The other day I fretted before delivering a manuscript critique to a nonfiction author who had sought out my advice. My take: she should lop off the first and third parts of a (quite long) manuscript to focus more clearly on its unique and valuable middle.
One always worries how people will feel when you suggest they drop 30,000 words.
When the day arrived, however, her reaction wasn’t defensive or hurt. Instead, she said she was relieved.
She had a hunch that perhaps the first part didn’t belong, and she didn’t feel comfortable with the last part. She only wrote it because she thought she should.
Her sense of relief was an important clue. Her instincts told her not to include these sections, but her mind was overthinking it. My critique gave her the courage to do what she really wanted all along.
Your gut is smarter than you think
The older I get, the more I believe in embodied intelligence — paying attention to your physical reactions and feelings alongside logical thoughts. When writing, our feelings of discomfort or boredom might be valuable signals.
Are you uncomfortable because you are being vulnerable? That’s probably a good signal. Do you just “not like” something or worry it doesn’t fit? Pay attention to what your body tells you about your work.
You don’t always need to cut the bits that give you pause. Perhaps you need a different approach or a shifted perspective. But when you ignore your reactions altogether, you may be passing on that discomfort to the reader.
Think of your reader and their needs, of course. Ask others for their gut reactions, if they are similar to your reader. Then, cross-check their responses with your own gut.
Your inner editor may know exactly where the problem lies and what should stand.
See also
If you need help cutting, read The Pleasures of Pruning.
If you despair at letting go of your words, read Nothing Is Wasted
And if you need a nonfiction manuscript critique, check out my services and schedule a free call.
