u/Secret_Comedian638

I was listening to a version of “Garden” from a Seattle show, December 6, 2013. I got to thinking, it’s one that I haven’t heard live often, and it sounded just a tad rusty compared to the rest of the set. I went back in my library and I looked to see how many different versions of “Garden” I had. I found it on only 3 of the many bootlegs that I own. I went back and listened to the studio version. Now, I’ll preface this by saying I am not a musician, but the opening riff sounds incredibly difficult to reproduce live. I might be mistaken, but I think that might explain why it seems it appears so infrequently live. Then I got to thinking about their entire catalog and I was wondering, which of their originals is the hardest to play live?

I currently have four or five novel ideas bouncing around in my head, but I have substantial work invested in two main projects. Both of these have multiple completed chapters, extensive research, fully developed characters, and mapped out plot lines; however, neither is more than halfway complete.

The first project is a bildungsroman loosely based on my own life that I am writing as literary fiction. The second is a totally fictional political thriller that I originally started just as a warm-up exercise. I usually go through phases where I devote my time solely to one project at a time. For the past few months, the bildungsroman has completely consumed me. When I was working on it in small pieces, I felt like I was making serious progress and taking big steps forward in both plot and literary development. Then I sat down last night to read what I have written all the way through, and I was horrified. It sounded like a freshman in an advanced creative writing workshop.

The political thriller is not as far along as the bildungsroman, but I think it is actually a better at this point. My biggest issue with it is that the writing feels like it is coming too easily. I have to put forth a massive amount of effort just to come three or four paragraphs for the bildungsroman. In that exact same amount of time, I can sit down and crank out 2,500 to 3,000 words for the political thriller with no stress.

I feel bogged down in both projects right now. I know I could probably finish the political thriller if I just put the bildungsroman on the shelf for about a year, but it is incredibly hard to do that because of the deep personal emotions associated with it. Has anyone else in this community experienced similar struggles, and what kind of tips might you have for navigating this?

I currently have four or five novel ideas bouncing around in my head, but I have substantial work invested in two main projects. Both of these have multiple completed chapters, extensive research, fully developed characters, and mapped out plot lines; however, neither is more than halfway complete.

The first project is a bildungsroman loosely based on my own life that I am writing as literary fiction. The second is a totally fictional political thriller that I originally started just as a warm-up exercise. I usually go through phases where I devote my time solely to one project at a time. For the past few months, the bildungsroman has completely consumed me. When I was working on it in small pieces, I felt like I was making serious progress and taking big steps forward in both plot and literary development. Then I sat down last night to read what I have written all the way through, and I was horrified. It sounded like a freshman in an advanced creative writing workshop.

The political thriller is not as far along as the bildungsroman, but I think it is actually a better at this point. My biggest issue with it is that the writing feels like it is coming too easily. I have to put forth a massive amount of effort just to come three or four paragraphs for the bildungsroman. In that exact same amount of time, I can sit down and crank out 2,500 to 3,000 words for the political thriller with no stress.

I feel bogged down in both projects right now. I know I could probably finish the political thriller if I just put the bildungsroman on the shelf for about a year, but it is incredibly hard to do that because of the deep personal emotions associated with it. Has anyone else in this community experienced similar struggles, and what kind of tips might you have for navigating this?