Brandon Sanderson, a prolific fantasy author known for works like Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive, shares insights into his writing journey and the creative process. He discusses the importance of passion and persistence, revealing how he overcame initial struggles and found joy in writing. The conversation covers balancing creativity with structure, the complexities of striving for bestseller status, and practical tools for crafting stories. Sanderson also emphasizes making work fun, encouraging writers to align their creative pursuits with their true passions.
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13 Novels Before Success
Brandon Sanderson wrote 13 novels before achieving his first sale.
He sold his sixth novel at 28, marking his official career start.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Focus on Fulfillment
Embrace writing as a fulfilling activity, even without initial market success.
Be prepared for writing to be a hobby, not a career, for stability.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Exploring Passions
Explore diverse activities to identify fulfilling work, like serving others or problem-solving.
Consider programming if you like writing, as they share similar problem-solving skills.
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The Wheels of Time is a novel by Florence L. Barclay that explores themes within the confines of domestic life. The story is a prequel to her other notable work, 'The Rosary', and features characters like Dr. Deryck Brand. It is known for its touching and emotionally engaging narrative.
Elantris
Brandon Sanderson
Elantris is Brandon Sanderson's debut novel, set in the world of Arelon and Teod. The story follows Prince Raoden, who is transformed into an Elantrian by the mysterious curse known as the Shaod. Elantrians, once godlike beings with magical abilities, are now cursed to live in a state of perpetual pain and decay within the city of Elantris. Raoden, along with Princess Sarene of Teod, who arrives in Arelon for a marriage of state, works to uncover the secrets of Elantris and restore its magic. The novel also involves Gyorn Hrathen, a high-ranking priest of the Derethi religion, who seeks to convert Arelon to his faith. The story explores themes of redemption, power, and the struggle against oppressive forces, culminating in a dramatic resolution that restores the city's magic and saves the kingdoms from destruction[1][2][5].
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.
Stormlight Archive
Brandon Sanderson
Brandon Sanderson is my favourite author of all time. He writes incredible fantasy books, including Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive, and wrote the final 3 books of The Wheel of Time. Brandon's output is legendary - he writes books almost faster than we can read them, and he teaches creative writing at Brigham Young University. I recorded this episode with Brandon as a live stream during the 2020 lockdown, and because it was one of my favourites I wanted to share it with you again as a bonus episode.
In the conversation, we discuss how he kept going when his writing wasn’t being read, the question of originality and how we can make the stuff we need to do (work) more fun. Enjoy!
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