Lecture #2: Plot Part 1 — Brandon Sanderson on Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy

Welcome to the second lecture of my BYU 2020 creative writing class. As you probably surmised from the title of the video, I focus on writing science fiction and fantasy.

This class was the first half of my lecture on plotting and is focused on promises, progress, payoff (twists), and different plot types.

[CosmicApe]

The fact that Jim Butcher asked for the worst idea someone could come up with, then proceeded to write a 6-book series from said idea, is absolutely legendary.

[colmanoreilly]

Thank you for giving this out freely and not holding this behind a "MasterClass" paywall. Journey before destination, Sir. :)

[jackdempsy]

Anyone notice whenever Brandon takes a drink that the camera cuts to wide shot to show him standing under the big sign that’s says absolutely no drinks allowed in the auditorium? Someone is being funny!

[indigicee]

I love how he repeats every question so we can hear it... actually, I just love this whole series

[Vokalplus]

I can't believe this is free. GOLD. Thank you, Brandon.

[TheKrazyLobster]

This man is a treasure in this world. I hope he lives at least a hundred years.

[michaelandrews]

I've just found this series of lectures and I think my favourite thing about Brandon here is, unlike other "tips and tricks videos" he doesn't discourage people using tropes or well-worn frameworks.
He doesn't bash the idea of needing something wholly original and doesn't act as some sort of gatekeeper.
Instead his enthusiasm to see people do *their* thing regardless of where it takes inspiration from is basically infectious and makes me feel like, even if one person reads my work and enjoys it, I've accomplished something.

[brianroecklein]

This perfectly communicates why everyone is upset with the new Star Wars Trilogy. Each set of writers and directors made different promises.

[appledough]

10:33 - What is plot? Why does it work?
11:38 - Promise, Progress, Payoff
Promise: Tone, Genre, Character Arc, Type of Conflict,
18:42 - Character Arc
36:05 - Progress
45:00 - Progress in Umbrella Plot
47:04 - Matching The Right Promises with Progress
52:49 - Summary of Last Few Points
1:00:17 - Payoff

[Brontewelker]

PLOTS
-A book needs to be the mashing of a lot of ideas. You can’t write a book from one idea
-Good setting but bad character =bad book
-Trash or cliche setting but good characters= still ok book
- Try to have a strange attractor aka a spin on a familiar idea, or a mash of two ideas that don’t seem like they might go together. (Heist plus my fair lady = mistbourn)

Promise
- Tone: Indicates the tone and style of story you’re telling. The beginning chapters usually do this. If you want your story to be funny- the start of the story needs to be funny. Thats why the cold open is popular. *Indiana Jones. Don’t start with a kid on the farm if you want action adventure tone promise *Starwars —> that’s why a prologue is popular. Try to avoid the prologue cliche.
- Character Arc: This is how the character is going to change throughout the story. Either how THEY change or their SITUATION changes. Show your character’s desires and what’s preventing them. Could also be showing reader what they know he should want, but the character doesn’t want *Bilbo doesn’t want to go on an adventure*.
- General Plot: Umbrella plot (visible plot), core plot (what your actual progress and payoff is going to be). Core plot could be a romance, but the umbrella plot is “we need to do x, and while we do x we fall in love”. General plot should be the umbrella plot usually. You can be more predictable in your plot than you think as long as your setting is bomb and your characters are really likable.
**Progress
- This is the hardest but most imporant.
- The readers want a “map”, they want to know the direction they are going and the progress they are making through the story. They want to FEEL the progress. They want to see the story building toward something, and they want to find out what that “something” is. Create an illusion for the reader that a steady progress toward an inevitable and exciting goal is happening in the story. Do this by identifying what questions the reader wants answered, that will be the reason they are turning the page.
- If you make a “promise” in the book, but start taking the story in another direction then readers get bored because they feel like they are on a “diversion” from the actual plot. Thats when they get bored. Thats why the progress needs to be cohesive with the promises you make as a writer.
- Starwars Example: Umbrella plot is destroy empire but the reader thinks is actually —> get the plans to the princess. Character arc is Luke trusts the force (secondary character arc of Han becomes less of a jerk). All the scenes should be working toward those goals. Thats good progress.
- When you write a plot make little increments in the plot where you can show you are making headway in the goals. If you are writing a romance, you need to indicate progress is happening, so plot out little points to indicate that is blooming.
- Sometimes you need to nest plots like Umbrella plot —> Character plot —> Sub plot which all gets closed at some point [ie Alderon is destroyed, we can’t take the plans there. New mini sub plot becomes turn off the death star tractor beam and rescue the princess].
- Progress should involve problems arising.

Payoff
- The feeling you leave the reader with when they finish your book. You make good on all your promises.
- Sometimes the final sequences/plot isn’t the original promise. It can be the character growing, plot expands, or along those lines. A lot of readers will have problems with a substitute a lot of times. If you promise them a “toy car” and give them a “toy plane” they won’t like that unless you REALLY convince them that what they really want is the substitute, even though they THOUGHT they wanted the original.
- Pay off should flow naturally with the progress. It should give them everything they were promised at the beginning PLUS something else and new. Give them a toy car AND a plane.

[whakabuti]

It's pretty great that BYU allows for these lectures to be shared online with students outside their university :)

[joaopedroguimaraes]

"Kid on a farm"
Can't stop thinking about Eragon's prologue and first chapter

[depressedcarrot]

Its actually insane that we can hear a lesson from one of the most accomplished authors in the world for free.

[DisturbedFlyer]

It's no wonder that GRRM is taking so long to write his next book. Dude has so many characters and subplots and major plot lines that makes endless promises, needs progress, and payoff that it's like trying to untangle the largest heap of yarn in the world and connect all the pieces properly into a tapestry. I do not envy him.

[smash_adams]

“Don’t start a wacky comedy with a prologue that makes us weep”

*UP has entered the chat*

[ClintLoweTube]

Just got my first manuscript request from Writers House. Watching Brandons vids helped a lot.

[adasisok]

My friends: Beers after work?
Me: Can't. Have class.

[drfpslegend]

Brandon is like the opposite of a gatekeeper when it comes to writing. He chooses to give back his knowledge in the name of bettering the writers of the world and uploading these lectures for fee on youtube instead of keeping his secrets to himself or charging people money to access his lectures. Truly a model for anyone in any field.

[GameMasterToolbox]

This year's classes looks like it's going to be the one with the best sound.

[mhelvens]

I'm not an aspiring writer, but I'm still really enjoying these lectures! When someone is knowledgeable and passionate about a topic, I can usually listen to them for hours. And on top of that, Brandon is a really engaging speaker.