I’ve started trying to read and learn from Lindsay Buroker’s The Emperor’s Edge, her first book. I like her style, the upbeat, humorous fantasy, and the fast pace. While she has a lot more books now, I wanted to look at her first ones to look at what might be reasonable as a debut novel.
I’m looking at her scene construction, transition, pace of introducing characters, and how the story elements unfold. Of course, this runs the risk of being far too analytical and paralyzing me again when I get back to writing my fiction. I have to keep in mind that I’m looking at a completed and edited story, one that she has said took her several years to finish, and that I’m applying structures after the fact.
Holding my first draft to this standard would be a mistake.
But still, I think it will be helpful in the long run, as long as I don’t continue this analysis approach while I am writing my own work.
For now, progress continues on my non-fiction. I am still moving my notes into the various chapters and sections of my outline and getting ready to write. Once they’re all moved in, it will be time to decide if I dive in on that book or try another fiction story instead.