On Writing With Brandon Sanderson | Full Writing Lectures (2025) Story Structures - Plot Theory: Brandon Sanderson's Writing Lecture #3 (2025)
Dive into the fascinating world of story structures! Explore the Hero's Journey and its criticisms alongside Dan Harmon's story circle as essential tools for building conflict. Discover how established frameworks, like the Three Act Structure, can help shape your narrative while allowing for creative flexibility. Learn how mastering writing is akin to mastering card games, where gradual skill development is key. Plus, find inspiration in beloved narratives that utilize shared story structures, boosting your own storytelling prowess!
01:09:52
Purpose of Plot and Obstacles
- Plot exists to provide conflict, not just events.
- Obstacles should enforce character growth, reinforce lesson, or show failure.
Dan Harmon's Story Circle
- Dan Harmon's story circle simplifies the hero's journey into an accessible framework.
- It emphasizes a circular journey with character growth and transformation.
Avoid Rigid Plot Structures
- Avoid slavishly following rigid story structures like the hero's journey.
- Flexibility allows the story to better suit your unique narrative.
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Intro
00:00 • 2min
The Significance of Conflict and Structure in Storytelling
02:08 • 5min
Navigating the Hero's Journey
06:52 • 5min
Navigating the Hero's Journey
11:40 • 53min
Mastering Writing: From Basic Rules to Advanced Techniques
01:04:45 • 2min
Exploring the Structure Model in Storytelling
01:06:44 • 3min
Sideways Stories from Wayside School
Louis Sachar
The book takes place in the 30th-story classroom of Wayside School, where each chapter focuses on a different student.
The school was built incorrectly, with 30 stories instead of 30 classrooms in a row.
The stories feature the antics of students under the care of their teachers, Mrs. Gorf and later Mrs. Jewls, and include the author himself as the yard teacher.
The book is known for its absurd humor and insightful portrayal of children's logic and behaviors.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy
Douglas Adams
The book follows Arthur Dent, an ordinary Englishman, whose house and planet are about to be demolished.
He is rescued by his friend Ford Prefect, an alien researcher for the 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'.
Together, they embark on a journey through space, encountering various characters such as Zaphod Beeblebrox, the two-headed, three-armed president of the galaxy, Trillian, a human woman, and Marvin, a paranoid android.
The story involves their adventures on the spaceship Heart of Gold, which has an Infinite Improbability Drive, and their quest to understand the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything, which is revealed to be '42'.
The novel is known for its humor, satire, and imaginative storytelling.
The Lord of the Rings
J.R.R Tolkien
The Lord of the Rings, written by J.R. R.
Tolkien, is an epic high fantasy novel set in Middle-earth.
The story follows Frodo Baggins, a hobbit who inherits the One Ring from his uncle Bilbo.
The Ring, forged by Sauron, holds the power to control all other Rings of Power and must be destroyed in the fires of Mount Doom to prevent Sauron's return.
Frodo is joined by a fellowship of other characters, including Gandalf the Grey, Samwise Gamgee, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and Boromir, as they embark on a dangerous quest across Middle-earth.
The novel explores themes of good vs.
evil, the corrupting influence of power, and the struggle between fate and free will.
The Wheel of Time Series
None
Robert Jordan
Brandon Sanderson
The Wheel of Time series is a sprawling epic fantasy that spans 14 main books, plus a prequel.
It follows a diverse cast of characters as they navigate a world where magic is real and an ancient evil threatens to destroy everything.
The series was begun by Robert Jordan and completed by Brandon Sanderson after Jordan's passing.
Mistborn
The Final Empire
Brandon Sanderson
In this epic fantasy, Brandon Sanderson introduces a world called Scadrial, where ash constantly falls from the sky, plants are brown, and supernatural mists cloak the landscape every night.
The story follows Vin, a young half-Skaa orphan with the rare ability to become a Mistborn, and Kelsier, a charismatic thief who recruits Vin to join a group of Allomancers in a high-stakes plan to overthrow the divine despot, the Lord Ruler.
The novel explores themes of rebellion, trust, and the complexities of a well-crafted magical system based on metals.
The world-building is rich and detailed, with a focus on the political intrigue and the harsh realities of a dystopian society.
Save the Cat
Blake Snyder
In 'Save the Cat!', Blake Snyder provides a detailed analysis of the three-act structure and introduces his 15-beat sheet, a method for structuring screenplays.
The book covers key elements such as the Opening Image, Catalyst, Debate, Break into Two, B Story, Fun and Games, Midpoint, Bad Guys Close In, All Is Lost, Dark Night of the Soul, Break into Three, Finale, and Final Image.
Snyder also discusses the importance of making the hero likable through the 'Save the Cat' rule and breaks down successful films to illustrate his points.
The book is widely regarded as a definitive resource for screenwriters, offering practical advice and a clear framework for storytelling.
Ender's Game
None
Orson Scott Card
Set in a future where humanity is threatened by the Formics, an insect-like alien species, the novel follows Ender Wiggin, a child prodigy who is drafted into Battle School at the age of six.
Ender undergoes intense military training, including zero-gravity battles and psychological manipulation, to prepare him to lead the human fleet against the Formics.
The book explores themes of war, leadership, and the moral complexities of using children as soldiers.
It is known for its deep and complex sensibilities, and its ability to pose profound questions about the nature of war and humanity.
Harry Potter
J.K. Rowling
The Harry Potter series, written by J.K.
Rowling, follows the journey of Harry Potter, an orphan boy who discovers he is a wizard.
The series spans seven novels, each corresponding to one year of Harry's life at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Harry, along with his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, navigates the magical world, confronts various challenges, and ultimately faces off against the dark wizard Lord Voldemort, who murdered Harry's parents and seeks to dominate the wizarding world.
The series explores themes of friendship, love, and the struggle between good and evil.
The hero with a thousand faces
Joseph Campbell
In this book, Joseph Campbell explores his theory of the 'monomyth', a universal pattern found in the mythological narratives of various cultures.
He details the stages of the 'hero's journey', which include departure from the ordinary world, initiation into a supernatural world, and return with a boon.
Campbell draws on a wide range of mythological sources and integrates insights from psychology, particularly from Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud, to illustrate the common elements of heroic myths across different cultures.
The Name of the Wind
Patrick Rothfuss
The Name of the Wind is a heroic fantasy novel that tells the life story of Kvothe, an infamous adventurer and musician.
The story is presented in a 'story-within-a-story' format, where Kvothe recounts his life to a scribe named Chronicler.
The narrative spans from Kvothe's childhood in a troupe of traveling performers to his years as a student at a prestigious school of magic, and through various trials and hardships.
The book is renowned for its vivid world-building, rich dialogue, and the emotional depth of its characters.
Welcome back to class! We've arrived at the second part of Brandon's plot theory lectures. In this lecture, we're taking a deep dive into different story structures and how you can use principles from any or all of them to create a framework for your story. From the Hero's Journey to Three Act Structure to Story Circle, you'll get an overview of each famous structure. Let's get started!
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