wrong section or not.. i'll try to answer lol
I find that song writing follows no rules. it can be different for everyone, and different each time you try.
I'm talking the entire process.
I have purposely tried different methods of approach, from just sitting staring at a piece of paper, to carrying around a pen and paper in my pocket and writing one line at a time over the course of a month. sometimes I start with a melody, sometimes lyrics, sometimes I have entire musical score before I put words to it. there is no real proper way to do it.
you mentions what kind of equipment? I am assuming you mean software? midi or loops?
I can't answer that part because I am purely an instrument/vocals kinda guy. all my music is generated by my hands or voice and so the only equipment I would use is a guitar or piano.
and of course my mind.
I've also found its the same thing as when you record a song in a way..
I have tried to purposely go about recording songs in totally different methods each time and it helps make them all unique.
for instance, one song I may record a guitar solo line by line. record one phrase then stop, listen back, redo if necessary, then move to the next. but then the next solo I recorded I played it all in one take from start to finish.
another one, I may record completely clean with no effects, then add all textures and effects later, and then the next time reverse that and play the track with the effect I want and do minimal production afterwards.
the moment you start to feel like you need to follow a certain procedure or process, your creative freedom will start to suffer.