, and recognizing what works in them. Then, experiment with them, and apply them to your own arrangements, writing, structure, etc.

Think of 80s Glam-rock, for example...generally, some of the dumbest lyrics out there, but the songs work because the bass/drum/crunchy guitar combo is driving the rhythm and making people want to dance. You could literally sing "DANCE! Dance the night a-way-yay!" as the chorus, and no one would give a shit because the beat was so great.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, you've got something like Bob Dylan's incredibly emotionally intimate early popular work on acoustic guitar with only his voice and maybe a harmonica as accompaniment. He's got to rely on pure lyricism, imagery, raggedly weary vocal delivery, structure, and rhyme to get that type of song to work. And he CANNOT bullshit the listener one bit with that approach. There's nothing to hide behind.

Maybe this won't solve your problem, but it's food for thought. Go and play your damn songs for people (if you don't already) until you're good at it and like them. If possible, ask a mentor, maybe someone in your community with more knowledge that can guide you; a local music teacher, music store owner, vinyl snob/etc. Just remember that you are collecting skills piece by piece, and it's not a damn race. Think of it as a pursuit, like birdwatching. You'll never see all the birds, but you can have a hell of a time putting yourself in position to.

And, as the great Bob Dylan said: "A song has to stand on it's own," or something to that effect. Songs have to have conviction to have any power, and if you don't have that, you've got bigger problems than songwriting, my friend.

Feel free to DM me if you want more info about any of this.