Thanks, guys! I don't usually get down like this, but lately it has just been piling on. I am working on something new, but I question if it's marketable or if I'm pushing the envelope
too much. Oh well. I just need to write the dadgum thing, haha.
So just got back another set of beta comments. I've had quite a few, though not all from writers. Non-writer comments get taken with grains of salt based on how much they love me and how many YA books they read. Anyway, this one is a writer and though she said she liked the story she suggested some major cuts and changes. I don't entirely disagree that it might make it more marketable, but it would change things drastically. All of my other betas, including several writers have been happy with story as it stands with just a little work on show don't tell. Not sure how much credit to give to this beta's opinion. I feel like if an agent or editor insisted on said changes I would try to make it work, but I would only change them if I had to.
I say go with your gut. If you think this beta is right but just don't want to tear the story apart and start over, then maybe tearing it apart is what you need to do. If you ultimately love the story where it is, with the minor changes from other betas, than make the small changes and query and see what kind of responses you get.
I've been in both boats. I've done major cuts that a beta suggested (mel, actually!
), which deep down I knew the story needed, I just didn't want to do it. (That's the ms that got me an agent). I've also had betas suggest major cuts that I didn't feel the story needed, so I basically ignored the suggestions and ended up with a ms I love (the one I'm on sub with now).
