The role of publishing is a process...you've submitted your work after months—maybe years—of writing, rewriting and you can even recite your favorite lines verbatim. Then, your manuscript lands in someone else's hands…well, a few really. And by gosh, you've gotten a coveted contract. You are assigned an editor, and you are ready. The email you have been waiting for arrives. The smile fades from your face when you note what you've gotten back are pages of notes with questions about your structure, and to your utter shock, a suggestion that your favorite chapter in the entire book might need to go. Your stomach somersaults, your temperature rises, your dander ruffles, and you wonder why they even considered publishing your book! And to boot, your developmental editor is just the first in line. There is the line and copy editor, the proofreader, and the fact checker, and all of them will use red pens, too. But the one you can't exactly get over is your developmental editor.
Well, welcome to one of the most important relationships in publishing: the one between you and your book editor. Accepting now that there may be difficult conversations with your editor will ease the journey from a good book to a stellar book. Your book is in the editor's hands because they recognized that the bones of the book are great, and to them, red marks aren't a sign that something has gone wrong; it's a sign that the work, once sharpened, has a greater chance out in the world. Your editors are there to protect you from the hard criticism of readers who expect the best work for their money. Learning how to work with them with confidence, openness, and a little grace can make the difference between a good book and a great one.
Unless you are an author born with a gold pen at birth, we've seen silver but rarely gold, expect that you will receive critical feedback on your work. Do not take it personally, even when it feels personal; it's just part of the process.
An editor's job is to strengthen your book. Those comments in the margins? They're not attacks. They're experience after editing thousands of books. So, when their feedback is given, resist the urge to become defensive. Give yourself a day or two. Sit with the suggestions. Let the initial sting settle before you re-read the notes with fresh eyes. More often than not, you'll find their suggestions make a lot of sense. They are reflecting the experience of a reader—and ultimately, readers are who you're writing for. When they tell you a scene isn't landing, a character's motivation feels unclear, or your archetype wouldn't do that, if you have a plausible reason why it isn't so, share it.
Even as a first-time author, you don't have to say yes to every suggestion your editor makes, but you should have a valid reason why you feel this way. Explain your reasoning, share what you were trying to achieve in that passage, and invite a conversation rather than drawing a battle line. Good editors want a collaborative partner who can articulate their creative choices.
But know this, editors are skilled, experienced, and usually right—but they're not infallible. Before going off the rails, ask yourself: Is the feedback genuinely off-base, or is it because it challenges something you're attached to? Those are two very different things. What you don't want is an editor who is just going to greenlight a book that is not quite right. The ultimate cost will be greater elsewhere...with your readers.
Sometimes, there is genuine tension between an author and an editor. This isn't about a single note or chapter anymore—it's about a difference in vision. This is where honest, respectful communication matters most. The right editorial partnership should ultimately feel like someone fighting for your book, not against it, and as such, if an editor cannot see your vision, you should move on. But if two or three editors say the same thing, you should listen.
Difficult conversations with your editor are not obstacles to writing a good book. They are part of writing a good book. The authors who thrive in the editorial process are not the ones who never feel defensive or uncertain—they're the ones who feel those things and respect the process anyway. Your editor is on your side. The conversations may be uncomfortable, but they're happening because someone believes your book is worth the effort. And in the end, we hope you do, too.
We would like to hear from you. Send your comments: contact@wordeee.com
