Which comments describe the same underlying issue?
Start here, then go back to the page and see what the manuscript gives you.MANUSCRIPT PROBLEM
I have lots of feedback. How do I know what actually matters?
A long feedback file can leave you less certain than you were before. The useful part is working out which comments describe the same thing, which are personal preferences, and which point to a problem worth solving.
BEFORE YOU CHANGE ANYTHING01 02 03 04 05
Ten people mentioning something does not automatically make it the biggest problem. One comment can sometimes point to a larger issue that explains several smaller ones.
FIVE QUESTIONS
What we would look for first
Which are isolated preferences?
Start here, then go back to the page and see what the manuscript gives you.Which concerns affect the manuscript at a larger scale?
Start here, then go back to the page and see what the manuscript gives you.Which changes would solve several smaller symptoms at once?
Start here, then go back to the page and see what the manuscript gives you.What should you test first?
Start here, then go back to the page and see what the manuscript gives you.WHERE A DEEPER READ HELPS
Stay with the reaction before deciding what to change.
We would group the comments, separate what readers actually observed from what they think caused it, and then work out which question is worth testing first.
A POSSIBLE NEXT STEP
Bring the question, not a diagnosis.
You do not need to arrive knowing which editorial service you need. If you want another pair of eyes on the actual manuscript, this is the route that fits the question above.
IF YOU ARE STILL NOT SURE
That is useful information too.
Sometimes the most honest starting point is simply, “Something isn't working and I cannot quite tell why.” You can start there.