I just got to look at the finished, color pages from my book, “Cartoon Faces: How to Draw Faces, Features & Expressions,” which comes out this fall. I was thrilled with what the art director and editor came up with. Anyone who tells you that they don’t need an editor or art director is simply, well, how can I put this gently…? They think a lot of their abilities and too little of others. There is no book that a good editor can’t make better, and likewise for an illustrated book. At the same time, if there are changes requested, and you really believe that changing that part of your work would “de-prove” (the opposite of “improve”) your work, then you have to stand your ground – BUT – you must be willing to discuss your reasoning with your editor, and you must be willing to listen. Sometimes, your opinion won’t be changed. Other times, it may.
Often, if you’re creative, you can find a way to reach both of your goals. For example, your editor may make a good point that there are too many illustrations in a chapter, which are crowding out the text, and therefore, several of your favorite illustrations need to be cut. Rather than argue that those illustrations need to stay in the book, you might suggest that your editor cut pages from a less crucial chapter. This would give the editor new pages to add to the crucial chapter, making it long enough to spread out the illustrations without crowding the text. Win-win.
Inside publishing FYI: Color proofs are referred to as “The Gallies”.