In this article we'll consider:
Receiving your editor's feedback
Adopting the right mindset
Prioritizing the workload
Agreeing or disagreeing with your editor
The long-term benefits of editor feedback
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Receiving an in-depth commentary on your work, especially for something as personal as creative writing, is a daunting experience. Whether you're a seasoned author or just starting out, it's natural to feel a mix of excitement, anxiety, and even - let's be frank - defensiveness or downright hostility when you first open that editorial report or mass-annotated manuscript.
However, understanding how to handle your editor's feedback is crucial to your growth as a writer. It's the missing link you've been waiting for - someone to tell you if you're on the right track, or where and how you could improve - and so it needn't be something you dread.
To help you navigate the process with confidence and grace (yes, grace), there are a number of strategies you can deploy. We'll take a look at these strategies from the perspective of working with a hired freelance editor, but they are equally useful if the editor works on behalf of your publisher.
[As a side note for clarification, working with a publishing editor or even a literary agent is likely to be a closely collaborative process: a back-and-forth conversation, developing your story over a period of perhaps many months; whereas the time you spend with a hired freelance editor may be restricted by budget (though the result, of course, can be just as beneficial to your manuscript and you as a writer; think of it as a short, intensive editing experience).]
So picture this. You've just had your manuscript returned from your editor. It's riddled with comments and the brutally scarlet markings of Word's Track Changes, plus it comes with a bonus page-long editorial assessment to boot. Here's what to do first...
1. Pause and breathe before reacting
The moment you receive feedback, it's tempting to rush through everything and immediately react - which usually means rant, fume, then sob (we've all been there). However, it's important to give yourself a moment to breathe. Initial reactions, especially negative ones, can cloud your judgement.
Instead, step away from the documents for a few hours or even a day. When you return, you'll have a clearer mind to process the feedback more objectively. The chances are you'll have misread or misunderstood at least some of the feedback on the first rushed, nervous read.
2. Don't take it personally
Easier said than done, of course, but try not to take feedback as personal criticism. Your editor's job is to help your manuscript reach its full potential, and that often means pointing out areas that need improvement. You are not paying them for their praise - you are paying them to level up your book so it can be published professionally.
Remember, too, that your editor's comments are about the narrative and (indirectly) how you can improve as a writer - they are not a list of your "mistakes". Separating your identity from your work, and keeping in mind your long-term goals, can make it easier to accept constructive criticism.
3. Embrace a growth mindset
Feedback, particularly from those in the industry, is an opportunity for growth. Instead of viewing your editor's suggestions as a critique of your abilities, see them as a chance to make your story stronger.
Editors are here to help you hone your craft, not to tear you down. Embracing a growth mindset allows you to view feedback as a positive, essential, and collaborative part of the creative process that even the most successful and talented of authors benefit from.
4. Prioritize your editor's feedback
If you receive extensive notes and annotations from your editor, it can be overwhelming. Begin by glancing through the feedback in its entirety, then organize how you'll approach the work, prioritizing the changes that will have the most significant impact. This will usually mean tackling major plot/character issues first, before then fine-tuning aspects such as dialogue or prose.
Your editor should provide guidance on how to approach their feedback; but if not, breaking it down into manageable tasks in this way will make the process structured and less daunting.
5. Distinguish between subjective and objective feedback
Not all feedback is created equal. Some of it will be objective, focusing on technical issues like grammar, pacing, or plot consistency. Other feedback might be more subjective, reflecting your editor's perception of your work and understanding of the genre.
Objective feedback is usually correcting an error or inconsistency and therefore is wise to heed, while subjective feedback is more flexible. If a suggestion doesn't resonate with you, it's okay to discuss it further with your editor or simply choose not to follow through with their advice.
For more on the subjectivity of fiction editing and fiction editors, see The Myth of Perfection: Why fiction editing will not make your novel perfect in the Resource Hub.
6. Take your time with revisions
Unless you're on a strict, impending deadline, there's no rush to implement feedback immediately. Take the time you need to consider your editor's notes and then thoughtfully make revisions. Rushing through this stage can lead to mistakes and missed opportunities to strengthen your story, so give yourself space to make deliberate, considered changes that you're satisfied enhance the quality of your work.
7. Reflect on the big picture
When receiving and responding to feedback, try to keep the big picture in mind. What is your story ultimately about? What are you trying to convey through your characters and tone? Use this as your guiding principle as you evaluate the feedback and make decisions about it.
Likewise, stay true to your publishing goals. How and why you intend to publish may impact how closely you adhere to certain suggestions. For example, if your goal is for the book to be a commercial success (or start of a fruitful career), your editor should be guiding you towards what currently works and is expected for your genre. However, if your goal is more personal than commercial, then certain aspects of your book, such as tropes and reader expectations, may be less important.
Ideally, your editor will know your publishing goals and reasons for them, and hence will adjust the editing service they provide to match; but it can still be difficult for them to gauge how much, or how little, you want them to intervene, and hence it pays to keep your own goals in mind as you work on their suggestions.
8. Know when to stand your ground
On a similar note, while it's important to be open to feedback, it's equally important to trust your instincts as a writer. If there's a piece of feedback you strongly disagree with, it's perfectly okay to bypass it. This may lead to further discussions if your editor is also your publisher, but a hired editor's feedback is primarily advisory and the final say remains yours.
9. Celebrate the positive
This is a must. In the midst of constructive criticism, don't forget to celebrate the positive feedback you receive. Editors will often highlight what's working well in your manuscript - whether it's a compelling character, strong dialogue, or an engaging plot twist - and this is as much about the fact these things excite them as it is they want to encourage you.
Writers - and people in general - have a habit of focusing on the negative to the detriment of the positive; but recognizing your strengths will boost your confidence and remind you of your abilities and progression as a writer.
10. Learn from the process
Each round of feedback is a learning experience from which your skills will inevitably evolve. You'll start to recognize patterns in the suggestions you receive - common areas where you excel or need the most help - and this is knowledge you can use to grow as a writer.
Every writer has their "pain points", the aspects of writing that trip them up. Once you know what yours are, they become so obvious you'll start addressing them as you write, before the manuscript even gets as far as your editor. Given that where we focus our energies we make the most improvements, these pain points may even ultimately become the best part of your writing.
Finally...
The thought of receiving feedback from a fiction editor is for most writers enough to make their stomach lurch. But it doesn't have to be a stressful experience. By approaching it with an open mind, the right mindset, and a focus on growth, you can turn the editorial process into a rewarding part of the novel-writing experience. Remember, feedback provides the opportunity to make your story the best it can be, and you the writer you deserve to be.
And lastly, your editor is on your side. They want your book, and you as a writer, to succeed as much as you do. If, by any chance, you've had a bad experience with an editor, don't lose heart. Sometimes finding the right freelance editor takes time. When you find one who's a good fit for you and your book(s), your fears of their feedback will be replaced by excitement - that someone else understands your work, is rooting for it, and feels strongly enough about it to help it reach its potential.
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Tina Williams of Fiction Yogi is a copyeditor and proofreader who works with writers at all stages, giving them the tools to improve their manuscript and level up their writing so they can meet their publishing goals.
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