How to deal with editorial feedback

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We know that getting editorial feedback on your writing can be really tough. Don’t get us wrong: it’s invaluable, but that doesn’t stop it being hard to hear.
Join Harry Bingham as he shares his thoughts on what it’s really like to receive editorial feedback. Upfront, it’s good to realise that receiving feedback is an emotional process, because it’s so personal.
Everyone has a different reaction to getting feedback. To generalise though, we’ve found that getting feedback, although initially upsetting, can actually be really exciting. It just might take a little bit of time to process.
And, don’t forget. Feedback is one person’s (albeit a professionals’ opinion). If you really don’t agree, trust your gut. You don’t have to take every bit of advice given.
Hopefully, the advice given will land you a massive book deal. Until then, we have some great advice on our TH-cam channel. Check out some slides, below:
jerichowriters...

[@P.EnglishLiterature]

Hi, Jericho. Thank you so much for this amazing information.

[@johnparnham5945]

I'm a debut children's book author, still working on my first book and I sent my manuscript to an editor in London and I was pleasantly surprised at how positive her report was. I didn't expect it to be, I must confess. She sent me some very helpful comments which I'm working on and Instead of going through the angry emotional stage that you described, Harry, I was happy to receive her comments which have helped me towards a cleaner copy and somehow have helped me to see how to make improvements and also to see things that I would have missed on my own. I realize that this isn't always the case as we are all individuals and react differently to feedback. I am planning to send it back to her for copy editing as the next step but if she had pointed out major faults, I would have respected that and would have done all that I could to rectify them knowing of her expertise and skill. Like all authors, we want to put the best possible book onto the market and the editor will help us to do that. Having said all that, I think that the video contains good advice and is well worth watching.

[@nightforest666]

Thanks for reuploading the full version.

[@jerichowriters8127]

very sorry for the glitch!

[@erinthecat4206]

I had my manuscript review by a Jericho editor, and I have to say I got great insight and advice, and it was great value too. I can certify that everything you have said, Harry, is so true, and just how I felt. But once I sat down and thought about it, pragmatically, it was very sound unbiased and invaluable. This video really does also add to that experience by sharing that every writer goes through such feelings. Thumbs up for another great video.

[@woodlandlady7011]

The best advice. Thanks Harry

[@jelliebombshell2159]

Thank you

[@danikaehollis]

"Niggling me"... I want this shirt with a book trying to bite me.

[@anneahlert2997]

As an editor myself, I can't emphasize enough that you should NEVER take ANY corrections to heart. We would like to see your work shine and be successful, were NOT there to beat you up and bitch at you.
EVERY writer needs an editor, No matter how talented or well-known the author. Even editors, when we try our hand at writing, need a separate set of eyes to look things over. It's helpful to have other eyes looking at your work.
Don't take corrections personally, and don't argue too much with us-- yes, we can be wrong sometimes, and yes you should ask questions about why we marked something. But we aren't paid enough to argue for hours over the placement of a flipping comma. If you piss off an editor at a traditional publisher enough (hard to do, but possible), you won't get published after all, and/or you will get a bad reputation in the industry.
Use moderation in your disputes with editors, and for gosh sakes BE POLITE, and keep a business demeanor. I have actually had one author drunk-call me (then drunk-text, when I refused to pick up the phone) at 4:00am, upset about the stupidest of my markups on his work. Suffice it to say, he was blocked from calling ever again and did not get published.
You have more say with freelance editors that you are paying than with traditional publishers. For freelance editors, we might seem expensive but we are ALWAYS worth the cost. I've seen too many self-publishing writers refuse to invest in a good editor (erroneously believing phone apps were just as effective), only to be humiliated and stuck with thousands of unsold books later on.
Remember, we want your book to be successful, so whatever we recommend is to help your story be better read. We love to see you succeed!
annethewriter33.wordpress.com/2018/08/02/cheap-at-the-beginning-makes-for-expensive-in-the-end-a-commentary-on-self-editing-your-manuscript/

[@P.EnglishLiterature]

I totally agree with you concerning this, lots of author do not pay enough to deserves long argument, and yes, editorial feedback is one that shouldn't be taken with so much of emotions. Very informative!