Brandon Sanderson's writing routine has helped me a bunch! I've written 12,000 words and three interlinked songs this week, which is my personal best! I got so into my novel this week, that I ended up writing through the night Thursday. Didn't even realise I'd been writing for 10 whole hours. I'm now 1/4 through my book in 3 weeks ish.
Last week, I saw this guy pull out a mammoth book from his bag. It was a Brandon Sanderson book. I'd already heard of him before, including via a presentation he gave on pursuing a writing career. That is definitely the kind of example I want to follow. Writing 5 books during a global pandemic is incredible. I've now seen the 11-2 video, but I enjoyed this one as well.
Sara! Brandon’s method can work wonders! I can’t do the 1-5 during the week because of my 9-5 job. But then I’ll hit the gym right after work, then play games or hangout with my friends or family until 10 then write from 10-2. You hike so maybe you could prep your meals as well? I do! People think it’s super late but we make time for the things really want to do ☺️
I do sorta prep food but not really. I make a large dinner every few nights and just eat the leftovers (or meal prepped food lol) for the next two or so nights. But I really like how your routine sounds!
Congrats! Brandon also rewards himself at the end of each day for hitting his goal for the day by getting to play video games from 2-4 AM before going to bed. I agree that a version of Brandon's routine would work for you. You just gotta adapt it to fit your lifestyle. Keep it up.
I've been watching his lectures after you suggested them and they are amazing. 10/10 recommend. And I definitely get you on the short attention span 😅😭 P.s. I really appreciate you talking about "purposeful" self-sabotage and the desire to just veg out and watch TV. I also work a full time job and have been working on getting my master's degree, so when it comes to painting, working out, and writing in my free time, I use that busyness as an excuse for myself to just chill out instead of working on those creative hobbies. But I've never thought about it as my brain protecting myself from the potential failure that I'm afraid of. Thank you for the inspiration to just push through.
based on all of the sanderson content i have watched from his 2016 - 2020 lectures, cons, intentionally blank podcast, interviews, his own channel's contents all available here on youtube, i believe he doesn't have sprints but he needs to actually get into the groove around the first 30/45-minute mark to continually write on what he's writing so like i think on the first 20 minute mark for him to be able to get in the zone. and then he has a hard time when he's getting distracted to get back on it again since he needs to get back into zone again through another set of those minute marks
I’ve been unintentionally doing his early writing routine. Where he would do it while working a night shift at a hotel. Something I’ve been doing for months now and a year into this new job. I also don’t get up until about noon ish. Either 10-12 depending on the day and the sleep I got. Then I have about a couple hours before I head into work at 3
You rock girl! I picked up writing during my high school years just to get out of some of my english homework lol. As properly diagnosed ADD student back then I always had a hard time focusing on school work, and when I could, radical perfectionism whould sabatage me. I was never Hyperactive though, and still to this day I do get excited but never Hyper over things. I started writing so that I didnt have to read. Back then, a book, no mater how good it was could not keep my attention and I always failed the book reports. My english teacher noticed this and gave me a Proposition, he sugested I think of something to do in place of the book reports, and If he approves of it, that would be my assignment, and so I selected to write a short story. I incorporated almost all the words from our spelling tests, and grammar assignments, and He approved it. At the end of my final semester that story ended up longer than my Senior project, and he was actually pleased enough to give me a B+ on the assignment. There I learned that I loved writing. I started writing more and more and Loved it, however, the following years after my graduation, I started spiraling into Depression and lost a lot of time. Regreting how I felt I started loathing my feeling, the time it was stealing more and more from me, making me antisocial, and more. I was in over my head but I never sank. I sought help over the years here and there, counseling, but I staunchly refused to take meds because I already knew how they made me through my mom when I was a kid, leading my parents to take me off of those meds (thank goodness). I graduated High school In 2005 and only just recently, in the last 4 years, grasped the upper hand on my feelings naturally. Still it SUCKED. It sucks realizing I had to go through that, knowing that some never recover, and/or succumb. Thankfully I slingshotted out of the funnel. I personally know a few who never did, hasn't or haven't yet emerged Today I actually love reading; only certian genres though. As for my past I still havent read many books today but I have finished about Ten. I lost a lot of years deticating 80 percent plus of my will power to correcting my mental state. In my writing, I have found that sometimes my ADD kicks in and I lose focus on my topic but still typing up my thoughts on the story on page, by the time I catch myself I've writen 8 pages completely off plot at the moment 🤣, but instead of getting discouraged, like I use to I find where I deviated and "Cut" and "Paste" onto a new project page that I can reference later if I need too lol. My bigest hurtle with ADD is catching myself in time to coreect the mistake, Entering the flow state off topic, while funny sometimes isnt always helpfull in the moment, but just like an artist, keep everything you put on paper for later's sake. Another one of my speed bumps is not being able to put enough personnel experience into the story. I feel as if there is to much Fabrication, or just thought up, then sometimes my writing can come off as disingenuous, or not relateable. Since I lost a lot of my time to my Brain State at the time I am unfortunately laking a little in that department. However some of my written characters do go through these same motions as part of their character arks, which I do feel as if that is when my writing peeks at its finest! If done right if Brilliant! I published a page from one of my stories on my Facebook a few years back, it actually recieved a number extremely positive and relateable feedback from my social friends and they really loved it and wanted me to continue with this story. 😊 It was so inspiring to me at the time, especially when I was still climbing out of the abyss, but could see the light at the top of the cliffs edge!
I have ADHD too and struggle with reading heaps (even though when I do read them, I freaking love books). Have you found or built any habits that help you focus while reading? I’m thinking of buying a weighted blanket for stimulation but that’s about all I got.
Hey I just found your channel a couple days ago and just wanna say you're killin it girl!! I don't write for public consumption, but I am a creative and I'm finding your content to be super inspiring! Really appreciate how vulnerable and honest you are about your struggles, and your positive attitude about creative growth. Keep it up!! Can't wait to see you REALLY blow up 💗
I knew about the military? "clicks" as distance measurement but I had no idea about the UTAH's distance measurement using mountains ! "i go to the coffee shop on main street, it's like two mountains away from my place"
These videos are special content about writing.i feel sometims That i have to watch one of them to get some energy. Even i am a screenwriter not a novelist but its The same routine and energy .thanks👌✍️💙
I'd love to have that work ethic! As an artist and writer, I am SO easily distracted when starting, but if I stay with it long enough I get into a good flow. I wonder if Brandon had a family distracting him every 5 mins ...
He definitely doesn't have family distracting him all the time and he has assistants that take care of other things that come up during his writing sessions
The schedule is really amazing. He does say that he has assistants that help him stay focused by taking care of anything that comes up while he's writing
I remember being jealous about people finishing their first draft. Finished mine last October, and now I'm jealous of your draft five XD but thank you for sharing your Sanderson experience!
also remember that brian sanderson has literally nothing else to do, and not writing at the same pace as a full-time writer while juggling life is insane. and even if you do nothing else, you cant force your brain and I certainly cant (adhdhdhd). slow and steady.
One thing to note is there are some things that interrupt Brandon's routine as well! True, they still have to do with his company and properties as a whole, but important to keep in mind!
when you write more than one draft, do you start over and write word for word and then add what you feel, or do you just edit the original document and change what you need ?
Good morning and happy Monday, Sara! 🌞☕I hope you had a good night sleep feeling fresh, positive, productive and able to do some editing or writing today. I have a question to ask you, I'm writing my stories in 3rd person, but can you add a 1st or 2nd-person Pov into the story? Have a wonderful and beautiful day. ❤
I think it's best that if you're writing a book in 3rd person, to keep all of the POVs consistently in the 3rd person, or all in 1st or second person. I haven't seen it done another way but that doesn't mean it isn't possible, I would just consider what's best for your story!
@@SaraLubratt Thank you for your advice as I've been thinking outside the box with not depending on one Pov but adding a mix into it. I appreciate it very much. 🌹
Attention span is a wonderful thing. But sitting down for enough of the day that you don't end up doubting your own work ethic is either an easy cycle to maintain or a hard one. It tends to require a full stomach. Or coffee. I spend too much time eating, so for the next several days I'm trying coffee instead of food. July NaNo for the win (???)
I'm beginning to wonder if my choice to adapt Dracula into a three part multiverse was a bad idea. I have 25 pages of the first draft of the first universe written which ends up being 6,520 words. It's a pretty disappointing first draft, but I hear most first drafts are. It's never going to be a novel. It's a multiverse anthology. Oh well it is what it is so far
For me, my first drafts are nowhere close to what I want them to be, that's where revising and editing really comes in. “I'm writing a first draft and reminding myself that I'm simply shoveling sand into a box so that later I can build castles.” -Shannon Hale
The best part about Brandon's routine, is that it works for him as an individual, and it helps him to be consistent and write almost every day.
Absolutely! I like trying what works for other people to see what I like and can add to my own routines!
Brandon Sanderson's writing routine has helped me a bunch! I've written 12,000 words and three interlinked songs this week, which is my personal best!
I got so into my novel this week, that I ended up writing through the night Thursday. Didn't even realise I'd been writing for 10 whole hours. I'm now 1/4 through my book in 3 weeks ish.
Oh wow! That's an amazing amount accomplished! And wow!! 10 whole hours! Congratulations!
Last week, I saw this guy pull out a mammoth book from his bag. It was a Brandon Sanderson book. I'd already heard of him before, including via a presentation he gave on pursuing a writing career. That is definitely the kind of example I want to follow. Writing 5 books during a global pandemic is incredible. I've now seen the 11-2 video, but I enjoyed this one as well.
❤️ thanks D! And that’s so fun you saw a Brandon Sanderson book being read in the wild
Sara! Brandon’s method can work wonders!
I can’t do the 1-5 during the week because of my 9-5 job. But then I’ll hit the gym right after work, then play games or hangout with my friends or family until 10 then write from 10-2. You hike so maybe you could prep your meals as well? I do! People think it’s super late but we make time for the things really want to do ☺️
I do sorta prep food but not really. I make a large dinner every few nights and just eat the leftovers (or meal prepped food lol) for the next two or so nights. But I really like how your routine sounds!
Congrats! Brandon also rewards himself at the end of each day for hitting his goal for the day by getting to play video games from 2-4 AM before going to bed. I agree that a version of Brandon's routine would work for you. You just gotta adapt it to fit your lifestyle. Keep it up.
Oh I missed that part of his routine! That would have been fun!
I've been watching his lectures after you suggested them and they are amazing. 10/10 recommend. And I definitely get you on the short attention span 😅😭
P.s. I really appreciate you talking about "purposeful" self-sabotage and the desire to just veg out and watch TV. I also work a full time job and have been working on getting my master's degree, so when it comes to painting, working out, and writing in my free time, I use that busyness as an excuse for myself to just chill out instead of working on those creative hobbies. But I've never thought about it as my brain protecting myself from the potential failure that I'm afraid of. Thank you for the inspiration to just push through.
The lectures are great, aren't they? And yes, unfortunately the self-sabotage is something that I've newly become aware of 🙃
based on all of the sanderson content i have watched from his 2016 - 2020 lectures, cons, intentionally blank podcast, interviews, his own channel's contents all available here on youtube, i believe he doesn't have sprints but he needs to actually get into the groove around the first 30/45-minute mark to continually write on what he's writing so like i think on the first 20 minute mark for him to be able to get in the zone. and then he has a hard time when he's getting distracted to get back on it again since he needs to get back into zone again through another set of those minute marks
I’ve been unintentionally doing his early writing routine. Where he would do it while working a night shift at a hotel. Something I’ve been doing for months now and a year into this new job. I also don’t get up until about noon ish. Either 10-12 depending on the day and the sleep I got. Then I have about a couple hours before I head into work at 3
You rock girl! I picked up writing during my high school years just to get out of some of my english homework lol. As properly diagnosed ADD student back then I always had a hard time focusing on school work, and when I could, radical perfectionism whould sabatage me.
I was never Hyperactive though, and still to this day I do get excited but never Hyper over things. I started writing so that I didnt have to read. Back then, a book, no mater how good it was could not keep my attention and I always failed the book reports. My english teacher noticed this and gave me a Proposition, he sugested I think of something to do in place of the book reports, and If he approves of it, that would be my assignment, and so I selected to write a short story. I incorporated almost all the words from our spelling tests, and grammar assignments, and He approved it. At the end of my final semester that story ended up longer than my Senior project, and he was actually pleased enough to give me a B+ on the assignment. There I learned that I loved writing. I started writing more and more and Loved it, however, the following years after my graduation, I started spiraling into Depression and lost a lot of time. Regreting how I felt I started loathing my feeling, the time it was stealing more and more from me, making me antisocial, and more. I was in over my head but I never sank. I sought help over the years here and there, counseling, but I staunchly refused to take meds because I already knew how they made me through my mom when I was a kid, leading my parents to take me off of those meds (thank goodness). I graduated High school In 2005 and only just recently, in the last 4 years, grasped the upper hand on my feelings naturally. Still it SUCKED. It sucks realizing I had to go through that, knowing that some never recover, and/or succumb. Thankfully I slingshotted out of the funnel. I personally know a few who never did, hasn't or haven't yet emerged
Today I actually love reading; only certian genres though. As for my past I still havent read many books today but I have finished about Ten.
I lost a lot of years deticating 80 percent plus of my will power to correcting my mental state. In my writing, I have found that sometimes my ADD kicks in and I lose focus on my topic but still typing up my thoughts on the story on page, by the time I catch myself I've writen 8 pages completely off plot at the moment 🤣, but instead of getting discouraged, like I use to I find where I deviated and "Cut" and "Paste" onto a new project page that I can reference later if I need too lol. My bigest hurtle with ADD is catching myself in time to coreect the mistake, Entering the flow state off topic, while funny sometimes isnt always helpfull in the moment, but just like an artist, keep everything you put on paper for later's sake. Another one of my speed bumps is not being able to put enough personnel experience into the story. I feel as if there is to much Fabrication, or just thought up, then sometimes my writing can come off as disingenuous, or not relateable. Since I lost a lot of my time to my Brain State at the time I am unfortunately laking a little in that department. However some of my written characters do go through these same motions as part of their character arks, which I do feel as if that is when my writing peeks at its finest! If done right if Brilliant! I published a page from one of my stories on my Facebook a few years back, it actually recieved a number extremely positive and relateable feedback from my social friends and they really loved it and wanted me to continue with this story. 😊 It was so inspiring to me at the time, especially when I was still climbing out of the abyss, but could see the light at the top of the cliffs edge!
I apologize for the long story!
I have ADHD too and struggle with reading heaps (even though when I do read them, I freaking love books). Have you found or built any habits that help you focus while reading? I’m thinking of buying a weighted blanket for stimulation but that’s about all I got.
Hey I just found your channel a couple days ago and just wanna say you're killin it girl!! I don't write for public consumption, but I am a creative and I'm finding your content to be super inspiring! Really appreciate how vulnerable and honest you are about your struggles, and your positive attitude about creative growth. Keep it up!! Can't wait to see you REALLY blow up 💗
Thank you so much!! Happy to have you here!
I went back to the clip more than once, it's beautiful
Glad you liked it!
yes!! i need you to try this routine for a week and see how it goes :)
Will do at some point in the near future :)
if you haven’t met Brandon yet, he’s supposed to be at this years fanX in slc.
Oh awesome!
Lol I've always wondered why you talked so much about a writer I've never heard of, but now I get it...UTAH!
Look him up, he's a huge author! I only started hearing about him a few years ago but he's huge!
I knew about the military? "clicks" as distance measurement but I had no idea about the UTAH's distance measurement using mountains !
"i go to the coffee shop on main street, it's like two mountains away from my place"
I think I said like 45 min south before I said the mountain thing 😂
Hey Sara! Great vlog with trying Brandon's routine. Have a wonderful weekend.
Thank you! You too!
@@SaraLubratt You're welcome and thank you, Sara. ❤
These videos are special content about writing.i feel sometims That i have to watch one of them to get some energy.
Even i am a screenwriter not a novelist but its The same routine and energy .thanks👌✍️💙
That’s still writing! I’m so glad you find my videos helpful!
He didn't write 5 books in the year of the pandemic. He wrote 5 EXTRA books, and secret, while working in 3 or 4 other books that everyone knew about.
Oh geez, totally forgot to mention that. I think the 5 books alone just seem so outlandish 😂
@@SaraLubratt 😆😆😆 You’re right. He is crazy 😜
I'd love to have that work ethic! As an artist and writer, I am SO easily distracted when starting, but if I stay with it long enough I get into a good flow. I wonder if Brandon had a family distracting him every 5 mins ...
He definitely doesn't have family distracting him all the time and he has assistants that take care of other things that come up during his writing sessions
@@SaraLubratt wouldn't that be lovely!
Gosh I wish I had that much time to write!! lol Sanderson is pretty lucky that he can.
The schedule is really amazing. He does say that he has assistants that help him stay focused by taking care of anything that comes up while he's writing
I’m confused. If you tried Sanderson’s writing routine for a day, how come you haven’t written and published 4 new books in that time?
😂
I remember being jealous about people finishing their first draft. Finished mine last October, and now I'm jealous of your draft five XD but thank you for sharing your Sanderson experience!
It's been 6 years in the making for me 😂 You'll get there! Finishing a first draft is HUGE!! Congratulations!
@@SaraLubratt Seven years for me haha... but thank you very much!
also remember that brian sanderson has literally nothing else to do, and not writing at the same pace as a full-time writer while juggling life is insane.
and even if you do nothing else, you cant force your brain and I certainly cant (adhdhdhd). slow and steady.
Absolutely :)
Amazing Video
Thanks!
One thing to note is there are some things that interrupt Brandon's routine as well! True, they still have to do with his company and properties as a whole, but important to keep in mind!
Very good to know!
when you write more than one draft, do you start over and write word for word and then add what you feel, or do you just edit the original document and change what you need ?
Sara, I’m so curious what your job title is? I’m job hunting atm so 👀 It sounds like an ideal role to allow you more writing time
I work for an airline. I'll be making a video soon of job title suggestions
Good morning and happy Monday, Sara! 🌞☕I hope you had a good night sleep feeling fresh, positive, productive and able to do some editing or writing today. I have a question to ask you, I'm writing my stories in 3rd person, but can you add a 1st or 2nd-person Pov into the story? Have a wonderful and beautiful day. ❤
I think it's best that if you're writing a book in 3rd person, to keep all of the POVs consistently in the 3rd person, or all in 1st or second person. I haven't seen it done another way but that doesn't mean it isn't possible, I would just consider what's best for your story!
@@SaraLubratt Thank you for your advice as I've been thinking outside the box with not depending on one Pov but adding a mix into it. I appreciate it very much. 🌹
@@Ghostrob2023 Sounds good!
@@SaraLubratt Thanks!
Attention span is a wonderful thing. But sitting down for enough of the day that you don't end up doubting your own work ethic is either an easy cycle to maintain or a hard one. It tends to require a full stomach. Or coffee. I spend too much time eating, so for the next several days I'm trying coffee instead of food.
July NaNo for the win (???)
It was a few days before July Nano 😂 but I wish these words had counted for July!
what do you mean when you say "time lapse" when talking about being on your phone?
Taking a time lapse of what I'm doing
I'm beginning to wonder if my choice to adapt Dracula into a three part multiverse was a bad idea. I have 25 pages of the first draft of the first universe written which ends up being 6,520 words. It's a pretty disappointing first draft, but I hear most first drafts are. It's never going to be a novel. It's a multiverse anthology. Oh well it is what it is so far
For me, my first drafts are nowhere close to what I want them to be, that's where revising and editing really comes in. “I'm writing a first draft and reminding myself that I'm simply shoveling sand into a box so that later I can build castles.” -Shannon Hale
@@SaraLubratt thanks for the encouragement.
@@mattmallecoccio8378 Of course!