The Art of Feedback: Engaging Test Readers

This chapter explores the process of gathering feedback from test readers before publishing a book, emphasizing the necessity of a diverse pool for insightful responses. It compares this method to Hollywood's test audiences and outlines how targeted feedback on emotional engagement can enhance the writing process. The authors share their evolving strategies for collecting and analyzing reader input, highlighting the importance of community influence and reader preferences in shaping their work.

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Brandon Sanderson is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Stormlight Archive series and the Mistborn saga; the middle-grade series Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians; and the young-adult novels The Rithmatist, the Reckoners trilogy, and the Skyward series. He has sold more than 40 million books in 35 languages, and he is a four-time nominee for the Hugo Awards, winning in 2013 for his novella The Emperor’s Soul.

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Timestamps:

00:00 Meet Brandon Sanderson

07:10 Soundcheck Fun and Memory Skills

11:21 Brandon's Writing Journey and Creative Process

25:35 Teaching Creative Writing and Publishing Insights

38:08 Brandon's Early Reading Experience

44:18 Discovering the Magic of Storytelling

45:32 A Journey from C Student to A Student

47:02 The Influence of a Great Teacher

48:51 Understanding Narrative and Plot

56:42 The Art of Character Development

01:09:42 Balancing Writing and Personal Life