Lecture #5: Worldbuilding Part One — Brandon Sanderson on Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy

Welcome to the fifth lecture of my BYU 2020 creative writing class focused on writing science fiction and fantasy.

Today's class is the first part of my series on worldbuilding.

[Ryan_Thompson_Guitarist]

Author writes 14 novels: You know, I'm something of a writer myself.
Brando Sando writes 14 novels: I'm still new to this

[TheSoly]

It's fantastic that you makes these lectures available on youtube. Thank you very much :)

[moviefiendz]

Brandon's Mom: why not be a doctor?
Brandon: my handwriting will be

[Sophia_Artura]

Masterclass: pay us a LOT and we'll tell you everything you need to know

Brandon ya go youtube :)

[daddyleon]

6:12 "I apologize for my handwriting"
"Aren't you a writer?"
"Yes, but not a handwriter, just a writer"
God bless computers!

[Wafflesaurus]

Responses to WHAT CAN GANDALF DO?
-"Anything."
-"Nobody knows."
-"He can change the color of his clothes."
-"It seems like he can break stone?"

[heylondon]

Sanderson's Laws

1st Your ability to solve problems with magic in a satisfying way is directly proportional to how well the reader understands said magic 6:10

2nd Flaws or limitations are more interesting than powers 39:39

3rd Before adding something new to your magic (or setting in general), see if you can instead expand what you have 1:01:53


0th Always err on the side of what is awesome 1:11:21

[Blizzic]

Brandon Sanderson writing the Mistborn screenplay like: *"Fine, I'll do it myself."*

[joetheperformer]

What can Gandalf do?

"Change the color of his clothes!"

That's hard magic right there.

[PeffeThePofua]

I have never written a book, but i still love the idea of creating your own fictional world and story.

[mayursurpurkar]

*Okay, this class is filled with fans disguised as students.*

[tsilb]

Years and years of watching Cinema Sins on YouTube, and this guy manages to explain Deus Ex Machina in one sentence.

[lawrencekemp]

Speaking on originality, Shakespeare is widely considered the greatest writer the English language has ever known. As I understand it, he wrote not one single original play, but every story he told was a revision of an already popular tale, or an examination of history.

[josefopeda]

Not only is he a fantastic writer, he is also a very good teacher.

[golittleworld]

The groan at 26 minutes when the guy say, "so the end of oathbringer..." LOL

[amybeatty]

Brandon - I have no idea if you read the comments, but just had to tell you this. Maybe whoever monitors the feed will pass it on. While you were writing Sanderson's First Law on the board, my teenage daughter wandered through the room where I was watching. She heard you say that you actually wanted your students to be able to read it this time, so you were going to try to write legibly.

She gave me a funny look and said, "Doesn't he USUALLY want his students to be able to read stuff?"

I said, "Well, he's a little self-conscious about his handwriting. That's all."

She was curious, so she came and lurked over my shoulder to watch you write. About halfway through, she said, "Hey! His handwriting looks like MY handwriting."

"Yes, " I said. "Yes, it does."

And she heaved this huge sigh and straightened her shoulders. "Suddenly, I feel so much less alone, " she said. "And so much less broken."

So thank you for showing off your handwriting to the world, Brandon. Don't let anyone tell you it's "bad." It was VERY good for my daughter to see.

[mayeenmdtasin]

Each time i listen to Brando Sando's lectures, i keep getting all these crazy ideas for my story. Keep trying everyone. We can write that gem.

[always_hiking]

Brandon isn’t just a fantasy author, he’s a fantasy engineer.

[markmadden]

Brandon's such a badass that he can strut around under a 'No food or drinks' sign carrying a water bottle knowing nobody's gonna call him out on it.

[Alihassan]

Damn... He's a really dedicated teacher.