L. Ikegawa asked Jane Yolen:

These questions are wrt your early days as a writer: advice for us-noobs. How did you handle story advice that improved the work-- yet deviated from your intent or the spirit of your original idea-- leaving you with the feeling that it’s not your work anymore? (For instance, in a workshop situation where someone suggests a major change the story line or switching the gender of a major character.)

Jane Yolen I always listen to critiques, but never take them in whole. Early on I learned to read the readers. Everyone reads a different story than you put down. They read it with their own baggage in tow. Even good readers, even the greatest, even editors, especially critics. So take what you need from their advice, twist it to your own needs, move on.

In the end, it's the story that will tell you what to do but you have to listen.

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