Ten Things I Wish I'd Known as a Teen Author-Brandon Sanderson

This is my Keynote Speech from Teen Author Boot Camp 2020. If you're a teen writer and are interested in attending future conferences, you can see their website: www.teenauthorbootcamp.net/
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[@AshtonTheMelon]

"Here's what you need as a teen writer." > Me, a 24 year old man "Go on." Edit: I just want to say, the sheer volume of you all proudly admitting where you are starting is a reminder to me to finish my novel. Thank you all. Edit 2: 25,000 words, y'all. I hope you are chipping away yourselves! Edit 3: Glad to see everyone is still working hard. Nearly at 40,000 words, now. Life stuff got in the way, so I am a little off course. And that is okay! I look at Brandon, often out of shameful desire to work as hard as he does. But that is envy masquerading as hope. What I truly needed was to push my limits, not meeting someone else's. Lifting more weight, not that of an Olympian. I started having 2,000 word count sessions 4 days a week. Which puts me on track to finish in March. Here's hoping. Best of luck, all! Edit 4: Hey everyone. I wanted to chime in as my progress came to a bit of a halt these last few months due to some mental issues. And while you don't need a highlight of my life, I figured since we are all reaching out to one another for a sense of grounding, it could help to mention what I've been doing. First, find small ways to contribute if you can't seem to make yourself work. What helps me is recordings. I love talking things out, it's one of the reasons I DM for my friends, and having a recording of a character arc or slab of world building really helps get my juices going. Second is read. I've been absorbed by other pleasures that have stopped feeling like such. It's withered away a lot of my self motivation. But reading seems to pull me back into effort. If you are struggling to write, pick up a fiction and chew some pages.

[@h3lblad3]

I am a 30 year old man and I don't even write.

[@mattpfarr6129]

37 year old man here...

[@raswartz]

Me, as a 47-year-old man.

[@StefanScripca]

aren't we all teenagers in writing years?

[@yoko3182]

lol, I'm 31 here. XD

[@mvale7619]

Brandon's quick tips are 40 minutes long, and that just makes so much sense (not a bad thing).

[@bristiboutiquebd]

What did u expect. Its brandon sanderson

[@tomswiftyphilo2504]

This is the edited version. The Complete Short Tips is 50 hours long.

[@kiyasuihito]

Imagine if Peter Jackson directed this too!

[@OrbisGames]

He accidently wrote a novel too while talking about this

[@flameloude]

It's him, what do you expect?

[@DanTheMeek]

Brandon - Stands in front of a white board before giving tips. Me - Notices white board, also all the markers on it, gets excited to see Brandon writing/drawing up notes on said board. Brandon - Has assistant tape pre-written on pieces of paper to the white board. Me - "Wow, even your presentations are filled with unexpected plot twists, well played Mr. Sanderson!"

[@jamesfrederick.]

Such a epic person.

[@clintcarpentier2424]

Chekhov's whiteboard...

[@flameloude]

He enjoys these 3d chest plays.

[@ameteuraspirant]

is he green screening in front of that whiteboard? for some reason I feel like it's a green screen, something about the difference in lighting between him and the assistant.

[@muddybloody]

Ah, Brandon's version of schrodinger's cat. We have Brandon and a whiteboard. We know words will be displayed on the whiteboard. We don't know if Brandon will write the words, or his assistant. We can assume both till we see the words displayed.

[@jamescaruso8650]

Brandon: "If you want to be a writer, you need to work as hard as an engineer" Me who is studying chemical engineering: "Interesting"

[@Legendary_Detective-Wobbuffet]

Me, a 42 year old who just discovered multiplication: aaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!

[@PichuElric]

Lmaooo me as well

[@Madix-3]

That's a double whammy. Did it work out for you?

[@millerk7456]

do you happen to plan on being a microchip factory's sewage waste management?

[@jacobsejer4527]

"I am going to go quickly through these" *Spends 10 minuttes talking about his roommate who is a sewage treatment engineer*

[@negan9196]

:DDDDDDD

[@itsobviouswho]

15:16 Teacher: 3 out of 25 of you will go pro. Everybody else: What?! My mind: *I AM THE CHOSEN ONE!*

[@paniklewe]

Yes, had the same thought

[@nanayawberko3212]

I AM GREATER THAN ALL ELSE

[@maksimgamuvka4975]

If you fail just take the course again. Infinite chances

[@archangelmichael3902]

It's not like I'm encouraging, but If 22 of your classmates faced some unfortunate and tragic end this would increase your chances 👀

[@theta682pl]

HE IS THE MESSIAH

[@Eowarendir]

Summary with timestamps: 1.) Advice can be good for some people but bad for others 1:15 2.) You don't have to become a professional writer 3:35 3.) ...but it is a viable job choice 6:25 4.) Nobody will make you become a writer 8:55 5.) You may not end up writing what you think you will 16:16 6.) Tastes vary, and that's okay 20:46 7.) Successful writing is usually created using techniques you should learn 22:38 8.) Revision is a different skill from writing but it is important 26:37 9.) Determination is more important than talent 30:40 10.) It doesn't have to be fun but it should be satisfying 35:56

[@maxinist]

thank you!

[@TalosBjorn]

Those last two are really the standout ones

[@yaradeconinck]

Hero 😅

[@laurelhayes186]

Thank you!!

[@sleepvines]

thank you!

[@StacynZachEmmons]

People: That's a one in a million shot. Sanderson: *so you're SAYING there's a chance!*

[@reutermo]

"Million-to-one chances crop up nine times out of ten." - Terry Pratchett

[@Kittsuera]

just so happens most 1/a million tend to take the same classes. ;D looks more like 1/15 people who want to can succeed, the other million want to do other things.

[@Pippaqueenofdumb]

1 in a million, there are only around 8000 authors, actors, singers, dancers, illustrators, etc. that's how the world works, obviously

[@freedomthroughspirit]

Classic - thank you for that Dumb and Dumber movie gem reference! 🤣

[@startconnexions1095]

As an actual sewage treatment engineer I am offended. We’re a lot cooler than IBM workers

[@Amanda_D]

🤣 Touché, sir. 🧐

[@dedron7852]

lmao

[@Kittsuera]

is this what passes for trash talk? ;;;D

[@davidmauriciogutierrezespi5244]

My dad's an engineer and he used to work in the government coordinating maintenance of dams and canals for agriculture, the first time he said this to me I told him "So, you're a plumber with a college degree"

[@lisasternenkind6467]

@Startconnexions You are SOOOOOO right!!!!!

[@DillonChichester]

“So what do you do for a living?” “I make water more watery”

[@Legendary_Detective-Wobbuffet]

"I write suicide letters byproxy."

[@Romeo-le2ez]

Ani me girl

[@Fabric445-2]

Now I want to write a book about dragon law enforcement.

[@FyreHeartStudios]

I was looking for you, commenter. Looking for the one who would do this thing. DO IT.

[@raynethescribe2772]

Yknow what? I'd totally read that.

[@pippin7016]

Please do. I would love to read that.

[@suryaerngratlokuta6706]

Totally read

[@suryaerngratlokuta6706]

Update us if you start writing

[@leticiatoraci9855]

Write consistently is one of the most difficult things to do indeed.

[@wachyfanning]

But the must important

[@Ignasimp]

@@wachyfanning this is an advice I'm sure doesn't apply to everyone.

[@wachyfanning]

@@Ignasimp Not many come to mind who wouldn't benefit from constant writing.

[@Ignasimp]

@@wachyfanning It avoids burnout. Not everyone is the same. I can work in one type of project for weeks. Then I need a shift and do something different. I work much better in bursts than by being constant. People high in the personality trait conscienciousness work better when being conatant and planning. People low in concienciousness work better in bursts of work, specially when they are high in oppeness to experience, and I'm both. Planning and being constant actually makes me much less productive and much less creative, so it's actually counterproductive.

[@evelynweibel3281]

If you love it, you will do it.

[@jailyngonzalez2700]

“These 10 tips will be pretty rapid fire” - video is 40 minutes long...😂😂

[@clicky4665]

I put it in ×2 speed I always do that but i guess is not a bad option

[@artemislogic5252]

typical sanderson

[@ezariogerion3138]

Thats epic fantasy writer for you!

[@potatoeater9499]

That is 4 min for each tip, that is reasonable

[@violetfolgi]

The moment I accepted it was okay to just want to write fanfiction and never become a professional writer, a weight was taken off my shoulders!

[@PichuElric]

Exactly!! But I'd love to write something original one day too!

[@legrandliseurtri7495]

Well I mean you can write original stuff without intending to be a professional writer.

[@violetfolgi]

@@legrandliseurtri7495 totally! it's the expectation that you need to monetize your hobby for it to be worth it that is hard to shake off imo

[@peanut3438]

Similar with me, but I do plan to publish. It’s still a relief! Also, whoever’s reading, ^w^ “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” ‭‭John‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭NIV “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭10:9‬ ‭NIV‬‬ “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:1‬ ‭NIV ❤️

[@oscarwang7227]

@@peanut3438 nothing against your religion, but i don’t know what Jesus has to do with better writing

[@sanderbregman9444]

On the note of being a successful writer being a one in a million chance: "Scientists have calculated that the chances of something so patently absurd actually existing are millions to one. But magicians have calculated that million-to-one chances crop up nine times out of ten." -Sir Terry Pratchett, Mort

[@Mikeztarp]

I love the bit in _Guards! Guards!_ where the guys debate the probability of something and fiddle with the details so that it feels like a million to one exactly, because that's guaranteed to success.

[@artofthepossible7329]

@@Mikeztarp And then it fails because the result was always going to be 0%.

[@r.connor9280]

Sounds like a magic powered version of the infinite probability engine

[@thefabulouskitten7204]

@@Mikeztarp ah yes. Everybody knows how when its a million to one chance it always works.

[@peanut3438]

But what’s a one-million-and-one to one chance o_o Have a wonderful day btw, God bless ^w^ Also~ “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” ‭‭John‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭NIV “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭10:9‬ ‭NIV‬‬ “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬ ^w^

[@kb-pierce]

*automatically looks for timestamp guy*

[@matthewhendricks4308]

Saaaaame! 😂

[@Eowarendir]

LOL. glad I could be of use.

[@lisasternenkind6467]

°^° TIMESTAMPS °^° (1.) Advice can be GOOD for some people; but BAD for others 01:17 (2.) You don't have to become a professional writer 03:40 (3.) ...but it is a VIABLE job choice 06:29 (4.) NOBODY will make you become a writer 09:10 (5.) You may not end up writing what you think you will 16:30 (6.) Tastes vary. And that's okay 20:46 (7.) That said, SUCCESSFUL writing is usually created using TECHNIQUES you should learn 22:38 (8.) REVISION is a different skill from writing, but it is IMPORTANT 26:50 (9.) DETERMINATION is more important than TALENT 30:40 (10.) It doesn't have to be FUN, but it should be SATISFYING 35:59

[@rosierserpent6912]

@@lisasternenkind6467 thank chu

[@alaskabane5340]

@@lisasternenkind6467 you are god among men

[@EpikStorm101]

Here's a mantra that I tell myself whenever I doubt my ability as a writer. "I may not be as good as the best, but I'm definitely better then the worse." There's plenty of poorly written books and movies out there, and if they can get made, then I surely have the ability to succeed as well.

[@aleah116]

Thats how i think too

[@peanut3438]

Even if you’re one of the worst (and it can sure feel like it if you’re relying on your own ability and see your failures, because we all mess up at some point), it’s much better to trust in God for His plan for your life and try to do even a little better than you did before, regardless if you’re the best or the worst ^w^ Like “I may not be as good as the best, but if I try, it’ll still be worth it.” Have a wonderful day! God bless ^w^ Also~ “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” ‭‭John‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭NIV “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭10:9‬ ‭NIV‬‬ “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:1‬ ‭NIV ^w^ ❤️

[@crackheadadventures]

This single comment has lifted such a huge weight off my shoulders, thank you! I've always been so worried that my writing skills are subpar and no one could ever like them. But hey, I know for a FACT that I can write better than some published authors. So thank you

[@thegreyinitiate3680]

Whenever you question your own writing ability, just know that the sentence “Somehow Palpatine has returned” was written as the only explanation for a pivotal plot point by a professional screenwriter for an actual Star Wars movie, and it made it into the final film. You got this 😂

[@EpikStorm101]

@@thegreyinitiate3680 you're an idiot. That wasn't the explanation. The film explicitly shows you how Palpatine returned in the first five minutes of the movie.

[@ainsleyzirkle2485]

Things I learned from this lecture: 1) Story time with Brandon Sanderson is awsome 2) Brandon Sanderson should never be a professional statistic analyzer 3) A bunch of stuff about writing

[@ColombianThunder]

So was he horribly wrong on the one in a million thing within his class? Lol

[@yeetlethebeetle4297]

i'd say that he's about right. I'd even go further and say that it's even better than 1;15. there are probably only four or five people in that class of fifteen that actually want to go professional with their writing. That would make a chance of about 1;4 or 1;5. It as he said, it's more about perseverance than talent.

[@frizowz8616]

I think I can speak for all the young writers here, the amount of learning and advice we get from watching your videos Brandon is extraordinary! It means the world to us that someone like you pulls down the curtain and desperately tries to teach us how to be successful In this industry. You are our role model in this walk and I couldn’t fathom someone being a better one!

[@lonsunokrogan]

I am not young by any means and am just starting to get into writing and Brandons advice is just as relevant to me. He as an amazing person who is sharing his love of writing through both the storys he tells and the experience he is willing to share.

[@liamr6761]

You know what's funny? I'm 19 and I already knew most of these... If you want lots more tips on writing and worldbuilding check out HelloFutureMe. He's someone who also does this sort of thing, although he isn't a professional writer. After all, you can't get too much help. But I'm now going to watch Brandon's lectures, let's see if there's cool stuff there (there's bound to be).

[@dandan5928]

I agree. I'm in an MFA program and still regularly watch Sanderson's videos and take notes. He's really extraordinary

[@liamr6761]

@@dandan5928 And also, I can prove his point that writing is for everyone. I'm in a french Computer Science engineering major (more or less an M. Eng., the french education system is veeery different to the rest of the world) and I love writing and worldbuilding and creating characters and having them interact. I write to find out what happens and it's awesome!

[@cadencev5572]

Yeah, I learned so much more from his lectures than I have from around 15 different writing channels. His books are rlly amazing too, the plots are the best I've ever read.

[@lonsunokrogan]

I love how Isabel pretend to use tape to put the "PowerPoint" posters up when she was clearly glowing with Stormlight. Now I am curious if she is a windrunner or a skybreaker.

[@roxasthegreek]

Would be windrunner or bondsmith, no? Full lashings are a surge of adhesion, not gravitation. I suppose she could be basic lashing the paper sideways though.

[@lonsunokrogan]

@@roxasthegreek you are correct, if she changed the gravitation of the poster to be twords the wall like you said it has the same effect. But if she is the 3 unnamed bondsmith I also would not be surprised. 🤣

[@them631]

Alright anyone got timestamps where the spren is visible

[@lonsunokrogan]

@@them631 unfortunately I do not know how many of the alaii'iku are in the comments at this time.

[@ticonofruger573]

@@lonsunokrogan I don't know if even they could see it if the camera doesn't.

[@DryBooks]

Hiding stories because you are ashamed of them is literally the story of my life!

[@Newfiecat]

Yup. My stories are inside locked briefcases inside a locked cabinet inside a locked closet. All handwritten, because what if my computer gets hacked? I miiiight be a little paranoid, lol.

[@DryBooks]

@@Newfiecat so maybe I’m not that... careful. But I get the feeling lol

[@storystimmler]

I usually hide my stories because I'm afraid they'll give people too much insight into the way I think. (I put a lot of myself into my characters.) Which is ridiculous, since the few times I've written a story with the intention of sharing it to help someone understand me, they haven't seen past the surface story at all. I'm also a kind of ashamed of their low quality, but I mostly hide them because I don't want to basically give people the ability to read my mind. And @Mandy H, I am just as paranoid as you--I write a fair amount of my stories in a secret script that has special safeguards built into it that make it much harder to crack than most codes. We can be paranoid together!

[@DryBooks]

@@storystimmler having someone read my writing always makes me feel like they read my soul. So I get it.

[@storystimmler]

@@DryBooks EXACTLY. I'm glad I'm not the only one! Everyone always makes fun of me for wanting to hide my writing, but I'd rather be made fun of than let people snoop around inside my mind.

[@Kram1032]

38:27 The comedic timing of this final poster just... flopping down like that, literally at the very end of the whole presentation, is *hilarious*

[@cinthiagoch]

I was looking for this comment! How come nobody else said anything about that?

[@Kram1032]

@@cinthiagoch I KNOW RIGHT

[@TheJestersGhost]

I came to the comments section to say this :)

[@LPChipi]

Brandon: This is going to be quickfire because I have to get through ten of these Also Brandon: *explains the details and intricacies of his friend's microchip water purification job* I love these videos man, THANK YOU!

[@alaexanderhawkins6324]

"If you want to make it as a professional writer you need to work as hard as the people who are trying to become engineers, but you need to do it without people giving you the structure." This is a real gem right here and something very, very few people understand.

[@yoongitothemoon588]

This is me realizing that one of my least favorite things in life is structure and now Brandon is telling me that I have to do it to publish a book (great, fine, wonderful,,,, totally)

[@syncswim]

Thank you for the "it is a viable job choice" bullet point. One of the most devastating things I was told as a kid was that "wanting to write stories doesn't make you special. EVERYONE wants to write a story. The reason you say it's the only work that gets you excited every day and doesn't feel like work is because it ISN'T work. It's a passion, and a self-indulgent one-time goal at most."

[@pendlera2959]

That's so cruel. Writing absolutely counts as work. That's like saying gardening isn't work because some people do it as a hobby. It's still work even if you do do it as a hobby.

[@jannertfol]

Doing it 'as a hobby' removes a lot of pressure. (And some successful authors believe that working at other jobs keeps them grounded.)

[@yoongitothemoon588]

Most people don't realize that while they might be able to do something else, that isn't writing, for someone who wants to do it professionally will feel like they're unable to work towards anything that isn't writing. Passions are passions until they're what defines us as a person who can't live without that passion. If you can't live without writing everyday (hyperbole mostly) then you're meant to be a writer. Period.

[@isabellebarrett1318]

As a TA called Isabelle I had a moment of irrational panic right at the start there xD

[@maliah.8669]

37:03 "the 4th draft of a thousand-page novel" man i really can't imagine what book he could possibly be talking about there

[@not-a-person]

Lmao

[@Halftroll0]

"These tips are going to be pretty rapid-fire" Sure they are, Brandon, sure they are.

[@kathyf3656]

I started by selling a few articles and a novella. That led to a full time job writing training materials (at a nuclear power plant, no less, lol) and then spent nearly 20 years as a technical writer, software manuals, etc. All the while, I read constantly and wrote fiction on the side. Now, retired, I just write fiction. I don't submit anything for publication. I am perfectly content writing for myself, writing stories I like to read, and putting them on my Kindle for something I can read and reread when I'm too old to write any more (though I honestly can't see me ever being that old! -- Ha-ha).

[@aegisxyston]

You could put them on online publishing sites and see how it goes. No pressure.

[@Violetsuperstitions]

This story is comforting to me! Thank you for sharing :)

[@AttkBeast]

So awesome!!

[@yoongitothemoon588]

Writers will find a way to write- no matter where life took them. I'm hoping that all of your books bring you great comfort going forward

[@hunterbartley7071]

I think the biggest piece of advice that works that I’ve gotten- it came to you- is to just write and let those drafts flow. The more you write, the better you get. 13 books before published? So? It doesn’t matter. Consistently writing is the key to success; the more you practice, the better you get.

[@ParthToroneel]

So true! Practice is the only magic wand...

[@artofthepossible7329]

I have a problem. My critic/analysis functions doesn't come with an off switch. Also I've tried to figure out how to word this comment about 5 times now.

[@hunterbartley7071]

@@artofthepossible7329 honestly, I feel it. It took me a lot of practice to finally turn it off. When I did, I was finally able to finish my first book and now I’m well on my way into quite a few more. Here’s the biggest thing- nobody is going to expect a first draft to be perfect. I highly recommend reading some of Brandon’s first drafts then the final works; so much changes. You’ve got this! Just go write.

[@FuraFaolox]

13? Those are rookie numbers. I have over a hundred unfinished books lmao

[@Ignasimp]

You don't need to be consisten. You just need to write a lot.

[@scottwyman9888]

"These are gonna be pretty rapid-fire" 40 minutes later Lol we love you Brandon

[@iantaakalla8180]

I mean, he could be explaining these in four hours.

[@TheTrevorBunce]

The two dislikes are from 1) Adam the social media director and 2) Adam's pro golf dreams. 4:40

[@Nosjjddjjd]

Also tom the sewage engineer

[@rednaxelA11]

top tip - if you have motivational issues (depressive personality/etc - me) then absolutely learn to love outlines. way too often i am dragged away from my keyboard and amazing ideas/plots/etc are lost to the colander of memory, use an outline and write in a modular fashion and your condition will be less of a curse. POW. Git that writin onnnn!

[@bruhtonbruhkkinson6848]

thank you

[@goddessgreen]

Yes thank you

[@kr4119]

As someone with attention/concentration issues as well as depression, outlines are absolutely essential for keeping track of ideas. Before I started using them, my drafts were all over the map, no consistency, forgot where the scene was going before I reached the end, contradicted myself in every chapter, and so on. Outlines, to me, are the difference between having a path to follow and getting lost in the fog.

[@SuperNikio2]

Hi, I have zero interest in writing; I just love to listen to Brando Sando talk about stuff

[@Epitome613]

I came here to say this. Hello, fellow non-writer!

[@SuperNikio2]

@@Epitome613 o/

[@vidarfe]

I always love to hear people talk about things they're passionate about. Doesn't matter what it is. As long as they're passionate, their passion shines through, an it becomes interesting.

[@dkmoon7543]

Exactly the same.

[@Skryzzan]

Sixteen-year old, novel coming out either at the end of the year or next year. This is incredible. I feel very excited for the future as a writer thanks to this. Thanks so much.

[@addammadd]

Me, at damn near 40 years old: :::FURIOUSLY SCRIBBLING NOTES:::

[@boiledelephant]

Number 11: It's never too late to start a hobby.

[@microdavid7098]

I've been writing since I was 8. I've learned all these over time. I'm 18 right now, and I dislike listening to advise that authors give. No art is static, and like, sure, no art should be made by you in order to impress other authors. You should write what you want.

[@ceciliastarsnatch8718]

Watching Brandon Sanderson talking about how a 60% in engineering is good is honestly so relatable

[@dale2283]

I believe these things he mentioned don't just apply to writing, they apply to most forms of art.

[@travisbplank]

For some reason I really needed to hear the bit about not needing to write professionally. My writing doesn't have to be lucrative to be helpful to me and/or others. This has unclogged some mental weirdness for me. Thanks, Brandon!

[@dominickdambrosio783]

"He makes water more watery" true wisdom

[@campwisher]

"Chaos become Order!" That is quotable.

[@jonahnolastnameneeded3130]

Gives me that Jordan Peterson, you know?

[@thereccher8746]

He's not kidding. As hard as I try to "write everyday" my willpower gives out and go back to old habits. It's still taking time to instill proper writing habits in me.

[@clubkitten]

Branden: "You may not end up writing what you think you will." I love horror. Reading, watching, listening to podcasts... I wanted to write horror for years, but I'm not very good at it. I've been working on a fantasy story for a year and feeling like I have no business writing fantasy. I needed to hear this.

[@swamashijudbedolofritt4448]

"There are as many right ways of writing as there are authors" that's the smartest thing I have heard all day.

[@timothyshaw5498]

I grew up reading heroic fantasy and thought, yeah-I want to do that! Then I started writing and it was not at all heroic fantasy. Blew my mind.

[@lizzie7654]

The "You don't have to be a professional writer" is the best one. I absolutely love writing and have been building a world for years but I'm already a musician and I found I just need a creative outlet where there is no pressure to perform. I tend to have the most productive writing times when I'm under pressure for upcoming musical performance or project. If I do decide to send my work to a publisher one day then that happens but its not a goal. And I enjoy the process so much more like this. I also hide my work - I don't print it (though I back it up on multiple hard drives) and I've only let my siblings and husband read snippets.

[@Avardent]

As a teen with dreams of becoming a writer this feels like the perfect video for me. You always motivate me, thanks!

[@Rivenlore99]

I hope your story is going well

[@MoviesNStuff]

I hope it's going well too!

[@tarronlane1]

This type of advice is awesome, even for a non-teenage. It really seems to apply to anyone interested in starting writing.

[@MilesWilliams88]

I've just decided I wanted to be a writer, and I'm 32 years old😂 I may never write anything worth a damn, but I'm going to try!

[@xtonibx5770]

Good luck (:

[@MilesWilliams88]

@@xtonibx5770 Thanks!

[@MilesWilliams88]

@Will B Literally haven't started, yet haha. I have no idea what the hell I'm waiting on.

[@divinehorror2543]

I've been writing since I was 13 and I'm touching 25 now. I'm yet to publish or even finish my first "real" book but I've loved every second of the stories I've created. Plus being a note hoarder I've been able to accurately map how and when i got better, what inspired me and what I changed over the years. Ever since I started I've had one consistent story in my mind that I feel I must publish at some point, even if it flops, it's like a promise to my younger self that it wasn't all a waste of time, because even if I fail and never become a successful author I tried and I certainly enjoyed the journey regardless of the destination, success would just be a bonus at this point. Moral of the story, don't be so hard on yourself, writing is a hobby that can become a career but it's okay if doesn't, part of the beauty is that there is no pressure, it's just you putting pen to paper and making yourself happy because you're allowed to.

[@saadamansayyed]

"Make fun of him for being a glorified sewage treatment engineer" *seems like a good way to make fun of my friends*

[@rednaxelA11]

Parents: you should try engineering. Teacher: you absolutely should study literature, and absolutely creative writing! But maybe look into teaching? Lecturer: have you considered copywriting? And by the way - we only accept literary fiction here.. Me: guess I can't just write books then. Me now: working in an office is the absolute worst, why didn't I spend the last 5 years writing?! Oh yeah, because everyone told me its not possible.

[@panes9301]

This reminds me of The little prince... I don't know why

[@riyascorner9198]

You don't need others to tell you what to do. You tell yourself what to do.

[@ipsissimus4857]

Well let’s just say in the next five years you will take responsibility for yourself, good? That was easy

[@rednaxelA11]

I apparently lack responsibility for myself, though dispite the discouragement I have a degree in writing, and I responsibly got a job that I didn't want out of necessity. My point, for those that struggle to comprehend it, is that while you should have support because writing is a talent and a profession, you probably will not, so make sure that you trust in yourself as much as you trust in your family and friends.

[@ipsissimus4857]

@@rednaxelA11 yes you are definitely right about that. The first comment did not do your point justice, sorry for being harsh

[@laurenalyssa4677]

He really called me out with the starting a new book instead of revising my old ones

[@bradstev14]

I've found that my skill as a fiction writer has greatly benefited from my academic career. Writing diverse papers to a high standard has drilled into me certain habits like revision, research, writing technique, grasp of voice etc. It probably helps that my subject is History and I specialize in analysis of aspects of the 'norm' and the 'other' as they appear in historical literature and mythology. I quite literally study and write about stories.

[@MerlinTheCommenter]

So when are you publishing and where can we find your works?

[@ZBBBlL]

@@MerlinTheCommenterwhat?

[@alliehamilton5788]

Thank you so much, your advice is great! I'm 16 and extremely dyslexic. After getting picked on at school when I was around 10 years old. I decided I wanted to overcome my disability and become a writer. I have been grinding for about 6 years and learning as much as I can about writing and creating stories. thank you so much for the advice and encouragement!

[@AhsokaGryffindor]

I Hope u became a writer or are on the road! Know always u are better then does bully can ever be!

[@user-uy1qt6wr2i]

You could use a voice to text generator that way and develop the skill to edit your stories by voicing it out, just tailor what you do to your strengths and compensate for the weaknesses

[@azurzelle]

Shout-out to Brandon's assistant who put the papers perfectly on the whiteboard! You also helped the flow of the video and giving the advice.

[@markharlow946]

“Maybe some of you like to write stories because you like fanfiction” Me: *currently watching writing videos to avoid working on my fanfic bc of writers block*

[@the_sky_is_blue_and_so_am_I]

Omg SAME

[@Rivenlore99]

so true though

[@jaybee888]

I really liked what Brandon had accomplished with Wheel of Time. I don’t think it’s perfect, but that series is still one of my absolute favorite. I read one of Brandons books a couple years later. I got through about 6-10 chapters (Warbreaker I think, it was a long time ago so I don’t remember) and I was bored out of my mind. Despite this, Brandon’s classes and advice videos are S tier learning in my opinion.

[@brownjh91]

I'd be willing to bet the other 22 out of 25 didn't have the perseverance to write 12 books to keep fighting to go pro -- that matters!

[@mortazahsafarali4375]

I just want to say as a teen writer, I knew about none of these things and I am very appreciative of the help you give writers in need. Thank you.

[@anicastro6920]

This might sound weird or supremely melodramatic, but thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you! I just started writing a year ago, but even now I wish I had found this video because there has been lots of crying over this, hehe. Especially when I get stuck writing then overthink about how terrible and cliche my whole story is. I don't really like posting comments at all, but: This video sorta fortified me and making me excited to write something that I've been stuck on for weeks, so thank you. (Also, you managed to keep my eyes on the video the entire time, which doesn't happen most of the time :D I wish there was a love it button)

[@alethearia]

I appreciate that one of your tips is "write consistently" not "write every day" or "follow this formulaic writing process". I finished my first novel in the 15-20 min before class on Tuesdays and Thursdays in college. Just sat in that coffee shop and wrote. Sure I wrote other times when I felt inspired, but twice a week I had dedicated writing time. And it's a lot like doing homework. When I'm taking 6 classes, I'm not going to be doing homework from every class every day. I dedicate 1 day a week to each class's homework. Once a week is consistent and that's what counts.

[@bmoneybby]

That grandfather joke caught me off guard. Nearly spit out my coffee.

[@pavelowjohn9167]

I think he was making a reference to an old Robert Heinlein time travel short story called "All You Zombies", which is inspired, if I remember it right, by an old bluegrass song called "I am my own Grandpa". It got a chuckle out of me as well.

[@bmoneybby]

@@pavelowjohn9167 Exactly! That's why I thought it was so fn funny. Im glad that we can enjoy that deep cut/inside joke. :)

[@bmoneybby]

@@pavelowjohn9167 oh, and a bit you probably already know, the movie Predestination is loose based of that short.

[@Alex.551]

DARK reference

[@tainadeoliveira]

I'm definitely not an outliner! You just made me realize that. So many times I just gave up and lost motivation to write because I had everything outlined and then I didn't want to "write it all over again". I did this my whole life basically. Maybe going spontaneous will get good stories out of me

[@lpsloveroflight3020]

hello Brandon, I'm 15 and listening to you talk passionately about what you do is better then watching any movie! thank you for inspiring me and thousands of other creative people, cant wait until I experience that feeling of finishing a book! thank you once again. :)

[@kayzeaza]

He’s very right about revision. When I was a teenager I never wanted to edit/revise my work. To me if it was meant to be perfect it would come out that way. Now as someone in my late 20’s I realize editing is so very much an important aspect to writing something. It can turn an alright piece into a solid piece. And no one is going to judge you for editing!

[@Sergio_TGV]

Thanks, Sanderson! I'm a mexican writer, and I basically went through all the things you described. It is inspiring, and I totally agree with the "create a writing habit" bit. That's what I try to hammer into my students; without a habit, you won't write anything, ever.

[@andrewjennings7306]

Dont write a story about the drug cartels bro or u will disappear! 😳

[@andrerobinson3233]

Do you write in both Spanish and English?

[@jenna.livingston]

This advice applied to me more than I thought as a wastewater treatment engineering student opting to take extra writing classes to get better 😂 I am masochistic when it comes to homework I guess lol

[@kaamn1829]

What a king to mention fanfiction, family histories, and RPGs. This is super true, that's how most people nowadays write, they're not publishing stories all the time, they're sharing them online and getting critique and advice and growing.

[@Rivenlore99]

This is so tru! fan fictions and the others are super great easy to write

[@TeenAuthorBootCamp]

We absolutely loved having Brandon participate in our conference again. He is awesome!

[@annamariaa3949]

Number 5 really resonates with me. I thought i was weird for loving to read a broad range of genres but especially epic fantasies and mysteries. But now I finally have the opportunity to be published soon in my country and ended up writing drama. Thank you Brandon! I love your books!

[@El_Diablo_12]

29:48 The hallmarks of a successful creator, are people who know how to take good stories they've created, and make them great 14:00

[@jameswalterlee]

“Build a consistent writing habit.” Check! Brandon can you please post a video telling us your story on how you worked out building a consistent writing habit for yourself with all the stuff you have going on in your life?

[@thehouseofruin424]

Yeeeessss! This!

[@justsomebody244]

I love the last one (I agree with all of them) but the last one is amazing I’ve loved writing since I was a little girl and I’m currently writing a book or novel idk, but I’m almost finished with Chapter 4, I’m 38 pages in and 18,400 something words and I’ve never thought I would get here, I’ve written a lot of short things that I wanted to turn into a book but they weren’t right, I’m 3 months into my book so I’m kinda slow at it but I’m very proud of myself

[@shirakrause8160]

I don't think you can be slow in the long journey of writing a book. Keep up with the good work, at your pace, and trust the process! I hope your book is turning out good😊

[@limonali]

Proud of you, hope you continiued!

[@MoviesNStuff]

Hope the work has gone well!

[@jonahbutterfield5792]

Writing consistently for me is only hard when I take a break or something happens that stops me for more than a day or two. I normally have found I can write 3-7 thousand words a day when I get into it pretty much everyday and then I went on a vacation with my family for a week and then took me 3+ months to get back into the habit XD I found just not stopping even if its a few hundred words a day on vacations is the only way I can stay consistent.

[@Adelphos12]

I love the bow by the final poster XD

[@Xarfax321]

Very inspiring, Brandon! :) Gonna have to rewatch this whole thing! The thing about Luck, something I wanted to share.... I have read some stoic philosophy, and one quote from the philosopher Seneca is "Luck is what happens when opportunity meets preparation". Now, of course there are moments when things just seem to fall down into your lap, but I have started to think of luck as just that: Preparation + Opportunity. Say for example when you were at the con with your friend and you HADN'T written anything, you were still dreaming about it but hadn't gone the distance? You wouldn't have been prepared. Or say you hadn't gone to the con with your friend? You would've missed the opportunity.

[@daviscook4653]

Please keep posting and writing, Brandon! You are a big inspiration

[@fierybookworm]

Thank you Brandon for acknowledging that fan fiction is legitimate writing. Teens deserve more support.

[@mercurywise4047]

Exactly, fanfic is what inspired me to start writing. It’s so important to recognize it as a form of writing!!

[@Alleyoop1-7Fanfiction]

I’ve recently gotten into writing and reading fanfiction again to help me deal with trauma and the dial ointment of life, and I forgot how much I loved writing. The point about revision vs writing is so true. Sometimes I think I’m a better Revisor than writer, and sometimes the opposite. And the last tip is important for all jobs and, honestly, all sides of life. It’s won’t always be fun, but it should be satisfying 😊 thanks for putting that into words!

[@elliotkessler7271]

I really enjoyed point 5 about how you might not end up writing what you think you will. I love sci-fi, and most of sci-fi is space opera. I thought I was going to write tons of space opera, but I also love detective stories. Right now, I'm working on a sci-fi detective thriller, and I'm having a lot more fun than I did when writing my space opera. I'm hoping to write a cyberpunk book soon, and I am very excited to finish my detective thriller

[@lonivanbuni6793]

"or you make America turn out to be communist cause you stepped on a butterfly" watch me go back in time stepping on every butterfly I see

[@CharroArgentino]

"Don't touch anything? I WILL TOUCH WHATEVER I FEEL LIKE!" - Homer Simpson.

[@melkathi]

Need help building that time machine?

[@mitchellanderson3960]

Sooo you like to murder millions of people for your ideology that has not worked once in the entire 100+ years of attempted implementation? Remember, "comrade", that the flag is red because where the hammer and sickle flies, people bleed.

[@lonivanbuni6793]

@@mitchellanderson3960 damn the red scare is strong with this one

[@nallelzuniga9041]

Thanks for the upload brandon!!!

[@aerynmusick4548]

My favorite Picasso quote keeps me motivated- “When your muse arrives, she must find you WORKING!”

[@Mikeztarp]

Brandon may have changed his major to English after the first year, but his handwriting looks like a Chemistry major's. :P

[@braedenwhite5530]

Brandon’s new videos are really showcasing his love of science fiction short stories and I am here for it!

[@PhoenixCrown]

First point is SOOO GOOD: Sanderson is King of good advice + grain of salt = find what works for you. Second point even better: I've never enjoyed/been passionate about anything like I am about writing, so I'll keep doing it regardless of conventional success. Thanks for all you do!

[@Rivenlore99]

Yes, keep going!

[@hexadeciamldm3447]

Thank you for sharing such wonder advice and insight into both the process and the industry. You make learning so much fun that even poster number 10 was sad it was over.

[@gabriela-lubashulzinger9596]

This were honestly the best tips I heard in a while, I'm so pumped up to write right now. Maybe I should listen to him each time before I write so I know I can do it!

[@Rivenlore99]

That is actually a great idea :)

[@atomsofstardust]

Videos like these from Brandon have been extremely encouraging and really motivating for me. It's nice to see a professional writer break down certain aspects of the craft to help authors who are just starting out! Really appreciate it, thank you a lot, sir!

[@CritAcademy]

Great video! Thank you Brandon for continuing to make these fantastic resources.

[@MakatAlexander]

This is SO helpful, entertaining, motivating and just plain fun to watch!! There will be so many acknowledgements in future books thanking Brandon for pumping out writing advice videos (I at least know I am going to thank him). Keep making the videos Brandon (and the rest of the team)!

[@otis7847]

The Stephen King advice from tip one is for me. Outlines killed me in high school. I would talk to my teachers and some would get it, most wouldn't. The ones that wouldn't allow me to get away with no outline, would get an outline that had nothing to do with my story. The outline would be the last thing I did and I would just jot down nonsense. My teachers would question me on it, of course, but I would just tell them my outline triggered connections for my story at that time. Never failed due to turning in a "bad" outline.

[@alaskabane5340]

same, only after stopping my obsessive outlines and returning after 3 years break to look back at them and I can finally feel the story more than my younger self ever could. Outlines are personally not for me because I write much more character driven work

[@Tornnnado]

Yeah I can't stand outlines either. This year (thankfully) my AP Lang teacher didn't require an outline. It was wonderful :D.

[@MrGangbash]

Great job Brandon - keep it up - proud of you!

[@francoanzalone4061]

Thank you for taking the time to teach us things. I really enjoy your style as a teacher. It makes it so much fun and love your work!

[@jakewest819]

Thank you Brandon! The advice you gave here was shockingly supportive. I’m going through my first novel right now and your advice definitely put me more at ease. Thank you :)

[@andrewmcnaughton2062]

I love this man. An author and teacher that richly deserves sincere admiration and respect from all of us. You have inspired me to pick up my passion with both hands and instilled in my heart true determination to not only be the best writer I can be, but also to find real satisfaction in the work I do. Take care and keep the wonder and wisdom flowing. Thank you Brandon.

[@bookdmb]

Brandon comes across as such a generous-hearted person.

[@danieljaygrossett-author]

Mate, I absolutely loved this! Some of the best advice I have found. Really gave me that last bit of inspiration needed to know this path is worth it. Thank you very much!

[@stevenz9364]

I havent read a book by you, but these video just got me willing to read them, and the final point is just as satisfying as the intrinsic meaning of the message. Thank so much!