Summary of Lecture #1: Introduction — Brandon Sanderson on Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy
Brandon Sanderson took over teaching the class "Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy" in 2004, originally started by a professor at BYU in the '80s. He emphasizes the importance of learning the fundamentals of writing, focusing on plot, setting, character, and business aspects. Sanderson encourages aspiring writers to be consistent in their writing habits, aiming for 2,000 words a day or a consistent output to complete a novel. He discusses the dichotomy between discovery writing and outline writing, advising writers to find what works best for them.
Balancing Writing and Personal Life
Sanderson also shares insights on balancing writing with personal life, setting boundaries to prevent writing from taking over completely. He stresses the significance of maintaining relationships while pursuing a writing career, emphasizing understanding and communication with family and friends. Creating a routine that suits individual needs and having a support system to safeguard writing time is crucial. Sanderson discusses the impact of interruptions on the writing process and the importance of a conducive writing environment.
Overcoming Despair and Achieving Success
To overcome the sense of despair in achieving success as a writer, Sanderson advises writers to maintain hope, focus on the quality of their writing, and view finishing a novel as a significant accomplishment. Exploring options like self-publishing or finding a niche fan base can also be beneficial. Seeking advice from other writers and being part of the writing community can provide valuable support. Joining a writing group can offer support, deadlines, and feedback. Sanderson provides guidelines for giving feedback in writing groups, emphasizing being descriptive of emotions, not prescriptive, and starting with what is working before discussing areas for improvement.
writing group
In the class, 15 writers have already been accepted into the writing group, highlighting its value as a tool for writers. Sanderson provides detailed guidelines for effective feedback within these writing groups, emphasizing the importance of constructive criticism and support within the writing community.
Notable Quotes
— 47:50 — « If you finish a novel, you are already in a more select crowd, the most select crowd you could probably be in as a writer, if youre looking at pure divisions of numbers, pure drop-offs between achieving certain goals. »
— 49:54 — « Ask other writers. »
— 49:59 — « Ask other people. »
— 51:43 — « Thats like, you pretend for a semester youre a professional writer, and youre writing as much as that is, and you have to learn to juggle that with all the other things in your life, and its training for that. »
— 54:04 — « And one of the things theyll try to do is theyll try to make your story into the story they would write, instead of a better version of the story you want to write. »
Category
Educational