Brandon Sanderson Lecture 1: Intro to Sci-Fi/Fantasy Writing (1/5)

[@benjaminross2313]

it really irritates me when I see people commenting on mr. Sandersons size or overall health. he is an absolute master story teller and write, and I am deeply thankful to BYU and mr. sanderson for making these videos available on youtube. so to those of you that are watching to make fun of this man's weight issue's and not watching for his instruction are seriously lacking in your ability to think..only an idiot would be fixated on einstiens hair while he was explaining the universe to you..

[@honkyjesuseternal]

It was a really shitty lesson. Not only did he run rounds around what can be done, he seems to make sure you never see anything full circle. Yeah, a really shitty lesson. Dude can put out a finished product like no other, and can spin humor and violence like no other in the field. Gives me a boner just thinking about his speak. Really shitty teacher, though.

[@davidchien4028]

I think his teachings are absolutely good. If you think a master storyteller and writer would be this bad, then you should try teaching yourself.

[@mickymickymike4105]

Where are your books and teachings?

[@tilemacro]

I wonder what those same people say about George R. R. Martin. :P

[@honkyjesuseternal]

Ming That is like saying "if you think this leader of our country is bad you should try yourself". He is laughably bad at teaching, I am not talking about his writing though he does need an editor that edits. Cheers.

[@ashlynpeterson1896]

Met him in November! He was really nice and when I told him I wanted to be a writer, he was so supportive. He said if I was struggling on anything, to watch his podcasts and videos. He really is a great writer and a great person.

[@PathofCultivation]

I'm enjoying these Sanderson talks. I always watch one before I begin work on my novel, helps get me in the mode.

[@justarandomguy9021]

Heeey good picture though haha I am gandalf

[@Noctis198]

how far are you into yours?

[@isaiahwilliams2233]

PathofCultivation .

[@LoffysDomain]

This guy is a good teacher in terms of content (course design) and delivery (clear/articulated), in my humble opinion.

[@kentlofgren]

I have a Ph.D. in Education and have worked as a univ. teacher for decades. I think this guy indeed is a good teacher.

[@DragoonxVII]

He's teaching in such a small room. If I was a university hiring dude I'd offer him a lecture hall. He too talented for that place

[@ineptDolls]

Dude, it's a seminar. it's supposed to be intimate, with more attention per student

[@williamturner6192]

Online, hoora.

[@Kobraman35]

That’s the point of a seminar fuckhead.

[@WriteAboutDragons]

Hey ya'll, hope you enjoy these. Brandon rocks. All kudos for awesomeness to him.

[@kiwitealc5353]

Never read a brandon sanderson book, but I love this series of lectures. I will have to read some when I get the chance!!

[@johnlance529]

What Mr. Sanderson is saying is true about history writing as well. You have to practice writing, a lot. The M.A. program I was in assigned three books a week, with an 8-10 page paper due each week on each book. With that kind of load, I was forced to write a lot and not waste time with unproductive meanderings. I eventually became a much better writer because that is what I spent two years doing, writing a lot (including the research and writing process for a thesis). To add another metaphor alongside his professional baseball player analogy, flying a helicopter is also a skill that you develop with practice. Luck, inspiration, natural gifts, those all have a small part, but the real reason someone learns to fly a complex machine such as a helicopter is because of practice. You have to put in the work to get results, there are no short-cuts. I suppose this is why I enjoy watching these videos so much, the lessons being covered apply to so much more than writing.....

[@jimmyj2123]

John Lance my resolution for the next five years is to Major in IT. I've been out of school for 2 decades, hence, my writing skills (and reading) are pretty much non existent. What would you recommend I do, to sharpen my writing skills? Or get back on track? Thanks!

[@devinreese1109]

Way too much writing/reading for that to be exceptional thought and finely polished papers. In history, I could see that. A little. But in psych I wouldnt like that. I suppose youd get into writing, but that much frequency my papers wouldnt sparkle the way they should!

[@SkywolfLegends]

I think this is the best teacher I have ever seen. I really wish I could go into one of his classes because all but one of my teachers during my entire life didn't let be very creative with my writing and so I was never really happy with writing about it because I didn't enjoy it. I think that this is really what I have been looking for since I want to be a fantasy writer. A lot of people say that is a hard thing to go into but I don't think it will be that hard when I enjoy writing so much. I wish there were more teachers like you who actually talked and taught about how to write fantasy or sci-fi novels more because I have seen a lot of people who write stories.

[@adawong6543]

That one guy that said, "It doesn't say inspiration", I woulda been like, "5 points from Gryffindor!"

[@honkyjesuseternal]

What is "Gryffindor"?

[@honkyjesuseternal]

Sorry, I don't read Young Adult.

[@jameshensley5472]

This is actually helpful as I have tons of ideas from psychological thriller, to fantasy action, and even Noir fantasy. I actually have wanted to write novels since I was young. I have a friend who is an author, some of her books are on M/M romance and has gotten great reviews on Amazon.

[@xWindtearx]

I'm so glad I found out about this. Listening to his lectures have really helped me improve my writing.

[@KagendaK]

I agree. writing is about skill which i clearly lack. Haha. I'm improving though.

[@BiscuitDelivery]

Jasmine Wills It doesn't matter where the finish line is as long as you keep moving towards it. I have faith in you. :)

[@kamuelalee]

I guess it's about practice and building your own self-confidence.

[@kassia.monteiro]

Thank you, thank you, thank you so so much for sharing this.

[@jennystewart2280]

I so appreciate being able to listen in on this wonderful writer's class! Inspires me as I settle in for the day's work on my ya sci-fi novel.

[@willalston9627]

Did you finish it?

[@GarethNN]

Thanks so much for posting this series, I really enjoyed it. Sat and watched them all over the weekend, got me inspired. Wish I could thank Brandon personally.

[@ShredST]

Wow. I totally didn't expect his voice to sound like this.

[@BiscuitDelivery]

Doofus What'd you expect, Steve Blum?

[@GinKoSenseiorKuro]

Kindred Spirit yes

[@desertrunner9569]

I love it when teachers use a lecture to tell you that you need to know what you’re doing to be successful.

[@claysk350]

I do too! Not enough people realize this unfortunately and come in with a lot of fanciful but rather naive ideas about how they’ll succeed. This helps those newbies know what to focus on if they don’t already.

[@mew90p]

I just bought your book because you're so entertaining to listen to.

[@Featster74]

Thank you SO much for posting these! I know Brandon and even then, it's a Herculean effort to get time with the man to talk. Once you do though, he's very willing to talk writing and writing craft related subjects. :)

[@franklinfalco9069]

My creative process is fairly simple. First, I purchase an ordinary tween high school novel from the bookstore. Next, I cross out words like "Thomas Jefferson Junior High" and replace them with something along the lines of "Merlin Gandalf Academy of Magic". I then continue to replace words like "mean girls" or "popular girls" with words like "evil sorceress" or "mean fairies." Words like "prom" I change to "witch's ball". The school sport can be called anything from "Dzorkhuruf" to "Ncjjsncjdhshs". The names of the actual characters are a little more complicated. You'll want something vaguely British-sounding, since we all know that when someone receives magical powers that somehow automatically makes them British. Some good suggestions are "Thaddeus Timbleton" or "Phineus Weaselburg". The ultimate weapon for the final battle should always have something to do with the misfit main character believing in herself. And voila. While it may not be a bestseller, it's pretty good for a bedtime story or some light casual reading. I'm sure that you can find a random fantasy character name generator on the internet someplace.

[@GeorgeEdwards1]

Holy prolific. I am heeding his advice.

[@corylusbluefox9482]

I am so glad I found this.

[@kyriadori1393]

This professor is fantastic! You know always know a good teacher after a few minutes, it's just one of those skills :P

[@Froody42]

Friggin' awesome of you to share this, thanks!

[@smokeymoment9723]

I wish I could take his class. Genius. Talented.

[@matrixate]

I see what I'm getting myself into. Thanks for posting. Wow...this was back in 2012. Just noticed that.

[@samsp2465]

from indonesia, i found this is usefull for writing my first novel "Azhilla Fall"

[@lokoloko9494]

Mistborn is really good. I started it 2 days ago and I'm hooked.

[@martinhepworth8771]

I managed to publish my first sci-fi novel a few years ago, it's called Empire Of The Machines. I hope you all take a look and good luck with you're work!

[@matheusguiferreiraa]

Thank you so much for the captions!

[@TheAndrewlawlrence]

Now I'm reallly interested in the Mistborn series. This guy seems to know what's up with fiction.

[@toddgreener]

I like how the people ducking past the camera only succeeded in showing their faces.

[@nicholasbox6386]

Ouch Sanderson! You really knew how to take the dagger, and go straight for the jugular.

[@Chandrapal21]

Thanks for such uploads

[@Brainstrain91]

Really interesting, thanks for posting this. I'm in a Short Story class and Writing Short Fiction class right now, so Brandon's view on that was funny :P

[@joelvanmeter6867]

If editors are so great at deciding in one page the skill or potential of a book/author then why are so many Authors of breakout bestsellers rejected dozens of times before their books finally get published? It is about Luck, and Ideas, and Inspiration, and YES also Skill.

[@petrichor499]

yes but only like 20 percent. Some people have great ideas but suck at writing.

[@AmandaVieiraMamaesouCult]

Let's be honest. Editors cannot decide in one page the skill or potential of a book/author. It's just something the traditional publishing business tells itself.

[@nexuswolf780]

Mamãe, sou cult Editors can, actually, and that's how they become reasonably able to support themselves with their career. If you're a shitty editor who can't judge a work properly, you won't be able to stick through for long. Also, to the OP, it's pretty much like the baseball analogy. Luck, inspiration and ideas play its part, but skill is the only constant in the profession. You could just buy lotteries all your life, hoping for that one lucky break, or you could get working and earn some money to support yourself. Skill is something that can't be denied, but inspiration is sporadic (perhaps), ideas are subjective, and luck... Well, it's pretty self explanatory.

[@candy12366754343334]

I like how he said its not about luck, but then conceded that it is about luck......

[@Matt-cz6ti]

For all he says about good writing being the key to being published, some real crap has been accepted by publishers. Just look at anything by Dan Brown

[@nexuswolf780]

Lol. Fifty shades of grey. *drops mic*

[@firstlast-oo1he]

@@nexuswolf780 @Fake Name but both of those books/authors have audiences. As crap as they may be, people want to read them.

[@nexuswolf780]

@@firstlast-oo1he I think the point being contested is that good writing is the key to getting published.

[@RafaelMarchesin]

Parabéns pelo trabalho. Sem dúvida ajudará muitas pessoas que desejam escrever suas obras.

[@timothy1300]

He is actually one of those authors that I could listen to and not get bored after more than 20 minutes:P It's kind of the same with George RR Martin. Maybe they both know what they're on about, but don't get arrogant with it?

[@LombardiTree]

All those guys left when he mentioned practice. lol

[@DADchs13]

God that classroom is such an awful setup. Id be uncomfortable as hell. Half the students having to constantly turn around to see the board, all gathered around a small ass table and people so close beside you and behind you breathing down your neck when youre trying to write, practically pressed up against each other. Fuck that Id drop out that class and find a different one lol

[@zmunk]

+DLuX Ya I notice his more recent lectures since Way of Kings, they gave him a huge classroom lol

[@simonmc6986]

That was my initial impression as well!

[@tmac11]

I feel like I'm auditing this class :)

[@TheDudeWithDaCowbell]

I speak German. I may get around to translating some of these videos between writing

[@TheKrazyLobster]

And to Sylvia Day, and to E. L. James, and on we go.

[@paweandonisgawralidisdobrz2522]

Tip: read a bit of Poland's history. Tolkien got inspired by battle of wienna. But Ordon, Deluge and many other stories

[@firstlast-oo1he]

Or just read _all kinds_ of history. You shouldn't read something to get inspired just because some famous author did. You should read what you want to read, and let that inform what you want to write.

[@bobbuilder518]

53 pages into writing my book at least 17,000 words hope this helps :D

[@sam248]

Hope that first page is good! :D

[@sapienecks]

First draft rarely do. Let him finish and revise the book then you can ask him that.

[@calvinkrist5672]

If its skill, then how come J.K.Rowling had to go to 38 editors before one published her work? Some of it has to be luck....

[@pyrosianheir]

sometimes it could depend on what the publisher that the editor works for is looking for at that point.

[@dilungmoveityafool777]

No. Publishers didn't want to take a risk with Rowling story, it wasn't luck, or God. The editor saw her story and published Harry Potter.

[@KeviSeymore]

Because, in reality, she wasn't a great author. I said it, and it's true. The YA demographic is very fickle and doesn't care about skill, thus the series has great popularity. One of the leading reasons is due to the popular empowered 'just a normal kid' cliché.

[@mihajlostasuk5801]

Calvin Krist it was a different time

[@dilungmoveityafool777]

***** That is so everlasting true.

[@w0mblemania]

He is wrong about skill and publishing. You need a LOT of luck to get published, even if you are skilled. You need to fit in with the publisher's needs, their schedules, their target audiences, their budget, etc. Publishers reject the overwhelming majority of submissions. Some of those rejections are high quality, but simply don't fit the publisher.

[@helikontex2467]

So self publish. If its popular you'll get attention

[@giginomous]

thank you so much for putting in subtitles!

[@Stettafire]

Some good advice here actually:)

[@Seniorchief98]

Yeah, the "15 minutes long because you're in a hurry and were not that smart" wasn't enough for me.

[@rudetc]

Watching a video on how to be a sci-fi writer and commenting about how he looks is like watching porn and commenting on the dialogue.

[@bisbeejim]

Good video production is also something one can judge in about 30 seconds.

[@Aluenvey]

F&Sf magazine reader here.:D Does he have any experience with connected shorts?

[@jessicalindly2118]

He has a Styrofoam cup.

[@animalia5554]

I am scared about bringing my ideas to life

[@agrosification]

Does he know about powerpoint?

[@oliver539]

i dont care if he is a mormon he is a great writing

[@desertrunner9569]

I write sci fi on restroom walls.

[@efetokman5184]

Same...

[@Anttheknee757]

@aldermeer hey I seen you on kitboga

[@solidcell6568]

1.5x speed yo, happy learning.

[@africanchick23]

I wish more creative writing professors said "i'll let you write what I want to." I had a professor, let's call her Professor Umbridge, who started the first day of class with an entire list of what we could NOT write in her class. Which was a standard Intermediate Creative Writing Fiction class...meaning it wasn't non fiction or poetry, we should have been able to write anything. Anything that she decides is worthy. Not a good semester for me.

[@haroldharry3290]

Are you Searching for online courses just google search as "Zoe Talent Solutions".

[@xXbananaXxist]

Editer will choose your book if it sells look at Twilight

[@devinreese1109]

Editer>? lol. Editor.

[@KaoriKino]

Anybody else read Apex?

[@msmitty843]

Dwight Schrute!!! lol No really, he's got a lot to offer - but I couldn't resist how much he reminded me of DS - left profile. :)

[@ninjaisgay5657]

Not trying to be rude, but you kind of have to get an idea for the book. He says it isn’t about ideas, which I am confused about. I mean, he probably knows what he’s doing, but I sure don’t. I am a 16 year old boy who still doesn’t drive a car and is trying to think up a fantasy novel for when I grow up. I keep thinking about goblins and dragons and werewolves and all that crap, but I decided that perhaps I should not use such things that are easily known about. So, I went online, searching for mythological creatures. I came across sirens, hippogriffs, and some other creatures I do not recall. I still haven’t even written it yet, but I’m writing down “ideas” on a piece of paper. First thing, the title. Fantastic Fantasy sounds dumb, and I think Rimworld is a video game or something, but I’m hoping to go with Rimworld. Sounds cool to me. Anyways, that’s what I have to say. End.

[@BiscuitDelivery]

1SillyKid What he's saying is that the idea is less important than the way you write it. It's much like playing a song on the piano, really. It doesn't matter whether I'm playing the Moonlight Sonata or some piece by Felix Mendelssohn, just that I play it well. Likewise, you can come up with just about any decent story idea on your own, but it won't mean anything unless you write it well.

[@niclouds5292]

1SillyKid For example look at Harry Potter, original ideas are almost non-existent. It's the skill she displayed writing it and the quaint engrossing feel of it. It's not about luck, she was very lucky but she made her own luck. So you can use goblins dragons werewolves and all that crap as she did so long as it is compiled properly (not recommending this path). Ideas are important, but they are not 'so important'. Why would you focus on coming up with the idea now if 18-20 year old you (with years of driving, fucking, meditating, writing, laughing) can come up with it. In the meantime take your ideas and role with them, they aren't written in metal. It's not about ideas right now, practice and you will garner luck and ideas aplenty.

[@mihajlostasuk5801]

1SillyKid take mythologies lesser known. A soul of a trapped human becomes a giant that sees and walks the world for them, from old Slovenian mythology. Take Japanese modern culture and mix it with Nordic mythology. That is skill, taking and filling in, of coarse using your imagination. Writing is not about ideas and luck, it is about logic.

[@allthebest1277]

+1SillyKid Here go to 3:46 where he clarifies.

[@devinreese1109]

Believe me. IT IS ABOUT THE IDEAS. Hes no idea what hes talking about. Do you read his books.? His main stormlight archive has like a concept thatd be good for a video game, or in other words borrowed from wheel of time lock stock and barrel and that was borrowed from tolkien. Brandon, is all about "magic systems" and his idiosyncracies. He doesnt know what the hell hes talking about when he says "Writing is not about inspiration." Well, maybe its because he never got a good idea, and had to copy like every other writer. Yeah, sometimes you have to do that at first. One day you wake up after years fo doing unoriginal shit and say HEY....UHHHH...SO WHATTAM I REALLY GONNA DO....THATS ORIGINAL? THATS COOL and work on the concept. You see: Hes just a zeitgesty writer, enjoying his moment. Theres two parts to writing the concept and the execution. Hes putting all on the execution, and none on the concept. Concepts are just brainstormed, and put together.

[@psikeyhackr6914]

Can there possibly be a way to measure science fiction and fantasy? No, that's gotta be a fantasy! Doesn't science fiction have to use science words and fantasy use fantasy words like 'gravity' and 'unicorn' and 'orbit' and 'vampire'? So what if you count all of those words? Won't some books use them more than others? JK Rowling uses the word 'wand' 1,500 in the Harry Potter books. Michael Chrichton uses 132 science words 923 times in Andromeda Strain for a science density of 2.278 which totally blows away Harry Potter's Fantasy density of 0.706. Talk about anti-Potter plus.google.com/111306986524350244207/posts/jBoiKtCT9Ti

[@isaiahwilliams2233]

psikeyhackr .

[@TheLoreacle]

3:33 moment his throat dies

[@calumfinlayson7382]

got to the end and didnt even realise i was on 1.5 speed, just sounded like the ussal annoying american accent, still i suppose it was time efficent lmao

[@EponineReads]

writing on skill is so vague. Can't he do better than that? Where's the nitty gritty. I realize that this the intro class but can't he allude to something in his future classes?

[@heathertoomey7068]

Is creative writing not about self-expression? Sure, skill is indeed a necessity in writing creatively, but it is not because of skill that one should write; one should write because they want to express themselves.

[@BiscuitDelivery]

Heather Toomey The motivation comes from self-expression, it's true, but the delivery comes from skill. The two are not mutually exclusive, my friend.

[@tSswiftordawg]

What is it that gets to people when he says that writing is about skill? It really is. I cannot write a novel, wouldn't know where to start, and no amount of inspiration or luck alone could make a publisher publish any novel I wrote. You have to practice to get good at anything.

[@3lannister]

i thought ths short story in dangerous women was pretty cool

[@willmolinar]

Your work. Not you're. Most of the time people get it the other way wrong.

[@rasaecnai]

Well her fans are all teenage girls

[@DryBONESreborn]

Well, shoot, so much for those with learning disabilities. They might love to write, but have issues with grammar. Does that mean one is doomed?

[@PhoenixJape]

There's always a way. Grammar problems will make things more difficult, but not impossible. Taking time to look up how to write a sentence every time you're stumped can help. It'll slow the writing process, but it'll be worth it in the end. Every author has a unique writing process anyway. I, myself, am not the best writer (not even remotely close), but I'll still type up an entire chapter before going back to make some much needed edits. Another person's perspective can help too.

[@DryBONESreborn]

:)

[@keef920]

I would say it's similar to a short person trying to play professional basketball; it's not impossible, but it's definitely more difficult

[@kevinhove6893]

kef__ grammar can be corrected by a good editor and alpha readers

[@Stettafire]

Kevin Hove indeed

[@VoxNemorensis]

This video would be much more enjoyable if the speaker focused more on technique rather than theories concerning what makes successful art. Both writing and ideas play a monumental role. A great story can be an utter flop if its concepts, insights, premises and subtext (ideas) are out of sync with a given society and epoch. Try to publish a modern YA urban fantasy novel in 1952, and see how little the 'ideas' matter. And the publishing industry alone rebukes the commentary on luck. A great piece doesn't just require skill, but to reach the hands and ears of a publisher willing to invest in it. It requires the education to be literate. The money to buy books or pay for courses. Or access the internet to watch KZbin videos...all of which are rooted in the luck of where someone is born. There is no context where skill alone matters. Not in art, and not in sports. And to continue the sports example, one can look to talented kids who never got the chance to 'go pro' for one reason or another, whether due to illness, crime or poverty. This discourse builds the false myth of meritocracy, which simply isn't how the world works. Skill may have a huge role, but to discount other factors simply isn't realistic and makes it harder to latch onto other helpful and insightful elements of the talk. Just a bit of feedback to take or leave. I might check out another video to see whether to finish this sequence.

[@firstlast-oo1he]

Maybe the reason you're so bitter is because you actually suck at writing. Work on your craft, and actually, well "git gud," and maybe you'll get published.

[@HaHa-vy9ct]

50 shades proved him wrong!

[@mionysus5374]

Who would win in a nerd-fight; Christopher Paolini or Brandon Sanderson? I have Chrissy on speed but Brandon would clearly overpower him, by his weight at least.

[@TundraTress]

Paolini is ok at best, he's completely out of league with someone like Sanderson. THEY DIDN'T EVEN KISS AT THE END...

[@thorell9]

Students seem unphased by the presence of an alpha geek. =(

[@GamerX1210]

okay?

[@TheRAfreak]

Mormons... Mormons everywhere

[@mhgcmhcg]

Writing is about skill? Tell that to Stephanie Meyer

[@honkyjesuseternal]

Worst lecture by a good writer. Ever.

[@devinreese1109]

I think that, I VERY MUCH disagree with what hes saying in this lecture.

[@GreenLanternsLight3]

Writing is about all skill...? Okay, I am done! -leaves-

[@kovi567]

Okay, am I the only one getting annoyed by how this guy is so egoist about his opinions/ findings?

[@adamoleoni2272]

Well, you should not be. If he did not believe he was right he would not be teaching.

[@ForeverMasterless]

I didn't realize Brandon was so chubby, lol. Too much sitting at a keyboard man.

[@chen6583]

Um,so many...umm..Vocal fillers...

[@FlamingManofIron]

Holy crap this guy needs to lay off the bad food and get some exercise!

[@davidchien4028]

And this guy who commented probably also was one of the people who was fixated on Einstein's hair when he was explaining his theories of the universe.

[@123thejakes]

Noooo please writers don't listen to this man please don't please please please , some things he says is obviously right but most of his lectures are full of nonsense !! He'll ruin your creativity

[@ThePieofGod]

no one cares

[@TheLoreacle]

3:33 moment his throat dies