So I'm kinda in dat rut wundering how to create ideas, both lyrically and musically. I read a cool free guide on songwriting, had some interesting tips to put to work... (Post it soon) but I'm digging for anything at this point!

In addition, it's not solely loss of ideas; I recently recruited a guitarist/friend, and I realize that to incorporate guitar into a synth-poppy feel, I sorta have to become an alternative rock artist. Any ideas on the best way to marry these ideas?

I think it's always better to have a modus of some kind. Like a heart felt feeling for a thing or at least a pull or persuasion in a certain direction. Trying to create the feeling for the result can be difficult. Of course you could always copy what others have done so you would be building an idea off of their idea or along the same lines. I don't personally like that approach as much.

I usually come up with music way before I come up with lyrics. The music comes from a feeling. In my case I don't always feel the need to have lyrics at all. Probably not my strongest area. Some people will start you off in a way that resembles science and I guess it really is but it's more than that. Lots of people will tell you that a song needs this and that to be anything. They have a strict criteria for what they deem to be a solid musical piece. In their mind anything else just isn't. Music and a "song" are different too. Music can be totally unstructured in a familiar way.

I mostly start off with a melody or at least a theme of some kind. If a vocalist is involved it is important to build it to their singing range. After that it's all about the mechanics and subjective approaches to determine what combinations you want. Get out the sound colors and start painting. If one of your goals is to be trendy in a certain genre, then you would go for what seems to be popular and selling, or what other people seem to like. If your goal is to make yourself happy with your own music, then don't worry about what fits in with anything else. Those two goals could intersect.Find a formula that you like and to heck with the rest.That's JMHO.

You probably already have ideas. Just a matter of bringing the ideas out.One thing I can't do is instill the basis for a creation into you. That has to come from inside.

I think you're on the right track, David. Collaboration is the fastest route out of a creative slump.

I discovered something strange about myself; yesterday I found out my school was holding an art competition... I decided to write something for it.... Lyrics, start to finish in one day. And I'm gonna be honest- there are lyrics that don't come out good on a first draft, but these... they'll probably need no more than one more draft before I call them done.
I don't know what it is- working under pressure? Then again, we are given a theme, so I'm sure that helped. 
Starise, that's another thing I've noted of myself! I generally have NO ability to write when I feel no emotion or when things are just easy and laid back. I remember last October, I was having some life complications... pulled probably 4 songs out of it. Recently, I haven't been NEEDING to release any emotion, so I'm sure that plays into my ability to write.

I, too, have a hard time writing lyrics on demand. My best ones have seemingly come out of nowhere, just falling into place with minimal effort.
 
I wish I could tap that source at will, but I haven't figured out how to do that. I have but one clue: it's most likely to occur after I've spent the weekend gigging or jamming with others. Something about having to invent stuff in the moment seems to trigger the creative side of the brain.

 Great thoughts Bitflipper. Maybe I should try lyrics after a gig. Davdud101, I find a certain emotional release in just the music so to me the lyrics usually fit in as a secondary importance. I find I can get involved in others songs emotionally sometimes. It's like trying too hard to pee.Know what I mean? Creating music needs to be a natural thing IMO. The harder you try to force it the harder it can be to create. In my case that might mean skipping a few days in the studio because I know it won't happen.

lyrics:
start keeping a small notepad handy, and whenever a clever line pops in the head, write it down.
don't worry about how you'll use it at the time, simply COMPILE MATERIAL.
 
pull it together later.
 
 
 
music:
themes are great.
so are thinking in colors.....
play your synth in bright red, have the guitarist play in dark purple...... and let the drums be brown. let the rhythm be white.
etc....
 
 
 
parts:
think about separating what you are playing from the guitar in terms of register.
limit your playing to only around middle C, and make guitarist play everything an octave above that and up.
reverse the limitations for certain parts of the song, like verses, versus bridge and chorus.
 
 
poly rhythms:
write a key part that is 6/8 over a steady 2/2.
 
make the guitarist come up with a part that is 2/4.
combine, rinse, repeat.
 
etc.