Brent Weeks in conversation with Joe Abercrombie

Brent celebrates the release of THE BURNING WHITE in paperback! He and Joe had a conversation via Crowdcast about writing, the fantasy genre, and answering fan questions. Streamed live 11 August 2020.
Questions answered:
What is your opinion on The Hero's Journey, and do you use it in any way to tell your stories? If you do, how do you approach it? And if you don't, how do you lay out a structure for your stories, characters, and themes?
For both authors. Have you ever cut characters or storylines from your novels because they didn't fit the story, but wish you could have kept in? If so can you give us an example?
When you started writing, did you start with fantasy right away, or did you approach different genres?
What's the first thing about the book you need to start writing it? As in character, setting, theme, plot, etc.
How long did it take you to get published? Did you have any crises of faith?
Do you have a specific writing ritual?
We all hope there will be TV shows based on your books soon. But in the meantime, have either of you read or watched The Witcher?
What kind of feedback do you receive about your strong female characters?
Would you two ever consider collaborating on a novel, similar what to Neil Gaiman and Sir Terry Pratchett did?

[@mp9810]

This was awesome, thx. Not many americans can keep up with his sarcasm - well done 😂.

[@canisdivinus6218]

Joe is so damn charming and Brent is so wholesome lol

[@Atrulion]

These two are such a great combination. I'm 5 minutes in and I have already lost count of how many times I have laughed 😂

[@EnglishTheif]

Oh my God! My jaw dropped when I saw this notification.

[@kaiohmsford]

Such a great conversation. The candid nature of it is hugely encouraging. Thanks Brent.

[@ionareilly-grant259]

What a lovely pair of men. Loving the fact they lay bare the truth of writing & the struggles experienced. Not a whiff of pretence. Brilliant.

[@deanryanmartin]

This is a brainy and funny author-to-author chat. This is my second time watching its entirety and I am still laughing while learning tons. Please make the collab happen, Brent and Joe! Mark my words, I will reserve a copy 12 months before its official release. And that is my gift too to my bookworm friends.

[@connoriquada5429]

Damn I love their senses of humour, they seem to almost riff off eachother and it’s great 😂

[@jimave]

Two of my favorite authors who seem to be really cool dudes.

[@MetalGildarts]

I really need to read Brent Weeks.

[@anywherelife585]

I‘ve read all Abercrombie Books (three times🙈🙈) and Brents Lightbringer Books i am in right now the fourth book. Completly different storytelling these two great authors but both SOOOO GOOD. Love them both! Characters like Glokta, Bayaz and Monza from the FirstLaw and then Kip, Gavin and so on from the Lightbringer World are so well fantastic written😍

[@callum7081]

@@anywherelife585 I actually like lightbringer more than the first law and I really like the first law (although I haven’t read past the original trilogy yet).

[@anywherelife585]

@@callum7081 i think there is no „better than the other“. These two worlds of Joe‘s First Law and Brent‘s Lightbringer are totally different. So it‘s only a matter of personal preference in which one you take more heart of liking. I like both!

[@MetalGildarts]

@@anywherelife585 looking forward to it.

[@MetalGildarts]

@@anywherelife585 each novelist is unique in their own way, that’s part of the beauty of novel writing.

[@thedeadd.c.207]

Joe Abercrombie is the really cool badass, edgy, childless uncle we wish we had. While Brent Weeks is the cool, wholesome, and family man uncle we all wish we had.

[@mr.orange8205]

This is great. I'm a big fan of both authors.

[@2DaysYouth]

Two of the greatest minds, huge fan of both.

[@MauroRincon]

Never read anything by Brent but ... what nice and thoughtful guy. If he writes as nicely as he elaborates his thoughts, I'm up for reading him.

[@2DaysYouth]

Read it, its badass.

[@GabrielRodriguesYT]

Joe's face at the start. 😂

[@lakshmanwinn1130]

I started reading Abercrombie with his fourth book which is supposedly standalone... I highly recommend starting with the first book.

[@bmoneybby]

Every one knows already, but Joe is funny af. Brent is funny as well. Good chat!

[@gabebarnes2254]

Wow this needs more attention, such a fun convo.

[@sandeeproy6564]

Thank you that was so much fun.. I just got into reading the first law trilogy and I'm loving it so far. Gotta read Brent Weeks,

[@Grimscribe732]

Best Served Cold is 235k words? Damn. The book doesn't feel much longer than 120k, that is some good ass pacing.

[@docbulozi]

Man, as a writer this is fascinating to watch. Great men, I am yet to get into their books. Still at Mark Lawrence.

[@billyalarie929]

joe is constantly funny. and talented. and has incredible advice.

[@lukegregg5944]

Great interview, thanks Brent.

[@safinan8008]

I really throughly liked this video!! Brent weeks luved ur first book lightbringer series!! 📽📖

[@stevenriddell595]

The best news ever...Brent going back to Night Angel :)

[@davedogge2280]

The word on the street is that we are absolutely spoilt for choice with contemporary fantasy writers, I've devoured Rothfuss, Lynch and I'm going through Abercrombies books now (just started Red Country) and I am nothing short of amazed at the quality , the excitement it brings in wanting to know 'what happens next'. I've bought Week's Night Angel and Lightbringers books and I'll delve into those like pac-man with the dots. I've got my eye on the works of that Brandon Sanderson chap also.

[@samuraichameleon]

Holy shit, I can't wait for their colab, it sounds amazing.

[@KyleOfTheNorth]

Love these two dudes.

[@8OBO8]

Great convo And that final shot of Joe haha

[@Mrader1983]

Thanks

[@noraeld5020]

This was great

[@henok]

joe abercrombie is a genius!

[@ferlou2373]

Great!

[@anywherelife585]

Have both read all books from each other?? And how do they think about the trilogies of each other

[@getoffmyaccountoriwillfindyou]

Why do I feel like they are burning each other from time to time.

[@ironpython1492]

Weeks was throwing heat lol i think it's just his personality

[@callum7081]

Their sense of humour is great lol

[@canisdivinus6218]

I think they are talking like friends just ribbing one another and what not. I think its wonderful

[@SonofPerson]

This video has me so confused. I watched them have a Twitter war a couple years back. Mr. Weeks was roasting the crap out of Mr. Abercrombie. I suggested they right a book. Yknow, like ‘get a room’. And Mr. Weeks said “forfend the thought!” I always assumed they hated each other but I guess that’s what happens when an Idiot meets Twitter? (Or the internet’s famous inability to convey sarcasm strikes again).

[@8OBO8]

Just bantering

[@willforlife_]

i found myself repeating in a stumbling manner, brent, i think he needs to get on a stage and be a childrens comedian and make the most infant jokes, it would be amazing

[@haakin2262]

My actual God in conversation with my actual God.

[@blueeyed5074]

I often thought about why I love Abercrombie's first trilogy way more than his latest ones. After this discussion I think I know. It's 4 guys and 1 girl. I am a guy, I identify with men mostly, I idolize male warriors... and that's that. I'm fine with that :P

[@8OBO8]

Yeah I'd say that's completely fine for the most part. But Idolisation of male warriors is the complete opposite of the message Abercrombie is putting foward, in the first trilogy especially.

[@blueeyed5074]

@@8OBO8 Yeah.. I gave up on him some time ago.

[@kardsufur2966]

who thinks brent looks like a mastermind supervillain

[@MrLGDUK]

There is absolutely nothing not charming about this video.

[@sigurdbingen5737]

well, Brent, let me be the first. Your last two books in Lightbringer Archive were horribly slow and tedious exactly because of the teenage female-oriented love stories featured in those books:). Sorry. Go back to your old style, it was better.

[@blueeyed5074]

So true :))

[@leslieoliverii9035]

I mean, I personally think trying new things to see if they work is how you grow as a writer.