I was just thinking about these sorts of things yesterday. I've revised many of my MS's to the point where I don't want to change them anymore - yet they haven't attracted an agent so I keep doubting myself!
I haven't yet met an editor as hell-bent on rewriting as the one you had to deal with (I would have withdrawn too, btw). I've met a few that made me grind my teeth, though. When this happens, I accept the reasonable stuff - yes, I was vague here, point taken - and I "consider" the stuff that rankles me. Not dismissing right off the bat, but changing/polishing/proposing an alternative that is still in my voice and the spirit of the story. Usually that works. Once, making me scratch my head, led to a better ending I wouldn't have come up with otherwise... hey, miracles happen!
The insights you've shared from fellow writers on social media underscore the challenges that writers may face when their work is heavily edited to the point of losing its essence. It's a reminder of the importance of finding the right balance in the editing process, where edits enhance the story without fundamentally altering it.
I was just thinking about these sorts of things yesterday. I've revised many of my MS's to the point where I don't want to change them anymore - yet they haven't attracted an agent so I keep doubting myself!
It's not you. It's them. Hee!
I haven't yet met an editor as hell-bent on rewriting as the one you had to deal with (I would have withdrawn too, btw). I've met a few that made me grind my teeth, though. When this happens, I accept the reasonable stuff - yes, I was vague here, point taken - and I "consider" the stuff that rankles me. Not dismissing right off the bat, but changing/polishing/proposing an alternative that is still in my voice and the spirit of the story. Usually that works. Once, making me scratch my head, led to a better ending I wouldn't have come up with otherwise... hey, miracles happen!
Thanks for the comment. Fortunately, I've had some very good experiences on both sides of the editing desk.
The insights you've shared from fellow writers on social media underscore the challenges that writers may face when their work is heavily edited to the point of losing its essence. It's a reminder of the importance of finding the right balance in the editing process, where edits enhance the story without fundamentally altering it.