Gerald,
My entry into Writing and Songramp and cowriting took a different path.
Back in late 2003 the drummer of my old band ( I was the bass plonker ) introduced me me to his lady partner who said because of infirmity she couldnt work but bought a keyboard, taught herself and "wrote songs". I was intrigued and being the chauvinist I am, I thought " well if she can do it so can I".
I cast around the net for songwriting sites and landed here and promptly forgot I had registered. I ended up on the now closed Songwritersforum.com, run by Wayland Patton. Many members of that site are now members here too
Through interaction with folk on there I met musicians who, over time, were willing to add sound and vox to my lyrics . As a result I have have some 75 tracks in my Archive.
Only 1 was a cowrite with an Australian. ( I am a Kiwi by citizenship, born in England and living in Australia ) . Several were written with folk in UK and several with an American living in Paris. The remainder were written with Americans ( no canucks ) and a couple with MAB but he doesnt count 
.
The point of this ramble is that if your the folk in your pond arent willing then get to know folk on here and start by interacting socially and by reviewing their songs . That way they get to know you and you build a relationship then doors open.
Dont ignore your own pond though. In the last 12 months I have "found" a handful of folk that want to interact locally , mainly playing guitar rather than writing but from small beginnings......
MAb has just "introduced " me to a lady whodid his tour who was returning to Melbourne so we have hooked up once and plan to do so more often once she has settled in her new job nd found her own place to live..
If Iadnt got around developing online songwriting relationships, I would not have stayed with Songwriterforums, met Kip Marchetti and cowrote about 35 songs with him then moved here to Songramp when SWF closed. Kip is the best friend I have that I have never yet met.
Through Songramp I met several other good folk online and one day when Planning a trip to UK I said to Robyn, why dont we fly via USA and drop in at Nashville for a couple of days and see what it is all about.
As soon as I posted that I was coming over and asked would anyone like to meet up for a beer . I was offered a place to stay and introductions to loads of Nashville locals.
That was the start of the rot! Since then I have been back to NAshville 5 times ( at a cost of $2000+ per person ) but its been worth it simply from a social perspective. Ive met many folk off songramp , Met MAb and through him been introduced to folk I would never have knowingly rubbed shoulders with .
So
The point of this Get to know folk first .. Just Like Marc has said.. Know folk first . Things spring from that..
J