You are your own last judge
I talk a lot about using beta readers and editors when taking your manuscript through the editorial process, but there’s something I haven’t touched on too much, and that’s the importance of being your own last judge.
Being your own last judge means that you are in control. You are the big boss. The one who ultimately makes the decisions—all of the decisions, including which changes to make to your manuscript.
In other words, you decide when to take the advice from betas and editors and when to reject that advice.
Most likely you will not like all of the suggestions your beta readers and editors offer up. I strongly believe in considering the criticism that comes from others and taking responsibility for whether you act on them or ignore them.
No one knows your book and its characters better than you do.
As a developmental editor (the one who offers advice, suggestions, and corrections on the content/plot), I tell my clients that I’ve worked on their manuscript with the intention of helping them make improvements to it and taking it to the next level. That said, I am not flawless in my assessments, and I can’t see inside their head to their intentions. For this reason, they need to consider each change and why it’s been suggested.
There may be instances in which I think I have a good idea, but it doesn’t resonate with the writer. If that’s the case, they must give themself permission to simply let it go.
This is a somewhat dangerous topic to write about because it can cause confusion or possibly lead some writers astray. I am not at all telling writers to ignore what their editor has suggested simply because they feel offended or don’t like what the editor has said. Or because they think that what the editor has suggested seems too hard a change to make.
I am not saying the writer should ignore the editor unless what they’ve suggested goes against what the writer believes is right for the book. If the advice feels wrong to the writer—if they know it’s wrong for the book—then by all means they must protect themself and their book, and leave that advice by the wayside.
If the suggestion resonates with you, you’ll know. The energy will zip into your brain, and ideas for making an improvement will come spilling out. If it makes sense to you and the story or some aspect of the novel, then of course you will take the advice. But if you’re not sure, you have to stop and contemplate.
The fact that someone felt it important to point out a particular place in the manuscript may indicate that there’s an issue of some sort there, even if the beta or editor didn't clearly explain what they felt was wrong. The issue may not be the problem they think it is, but it may be something connected to it. My advice is to examine that part of the story and figure out what is off, if anything.
In the end, you are the one who has to decide what to do. If it’s a matter of confusion, clarify it. If it’s a matter of error, correct it. If it doesn’t make sense to the story, be sure to rectify the problem so readers don’t end up saying the book is un-believable.
As an editor, I know that some changes absolutely should be made and others are less imperative. If I’m not sure something needs to be done, I’ll suggest the writer take a look but let them know a change may not be necessary.
While my advice is to refrain from making suggested changes with abandon, I also do not advise you to defy your editors and beta readers every step of the way. If you have a good editor, you must trust them. Try to see their point, but if you just can’t agree with them, it’s okay.
This is your book; your name will be on the cover. Out in the published world, the book will represent you, and you are the one who has to be happy with it. Just make sure you are!
Take the reins and ponder those decisions with confidence.
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