do you have to be able to play music to write it?

by Anthony Marston
(Greenwood, Arkansas USA)

I have always been a writer, as far back as i can remember, But I am not musically inclined, or at least i don't think i am. and yes I have tried Guitar, but do not have the dexterity, and the piano as a kid just couldn't get into it. Although I have helped a friend write a couple of songs for his garage band, and have written a few on my own, which he thought were really good.
Strangely enough I can hear the music in my head (all of it, full instrumental) when i write song lyrics, at times i can whip out a complete song in less than ten minutes... This may be the cord progressions you referred to in your forum.
This all began from my hobby of writing poetry and in the past year has turned to music. i was always very good at poetry even placed in the top 5 in a state wide poetry contest my 10th year of high school, my teacher entered me with out my knowledge, of which I was very upset once finding out in class to my humiliation of the news... Allot of time has passed and my shyness has passed with age. Im now 38 and love the fact that i have this talent but am wondering if i can still enter into the field if i do not play any musical instruments??? i can hear music as i said, but cannot relate the sounds in my head to anyone else except through the words i write.. If they can hear them the same way i do.. At the same tempo and beat.
Any opinion or suggestions you may have would be greatly appreciated...
Anthony