Help dealing with editor cuts...

There's a difference between giving impressionistic feedback and treating a work as if it were one's own (line-editing) and there are lots of shades in-between the two extremes. It's up to the writer to ask for the kind of critique he/she feels will be most helpful. Of course the reader may or may not stick to those guidelines.

If you don't want your friend to line-edit, you can A) ask her not to or B) consider her advice, then do what you feel is best for the work. If you're open to the changes she suggests, mull them over a while before revising, make sure they fit what your piece is about. The final word(s) belong to you, and you're responsible for them so make sure they live up to your vision.

Personally I don't go for drastic changes unless/until I know something's not working the way it is, which often takes more than one person's opinion to prove to me

I think it all depends on how much faith you have in your friend's judgment.

It is always hard to cut or change. If you've got experienced people you can trust to critique your work you are bound to produce a better book in the end. Fresh eyes are absolutely invaluable.

In the end though, you are responsible for your ms. Think carefully about what your friend is suggesting. Think about why she is making those particular suggestions. Has she identified a weakness that you need to address or is she only expressing a personal preference? Let her critique sit a while before making any changes. You may find she has identified a weak area but has all the wrong reasons as to why it seems weak. You may think of better avenues to solve the weakness than what she has suggested. Anything that trips up a good reader should probably be addressed. One way or another.

I find my knee jerk reaction to editorial suggestions is usually negative. It's amazing, though, how insightful those suggestions become with time. I often find I've incorporated nearly all the good suggestions, even the ones I resisted the most, over time without even realizing it. Again though, this is only true if you trust your reader implicitly. If you're not sure her suggestions are valid, your option is to get yet another opinion.

The danger is you will spend all your time trying to please everyone but yourself. It is your book. But if you don't intend to take someone's advice you probably shouldn't ask for it. Take a step back, think about what she's suggesting, and then make whatever changes you think would improve your book.

Or find a new reader.

Best wishes,
Jimmer

This might sound like a reall pathetic suggestion, but perhaps she could edit the first few chapters for you. Then post the most 'edited' chapter on here in its original format and see if anyone comes up with the same things? You could ask specifically on the forum for detailed 'edit' of said chapter, for example - it just might give you an idea of the 'differences of ideas' ...

Would that work?

Could be talking through my hat. Sorry I can't help you any further,

Symphony
x

If she is reading it for you and thinks it needs to be cut down, that's a valuable response. Grammar, spelling, and punctuation are important, but they are often nit-picky little things that can be easily fixed. Having a good editor who can tell you where things are dragging and help you with cutting is so great.

I'm not sure why you are so anxious about this-- let her at it! It's not like you have to keep the changes she suggests, and it might give you important information.

Like others have said, even if you have an immediate negative reaction (What? I could never cut that! Doesn't she see how important it is to the story/how awesome the writing is/etc.), take a step back and see where she is coming from. I love getting suggestions on where to cut down, or more major issues-- if I missed the problems myself, and no one pointed them out to me, my story ends up that much worse.

I'd let her make the suggested cuts, read her suggestions then decide whether or not I wanted to incoporate any of them into the manuscripts I submit. She might have some good ideas that you might not have thought of but definitely make the story stronger. However, just because she recommends something, it doesn't mean you have to take her advice.

It's your story. You're the expert on your story. Don't forget that! Feedback can be helpful but don't let it throw your whole resolve off balance.

auntybug said:

I have a friend editing my book. I was just wanting help w/ grammer, spelling, commas, etc. She is really wanting to "edit" it. Kill off some of my "darlings" as she calls them. She is a college teacher, has done this for 20 years. I know she knows her stuff. I am just wondering what kind of feedback I can get here. You guys know your stuff too. Would you let or want someone to kill parts of your book if they think it would make it better or would you hold to things that you think are just too precious to you? I haven't gotten it back yet - we just talked abut it - she was afraid at how I'd react. I guess I am just loking to see how you guys deal with it. Thanks!

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Brer Rabbit, who is no longer on this board, taught me to do what it is best for the story. If I think it should be cut, then cut it. But I don't take all the advice folks throw at me. I give it a couple of days, then go over it again. Sometimes it's best to kill your darlings, though. Give her advice a couple of days, then go over it again. See if it truly works.

kim

Take any editing you can get. Unless the person hijacks your computer, they can't actually edit your manuscript without your permission.

On people's comments, go with your gut feel and common sense. You know what your objective is here. I find that usually comments fall into three types -- (1) damn, I wish I'd seen that and I change it immediately, (2) this makes absolutely no sense and is ignored, or (3) I need to think about it. The I think about ones end up either being used, ignored, or modified.

If your book is published, you will go through an editing process. Your editor will send back a bunch of comments. These will range from you need to do this or no book to you might want to think about doing this.

Talk to anyone who edits your work after you get the edits back. Listen to what they're thinking. Usually editing is helpful and will find issues you never even knew you had.

Best of luck,

Jim Clark-Dawe

Hm, I guess I would be more cautious. I mean, editing is subjective, and some people will want you to cut out bits that others adore. I am also slightly hazy about your friend's experience. You say she's a college tutor? That's not the same as being a fiction editor, although she will of course have a strong grasp on things like characterisation, plot, structure etc. She will probably have lots of very helpful suggestions for you, but remember she doesn't work in publishing. Editing work for college submission is different from editing it for publishing.

Take all her suggestions with good grace and then definitely go with gut feeling. And don't let her re-write it for you - ask her to mark up sections or plotlines she thinks are weak and let you do the rewriting.

A couple of things caught my attention. Your friend is not a professional editor. Treat this like any other critique.

I'm assuming she isn't the ego driven type or just plain mean (there are a lot of critters like that).

Remember, when a critter points out a problem in a mss, they are usually right. When they suggest a solution, they are usually wrong. It is the author's job to find solutions to any issues that you care to address.

One of the hardest things I learnt in writing is that people who have a harder grasp of the unconscious 'tricks' of writing; how to show not tell, for example, can often tell you that you need to 'cut' something precious.

What I would say is make a distinction between the editor's version of line-edits, and the author version. The editor should (I believe) go through and write comments on the book, generally bracketed, or in another colour like, (Flopsy Bunny was shy earlier, why is she pushing forward here?) or (You need to kill off X to further the plot arch of A & B). These get passed back to the author, who makes the appropriate changes, and these get passed back to the editor.

Whatever suggestions she makes, I suggest taking them up. A fresh pair of eyes that can be non-effusive is great; I hate having friends read my work as I get a very one-sided point of view. If she can be objective, and is offering - Go for it!

One of the women in my critique group killed all my darlings. She crossed out my clever turns of phrase.

But they are clever dammit!!!

But she was right. They were clever, but they were a distraction from the story. She nailed me on all my cutsy segways and was merciless.

But my book is better for it. It is lean and the story is what counts, not my clever turns-of-phrase.

See what she has to say. Play around with her suggestions. When I deleted some of my darlings, I felt sick. Until I read it without them. She was right.

Your friend might be right or she might be wrong, but chances are she will offer you some great ways to make your work better. Take what makes sense to you and leave the rest.

Good luck!