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Hi. Just a rough timestamped breakdown of the stream by question. 00:02:22 From first idea to complete outline, how long does it take you personally to develop your ideas until you feel comfortable writing? Do standard plot structures ever help you in developing your plots? 00:07:58 Which content or subject do you believe is most essential for a fantasy writer to learn prior to writing and why? 00:13:03 I am halfway through the way of kings for the first time and I must say the pacing is delightful. What influences or processes lead you to writing slower but still excellently paced stories? 00:20:50 Would you let Magic the Gathering do a “Stormlight Archive series” expansion? 00:22:56 My favourite sword fight writer is R. A. Salvator. Who do you think writes the best sword fights? 00:24:49 Is there any specific instance where you hid something in one of your books that only other Mormons would recognize? 00:27:36 What books are your children really into right now and what books do you like to read with them? 00:30:55 What kind of pen are you using? [Question fielded in part by Kara.] 00:33:21 [Brandon talks about his signature and socks.] 00:39:07 Sequel to The Rithmatist? 00:42:39 Have you ever written something you regret because it misrepresented your personal values and beliefs? 00:49:55 [An old signature pages show and tell, thanks Emily!] 00:51:47 [ An old White Sand show and tell, thanks again Emily!] 00:54:13 [Brandon talks about some of his early jobs.] 00:56:11 Advice for blank page syndrome? 01:01:44 I just finished the Reckoner series and I was wondering, how did you come up with the story and did you use some kind of database like David or Thea did because of the many powers or weaknesses? [A very long answer that includes the story about driving himself on tour and being late at the airport that he references later.] 01:26:02 What is your favourite character that you have not written? 01:28:50 Would you recommend a new writer start by writing a full novel or would it be better to focus on writing short stories and random chapters, particularly if their goal is to write full length novels? 01:35:40 Does Brandon have a favourite Star Trek show and, if so, why is it The Next Generation? 01:37:34 [This is Isaac, Brandon’s art director and author in his own right.] < Questions With Isaac > 01:45:16 When can we get your book? 01:49:31 How did you get involved with the Osten Ard novels? 01:52:25 [Osten Ard foil map show and tell] 01:54:25 Some people are curious about the video games you worked on? 01:56:32 What is the hardest decision you have had to make as an art director? 01:58:06 How do you and Ben McSweeney collaborate on making illustrations for the Stormlight books? Does Brandon give you the ideas first or do you both come up with your own concepts for the art? [This answer includes a great section about the character Nazh!] 02:03:33 What is the process for you to create a symbol or map for a book? 02:07:39 [About Isaac’s old rock band] 02:11:22 [About collaborative writing in the Cosmere universe including The Girl Who Looked Up, the Cosmere children’s book.] 02:15:43 Do you ever feel the struggle of wanting to make a project and due to the fact that you are multi-talented you want to do all of it or at least be involved in all aspects of the project? 02:18:13 [Brandon talks about the economic principals of absolute and comparative advantage and how this influenced his life.] 02:24:53 [Taln and Rhythm of War unofficially confirmed as the title for Stormlight 4!] < Back To Just Brandon > 02:27:08 Which order of the Radiants would you be in? 02:27:39 Would you like to, one day, own a Black Lotus? < Isaac Returns > 02:28:13 [Taln reveal!] 02:32:32 [About the Herald Paliah.] 02:33:13 What is a piece of art that you have made for the Cosmere that you like but was never used and likely never will be? 02:36:48 Directed at both of you, what does your average day look like? [Brandon’s answer was interrupted by technical difficulties.] 02:41:25 Are we going to see a Cosmere Colouring book? 02:42:48 How about a Cosmere art book? < Back To Just Brandon > 02:43:36 Why does the U.K. get cool different book covers to the U.S. and who decides that and what goes into that process? 02:47:30 How do you unwind from a high-stress day to “take care of yourself” or does your level 75 mood you mentioned last time keep a lot of that stress from effecting you? 02:57:07 What did you think of the lack of a story for the latest Magic the Gathering set? 02:57:42 Would love to hear you talk about the relationship between authors and publishers. What are some trends you are seeing in your revenue breakdown or maybe just trends you are seeing? 03:10:41 Do you read other modern fantasy books, specifically ‘The First Law’ and ‘Lightbringer’? 03:14:01 How do you write an overpowered or powerful character in a way that makes them relatable? I always end up making them the 'tortured hero' trope and they don't seem realistic. 03:17:31 If you were unpublished right now, would you go traditional or self-publishing? 03:24:41 Would you ever consider writing a cyberpunk era for Mistborn? 03:26:06 nowadays it seems that fantasy is replete with filth. I have a hard time finding quality fantasy, so thank you Brandon. What are your thoughts on the trajectory fantasy is heading, where it seems authors are clamouring over each other to each be edgier than the next? 03:30:20 So you've said you play Esper in mtg, the central colour of which is blue. All the shards shown lack blue. Is this intentional, saving the shards you identify with for the latter bits of the Cosmere? 03:32:06 Do you tend to like the audiobooks of your work? 03:32:48 What is your favourite flavour of ice cream? 03:33:43 You say that fantasy can be any genre with dragons, however you have never had dragons in your books. Can you see yourself putting some classical fantasy monsters into your fiction? 03:34:34 How was Perfect State was born and will you revisit the idea? 03:37:02 Are there any non-fiction military book you have read to give you ideas for battle sequences or strategies for your books? 03:38:07 What do you think of the Malazan books? 03:42:57 What children’s book would you recommend as an introduction to deeper reading? 03:45:16 Which book required the most drafts and for what reason, or rather which was the most frustrating for you to write? [With surprise visitors, headphone users beware. This question is returned to later.] < Brandon And Family > 03:45:55 What are your favourite books to read right now? [Asked to Dalin by Brandon.] 03:48:06 Dalin, what is your favourite Minecraft monster? 03:48:43 Olie, what’s your favourite TV show? [Edited by Brandon to, “What RU-vidrs do you watch the most?”] 03:49:22 To both, does your dad have an easy or hard job? < Just Brandon Again > 03:50:23 [Brandon returns to the most revisions on a book question.] 03:52:38 Which fantasy universe would your children wish to visit the most? 03:53:09 Which universe would you want to introduce them to or have them enjoy the most? 03:53:44 Are any of your characters based off real people? If so, could you tell us who? 03:56:16 [Big gong!]
Your mature themes without mature content is one of the biggest selling points. There are very few authors writing epic fantasy like that. You have almost no competition in that sphere so far as I have found.
If you like sword and sorcery, check out Andrew Rowe! His writing style kind of emphasizes emotional intelligence in regards to relationships and character growth. I recommend starting with Sufficiently Advanced Magic
@@ajs7213 Thanks! I just read those a little while ago and had a fun time with them. If I could return the favor, Dawn of Wonder by Jonathan Renshaw is my favorite book outside of the Storm light Archive. I highly recommend it
4:45 I'm 100% convinced that the stormlight archive is a result of Brandon watching the Star Wars prequels and thinking "I'm gonna make my own, better version of the Jedi. They'll have cooler sentient lightsabers and armor."
I think he said in a lecture, that he wanted gigantic swords that made sense and went with fantasy power armor. Because without, how would you wield them or why would you need them?
First 3 books in stormlight were phenomenal. Something different happend with oathbringer. Probably time constraints pressing in far to tight. It was like the characters were locked in place not to be moved.
@Legion James As someone who absolutely adored Way of Kings (It's like my fave fantasy book) and really enjoyed Words of Radience, I agree Oathbringer was a bit of a let down... His first Stormlight book felt really polished because Brandon spent years writing it. I know I'm probably in the minority on this, but Oathbringer felt more like a filler to me...
I find these signings fascinating. I love your generous wealth of knowledge you freely share and the insight to your story's and life. Thank you for all you do.
1:58:08 To Brandon and Isaac, thank you so much for answering my question! And to Adam for picking it out of all the messages in the chat lol It may not seem like a lot, but it really made my day, and getting to hear about Isaac and Ben’s illustration process and the new art of the Radiant spren was so exciting!
You might consider using Streamlabs OBS or OBS (Open Broadcasting Software) for future streams. You could hit 3 of 4 platforms (YT, Twitch and FB) on a single camera. Couple that with Restream IO and you can combine all those chats into a single chat to make getting the questions easier.
I loved hearing your story about wanting to create-your-own major. My alma mater had a "General Studies" program for which students could pick 3 minors and call it a major :) I 100% agree that's a great plan for prospective writers and I think colleges are starting to warm up to the idea!
I always knew of Brandon I didn’t really didn’t read a lot of work and I know he helped finished the wheel of time and I got burn out didn’t read for awhile then got back into it by watching Daniel Greene on RU-vid ..I found that love of reading books again ..two of his books mistborn and way of kings help bring me back to reading when it’s really good ....
I love this! Thank you so much, as always, Brandon! You're the greatest Is there going to be more kinds of content than live streams? Opinions? Scripted vids about interesting topics? Thanks again and I look forward to more!
3:38:07 Thanks for answering my friend's question about Malazan. I'm currently reading Memories of Ice and it has some of the most epic conent I've read in fantasy. I hope more people give it go! Gardens of the Moon was hard to get into at first, but boy people are in for a treat if they stick with it :)
IKR! What's your favourite book in the series? So far my favourite is Memories of Ice because the pacing is so good and so many epic characters in one place.
Yeah memories of ice was great. My personal favorite is midnight tides. Book 5. That book is amazing. Some people say the series gets worse after 3 but couldn't disagree more.
Well what do ya know... My mate says book 5 is his favourite too. I'm really looking forward to reading it now when I eventually get round to it :) They're just so massive though, which is great because they have so much lore in them. The level of worldbuilding really blows my mind.
Brandon there are places where you can combine majors like that. I am an Academic Advisor at a state university and they have a major in "Integrative Studies" which is essentially a "make-your-own" degree.
Lol, I looked up Jane Yolan based on the recommendation in this video. Upon finding them online, I realized that I totally loved the Pit Dragon series when I was a kid and just didn't remember the author's name. I second the recommendation.
00:13:03 This is so cool that I think I have a similar writing style and ethic on chapters as him. I'm just finishing up my first work, which is a 40k word sci-fi 1st person POV novella, and I feel like this is a spot on description. I'm also working on a 100-120k word sci-fi 3rd person multi-POV novel (that's the plan anyway), which is going to do a ton more world building and character development to provide that length. Not sure I could tackle a multi-book arch at this point, but that is always a possibility! Dang... lots of other similarities later on as well. This is very encouraging.
I read signing as singing, then saw the length and nestled in for something operatic. It took me way too long to figure out my mistake. 🤷 It's still Mr. Sanderson 😏😎
I know you said the your anime experience has been so so Brandon, so I’m here to give you some suggestions that I think you’d find very good and don’t have a lot of the tropes associated with anime really. -Vinland Saga -Fullmetal Alchemist -(just type in nen explained in RU-vid since Hunter x Hunter’s power system is the most reminiscent of your’s that I’ve seen anywhere) -Psycho-pass season 1 (yes, only watch the first season) -Made in Abyss -Death Note
There are Animes that deserve best screenplay at the academy awards. enjoyability is subjective but I had to mention : Bakuman, Log Horizon, Tate no Yuusha, Zuko's character arc in Avatar : the last Airbender ( I'm not forgetting Iroh)
Please, please, please go on your rants about the publishing industry and the "science" of how you write. Every time you say that we probably don't care, it sucks because I absolutely love it! I get the balance, but rest assured many love it!!
Pilot G2 is the BEST gel pen you will ever use. The fixer should fix you some. They are jet black and smooth as glass. They will not be spotty etc. Ive used them since 6th grade. I am now 34. They are wonderful
Mistborn ..like a modern day Batman with a utility belt ..love way you can take different things and use it for a power in different ways..love it .so good ...I kind saw Kreisler as Drizzt in a way but I know he ain’t ...
00:33:22 lol, my wife complains about my signature now! It used to be a lot better before I was involved in QA stuff while in the Navy. After you sign your name so many times in a sitting, you start to speed it up and develop something new in order to just get through it quicker.
"Goodkind famously said he didn't read Fantasy before he wrote it" Yeah... his work is also famously derivative, so... I have my doubts as to the accuracy of that statement. He also famously said he doesn't write fantasy, so...
This "I am" in the present tense that God says means He has no beginning. He is since the beginning of time and still will be at the end. I know people who can read the New Testament in the original Greek language and that's their interpretation of it
As a European (Swedish) reader, the very notion of authors going around to stores signing, reading or just selling things seems absolutely unrealistic. Like, is that even a thing? How are you americans even that lucky?
So... in this time of political correctness, when so many things have to be given new names because the old names offend someone somewhere, even "writer's block" managed to offend enough people that it had to be renamed "blank page syndrome"? ;)
Guns Germs and Steel is dead wrong. The book's premise is that people are racist, and the modern world came about from geographical advantage. That supposition is asinine. "The West" grew from Greek reason wedded with Judeo Christian principles.
