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After reading the preamble carefully, I have the word spelt out, what to draw and the instruction. But am at a loss to which letter to change - at the moment.

Does the finished grid look like a conventional article? (i.e. depending on your point of view, so to speak)

For most of this solve I thought this puzzle was rather easy (at least compared to previous weeks). But I've come to a grinding halt at the very end. I believe I have the final eight letters and what they make in the grid, as well as the final instruction, but no idea what the final word of the instruction references.

I could use some help on Across clue:
Sultans...

And down clues:
Many... (I believe I have the answer, but no idea on the parse)
Garland...

Yes - taking into account the penetrating vision it's subjected to (which is a little confusing, to say the least).

Sultans (is the def) there's a word for 'turtle meat' (8 letters) its 2nd 'a' is extra.
Many-coloured... is the def - 'shed' like a bird, perhaps, but in the US (ref 'Dakota') 4 letters [drop the 3rd] + 3 letters for pasture/'open country'.
'Garland of flowers' is the usual 3 letters + 3 letters for the 'grass' and the def is the bird, not the country (it can be found - via a circuitous route - in Chambers).

...('turtle meat') sorry, the 2nd 'a' is removed by wordplay - the extra is the penultimate letter.

Many thanks Drxx! Turns out a lot of my struggles were based on mistakes I made elsewhere in the grid. Your advice helped me to narrow in on them. All done now!

You'll find the relevant definition for the last word you're wondering about in Chambers, cypherhouse - it's right at the start of one of the entries.

My confusion there wasn't so much how that word related to the theme as to what was representing it in the grid. Since at the time I didn't have a correct number of the obvious and was having trouble getting the right perspective.

Kind of nice though now that I've managed to see it!

Thanks, cypherhouse - I misunderstood (and you'd beaten me to it anyway}.