“This is good, but there’s not enough of Story B.”

“There’s way too much Story B. It should be all about Story A.”

“Have you considered Story C?”

These are all real bits of feedback my client has heard from dev editors this past month.

All these editors are pros who have worked on multiple bestselling books. And they totally disagree.

Naturally, my client is confused.

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There comes a point in many manuscripts—whether it’s during the writing or the editing—when the author questions everything.

Often, their first instinct is to seek out more opinions.

That can be smart. Collaboration can show us the books’ weak spots as well as strengths, and help us get back on track and write the best book possible.

But polling for opinions can also throw you into a tailspin.

Did we write the whole book from the wrong angle?
Do we need to start over?
Should we rewrite it in a different genre?

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Most authors at this stage don’t need an overhaul.

They don’t need to rewrite.

They need to discern.

They’re hearing too many differing ideas at once, and they need time to sift through it all.

✅ Time to filter what’s useful from what’s noise.
✅ Time to reconfirm their deeper “why” — and therefore their strategy.
✅ Time to choose the collaborator who supports their vision.

If you go into writing a book with very little clarity, then this phase will be particularly nasty.

If you go in with clarity, strategy, and belief in your vision, it may not remove all self-doubt. But it will give you a compass as you navigate the messy middle.

If you’re thinking about writing a book, the best time to get clarity is at the beginning.

That’s a big part of the work I do with my clients. If that sounds like what you need, set up a call with me here. I’d love to see where your ideas will take you.