Lecture #2: Plot Part 1 - Brandon Sanderson on Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 พ.ค. 2024
- Welcome to the second lecture of my BYU 2020 creative writing class. As you probably surmised from the title of the video, I focus on writing science fiction and fantasy.
This class was the first half of my lecture on plotting and is focused on promises, progress, payoff (twists), and different plot types.
The fact that Jim Butcher asked for the worst idea someone could come up with, then proceeded to write a 6-book series from said idea, is absolutely legendary.
Dresden Files was apparently a dare as well.
So he seems to have made a career out of trying to prove people wrong.
Legendary indeed
It’s a really great series to.
Quite the flex honestly
😂😭 he's so good but also so random and funny, trying to prove everyone wrong, I love it 🤣
He wasn’t flexing by taking that dare, he was proving an important point that distinguishes great writers from weak ones. Writers need to understand the point he proved as a fundamental principal of the craft in order to tap their creative potential.
I love how he repeats every question so we can hear it... actually, I just love this whole series
@The Anonymous Sir Backspace For sure, the number of teachers or even just public speakers who address the person who asked the question bother me. Make sure everyone's on the same page and save yourself questions in the future.
I'm not even a writer nor aspiring writer, nor do I read lots of fantasy, yet I'm here loving these lectures.
every time I watch a talk like this and someone asks a question you can't hear I pray the speaker repeats the question. nothing worse than when they don't.
@The Anonymous Sir Backspace are their spoilers of his series or other series, pls tell
@@shalimarlake7852 y p o o. O o. Po o o. P
Anyone notice whenever Brandon takes a drink that the camera cuts to wide shot to show him standing under the big sign that’s says absolutely no drinks allowed in the auditorium? Someone is being funny!
Funny yes. But from a singer, clinician, and presenter, NOT having water for an hour long lecture would wreck your voice pretty quickly.
@@TheMusicscotty You're a Singer? What's your favorite form and rhythm?
@@clark5317 War form, and Rhythm of War of course!
@@The_Reductionist No mateform?
Was that water? I think it was vodka.
Thank you for giving this out freely and not holding this behind a "MasterClass" paywall. Journey before destination, Sir. :)
THIS.
I’ve learned so much more from only the second lesson of this than I have from any of the writing MasterClasses
@@ethanmauser4861 Well, I myself look down on the whole MC idea to begin with apart from paying enormous amounts of money for nothing. But who knows? If some writer really needs say Gaiman's class that's them. I like Brandon and admire him but I'm not listening to learn to write - no magical book or class will do that. I just listen. Maybe it helps - maybe not but I'd take what he says with some skepticism.
I'm sure he gets paid decently however I doubt money is his main motivation for doing these classes. That's why they're so good in the first place.
@@ethanmauser4861 Generally I agree, excepting Neil Gaiman's class. I found it to be enjoyable and invaluable and nearly on the same level as Mr. Sanderson's course.
I can't believe this is free. GOLD. Thank you, Brandon.
bruh, ga nyangka ketemu di sini... baca fantasi juga bang?
Ketemu abang disini. Salam bang
@@narayana7331 sim, ele lê fantasia 👍🏻
All of this information you can easily find online anyways. There's nothing groundbreaking or innovative at all here, just basic 101 writing
This man is a treasure in this world. I hope he lives at least a hundred years.
We are so lucky we have all this archived. 50 years from now when he’s Tolkien level famous in and outside of fantasy circles, new up and coming writers will still be able to watch these... well hopefully at least
right? dude's such a genius, and he also puts the lectures on youtube for free so others can write, like wow
Hes certainly helpful
Yes, he most certainly should.
Waiting for GRRM and Rothfus to slip him an envelope to come over and help weave the rug into a rope.
I've just found this series of lectures and I think my favourite thing about Brandon here is, unlike other "tips and tricks videos" he doesn't discourage people using tropes or well-worn frameworks.
He doesn't bash the idea of needing something wholly original and doesn't act as some sort of gatekeeper.
Instead his enthusiasm to see people do *their* thing regardless of where it takes inspiration from is basically infectious and makes me feel like, even if one person reads my work and enjoys it, I've accomplished something.
Indeed!
Well said Michael!
One of my biggest struggles is that when I write, I think constantly "no you can't do that", or "no you can't go there".
Being told by someone better at writing than myself that I can is quite encouraging.
Exactly
Well said!
This perfectly communicates why everyone is upset with the new Star Wars Trilogy. Each set of writers and directors made different promises.
Brian Roecklein
I can’t agree enough. Every promise shouldn’t pay off exactly how you want, but when all of them are subverted and paid off opposite to how you’d except. . . Not enjoyable
Should have just had Rian Johnson do all three of them
Mauler has an amazing, in-depth series on why The Last Jedi was so disappointing.
@Brian Roecklein, I almost skimmed past your comment, thinking it was more Star Wars flame post fluff.
But wow, glad I read it. Yes, I think you're right.
Genuinely useful application of this lens. Thanks.
Wasn’t that the case for each of the original trilogy, as well? Empire wasn’t met with critical reception at first due to the incredibly departure in tone from A New Hope. Then we flip to an even more flamboyant tone than A New Hope with Return, and the use of things like Ewoks was panned.
Not to say I’m griping about them, I’ve loved each incarnation. But the arguments can be applied to the originals.
10:33 - What is plot? Why does it work?
11:38 - Promise, Progress, Payoff
Promise: Tone, Genre, Character Arc, Type of Conflict,
18:42 - Character Arc
36:05 - Progress
45:00 - Progress in Umbrella Plot
47:04 - Matching The Right Promises with Progress
52:49 - Summary of Last Few Points
1:00:17 - Payoff
Arigatō Gozaimashita
👍🏾
Almighty bless you.
Thank you a lot
Wait a second, there's no payoff!
PLOTS
-A book needs to be the mashing of a lot of ideas. You can’t write a book from one idea
-Good setting but bad character =bad book
-Trash or cliche setting but good characters= still ok book
- Try to have a strange attractor aka a spin on a familiar idea, or a mash of two ideas that don’t seem like they might go together. (Heist plus my fair lady = mistbourn)
Promise
- Tone: Indicates the tone and style of story you’re telling. The beginning chapters usually do this. If you want your story to be funny- the start of the story needs to be funny. Thats why the cold open is popular. *Indiana Jones. Don’t start with a kid on the farm if you want action adventure tone promise *Starwars -> that’s why a prologue is popular. Try to avoid the prologue cliche.
- Character Arc: This is how the character is going to change throughout the story. Either how THEY change or their SITUATION changes. Show your character’s desires and what’s preventing them. Could also be showing reader what they know he should want, but the character doesn’t want *Bilbo doesn’t want to go on an adventure*.
- General Plot: Umbrella plot (visible plot), core plot (what your actual progress and payoff is going to be). Core plot could be a romance, but the umbrella plot is “we need to do x, and while we do x we fall in love”. General plot should be the umbrella plot usually. You can be more predictable in your plot than you think as long as your setting is bomb and your characters are really likable.
**Progress
- This is the hardest but most imporant.
- The readers want a “map”, they want to know the direction they are going and the progress they are making through the story. They want to FEEL the progress. They want to see the story building toward something, and they want to find out what that “something” is. Create an illusion for the reader that a steady progress toward an inevitable and exciting goal is happening in the story. Do this by identifying what questions the reader wants answered, that will be the reason they are turning the page.
- If you make a “promise” in the book, but start taking the story in another direction then readers get bored because they feel like they are on a “diversion” from the actual plot. Thats when they get bored. Thats why the progress needs to be cohesive with the promises you make as a writer.
- Starwars Example: Umbrella plot is destroy empire but the reader thinks is actually -> get the plans to the princess. Character arc is Luke trusts the force (secondary character arc of Han becomes less of a jerk). All the scenes should be working toward those goals. Thats good progress.
- When you write a plot make little increments in the plot where you can show you are making headway in the goals. If you are writing a romance, you need to indicate progress is happening, so plot out little points to indicate that is blooming.
- Sometimes you need to nest plots like Umbrella plot -> Character plot -> Sub plot which all gets closed at some point [ie Alderon is destroyed, we can’t take the plans there. New mini sub plot becomes turn off the death star tractor beam and rescue the princess].
- Progress should involve problems arising.
Payoff
- The feeling you leave the reader with when they finish your book. You make good on all your promises.
- Sometimes the final sequences/plot isn’t the original promise. It can be the character growing, plot expands, or along those lines. A lot of readers will have problems with a substitute a lot of times. If you promise them a “toy car” and give them a “toy plane” they won’t like that unless you REALLY convince them that what they really want is the substitute, even though they THOUGHT they wanted the original.
- Pay off should flow naturally with the progress. It should give them everything they were promised at the beginning PLUS something else and new. Give them a toy car AND a plane.
@@81droid81 did it hurt when you fall off from the heaven? Thank you so much.
thankyou so. much
Look i only use expletives when i am extremely satisfied. So fuckingggg thank you!
Thank you! 💞❤️
Thx! did you take notes on the other lectures, can you tell me where to see them?
My friends: Beers after work?
Me: Can't. Have class.
Abhishek Das cant I go to BYU
nate holyoak
What?
@@mightymouse5930 xD
This aged poorly
@@Jdawson1912 What is this code ?
It's pretty great that BYU allows for these lectures to be shared online with students outside their university :)
I’m guessing it is actually Brandon that includes rights to publish these as a condition to his work agreement, but I’m not sure. I’d bet universities (or their endowment’s stewards) would strongly prefer to jealously guard their ‘non-academy public figure’ lectures, but I may be completely wrong! 🙂
They only did it because of COVID
@@chananyaminster2075 This isn't true - he has uploaded lecture series from years before 2020.
@@refoliation Probably because the University provides to students, and not to us TH-cam viewers, access and participation to the writing and peer review groups that can provide hard feedback to students in these classes. But it is good as people outside of this BYU class can get some insights into what generally goes into writing Scifi/fantasy.
@@refoliation It depends on the university, for example MIT has OpenCourseWare where they have all the materials for a ton of classes posted free online. Other universities have nothing posted online outside of canvas/blackboard where you need to be enrolled in the class to access.
Its actually insane that we can hear a lesson from one of the most accomplished authors in the world for free.
Welcome to the Internet
"Kid on a farm"
Can't stop thinking about Eragon's prologue and first chapter
Applies to comic books too. Think Superman!
@@krishanubanerjee6955 True!
:o thats a good example!
Wheel of Time as well.
Reason why kid on a farm is boring is because most people who write one have never been a kid on a farm.
"Another One"
-DJ Sanderson
LOL
Yes!! Lol 😆😂
Brandon is like the opposite of a gatekeeper when it comes to writing. He chooses to give back his knowledge in the name of bettering the writers of the world and uploading these lectures for fee on youtube instead of keeping his secrets to himself or charging people money to access his lectures. Truly a model for anyone in any field.
I think Brandon might be better called a door greeter - he will welcome you in, and point you towards places you could go, while not telling you specifically how to get there.
Just got my first manuscript request from Writers House. Watching Brandons vids helped a lot.
Congrats!! 👏🏻👏🏻
@@NikolaAjzenhamer Thanks. It will probably lead to nothing. I have no other prior publications, so unlikely to succeed. And I only self-edited.
Congrats. Good luck to you, now and in the future
Write Heroes Congrats and you never know. This might lead to other things.
WOO!
I love how even he has a hard time describing his own books. “It’s a uh, it’s ummmm, a.....it’s a fairy land?”
He tried to do so without spoilers.
Still kinda cute though. xD
Same
Sounds like shadesmar! Lol, totally not.
Accurately describing Shadesmar means going off an entire tangent about the dimensional structure of the cosmere, how Investiture functions a la the spren, and to a certain extent spheres, Stormlight, and the highstorms. It's way quicker to just compare it to the fey realm and move on
It's no wonder that GRRM is taking so long to write his next book. Dude has so many characters and subplots and major plot lines that makes endless promises, needs progress, and payoff that it's like trying to untangle the largest heap of yarn in the world and connect all the pieces properly into a tapestry. I do not envy him.
I'm not an aspiring writer, but I'm still really enjoying these lectures! When someone is knowledgeable and passionate about a topic, I can usually listen to them for hours. And on top of that, Brandon is a really engaging speaker.
This year's classes looks like it's going to be the one with the best sound.
Video still off maybe
@@snarf1504 That's a good thing. The last time the students were mic all you could hear was heavy breathing, noisy keyboards, and creaky chairs.
Brandon repeats the question and/or summarize longer statements, so we don't need to hear the students.
Snarf
He usually repeats the question doesn’t he?
I still have no problem with not hearing the student’s questions, because that means we’re not forced to tolerate endless typing, papers shuffling, sniffing, coughing, and even babies crying.
You because of covid? Hope the next lectures exist haha
@@EBgCampos Lol, wait, my question was asked B.C.
"Why am I here? I do not even like stories."
Was supposed to be my comment but I am now realising this could be an opener for my story. God damn it. These lessons work.
I like the little Kaladin on his shirt
And Syl.
OMG I didn't even realise that's who it was!
Dragon prince, right?
THAT was KALADIN?! Why didn't I see it before?!
@@robertsiemon410 also thought it was dragon prince for a moment!
I'm not writing novels but I am writing scripts and I'm gaining tons useful information and tips from this.
Having taken college script writing courses, this is all very much the same stuff. This is such a good resource for any form of writing.
Me too lol
@@alethearia well that's reassuring
Same!
“Don’t start a wacky comedy with a prologue that makes us weep”
*UP has entered the chat*
Brandon must be a very good person, I’m 10 minutes into this presentation and the information provided is easily worth it’s weight in gold for any aspiring new writer regardless of genre. Brandon could just as easily charged a few thousand dollars as other well established authors have ( I won’t mention names but I could) for this course and yet makes it free on TH-cam! God Bless you Brandon Sanderson, you have just provided an amazing service to thousands perhaps millions of aspiring writers of fiction. 👍🏼
Mention names 😈😈😈
@@AndYouWillBeWithMe the bad ending
"You cannot escape so easily, Dragon. It is not done between us. It will not be done until the end of time.”
Then he was gone, and the mountain and the island stood alone. Waiting.
Chapter 1:
some-BODY
Severely under voted comment.
The fact that I knew exactly what this was referencing says a lot about me
Some-Body once told me I broke the world around me, and brutally murdered my family.
I think the whole ‘progress’ thing kind of explains why Season One of A:TLA, though iconic, is the weakest of the three. We establish the North Pole as a goal very early on and there are so many diversions, but it’s clever because it also introduces the whole comet thing, which keeps us hooked as an overall series end goal.
I love season 1. But I love all the seasons
But the thing is you don’t realise that book 1 is weakest until you’ve watched the whole series. Up until the finale of book 1, you are already saying, “This is so good”.
@Funnycat 77 Nope. I think you'll find that overall, the most people would agree that Book 2 was the strongest. Masterpiece of a book. The character development is Incredible, the themes and subplots are mature. The overall execution is nigh perfect. Its like the empire strikes back of the series.
@@dr.j7542 Ba Sing Se is the strongest setting in the show. So much happens there too and all the characters develop hugely.
Book 2 > Book 3 > Book 1
Although that’s not true of individual episodes. In my opinion, three best parts of the series are the Battle for the North Pole, the Battle under Ba Sing Se, and when Zuko was struggling with learning to use lightning. Those were all in Books 1 and 2. Book 3’s Last Agni Kai is an honorable mention. I think I like those moments the best because they were showing strong character growth (or change might be a better descriptor) combined with exciting events.
Book 1 suffers from too many diversions and the writers appear to still be getting comfortable regarding the tone, so it’s goofy kid shenanigans in one episode and uncovering the genocide of Aang’s entire people in the next.
Book 2 has consistent progress, character change, and a more consistent tone.
Book 3 suffers from being less dynamic than Book 2. It has little character growth at all among the main characters beyond mending some relationships, which is hardly personal growth. Many of its episodes have little to no progress and while some are diversions, others just feel like stalling. One of the episodes is literally the main characters just waiting for the final episode to start. In other words, poor pacing.
I critique because I love. Overall the series was fantastic. It’s a shame that in Korra the writers seemed to lose touch with what made ATLA good.
„No food or drinks allowed in Auditorium“ - and Brandon walking up there with his Bottle occasionally sipping like a Boss ! Lol xD but honestly thank you very much for this! Please more of it.
Happens often in universities. Stupid rule and most people just ignore it. I guess it is mostly if someone behaves badly, they can totally blame it on that person as the rules are clear.
The installation of that sign was obviously a baby boomer decision. 🥱
You're all missing the point of the sign, it's actually brilliant. If we allow food and drinks, the auditorium turns into a cinema hall, with all the same noise, mess and trash. Nobody wants that. Putting up a sign that says "clean up after yourself" doesn't work, because of our psychology. Humans only follow rules precisely if there is an immediate threat of punishment. Without enforcement, we always bend the rules for our own convenience. Bending "no food or drinks" becomes be sneaky and leave no evidence, which is exactly the behaviour we wanted!
The professor/teacher having a drink is normal because they have to talk for 1 to 3 hours straight. Not drinking would destroy their voice.
I think it usually applies to everything but water, because cleaning reasons. Soda or juice is almost impossible to fully exorcise from carpet, and it’s an eternal magnet for dirt and grime.
But I like the psychology for sneaky/no evidence food & drink, it makes a lot of sense.
My thoughts exactly!
I've had a series stuck in plotting and development hell for about a decade now. This year, I'm finally getting serious about writing it. I know I'm a little late to this party, but I found these lectures at the perfect time. I followed a lot of other people who offered writing advice, but so many of them just seem to take things so seriously that it's almost like a "no fun allowed" type of thing. This advice and these lectures really resonate with me and encourage me to write more. This is honestly better than any paid courses I've seen. The fact that this is free on TH-cam is an absolute godsend. Thank you!
Good luck!
@@arcane_ironic Thanks a lot!
Good luck! Some authors when they give advice, they act like no one cares about it and you should have no reason to have a story and just write it anyway
Thanks for the free knowledge nuggets. I'll pay it back by buying your books.
The bittersweet irony of the realization you spend more time watching videos about writing than actually writing. 😫
I think it's just bitter 😭
I'm on the same boat bud
Dang, wow I just realized that. Oof
Then take Brandon's advice and set an exact time to write. A no excuse time for the craft
@@FloridaGoth yes, that has worked for me, writing is much easier now.
@@memcgiffin today i took that advice to heart and did some writing this morning after a couples years of nothing. Only 150 words in 30 minutes but im making this my new normal. Hopefully i can finish this one haha
"Oh, thanks" like he didn't just drop gold.
"And he got over himself and they got together."
Sanderson casually explaining the plot of When Harry Met Sally...
Welcome to America movie
It's funny and sad at the same time that i watched more lectures from sanderson than from my own proffessor in computer science
😂😂😂
True for me too
I recently finished the first draft of my first book. This series played a big part in that.
Still working on mine
How are you doing with your book? I hope you will finish it and maybe publish it!
@@TrisquelXIII I am very close, and I do intend to publish.
The real payoff is the friends we made along the way.
Journey Before Destination
I feel like you’re joking but this is the truest thing ever. It could bring a tear to the eye it’s so true.
Brandon makes me feel guilty for not reading more stories. It's as if these authors put their life's work into these projects, and I'm just letting all that effort go to waste.
Ikr?
I would love to read more books, but Brandon was my introduction into fantasy and I'm worried I won't find much that can top his works, especially the more recent ones.
Like you know when you find that thing that tastes so good that you'd be fine if you no longer tasted, knowing it peaked there? Yeah. That's how I feel when I read his latest books and especially some of the highlights in the books.
@@KrazyKyle-ij9vb There's plenty of current authors that match and surpass Sanderson's works in the fantasy genre. Joe Abercrombie, Steve Erikson, Brent Weeks, etc. I'd recommend exploring older fantasy works as well, especially if you want to write fantasy. You write what you read, and if you only read Sanderson you'll just be a much lesser version of him when you write. Cheers
@@starmorpheus facts
@@KrazyKyle-ij9vb I found Brandon Sanderson because I had finished reading Game of Thrones and so I started asking around for other epic fantasies.
Ah yes, The Master speaks yet again
Even if you've studied a topic for years, hearing things again can still be super useful. Case in point: I've listened to two previous years of his lectures, many seasons of Writing Excuses, and have a B.A. in Creative Writing, but despite having heard almost all of this a hundred times before I still discovered a promise that was missing from the beginning of my book that I spend half the novel paying off without setting up properly.
To add to your point. It was great when Brandon brought up examples where he had failed to make the right promise because it emphasises that this is something even the best authors can get wrong.
His hand writing has gotten much better since previous videos.
I noticed this too XD
"And the this is the surprise I used for Mistborn-"
*"Requiem For A Tower" plays in the background as I frantically press every button BUT the mute button in an attempt to not be spoiled*
Bro you know that scene where Wayne
*400Hz beep*
"You might have noticed that there are a lot of maps in my books" I wish stuff like maps were included in audiobooks in some way. I love audiobooks but it sucks to not partake in the artwork of the books.
i think for better known books you'll be able to look up the maps online :)
How you gonna describe maps though ?
@@kaitlyncleary3424 not as audio, but as PDFs that you could get. And that actually happened! For Rythm of War I could download a PDF from audible with artwork and stuff from the book!
Some of the stormlight books come with pdfs
Thank you so much...from a guy who barely makes ends meat and can't afford the masterclass or the formal education. This is a gold mine for me. Thank you, I dont know of a better way to say that at the moment so just...thank you.
Hi Brandon! I know you probably aren't going to read this but I just wanted to say how wonderful these lectures have been. I have always wanted to be a writer but have been too afraid to begin out of being the worst or not good enough, and last year I decided to finally give it a try. I wrote my first draft of my book idea and ran into so many problems which is when I ended up finding your lectures! It has helped me astronomically already. All of your advice is wonderful and I appreciate you giving writers like me this free and open resource. To anyone who passes by this comment and is just a watcher: Hi!!!! lets connect and write some good stories together (:
Toph Beifong is definitely an "iconic character."
I am an aspiring Dungeon Master in Dungeons and Dragons. That format of storytelling and story writing is very different than a movie or novel, as my players are the main characters and their actions influence my story as it proresses.
These lectures, despite being designed for authors primarily, are incredibly helpful for me in laying out my initial ideas and even as far as helping me with bringing these ideas to life! Thank you for having these on TH-cam!
I've always felt like anything and Pokemon would make an awesome book, especially in the arms of an experienced writer.
That Pokemon/Marley and Me mash up gonna ruin a lot of kids when it comes out.
It's Casablanca but with Pokémon!
@@gunnaryoung Remember the Butterfree episode?
Jim Butcher wrote a series based on a bet about mixing Pokemon with Ancient Rome. The series is called Codex Alera and it's one of the best 6 books I've ever read.
@@GluezCraft i hated it ay haha tried so hard to get into it but felt so rushed and strange tbh
These lectures are returning my desire to write again. I've not been writing for a very long time, but I am finding a return to it cathartic. This is the class I needed as a young adult dreaming of being a writer.
In college, I've never spend much time in the classroom...guess, this would have been very different with Mr Sanderson as professor! Thank you so much for uploading this!!!
I've never heard a professor get applause. Brandon is a legend
As someone with ADHD, and a very small attention span, I was engaged and enjoying this entire lecture. This is really rare for me and I appreciate how good of a teacher you are. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to enjoy your classes remotely.
"let's talk about progress for a little bit, because this is the most important of them, I think."
Journey before destination, Radiant
15:40 right as he goes for a drink the camera pans out to the no food or drink sign
Yes, another one! these things are gold for aspiring writers such as myself. Thank you so much Brandon!
Same here. This feels good
I would also recommend Ellen Brock's channel (novel editor) as she also gives really concise practical advice, like Brandon.
Another channel is "film courage" in particular Corey Mandell and Alan Watt. Corey talks about the writer mindset and Alan talks about creating a dilemma and the steps that go along with that: reluctance, false hope, temptation, suffering, surrender and transformation (for arcs)
Can't believe no one laughed at the speed limit because we are being recorded
Lord Ruler, I'm dying for the 3rd class!
Calamity! So am I!
I just finished "Alloy of Law" and I can definitely see how the brainstorming process led to that story. "So, how about if The Adventures of Brisco County Jr. was mixed with an updated version of Mistborn?" Great book, can't wait to get into the 2nd and 3rd books. Bonus points for the 'Wax and Wayne' word play....
Scadrial doesn't have a move so it's even better.
i... cannot believe that wax and wayne as wordplay literally never dawned on me until this instant
I read that series. LOVED IT
@@peterbailey9503 Same here. Thanks, John!
Just so you know, there’ll be a 4th book in that series coming soon, according to Brandon. It’s not a trilogy, it’s more like a fun one-off (Alloy of Law) then a trilogy with the same characters (Shadows of Self, Bands of Mourning, The Lost Metal).
Honestly I have never read any of Sanderson’s books, but I’m an English major studying in Omaha, Nebraska so I hear his name a lot !! Always was skeptical bc I was afraid that he was just an overhyped fantasy writer, but this series has completely changed my perspective of Sanderson and the fantasy genre overall !!
This is an AWESOME resource if you don’t have time or can’t afford a creative writing class, but this goes even deeper than any writing or creative writing class I’ve been in. Not only is he giving a “how to” but also a “why this works so well”. I really admire Sanderson now and understand why he’s such a huge name in the English field. Truly deserved !!
He’s awesome, definitely worth a read. I graduated as an English Major last year, and Brandon and his lectures are a cornerstone of infinite 💎 I continue to mine. He is, for all intents and purposes the Arkenstone of modern fantasy.
Mad props to Omaha, Nebraska
I'm attempting to rewrite the novel i wrote in high school (badly) and with my most recent rewrite of the outline I was struggling to figure out how to start. When I did, the first few paragraphs felt WRONG.
Now I know why, I wasn't making any promises as to what the reader should expect from me the author, the characters or the plot. I was just creating a scene without giving it a reason. This lecture was eye-opening. I can't wait to watch more.
I've heard that writers will often finish a book and just scrap the first chapter, replacing it with the second chapter. I would say just write, and then worry about fixing stuff in the edit.
Game of thrones TV show writers should have watched this.
We have dragons! That's more than enough for a plot! Star Wars have the lightsaber, GoT has the dragons.
Lol😂
They failed on their promises. I get that now thanks to this lecture.
“Give good ideas to someone unpracticed, its still gonna fall apart” immediately thought of GoT
The absolute WORST part is that Season 8 might have been at least good or decent with more episodes. HBO told them they could have more and those idiots said: "No we don't need more." Unbelievable.
His classes are The Oasis in a desert for writers like me... THANK YOU so very much for these videos.
This man seems like a remarkable teacher from what I've seen this far.
This is seriously amazing, and convinced me to keep writing. Thank you Brandon.
Top work B dog. The world isnt ready for the shitty novel you are giving me the confidence to write.
🤣😂
Progress... omg this is why I loved Ready Player One and The Martian so much. I haven’t had that reading experience in a long time. I just needed to keep going to get to the promised destination! The Martian has the map too for his journey to the MAV and the journal so we can see days passing. And ready player one has this urgency of a race to get all the keys. Such a valuable lesson thanks Brandon! I will definitely put this in my writing.
Brandon, thank you for giving back! You've inspired me to write again!
Brandon Sanderson, Thank you for your generosity to share your experience and knowledge. You didn't have to, but you have a generous spirit. Thank you! Also, I love how you repeat the questions we can't hear from the audience. Wonderful teaching. gush gush gush
This is great. I sat glued to my computer and felt sad when you said we're out of time.
Imagine giving this a thumbs down. One of the greatest writers in the world is willing to teach us what he does, and how he does it, for free. And you're like, "Hmm, nah, no good." Impossible.
Thank you, Mr. Sanderson. You are, quite literally, an inspiration.
shoutout to the person that subtitled this whole video
The first I ever saw of Brandon was him making a weird statement at a panel, then the other 3 members explaining why he was wrong. Then it was this series. I've been recommended Mistborn by a friend too, so I am a little apprehensive I know too much going on, but his story sound genuinely awesome and I love his approach to writing. It is very true that no one is an architect or gardener 100% either, everyone is on a scale and works differently- the key is learning how to manage and support how your creativity, passion and joy comes naturally.
You just changed my life 7:10. Jim Butcher is my favorite author, and Codex Alera is my favorite series. I even have a tattoo with Codex Alera and the Dresden Files. Codex Alera got me back into reading; it was like breathing life itself after denying my own humanity. I don't think I can look at the books the same way now lol. When trying to get other people to read I always explained it more as Avatar the Last Air Bender, but fantasy.
I had the most amazing experience with Jim maybe 9 or 10 years ago. I sent him an email asking if he would say hello to a friend who was also a big fan. I honestly didn't think he would do it, a famous author and all probably doesn't have time for random fan emails. He sent the email saying hello, and did something so amazing to this day it makes me smile. He sent me an unedited first couple chapters of his 13th Dresden File book. I got to see the changes from when the book was actually published and that version. I always struggled with spelling, grammar, and bad hand writing; so to see that version really inspired me to write my own short stories. I still write to this day, but never actually finished a full story.
When delivering a lecture, I find it important to keep a few things in mind:
-Be Knowledgable
-Be able to pass that
Knowledge along
-Be Funny
-Be Honest
-Be Detailed
-Be Expressive
Sanderson NAILS all of these. These lectures are perfection and awesome in the literal sense of the word.
"They kept waiting for the diversion to end. If you've ever been in a movie where you've been like I am SO BORED, even though exciting things are happening, cant they just get back to the main plot?
...
Canto Bight"
Love this man.
Great teacher, imagine if ALL teachers were this passionate, our country would be in a better place.
The fact that this is free is just incredible. Props to you.
This is the greatest thing new writers could watch. I would love to take this class just to be able to interact with the legend. The classmates at BYU are fortunate!
Thank you so much for uploading this with subtitles. You're allowing foreign people that are not quite good in English (as I'm not) to learn.
Brandons mastery of the subject matter really comes out in the Q&A. Just hitting home runs each time, with great examples for reference.
I’m so happy you mentioned Jim Butcher and Codex Alera. I’m going through it right now am enjoying it. And one of the reasons why I checked it out was precisely hearing that story good writers can take the most insane idea and make it work. Just look at Stephen King?
I listen to these lectures with a Lord of the Rings soundtrack on in another tab! It adds a fun element to these already great vids. Thank you so much for releasing these!
I am a programmer. Thank you for all of the programming references. (1:00:00-ish mark) I think you just helped me to understand plotting!
I learned SO much from listening to this. The main take away- the ability to organize and focus my thoughts. While I listened, I took notes. I fleshed out loose ideas for my characters and I replayed a couple parts to really understand. A light bulb turned on for me, I felt like I understood what to give attention to and what aspects would make my story worth reading. I randomly decided I liked writing not too long ago, and no one around me has any interest in reading. I didn't know who to talk to about what the writing process has been like for me. I feel a lot less like I'm struggling along by myself and more confident that my idea and my writing is going to be worth the effort. So thank you.
I love this. Love how you explains how Romance fits in as well. The umbrella plot, and then the romance is what you are actually here for. haha! So true
I'm convinced Brandon would look fly with a big, bushy moustache. Bert Reynolds style.
BoomTownWhale
I could imagine a handlebar mustache.
16:56 best spoiler for Wall-E I have ever seen
It's characteristically magnanimous of you to make these available here, Brightlord 🙏.
My older brother and I read Codex Alera together when we were younger and it was stellar. It's been probably ten years and there are scenes that were so vivid they stick in my mind to this day.
'I dont think ive ever read a magical heist!'
The hobbit: *ahem*
Just started Starsight and have already gotten chills multiple times. Love the lecture videos.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share this with us. Just by watching this I’ve come up with a idea, which isn’t to say that it’s any good but you inspire this creativity just by sharing your experiences and professional advice.
Thank you for putting out this free golden nugget for us! I wish the best for you and your family.
Thank you so much for uploading these classes online. Even though I'm not a writer or necessarily want to become one in the future, stories have fascinated me since I was a child and knowing about the ways writers set up to build them has always interested me.
This is gold.
I've seen like 4-5 mastercalss courses and I guess there was only 1 good one (Dan Brown).
But the others didn't make me rethink/redesign stuff in my work to be better at all.
This 1 hour had me write up bounch of stuff on a note already.
Thanks!
Thank you for improving the creative output of so many storytellers! Love these!!!
Thank the cosmere you put this online, I'm going to have to hear this session more than twice for sure. Lots and lots of important insights!
what he talks about at the 50 minute mark, being bored because of a failed promise, I felt this watching Phantom Menace in theaters, wanting to get back to the Naboo situation instead of spending so long on a pod race (even knowing Anakin's future importance). Now I know why.
Thanks Brandon I’ve been following your lectures since 2014 and I can’t thank you enough for giving this to us without a paywall
Thank you so much from Switzerland for uploading this series! You are helping so many people around the world, designing their stories! Thank you!
I have litterally watched ALL videos on youtube of you lecturing, and even though I have only written contemporary and dystopia before, your advice are all still so relevant and universal. I have just recently ventured into fantasy genre, and I feel much more adventurous and confident because of your lectures. Thank You!