Edits and other things

When someone makes an editorial suggestion to you, try and avoid both of your natural responses ;-).  Firstly, you’ll feel like your editor is wrong and that they don’t understand your work at all.  Then you’ll feel like your work is the worst thing that’s ever been written.  Ever.  Neither of these are helpful ways to react as a writer, although both are totally normal as a human being.  Instead, try to stay cool and calm, thinking about the words of the feedback and playing them over a few times in your mind.  What could the comment mean?  What is the editor/friend/writing group member asking?  Why have they had the response they’ve had?

Then re-read your own work and see how it seems to you.  You are the author and you know your work better than anyone.  That doesn’t mean your impulse to protect it, or destroy it, is the right impulse.  But it does mean that if you’ve considered the feedback carefully, you might find a way to improve your piece further.

And remember, the first draft is NEVER the final draft, and nor should it be.  Editing is a BIG part of the job.