Rambling about Overconfidence and Reflection (Patreon)

This is a ramble I’ve had in my head for the past couple of months, but I kept putting it off because it felt a bit personal and not directly about the story.

But… it’s a Ramble. And this is exactly what I wanted Rambles to be about. To express the things that stick in my head as I write.

So here we go.

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If you’ve been around long enough, you’ve probably noticed that sometimes my responses come out very “here’s why this is the way it is,” stated with full confidence in the moment. Nine times out of ten, at the time I’m writing them, I’m 100% sure I’m right.

But that certainty doesn’t always hold up to scrutiny.

Writing this story means I see a lot of comments, ideas, and perspectives that don’t always match mine. That’s been good for me. It makes me stop and think, instead of just assuming I’ve nailed it on the first try.

More than once, I’ve gone back to something I said a week or two earlier (after turning it over in my head the whole time) and realized I was wrong. Or, at the very least, not as right as I thought.

That’s why some of you have seen me revise a reply or walk something back entirely. It’s me trying to do better. I’m still learning, even if I can see myself improving as the years go by.

Progress is slow, but steady. And sometimes painful.

It never feels great to realize I missed the mark, but almost every time, it’s led to a stronger story or a clearer chapter or a better character. Even when nothing changes on the page, the extra layers it gives me behind the scenes make the world richer.

And sometimes, you really do change my mind outright. After I take some time to think it through and make sure it’s a good change.

So all of this is a long-winded way of saying: Thank you.

I’m sure my responses can often be abrasive at the best of times. The fact that so many of you stick around through that, and engage with me despite it, means a lot.