When do you push back on an edit?

I’ve written for several editors, and worked as one too. This is a personal view from both sides of the fence.

As an editor I’ve rarely found significant push back from authors. Where I’ve felt strongly, I’ve had it my way in the end. The reason is that, ultimately as an editor you represent the publisher, and the publisher owns the book.

Let me say that again, because a lot of writers reading this will assume that was a typo.

The publisher owns the book.

Even while the author is writing it.

So as the editor you have to make decisions to safeguard the publisher’s investment. You have a lot of power to wield, backed up (within reason) by your senior colleagues. In extreme cases you even have to sack the author and find a replacement. I’ve had to do that, and not just once.

The two types of Authors that have been most challenging are the ones that won’t accept any edits, and those that accept all edits too meekly.

Similarly from the author’s point of view, you probably know your work better than anyone. If an edit entirely disagrees with your vision for the book, discuss it with your editor. They will probably agree with you once they hear your point of view.