The first reader

Well, my wife has started reading The Novice of Thanatos. She is always the first to delve into my worlds. I am still very much in the weeds of editing and polishing, and it would have been nice to wait a month before sharing a more complete draft, but she’s on break between semesters (getting her doctorate), and in two weeks, she’ll be absorbed in more important things. The story is mostly complete, and having another pair of eyes on it is integral.

My wife is my biggest fan and my harshest critic. Both of which I need. Writing is a challenging process, and it helps to have someone say that you did a good job once and a while, but on the other hand, writing is a self-absorbant endeavor and requires someone to tell you it’s shit when it’s shit. That cold bucket of water is often more important, and my wife isn’t afraid to share with me if something doesn’t work, even if it is sometimes hard to swallow. She has a keen eye that I’ve grown to depend on, and I can’t stifle that treasure with my ego. Yes, it sometimes leads to disagreements, but as with many things, she’s usually right, and it just takes me a moment to step out of my hubris and see it. I would much rather get this feedback from her than a stranger.

She didn’t get far before I received the first hit. I wrote The Novice of Thanatos in the first person as a memoir. It begins with a preface that explains why Mishal of Gaven Hill has chosen to share his story with my fictitious world of Lucardia. I delved deep into his upbringing and the locality of where his journey began. I found the lore and history of it fascinating, but I am not writing just for myself. After maybe the third read-through, I got the inkling that it may be wordy and slow- not what you want right at the beginning of a book. She confirmed my suspicions immediately. I got the “I like it, but…”, and just like that, I cut the chapter in half. It is now a pithy introduction of only a few pages that sets the stage with some juicy crumbs to entice the reader to explore further. I kept what she loved and got rid of the rest. Already, the book is much improved.

As many authors know, there is a tendency to give too much information at the story’s beginning. This verbosity is especially problematic in fantasy, where the author feels it necessary/ entitled to build their world. But readers like action, and often, you must cut significantly to get right into the thick of it or risk losing the reader’s interest. I salvaged some of this lore and sprinkled it here and there, but most of it will sit in a folder on my computer, never to see the light. It is not gone entirely. Hints and clues of its passing provide the story a sense of weight, even if the reader will never know the details.

She loved the first chapter; it gave her chills, precisely the type of response an author wants to hear. It gives me chills, too- every time I read it, even when I know what will happen. I didn’t know if it was just me, but now I am sure I achieved my mission. There is something about the pacing and build-up. I don’t know how I created what I did, but it works beautifully! It clarifies that she was right. Immediately diving into that viseral response is better than ten pages of unnecessary details. The reader should experience those chills early. It will draw them in and immediately establish a connection between them and the main character.

She’s now on chapter five, so we still have a long way to go, but so far, she’s loving it. Having her read it shifts my lens. I am a few chapters ahead of her on my sixth or seventh read-through. Knowing that she’s right behind me with that criticality forces me to tear into the proses- cutting what I think she will find boring or overindulgent and clarifying parts I think she will struggle with. Whoever coined the advice that you should pick a person in your life and write to them was a genius. It really works.

We went through the same process for Koen (book trailer), which is now available for pre-order and will be released on September 22nd. Koen is a good book, likely the best I’ve written. I tore it apart and put it back together at least three times, primarily due to her feedback. I put a ton of work into it, but my wife did too, and I hope success will be a victory for her as much as it will be for me.

Being a self-published author, my team is small, and I want to give credit where it’s due. I could never write these books without her. I may have planted the garden and done much of the pruning, but it wouldn’t look as good without my supervisor looking over my shoulder, making sure I don’t go overboard trimming the hedges into exotic animals. She keeps me tasteful, reserved, and practical, drawing out the best of me, and that’s why I love her. Our shared success with Koen, The Novice of Thanatos, and all the books before and after is a testament to our collaboration and her invaluable role in my work.

Cheers!