Why Track Changes isn’t personal: How to see feedback as collaboration

We’ve all been there. The file comes back from the editor and … it’s a sea of red (or green or blue). Your first reaction is to curl into the foetal position, watch some trashy TV and then polish off a tub of Connoisseur. (Is that just me?)

After the nausea wears off (from the trashy TV), you reluctantly go back to the file.

As you review the Track Changes, the panic subsides. You start to realise the editor isn’t out to get you. They’ve made some good points: you missed some joining words, ‘Brendan’ should’ve been ‘Brandon’, and there’s a claim that may be defamatory. You may also see some edits that need to be challenged. Or a comment that makes you question whether you meant X or Y.

This rollercoaster of emotions is normal and part of the process – and every author goes through it. After you’ve been edited a few times, it gets easier, but it doesn’t mean the anxiety goes away. Each book has its own challenges and you never know how readers are going to react – or what changes will be recommended.

Yes, Track Changes can look intimidating at first glance, but it’s not the enemy. It’s just a tool that helps editors flag errors and make recommendations (and help you avoid getting roasted on Reddit or Goodreads!).

Why it feels personal

Writing is a deeply exposing experience. Each piece is imbued with your voice, thoughts, observations, experiences, knowledge or imagination. All the stuff that comes from inside you. All the stuff that makes you who you are.

So it's easy to equate criticism of the work as criticism of you. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Your editor is there to help you correct blind spots and smooth out speed bumps, not criticise or discourage.

But it can feel that way when you identify so closely with your writing. You may have spent weeks, months, even years on it, only to see sentences and words struck out in seconds. It can be demoralising, and you may feel like you need to start the process all over again – or give up writing for good.

What Track Changes actually represents

But here’s the truth: most writers need editors because they have cognitive bias. This means they can’t see the errors, inconsistencies or gaps in their writing. That’s because writing and editing are different processes and require different skills. When you’re writing, you’ll only see what you meant, and your eyes will skip over any errors or omissions.

An editor, on the other hand, can identify those gaps. They offer a fresh eye, and they’re as invested in your work as you are. Why? Because their reputation is on the line too, not as a co-creator (unless you hired them to do some light ghostwriting), but as a guide offering their insights, expertise and problem-solving skills.

To make peace with tracked changes, try to reframe them as:

• suggestions or options, not judgements.

• conversations where you agree, disagree or ask questions

• opportunities to clarify your ideas

• proof that your editor is engaged with your work and doing a good job.

  
  

Practical tips for managing feedback

Writing is just as much about creativity as it is about managing feedback and negotiating changes. If you’ve been edited before, you may already have this down, but if you don’t (or you still feel nervous), here are some steps to make the process manageable:

• Read through the edits and comments slowly before reacting.

• Toggle to No Markup in the Review tab to see how the writing looks without Track Changes.

• Tackle mechanical edits (spelling, grammar, clarity) and structural edits (moving or cutting words) separately.

• Accept/reject in batches to speed up the process (in some cases, editors may handle this part).

• Keep Track Changes on if you're adding new content.

• Resolve or delete comments if necessary.

• Think about patterns in your writing (based on the editor’s suggestions) that could be avoided or leveraged in the future.

• Read the content to ensure the edits (both yours and the editor’s) support your message.

  
  

Note: Sometimes, your editor may introduce an error during Track Changes (particularly if the edit was a heavy one). Don’t judge them too harshly. They’re human too and they’re tracking dozens of issues at once. They may have misunderstood what you were trying to say or added a typo in a comment. Be as understanding with them as they are with you. For a deeper look at this topic, see Do editors catch all errors?

What if there are LOTS of tracked changes?

If the edit is heavy, reviewing Track Changes can be overwhelming. You may need to review each comma placement and rewrite confusing sentences. Comments in the margins may be numerous and take hours to resolve.

If you find that your work often needs a heavy edit, ask the editor (beforehand) to undertake silent edits to minimise visual clutter. What you include in the silent edits depends on how much you trust your editor and whether you’re focused on the style or content of the piece. For more on this topic, see  Silent Changes: What’s marked up and what isn’t?

Alternatively, a heavy edit may mean your book isn’t ready for a copyedit. To know for sure, ask your editor for a sample edit and gauge from there. If the pages look busy, it could be s sign you need to do further self-editing to minimise edits and reduce costs. If you still want to go ahead with a copyedit, be prepared for lots of markup – and a longer timeline!

Is Track Changes the only way to mark up text?

Track Changes is the industry standard, but it isn’t the only way to edit. Another popular tool is the Suggesting feature in Google Docs. It looks a little different on the page, but it does pretty much the same thing.

The only problem is that it doesn’t have the same advanced functions as Word, and it doesn’t support macros and PerfectIt, which help editors improve the accuracy of their edits. (For more on this topic, see Word or Google Docs: Which is better for editing?)

You could also go old school and mark up corrections on paper. This is how I learnt to edit back in the late ‘90s. However, you need to use editing marks/symbols – and few editors or writers remember these today. Plus, it can look messy and take longer to accept corrections (it’s not as easy as Accept/Reject in Word). For a blast from the past, see the edited sample below.

Copyedited manuscript page. Source: The Australian Editing Handbook by Elizabeth Flann & Beyl Hill, p. 67.

Final thoughts: Why Track Changes isn’t personal

While tracked changes can be intimidating, they aren’t a personal attack. Editing is a collaboration that helps you avoid embarrassing errors and make your ideas as impactful as possible.

When you receive a file from your editor, take a deep breath and follow the practical tips above to make the process easier. And remember, you can challenge an edit if it doesn’t serve your message or align with your voice. After all, it’s your book!

Need a non-fiction copyeditor or proofreader who views editing as a collaboration, not a confrontation? Then check out my services or request a sample edit.