Nathan Bransford - The Forums

Hi everyone That's Not My Neighbor

I’m in the middle of revising my manuscript, and I’ve received some very different suggestions from beta readers. Some of their notes make sense, but others seem to clash with the story I originally wanted to tell.

For those of you who’ve gone through this stage, how do you decide which feedback to take on board and which to set aside? Do you have a system for sorting through conflicting advice, or do you go with instinct?

I’d love to hear how other writers navigate this part of the process.

Thanks!

When feedback conflicts, I usually check whether it aligns with the core theme and character arcs I want to preserve. If a note improves clarity or pacing without changing the heart of the story, I take it. Otherwise, I set it aside but keep it for later in case I change perspective after some distance.

I think instinct plays a huge role. Beta readers help spot issues, but at the end of the day, it’s your story.

matthew219 wrote: ↑September 22nd, 2025, 9:21 pm Hi everyone That's Not My Neighbor

I’m in the middle of revising my manuscript, and I’ve received some very different suggestions from beta readers. Some of their notes make sense, but others seem to clash with the story I originally wanted to tell.

For those of you who’ve gone through this stage, how do you decide which feedback to take on board and which to set aside? Do you have a system for sorting through conflicting advice, or do you go with instinct?

I’d love to hear how other writers navigate this part of the process.

Thanks!

I usually take a step back and see which feedback aligns with my story’s core message. If a suggestion improves clarity or emotional impact, I keep it. If it changes the heart of the story, I let it go. A bit of instinct, a bit of logic!

A good way to balance beta-reader feedback with your own vision is to treat every note as data, not a command: if multiple readers point out the same issue, it’s usually worth addressing, but if feedback conflicts or pushes the story in a direction that doesn’t feel right, trust your intent for the book. Look for patterns, separate comments about clarity from comments about personal taste, and ask yourself whether a suggestion strengthens the story you meant to tell rather than turning it into someone else’s version. In the end, your instincts should be the final filter—beta readers illuminate blind spots, but you choose which lights to keep on.

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