On Writing With Brandon Sanderson | Full Writing Lectures (2025) Sanderson's Laws of Magic - Brandon Sanderson's Writing Lecture #7 (2025)
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Mar 17, 2025 Dive into the secrets of captivating magic systems with insights on Sanderson's Laws of Magic. Discover the delicate balance between hard and soft magic and how it affects storytelling. Learn about the art of timing magic reveals for emotional impact, illustrated by examples from popular narratives. Reflect on narrative choices and the importance of foreshadowing, while exploring how limitations in magic can enhance character depth. Uncover the craft of satisfying endings that resonate, proving that unexpected twists can still deliver emotional payoffs.
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World-Building in Service of Story
- Focus on strong characters and plots, even if the world-building is weak.
- Prioritize world-building that serves the narrative, not just for its own sake.
Rules of Magic Panel
- Brandon Sanderson recalls a panel where he advocated for magic systems with rules.
- Other panelists, primarily urban fantasy writers, disagreed, prioritizing a sense of wonder and lack of control.
Hard vs. Soft Magic
- Hard magic systems have clear rules readers can learn, while soft magic systems prioritize wonder and horror.
- External logic (like scientific explanations) can enhance a magic system's believability, but internal consistency matters more.