My editor and I have fundamentally different ideas about how much readers can handle in terms of structural complexity, and every revision conversation becomes a debate about whether to trust the audience or guide them more explicitly. I want to preserve the nonlinear structure that mirrors my protagonist's mental state, but she keeps pushing for more conventional chapter breaks and clearer transitions.
More people experience this than they realize.
Editorial relationships can become philosophical battlegrounds when structural choices carry both aesthetic and commercial implications.
“Where Are You with The novel — form and possibility?”
Peri can explain why this happens, help you decide if this is the right situation for you, and point toward the right journey or coach.
If this sounds familiar, the Library can help you find the bigger picture.