by Kathy Shanks

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You’ve done it.

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You’ve typed 'The End', closed your laptop, and maybe even told a few people you’ve finished your book.

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Then it comes back from the editor.

 

Covered in comments.

Track changes galore.

Sentences crossed out, paragraphs questioned, suggestions everywhere.

 

Cue the deflation.

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If this is you, take a deep breath. This isn’t the end of your book. It’s the part where it starts to become even better.

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Here’s how to approach your edit without spiralling — and actually use it to improve your book (without throwing your laptop out the window).

 

Editing isn’t criticism. It’s collaboration.

 

Yes, even if it feels brutal.

A good editor isn’t trying to rewrite your voice — they’re trying to help your book land with your reader. That means asking questions, pointing out where the story dips, or suggesting a sharper word here and there.

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It’s not personal. It’s purposeful.

 

If you disagree with a change, ask yourself why they made it

 

This one’s huge.

 

Maybe they cut a sentence you loved. Or changed a word that felt 'so you'. Before you fight to keep it, ask yourself: why did this stand out to them?

 

Often, the suggestion itself isn’t the point ... it’s the signal. Maybe the sentence was unclear, maybe the pacing dragged, maybe they just got confused.

 

Use their comment to figure out what might not be landing. You can keep your voice and still tighten your story.

 

Not all feedback needs to be followed ... but none of it should be ignored

 

You don’t have to make every change. Truly.

But you do need to think about each one. If three people all question the same section? That’s a clue. If your editor flags something and you instantly bristle, dig into that. There’s often gold hiding under the discomfort.

 

Edits aren’t about what’s wrong, they’re about what’s missing

 

This is the bit no one tells you.

 

An editor’s job isn’t just to point out errors. It’s to help you see what’s not there yet. The moments that need more tension. The theme that needs more clarity. The ending that needs to hit harder.

 

If your manuscript comes back with questions, don’t see it as a failure. See it as an opportunity.

 

You’re not starting over. You’re levelling up.

 

Getting your edit back can feel like being knocked back to square one. But you’re not.

 

You’ve already done the hard part ... you wrote the thing. Now you get to shape it, sharpen it, and give it the best chance of resonating with the people it’s meant for.

 

That’s what editing does. It gets your book from done to ready.

 

Still reeling from your edit? Close the file for a day or two. Make a cuppa. Then come back with fresh eyes and a mindset that says, “Let’s make this even better.”

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