Young Adult Publishing Vs Adult Publishing w/ Brandon Mull - Intentionally Blank Ep. 169

[@MeaninglessSlop-q5n]

A genuine “Was this supposed to be funny?” is a BRUTAL note

[@presshusfightlady3966]

I imagine if my work ever makes it to an editor I'm gonna get slapped with at least one of those, and if I do, my soul is gonna fire out of my body like a cannonball

[@ln9256]

​​@presshusfightlady3966 The imagery you just manifested in my brain with that line had me laughing like an idiot so I think you've got a good funny bone at least

[@emwfirst]

The worst part is it’s brutal both ways. “This was funny and it wasn’t supposed to be,” is just as bad as, “This was supposed to be funny?”

[@benedixtify]

Your mom's supposed to be funny

[@TheBigGSN5]

Two writers and they could only come up with one name.

[@rincwind666]

Clearly their parents are not as original as they are!

[@borat656]

Submitting to agents is literally being told "I want something that I've never seen before and takes my breath away with originality", while being required to list every comp title so that they know exactly what to expect and how to sell it without reading a page.

[@Sway22]

Fablehaven was my favourite series as a kid (Beyonders too) and now as I am way older I love Stormlight Archive and Mistborn so it's crazy seeing those two authors together!

[@_Squiggle_]

Same!

[@TomiOdukoya]

Same!!

[@yosefberger6259]

It only just clicked right now, but it's refreshing to have a podcast without ten minutes of ads. I don't begrudge podcasters trying to make a living, but it's nice not to have to deal with the flow interruption

[@ckannan90]

But don’t you want to get BetterHelp therapy lying on your Casper mattress while admiring your Fracture photo that you ordered from your Squarespace domain email on NordVPN?

[@zorgate]

freakin block the ads

[@yosefberger6259]

@zorgate I'm talking about integrated ad spots where the podcast hosts read the ad in the video itself. So an ad blocker wouldn't work, and sponsor block only works on KZbin, not podcasting apps

[@aberrantnarrations]

It probably helps that the entire podcast is basically an ad for their books/personal brand as authors.

[@johnmartin9846]

Brandon and Brandon bounce off each other so well. Its also really fun to hear the differences between the adult and ya/middle grade worlds.

[@jessicaparkerillustration]

I've really enjoyed listening to Brandon & Brandon, and I hope Brandon Mull comes back to guest on the podcast again!

[@SunRayz3r]

Imagine having Brandon Mull return even with Dan back and have all three in the podcast. The issue is you’ll need another camera and microphone but the idea is neat.

[@ValGalorian]

If Brandon and Dan fused, they would be Brandan. But if Brandon and Dan fused, they would be Dandon

[@roylandrum863]

I found Mistborn by that $5 version while looking around a mall bookstore before a movie. About a month later, you were announced to complete Wheel of Time and I became a fan for life.

[@Brandon-9]

Niceee

[@BruceWayne15325]

You are both huge inspirations to me as an aspiring author. Sanderson is the undisputed king of creative magic, and while Fablehaven was definitely middle grade, I personally thoroughly loved it at 50+. After watching Sanderson's BYU course online I've finally published my first novel, and I'm about half way through my second. It's an addiction even if I don't make any money yet. I'm very impressed that Mull's first book ever written did so well. I wish I had that kind of innate talent. I have a very active imagination, and no lack of ideas for stories, but writing is one of those easy to do, difficult to master skills. "Mistborn was a huge flop, it only sold like 8,000." I wish I was that big of a failure. I'm pretty sure that only friends and family have bought my book so far.

[@MetalGildarts]

These past two eps with B.Mull is my reminder that I need to finally read the final Dragonwatch book.

[@IkeMastree]

Don't. Draw your own conclusion to the story. I swear it will be better.

[@MetalGildarts]

@@IkeMastree lol

[@haldalas]

Just to provide an alternate pov, I disagree with the other comment here and I liked the last book.

[@lumpylumpyloo]

@@IkeMastree how was book 5 any worse than the rest of the series

[@IkeMastree]

@@lumpylumpyloo Ah, the same reasons The Final Spark is the worst Michael Vey book.

[@svenholmgren5015]

Idk why you feel this way about Alcatraz! That has been an absolute favorite series in our home - from my then 8yo when we started to my older son, who is now almost 14, and both Mom and Dad love them all as well. We also love all of your books, and are extremely grateful that most are not very sexualized, making them easier to enjoy as a family - and boy does our family love almost every book/short story/novella/secret projects you've published - regardless of the genre. Even more impressive for you, fantasty was definitely not my genre before your writing! Stormlight Archive books are epic.

[@mckennamclaws146]

For the record, my 6th graders (I'm a teacher) loved it when I read Alcatraz to them!

[@michaelthebeloved5420]

Brandon mull was my gate way into Brandon Sanderson

[@inkoftheworld]

dan is great but it's really nice to hear brandon talk with people who have different experiences and different stories.

[@matthewhendricks3557]

I agree!

[@Tswizzlefan271]

My two favorite authors chatting is the best thing ever! I grew up reading Brandon Mull and still love his books! As an adult now, I’ve wanted Brandon Mull to write YA or adult fantasy, so it’s interesting to hear about why he’s stuck around in the middle grade genre.

[@grantharrispb]

My favorite childhood author with my favorite current author. Mull introduced me to fantasy with Fablehaven, and Sanderson keeps me addicted. So cool.

[@serpenttailedangel]

Beyonders having been written as an adult novel first explains so much. Some of the elements were very MG, but a lot of the world/plot felt like something you'd expect in a book with an older target audience. I wonder what MG-esk elements were present in the original version to make editors say it was better for MG.

[@floperetti]

Hearing Brandon say 'kids and animals going on adventures, that could be really dumb' while playing pokemon on my switch made me lol

[@Lunderwhatsen]

The 50% who dropped off by Alloy of Law just don't know the benefits of a good hat yet.

[@Brandon-9]

🤠

[@fifth_noble8022]

Please bring this man to Dragonsteel!

[@lukesveen5269]

25% of my bookshelf are these 2 amazing authors. My OCD or coincidence, your choice, put them on the same level. (I would say shelf, but it's not exactly a bookshelf. It's my entire wall with book "crevices.")

[@steegen101]

I love that description of Beyonders: almost Narnian, but when the battles happen they get serious

[@richardbennettiii7182]

Love both of your work! Fablehaven and Alcatraz is listen to constantly by my children. Even as they get older those two series are like comfort food, it just makes them happy.

[@andrewbennett1176]

FYI My son was starting to age out of Alcatraz when we discovered it, but it was the first series he was willing to really read on his own. I thought it was fun.

[@alexshoe2]

Fablehaven was one of the middle-grade series that really got me into fantasy when I was growing up! Something about fantasy authors named Brandon must really click with me haha

[@jaime6400]

This was a fascinating conversation. Regarding adult publishing industry, the first time I beta read for an indie author, I made a comment about my feelings towards a character (which is what I did as a beta for fanfic and just as a commentator/reviewer on fics and books), and the author thought I was saying he should take out the scene. Some adult authors just don't seem to want the side commentary and emojis!

[@ConnerofallTrades]

Dude I never knew what Brandon Mull looked like but he lowkey looks EXACTLY like the grandpa from Fablehaven always looked in my head while reading the books (at least from this angle)

[@TheStuartmitchell]

My 5 year old daughter is loving the Alcatraz audio books she keeps on telling me my talent is losing things

[@joedoe7572]

😂

[@Brandon-9]

🤭👍🏼

[@ApfelSchreck]

I read Alcatraz about 10 yrs ago, as a 12 year old. It was one of my favourite books back then and a couple of years later when I started in the online-world, I made my username Alcatratz, based on your book (with a t in there so it would never say "this username is taken"). All following 5 books of this series I read about a year ago, because as far as i know never got translated. Even though I am now much older than the target audience, I still had a good time with them. Thank you for writing them!

[@Booksds]

Man, the more I hear about the Alcatraz series, the more certain I am that it would have been right up my alley when I was middle-grade aged. I could always read it now (and probably will at some point) but I think 13-year-old me might have appreciated it even more. I did read plenty of Brandon Mull as a kid, though, and I certainly loved those books too!

[@jazzm5748]

My daughter is reading through The Candy Shop War 😊

[@joshuaklopp68]

Love Brandon’s work. Currently reading words of radiance.

[@charlesyergensen8918]

My two favorite authors ever!!

[@igamergirl14]

Finished with the third Fablehaven book yesterday so this will be interesting to listen to! Sanderson with his experience in both will be fun

[@matthewhendricks3557]

I love Beyonders! I love its unique blend of humor and epic fantasy, and I have recommended it to so many people!

[@judyreep8575]

I like both of these authors because the standards that they adhere to. I know there will be no unacceptable language or graphic romance descriptions. Just good clean reading. Thank you

[@Willyjedi534]

My plan here is so far to write my entire series before going to editors and publishing. I am only doing it as a hobby though, I plan on being a plumber as my job.

[@justinlan7940]

I just reading again, by reading Sanderson's books, and it took them mentioning Candy Shop War for me to realize I read Mull's books too.

[@Qwertified108]

Honestly the interjected questions really added to this episode! Felt like we viewers had an audience surrogate on the show.

[@tyghe_bright]

There are a lot more cross-genre books in recent years. I think it's because of the difference between selling in a store, where an author has to be in a physical place on the shelf, and selling online. In the online space, people can search for an author and see everything by them. And a single book can exist in multiple categories, even down to quite specific subcategories.

[@TheBookSquirrelUK]

Really like the vibe when it’s the two Brandons. Just a personal preference, but I think it works a bit better than with Dan for more substantial conversations.

[@BreeShareeReads]

Brandon Mull 🙌🏽

[@sugasheeze]

I really liked these last 3 episodes, you should have Brandon back for some Brandon, Brandon, & Dan episodes in the future!

[@karling1191]

I see Brandon Mull…I click

[@samreilly6602]

Beyonders is one of the most memorable stories I read as a teenager, shout out Ferrin and Tark if you know you know

[@avsambart]

It's so interesting to hear Publishers want to keep authors in one box or one genre because I always follow the author after reading a book I enjoy. I've always been "ohhh I wonder what else this author wrote" rather than "I want more of this same story/genre from this person."

[@robhurlocker7040]

Fablehaven is truly incredible. I only discovered it in my early 20's, and it has been one of my favorite things to read it a second time with my young daughter. I look forward to being able to nerd out about Stormlight as she gets older. :)

[@weathertopz4368]

Fablehaven is amazing. I read it to my kid and loved it.

[@shinybugg9156]

Thanks for the insights!

[@Coyotapb-psn]

I rely have enjoyed your books keep up the good work

[@joedoe7572]

Beyonders especially, but also The Five Kingdoms and Fablehaven, were my favorite books growing up. Still reading the sequels. Can't wait for a Beyonder's sequel!

[@Prene16]

I never would have thought someone could brutally criticise Sanderson's works. Most of the time I find the writing and tone flawless

[@Amanda-nq6mw]

That's insane to hear the Mistborn story. I'm so happy it did well because it's amazing. While I do understand some of the reasons for publishing that was discussed, I want to be published one day and it's kinda scary with the stuff they talked about

[@PaulCharlesAllen]

I’m going to check out “mulling it over” podcast. I can’t get enough of literary advice.

[@ambbb4691]

Awesome interview. Hope to see more episodes like this one.

[@robhurlocker7040]

Seth needs to visit Threnody; and Kendra could totally bond an honorspren on Roshar. Hoid would be incredibly fun in the Beyonder's world.

[@andeeharry]

great episode

[@nox9856]

This was a very cool discussion, I really enjoyed it.

[@WorldArchivist]

This reminds me, I need to get started on my own book.

[@doctorandrewlapray5769]

What a fun trilogy of episodes!

[@ninjaofpurple]

Alaska mentioned 🌠

[@Haze8277]

I was hoping Dan would be back based on the thumbnail. But oh well a Brandon squared episode it is.

[@lokenecummings47]

I get the divide between Children's and Adult, but these extra divides of Middle Grade and YA confuse, or maybe confound, me. I went from Tolkien and Dumas to Moorcock, John Norman, Asimov and Huxley before 5th grade. They would all be separated into different categories now, and hard to discover on my own. I believe in Mitch Hedbergs quip 'All books are children's books if the child can read".

[@PeteQuad]

100%. Thank goodness I didn't get sectioned off into YA or middle grade when I started reading.

[@joedoe7572]

7:27 Is that why I liked Alcatraz so much (until the last Alcatraz written one)? All my friends loved it too

[@avsambart]

Alcatraz is so good though! It was my read to see me through lockdown and even though I'm 30+ I had a wonderful time!

[@Machtyn]

There's a reason that Sue Grafton wrote 25 books with one character and a basic premise that covered about 5 -7 years. There's a reason Patricia Briggs has written a bunch of "Mercy Thompson" books. There's a reason Kathryn Lasky has a ton of books about the Owls, wolves, bears, and other creatures of the Great White North.

[@minerman60101]

I saw three books in I think the k through m range at an antiques store and was later saddened to learn that she ran out of steam with just one letter left, then died with just 25 done. (Haven't read them of course)

[@Machtyn]

@@minerman60101 I think she had been working on the last one, but she was getting old and slowing down. I was surprised she made it to Y. I first met Sue when some of her staff called me to service their computers. She was at R at the time. She finished a book every 2 years at that time.

[@monkeydluffy7735]

Who else thinks fabelhaven deserves a good tv adaptation? 🙋🏽‍♀️

[@JanneSala]

Man, that series was my jam in elementary school. I'm not sure if I'm disappointed or relieved that it avoided the late 2000s youth fantasy adaptation craze.

[@TheBabyCaleb]

I’d hate a live action adaptation, it would have too many chances of looking cheap. But an animated adaptation I’d love, that way everything and everybody would look like how their supposed to.

[@Connerscuriosities]

Let's go Brandons!

[@AbandonSafety]

Alcatraz is my favorite Sanderson series.

[@rmsgrey]

One challenge for the money people is finding someone who can reliably tell them when something is likely to be an exception to the general statistics, and then listening to that person.

[@Swdgame]

awesome podcast again.

[@joedoe7572]

@BrandonMull please make your sequel series for beyonders and the five kingdoms more towards YA, so you can grow into them and still enjoy them as you get up to them as you get older

[@minerman60101]

I had all these books as a kid. I love the cover art, but I barely remember what was actually in the books now lol

[@plusmanikantanr]

Thing is, I want Terry Brooks to write another Shannara book! I want Margaret Weiss and Tracy Hickman to write another Dragons book! I want Robin Hobb to write another River Wilds, Sea Serpent, Assassins book! I want McCaffrey family to write another Pern Book !!!! And we all want Brando Sando to keep pumping out those Cosmere/non-Cosmere books ! 😀 Also I nominate more guest appearances of Wandan Mullerson 😀

[@benedixtify]

One thing that bothered me about Words of Radiance is that Shallan's courtship with Adolin felt too much like blushing winks, and devoid of sexual attraction. In later books their relationship finally starts to feel more mature.

[@DivinePearl]

You should both author a book called The Brandon Book. A Book about Brandon. Starring a character named Brandon. It could be a short story or another picture book.

[@IntoTheWeeds71]

Love this type of podcast. Big question though, not sure if you've already covered it in another video, but what is your thought process like when you're just starting the first draft and you're still finding your way into the pace, the voice, the characters? Do you invent details on the fly? How do you handle pacing in the first scenes when you're still semi-exploring? (Been an outliner and it hasn't worked for me, so I'm trying to be more of a pantser with only the big beats and character arcs planned beforehand.)

[@GraylightSynes]

If I were an aspiring author trying to get published and an editor wrote "Do better" or "Was this supposed to be funny?" on my draft, I would be crushed. Yikes.

[@notsureaboutthis4283]

Had this playing as audio and didn't get my volume on for the intro. Assumed it was Dan Wells with different audio setup at first. Was very confused why someone would call Dan a YA/MG author 😅

[@Developesque]

The publishing industry needs to be rebirthed. The whole system is so ineffective and ridiculous.

[@Beethovens.diving-gear]

Did they make two thumbnails for this vid? Like one with mistborn and the other with fableheaven

[@damagedpages676]

Watching This has made me realise why some authors seem to be writing the same thing...

[@Ultr4l0f]

0:55 "I'll do a bunch of adult stuff" That sounds like a different career...

[@Gruzbee]

I am fully prepared to fight my editors with the same level of ferocity as they dish out. I don't get why some writers and editors believe that strict, brutal editorial feedback is necessary for producing better quality writing, or that being tactful and encouraging is tantamount to coddling. You can be positive and encouraging, and critical and constructive, without being a tyrannical jerk.

[@godminnette2]

I liked Fablehaven and *loved* Candyshop War as a kid. I had forgotten until now that Candyshop War was the same author.

[@Qwertified108]

How many Brandons do you need to have a Brandon Quorum that can speak on behalf of all Brandons?

[@DiceMustFlow]

Key takeaway - The Hobbit is middle grade and The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant is YA. 😆

[@brokenredflag]

Ive always said that if i ever become an author (witch i decided not to cuse my ego is the size of a small planet and i got tierd of hurting pepole) i would love to publish ya midle grades. I absolutly love that genree. Yea i like some pg13 once in a while. My stomach just cant tolarate gore. Anyway yea i checkt out your books and it looks like something i would buy in a heart beat mull.😊

[@katalyze101]

This was a very insightful look into the publishing industry and you two’s past experience with it, thank you for sharing I enjoyed it!

[@colebarrowes4031]

Oh i need to read candy shop 3 ig

[@lexzbuddy]

It's crushing when you're putting in your best work. That made me laugh. I'm an engineer, when you write / check documents, crushing would be welcome, brutal is the reality. Not in the same league, none of us can even spell never mind write but ya, I hear you. Made me laugh though.

[@joedoe7572]

@BrandonMull is The Guardian series going to be a new world, or a sequel to one of your previous series?

[@jakecarlstad6192]

I much prefer having Brandon Mull on this podcast! Love his vibe, seems like a very intelligent man

[@terryschmitt8050]

Shots fired. Sorry Dan

[@acerazorakjsflasjfka]

Dan catching strays while he's gone ☠️

[@dcle944]

They totally “call me by your name.”

[@GalliumDawn]

I’m gonna say it, I enjoyed alloy of law more than I enjoyed the entire original mistborn trilogy

[@Beethovens.diving-gear]

Ngl sometimes I also have the same feeling,but then I go back and read mistborn and just can't decide

[@Man-mx2sy]

honestly agree

[@PutrescereBear]

Brandon Mull I just want to say thank you for Fablehaven it was the quintessential series of my childhood and really is the main reason my love of fantasy continues into my adulthood ❤

[@OooItsBlue]

Why change the Fablehaven thumbnail 🤔

[@violentfrog_]

wow adult fiction editors sound savage.

[@ElijsDima]

On the cover art, I wonder... why do books end up getting terrible cover arts? Like.. there are so many freelance artists on twitter etc. who will do amazing art for not-much-cost; and yet books sometimes come out with covers that are absolute anti-sellers. Don't publishers have some kind of "quality control" (for lack of a nicer term) on all this? Especially Fantasy seems to fall victim to this...