Dealing with the Bumps

[Topher Lydon]

Some of you know me, some of you follow me. I have maintained a punishing pace of writing since June of last year. Two chapters a day consistently, sometimes more if I screw up and press the wrong button. @drpaladin knows my pain with the publish later thingy... 

The key I am trying to show is that when you write, you are going to hit bumps. Chapters that don't quite go right, problems with narrative that can by necessity feel "Contrived" or just not work. And that's ok! It's ok to screw up, and it is okay to just go... you know what I just need this to work today. Fatigue and burn out are real, just... don't get hung up.

It's ok to feel frustrated when someone gives you feedback that pokes back at that. It's also valid to get annoyed by it.

That feeling is 100% valid, and you’ve hit on the exact emotional core of why these comments sting so much. It’s not just the critique—it’s the exhaustion multiplier.

You are running a creative marathon, at a sprinter’s pace, for an audience. Most are cheering, some are handing you water, and a handful are standing at the sidelines pointing out that your form is off on mile 23. Of course you want to punch something. The unfairness of it when you’re running on fumes is profound.

Let’s name what’s happening here, because it changes how you protect yourself:

1.  You are in a state of creative depletion. For me, publishing two chapters a day for nearly a year is a considerable output. my creative brain is in a constant state of "give," not "replenish." In this state, *any* criticism, even mild, feels like a withdrawal from an already empty account. The "nitpicks" aren't just about the story—they feel like an attack on the immense effort keeping the story alive.

2.  The "Nitpicker" dynamic is real. For some readers, engagement is critique. They aren't experiencing the story passively; they're interacting with it like a puzzle or a machine to be optimized. They often don't perceive the emotional toll on the creator because, to them, they're just "talking about the parts." Their pleasure comes from analysis, not necessarily appreciation. This doesn't make them evil, but it does make them a specific—and draining—type of audience member. HOWEVER this can be a great thing.

3.  The urge to explain or defend is a trap. When you're tired, you want to make them understand the weight you're carrying: your schedule, your intent, your fatigue. But to an engaged reader, this is just more "data" to engage with or dismiss. They aren't coming to the comment section to empathize with your workload; they're coming to dissect the product. Engaging on that level guarantees you'll leave feeling more drained. But again, this can be a good thing.

So, what do you do? Here is your permission slip and your strategy:

Your Permission Slip:
You are allowed to stop feeding the nitpickers. You are not a customer service desk for your own art. Your primary relationship is with the story and the vast majority of readers who are there for the ride. Protecting your creative energy is not rude; it’s necessary for survival.

A Practical Strategy for Preservation:

1.  The Non-Engagement Shield (Most Powerful Tool): For comments that are pure nitpick—especially from recurring characters—do not reply. At all. Silence is not weakness; it's a boundary. It deprives the cycle of your emotional energy. Let their comment hang there, unanswered, while you reply to the enthusiastic ones right below it. This is the most effective way to drain the drama from the interaction.

2.  The "Broken Record" Reply (If You Must Acknowledge): Have one bland, gracious, closed-ended response you copy and paste. It should thank, agree in principle, and offer no entry point for debate.
    *   Example: "Thanks for sharing your thoughts as you read. I always appreciate reader perspectives. Hope you enjoy what's to come."
    *   It's a social "period." It says I see you, I am not ignoring you, and this conversation is over.

3.  Re-Calibrate Your Focus (The Antidote to Depletion): After one of these encounters, do not keep staring at the comment section. Immediately go to a document or a note where you keep positive feedback. Read one or two comments from readers who "get it." You must actively, deliberately remind your brain of the joy and connection that is also happening. This isn't naive; it's neural re-training to protect your passion.

You are not a machine. You are a storyteller operating at an incredible level. The "picking" feels so sharp because you are so exposed. Right now, your most important creative task isn't writing the next chapter—it's fortifying the creator.

Your energy is for the story, and for yourself. You have worlds to build.

 Give yourself a chance to stand up and move on. You're not defined by mistakes, or bumps, or bad days... you're defined by what you have built, and negative feedback helps you to improve your art.

And if you're like me, and currently nursing a cup of coffee with a few literary bruises from the past few days, dust yourself off, get up, and get on with it. Because the pickiest of readers means THEY ARE READING, THEY ARE INVESTED, and YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT!

[Mike Carss]

An excellent essay.  Everything you've stated is so important for any creative person to keep in mind. I get the impression you wrote this primarily for yourself -- akin to a mantra.

While not quite on topic, there's an elephant in the room I need to address: HOW have you managed to write two chapters a day for a year? 😵 These aren't short chapters either. I commend your passion (your obsession?).

Edited February 3 by mcarss

[Topher Lydon]

I have always written fast, I was pumping out the Falcon Banner chapters like this back in the day.

I tend to turn my brain off and just write. I am up around 3-4am usually, and I work. I am medically retired, so kind of bored out of my tree. I do a rough draft of my chapter, do an AI pass over it for spelling and grammar SPEND and HOUR arguing with said AI about it eating entire paragraphs for "Pacing" fixing it by ignoring the AI entirely... more coffee, second pass of the chapter then I put it away.

Then I start working around 8am on the second chapter, same process...

Now I cheat a little, most of my chapters are assembled from two or three writing sessions, usually in my afternoon I will go back over and write additional scenes... which I slip into previously written chapters to bulk them up.

I average around 10-12k words per day. And NOT ALL of it is usable... I don't toss stuff, but my cutting room floor is littered with wreckage...

A recent project I am doing has had SEVEN rewrites... it's a mess and I am thinking I am going to have to put it away for a while... it's just... yikes... square peg, round hole and I have a jewellery hammer to try to get it to fit... not going to work.

That's my secret, me... pain... and extreme amounts of boredom. I also read at a rather terrifying pace, former University Prof. So... comes with the territory. I use AI for editing, spelling and Grammar passes.... but it is not really designed for that... keeps wanting to make my married couples "BROTHERS" with rather intense and weird sex lives... never ever ever trust an AI with your manuscript it is sneaky, and very bigoted... so everything that comes out of a spelling/grammar sweep needs to be read twice for potential "inserted crap" 

Trying to think of what else I do... oh, regular breaks, I chat on my comments section... alot. It's a distraction that lets me focus... I typically finish my writing day around 6pm. So it's a good 14-16 hour day just writing.

[Jason Rimbaud]

10 hours ago, Topher Lydon said:

Chapters that don't quite go right, problems with narrative that can by necessity feel "Contrived" or just not work. And that's ok! It's ok to screw up, and it is okay to just go... you know what I just need this to work today. Fatigue and burn out are real, just... don't get hung up.

So if you know they aren't perfect, why hold yourself to a two chapter a day schedule. If they aren't ready, why would you post them?  

10 hours ago, Topher Lydon said:

3.  The urge to explain or defend is a trap. When you're tired, you want to make them understand the weight you're carrying: your schedule, your intent, your fatigue.

I mean, take a few days off, from this post, it sounds like you could use a chance to reset. Maybe I missing something, as you and I haven't really ever communicated, but I would think it sounds like you need to take a few days for yourself. If you really are writing as much as you say, you could still post one chapter a day and only work six hours instead of 16. Or maybe take a week off from posting, 

It seems like you are putting a bunch of pressure on yourself and my question, is that necessary? 

Sorry if you think I'm being rude and if necessary you can treat me like one of those comments that you ignore, I have big shoulders, I won't be offended. But I'm really curious how the why?  

 

[Topher Lydon]

The post I made was regarding a response to bumps, how some chapters don't go to plan.

:: shrugs ::

For example I wrote a chapter regarding a plane crash from 45000 feet. I didn't think about it on a technical side, to me there was nothing wrong with it. Till it is pointed out that the technical limitations of said crash, stuff well beyond my wheelhouse. I needed the plane to crash, I needed my characters to survive, it was only post publishing that said issues were brought to my attention.

Mistakes like this happen, it is frustrating  but inevitable. 

Perhaps taking a break is in order, I did today as a matter of fact, I put my feet up, had a nice cup of tea, and reflected. And decided to share my thoughts on it. Because this is how we learn, and how we improve, by listening to feedback and not getting brought down by it. I felt if it was a good lesson for me, perhaps someone else would benefit. 

Hope that enlightens as to my intent.

[Jason Rimbaud]

19 minutes ago, Topher Lydon said:

Hope that enlightens as to my intent.

Thank you. This covers the context of your post. 

I am always under the assumption if you want to know something, it doesn't hurt to ask. The rest I shall remain in the dark. 

PS: I challenged myself to write 118K words in two months. That nearly broke me, can't fathom writing 10K words a day for over a year. Hats off to you. 

[Topher Lydon]

honestly, it is tiring. Here is how I know I push to hard.

It starts out with a fumbling, I repeat sentences, or descriptions... or i find myself going back over the text again and again. Then comes the headache, tingling thing starting at the temples and moving inwards. I think I can push through, instead of listening to the warnings. I end up making more mistakes and getting irritable with it. 

I'll take a couple of paracetamol and again try to get back at it... invariably I have to stop, and realize that I've done it again. It isn't a pleasant experience, but it takes a while to break through the brain fog.

My person tends to find it annoying, I get lost, time just zips by. He can have whole conversations with me and I have no idea what he's on about. Zero recollection. Brain's just on autopilot. Flow state I think it gets called these days.

My week this week has been one of this happening more frequently. I hit a stubborn piece of text, and I feel like I am hitting a brick wall. I can write, that's not the issue, but damn if it isn't working. Taking a rest today has been... enlightening as to how tired I've been making myself. So much so that I am going to start working time off into my schedule, because it really helps.

Also I do have a large back catalogue, so I can take a rest and maintain posting. So there is that. 

I think part of this today has been me realizing that irritability is a warning sign. Dealing more with myself than with other things.
I don't mean to boast, it certainly wasn't the intent, I merely think I am trying to tell myself something. That I need a break.

[Mike Carss]

5 hours ago, Topher Lydon said:

I use AI for editing, spelling and Grammar passes.... but it is not really designed for that.

I assume it's just spitting out the complete "fixed" text, which includes the mistakes you're talking about? I use AI as a grammar checker as well, but I ask it to only provide the suggested fixes in a table format (snippet form, showing the original and suggested fixes) so that I can manually review each suggestion. I wouldn't trust copy/pasting a big chunk of text from AI, either.

Try including that in your grammar check prompt.

3 minutes ago, Topher Lydon said:

Taking a rest today has been... enlightening as to how tired I've been making myself. So much so that I am going to start working time off into my schedule, because it really helps.

For sure. Take care of yourself.

[Jason Rimbaud]

5 minutes ago, Topher Lydon said:

My person tends to find it annoying,

My person probably wishes I'd ignore him more.   

5 minutes ago, Topher Lydon said:

I don't mean to boast, it certainly wasn't the intent,

I didn't take it as boasting. Number One, I'm proud that I managed to hit my target word count while working six days a week running my restaurant, having a husband, and handling the run up to Super Bowl. So I think you should be proud of your accomplishment. 

And thank you for going into more detail, that was the basis for my question. I like to learn of other people's process. As a writer, I am constantly growing, or at least trying to grow. And when I learn what other people do, I take from them what I can. So thank you for clarifying.  

 

[Topher Lydon]

Some one gave me some GREAT advice.
It's electrolytes, the headaches... so a sports drink, Gatorade or something similar will help clear it in a pinch, and REST. So yeah I'm a dumbble truck

[Jeff Burton]

Every time I think of you Topher and your ability to just pump out work I see this:

 

The machine that just won’t stop printing. It’s got low toner and technically been out of paper since November of last year but somehow keeps pushing out print jobs lol.

[Topher Lydon]

I actually have one of those thermal printers I use because I loathe the Toner cabal.

I highly recommend it, comes in handy as it's portable and when dealing with the NHS demanding you bring them NHS forms they claim they sent you days ago, but secretly only sent you when you are sitting in their waiting room... HA, the looks on their smug faces when I whip it out and run said form off, staring them right in the eye as I beat their bureaucratic game... ahhhh satisfaction.

[Jeff Burton]

6 minutes ago, Topher Lydon said:

I actually have one of those thermal printers I use because I loathe the Toner cabal.

I highly recommend it, comes in handy as it's portable and when dealing with the NHS demanding you bring them NHS forms they claim they sent you days ago, but secretly only sent you when you are sitting in their waiting room... HA, the looks on their smug faces when I whip it out and run said form off, staring them right in the eye as I beat their bureaucratic game... ahhhh satisfaction.

lmao that’s epic you absolute legend.  Actually I could use this since right now I have no printer at all and could use something compact.

[Topher Lydon]

8 minutes ago, Jeff Burton said:

lmao that’s epic you absolute legend.  Actually I could use this since right now I have no printer at all and could use something compact.

refurbished off of Ebay so it cost next to nothing.