here's my second blog since I have written one in a while, for whom it may concern.

I have had this problem for which seems to be the entire time that I have been writing music. Its not exactly writers block (even though I do get it every now and then like everyone); as I usually can sit down, and with some level of ease write a few riffs on a guitar, or develop some ideas in FL and make a decent base out of them. But, out of the 500+ tracks/projects that I have created in the past year and a half since I started fiddling with FL (and this doesnt include my *shitty quality* guitar recordings), I've never made a long, full track that I feel is entirely finished. It sounds like a problem that can simply be solved through some, simple but laborious efforts and just an overall strive to finish. I can (and do) nitpick at other people's work, and give suggestions when necessary, regarding how I personally think they could potentially structure and sequence their work better. But when it comes to my own stuff, I'm lost. It's not like I make extremely complex compositions either (if you havent noticed) where I've created a maze impossible to escape. I know a fair amount of theory and can use some compositonal techniques to "hook", but it's easier said than done- and I would rather not sound formulaic. I usually can work a while and get a solid minute of consistent, flowing work, and then I'll start writing an idea for a different portion of the song some time, but I just cant put the pieces together. I may work on it a day or two later, but I can never get the piece finished the way I want, and it usually ends buried in my FL project folder, most likely to not be worked on again.

So I'd try developing an excercise that may serve as a possible remedy to my problem (and maybe this would help others, too).

I made it a goal to make a track that is going to be a generally simple piece, that will be atleast 64 bars in length, and the criteria is just to make it have a fitting intro, middle, and end. The main gist is that I have to completly compose the track progressively in order as I write it, no jumping between certain sections and going back to fill gaps. It doesn't matter how good or bad I think it is; don't worry about the mixing (or mastering), just get it done. Also, I'm going to use only 1 pattern-which means absolutely no use of the playlist. That *can* pry musicians in the production of making music that ends up sounding more generic and looped, and besides a lot of traditional composers dont use that type of method. I usually dont use a lot of patterns anyway, and when I started FL for the first few months I didnt know what the purpose of the playlist was. I'm not saying using the playlist will take away from your work- but it may be a solution if you're also having trouble writing transitions and connecting certain parts.

So I started doing this a week or so ago, and it started off relatively well- I started off with some subtle percussion and quiet bass strings, and then started making the percussion louder and adding some higher range melodies to it. I got 30 bars, but now I'm bored with it and dont feel like going back. My mindset was supposed to be like doing a homework assignment- I just follow the requirements and get a decent grade, or make something incomplete and fail. I don't want to continue because music or any type of art shouldn't be treated that way. But I know if I finish this project I will build my skills.

so theres my second rant...I was really trying to crank out a couple more tracks by the end of january, and start uploading on a more regular basis, even though there isnt many people listening to my work-but things like this take time and I'm happy for the attention I recieve now, and enjoy actively being a part of the AP at NG.

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