Brandon Sanderson 2012 Lectures

The complete video footage of Brandon Sanderson’s 2012 creative writing class at Brigham Young University.

Complete notes generously written by Nicholas Cloud:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/0catetljg2xc5a2/sanderson-intro-scifi-fantasy-2012.pdf

Complete audio generously ripped by Aaron Lee:

http://writeaboutdragons.com/home/wp-content/uploads/audio/

iPod compatible .m4b format

 

Lecture 1

  1. Intro
  2. Ideas are cheap
  3. Class format
  4. Gardeners vs Architects
  5. Writing group essentials

Lecture 2

  1. What makes a good plot
  2. Plots by outlining
  3. Plots by discovery
  4. YA Genres
  5. Adult Genres

Lecture 3

  1. Intro to Prose
  2. First Person Viewpoints
  3. Third Person Viewpoints
  4. Description part 1
  5. Description part 2

Lecture 4

  1. Sympathetic Characters Part 1
  2. Sympathetic Characters Part 2
  3. Show us the Character
  4. Giving Characters a Life Beyond the Plot
  5. Character Creation Example Part 1
  6. Character Creation Example Part 2

Lecture 5

  1. Short Story MasterGuest Lecture 

Lecture 6

  1. Networking Via Conventions 
  2. Some Alternatives to Cons
  3. Meeting Editors and Agents
  4. Three Goals When Meeting Agents
  5. Pitches
  6. Some Questions and Statistics

Lecture 7

  1. A Success Story – Part 1
  2. A Success Story – Part 2
  3. The Three Act Format
  4. Try-Fail Cycles
  5. The Heroes Journey
  6. Brandon’s Plotting Method
Lecture 8
Lecture 9
  1. Misc Questions (1/7)
  2. Thinking of Setting as a Character
  3. World Building Geography Part 1
  4. World Building Geography Part 2
  5. Creating Interesting Nations & Towns
  6. Sanderson’s First Law of Magic
  7. Sanderson’s Second Law of Magic
Lecture 10 (Complete Audio)

 

85 thoughts on “Brandon Sanderson 2012 Lectures”

  1. Thank you for putting these up! I’ve heard Brandon talk about doing this before and it was a great surprise to finally see it happen. If only I could get all the lectures now. This is going to be a very suspenseful month!

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  3. Thanks so much for posting these! I’ve been taking notes diligently.
    I had a couple questions for you:
    When and where were these lectures recorded?
    And, are you a student in the class?

    I look forward to the next set of lessons!

    -Ben

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    • Great questions Ben – I really should make be more explicit in my description about all of these. But anyways, the lectures were recorded this past semester during the months of January through April at Brigham Young University where Brandon teaches creative writing. He only teaches one day a week, so there’s thirteen lectures in total.

      And I used to be one of Brandon’s students (last year to be exact) and was just blown away by how good his lectures were. I plan on keeping writing, but I’m also looking to work in online education so I figured filming the lectures and posting them online would be a good thing to do.

      Site owners don’t do this very often, but I’m curious, what brings you to Brandon’s lectures? Are you also a student? Working professional who loves to write? I have no clue the type of people who are finding this useful.

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      • I’m a working professional who enjoys writing. This site was linked in a yahoo group that I belong to (OWW-SFF: Writing). I’m a big fan of Brandon Sanderson and have enjoyed the lectures so far. I’m eagerly awaiting lectures 4 and 5.

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      • I noticed the comments after bookmarking this site, figured you’d like the input. I am an aspiring writer (non-student), so I guess I technically fit under “working professional who loves to write.” I also follow Brandon on Facebook, and he linked to the intro earlier. I got a lot out of the things he said about writing short stories versus 50k+ novels, as I had been thinking about this lately anyway, so I definitely want to watch the rest of these. Thank you very much for a great resource!

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      • Thanks for answering!
        I came across the videos on YouTube because I was looking for one of the book trailers for Mistborn Brandon mentioned on his blog (I just happen to be a big fan). I find myself watching the videos now because I really want to be an author (I already write, but am always struggling to better my craft). I found out about Brandon through Writing Excuses, which I found through NaNoWriMo a couple years ago. Now I write Speculative Fiction (I call myself a Literary Fiction ex-patriot ;) ) almost exclusively.
        I’m doing a Podcast of my own called the First Million Words where my co-host and I seek out authors for writing advice (we have Dan Wells scheduled for August). We’ll be mentioning your site on the next episode that comes out this Thursday night (04/26). Keep up the good work; can’t wait to graduate!

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      • I’m a working technical writer who writes fiction on the side, mostly unpublished to date. I’m always looking for that one little thing – the idea I haven’t had, the look at things from another viewpoint , the insight into the reader’s mind, whatever – that I don’t have yet. (There are a lot of those “one little things” as it turns out. :) )

        Brandon looks to be an excellent teacher, and I’ve really enjoyed (and gotten quite a bit from) the lectures posted thus far. Moar, Pleez! :)

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      • I’m also a working professional who is also trying to write on the side. I ran across this while looking at author interviews on YouTube. As Brandon is an author I follow I am very interested in hearing more of his lectures. I already follow his podcast but hearing his lectures is interesting on its own.

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      • I’ve been listening to Writing Excuses for awhile now and happened to be browsing Brandon’s blog where he posted a link. I’m not a student, but always looking to improve my writing.

        Thanks for posting these.

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      • I’m a working professional who wants to be a writer, too.
        Got here thanks to a youtube link that Brandon posted on his Facebook page.

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      • I am a thirty-year old guy that’s never been able to take a writing class, due to getting married at a ridiculously young age. I started working full-time when I was 16 and have ever since, so college wasn’t an option for me. Over the years I’ve looked for writing courses, but either none appealed to me, or they wanted thirty-thousand dollars for an online course with little interaction with an actual teacher/professor.

        I’ve been reading WoT since I was thirteen, so naturally when Brandon picked up the ball I also checked out his work, and have since read everything he’s written at least twice, barring his MG books. So, since I follow him on twitter/Facebook, I saw him post about this a few weeks ago. That day and the next night I watched all of the lectures that were then available. Being a writer is what I dream about. I have so many cheap ideas in my head and stories that are begging to be told, but I need skill.

        So, thanks to you, today while I’m driving a truck around the suburbs for eight hours I’ll get to listen to these lectures, and tonight when I get home to pound out chapter three of my WIP, I know it will be just that much better.

        =)

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        • I’ve been told I’m not very professional, and since I’m a government employee, I suppose I’m not working either.

          My first novel launches this August (it’s about time), but when my friend showed me this site and these lectures, I grabbed them.

          I started in sci-fi (how cliche!), began branching into fantasy, and will be published in chick lit (my what twisted paths we wander!).

          Though I haven’t hit my million words yet, my mid-to-long range goal is to follow in the footsteps of those who were able to make enough money from their writing skills that they could toss the day job.

          I guess the fact that the odds are stacked against me makes it all that much more fun. Who knows: it may be a million to one that anyone would become a best seller, but you know, I never was good at statistics. ;)

          I’m happy to be here. :)

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      • I’m a big fan of Brandon’s books and I mainly watch these because I wanted a “behind the seines” look at the author’s thought process. Now that I have watched them, I may be inspired to write something someday.

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  5. Faaabulous!

    This is awesome!
    Totally watching all of these.
    (Is it just me, or in the beginning of the intro is that kid checking his Gmail?)

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  10. I love this. I think this along with the Writing Excuses and just general practice will really help me out. Thanks for posting these.

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  12. Just wanted to let you know I appreciate you putting this up and that I’m fallowing it… you should set up an opt in form for your updates. It’s a good idea – Good Luck

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  13. Just wanted to let you like many others, that this is awesome. What you’re doing is really cool, and appreciated. I will be constantly checking the progress of this site as I watch the lectures. I am a college student studying writing and am in the progress of writing my first book. (goal of three by the end of senior year) Maybe I could ‘study abroad’ at BYU to take this class, assuming he teaches it every semester.

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  15. These are fantastic. Can we set a group or something up for online students who wish to follow along with the classwork?

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    • This is a great idea K.K.. What do you think about a Google group? That way you can discuss the lectures as a class and then split into little writing groups via email.

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      • I think that’s a great idea and was just thinking while going through lecture 2 yesterday that I needed to figure out some way to have a writing group…If we can launch off from this site and get something going that would be excellent, but we might need some assistance getting it pulled together. Perhaps Brandon could give a little assistance via Facebook/Twitter? Otherwise we’ll end up with like 3 or 4 people, with only 1 or 2 of us actually keeping pace.

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      • Hey Mr. Site Runner Guy!! Think you can hook us up with a little Brandon Sanderson feedback if we put together our own LJ crit group?

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        • Hey K.K. Sorry man but I doubt it. We might be able to do some sort of writing contest where Brandon would critique the top 3 submissions or something but even that is iffy. He is, as we all know, a very busy man.

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          • You’re totally right about that. But how to approach him…? I’ll broach the subject tactfully via twitter…

          • I’m so down for a writing class that I’m afraid of stepping on my own head. If you know what I mean.

          • I’m thinking my post here may not have taken, unless it pops up at some point, but personally I’d be very interested in a class like this.

  16. I teach a creative writing class at a special ed high school, and I am currently rewriting my curriculum to include most of these clips. Thus far my students LOVE them! It’s much easier to teach certain concepts if I can show them that a highly successful writer like Brandon Sanderson uses them!

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  19. Im a student but there are no classes for Creative Writing where i am, which is all i really want to do, this has been a huge help in my writing and in inspiring me to keep writing! thank you very much!

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  20. Thanks so much for posting these, I really hope to see more. Seriously, this has been more engaging to me than most regular forms of entertainment. I’m not a writer myself, but as an avid fantasy reader and Brandon fan it was fascinating to listen to.

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  22. These are awesome. I listened to all the writing excuses podcasts and bought the Mistborn books just because of these lectures. Thanks for uploading.

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  23. I haven’t been able to watch a single lecture all the way through yet, and it’s driving me nuts! I’m very much looking forward to the email group :D .

    Thank you for posting these!

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  25. Mighty kind of you to share this with the rest of us! Living in Germany, I’ve always been a little jealous of those who get the privilege to learn from some of the greatest fantasy authors writing today (who are mostly British and American). Since lectures like this aren’t available where I live, I’m hugely grateful that you decided to upload them :)

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  26. What will the Google writing class entail? It looks interesting, and I’m very serious about improving my writing skills and getting published.

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  27. Just another note of thanks (from Canada this time!) for uploading these lectures. I have learnt much watching them.

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    • I too hate searching blindly inside a website for the information I seek. :) Lecture 5 and 6 just got posted.

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  32. Hey, have you guys stopped posting the lectures or is it holidays or something?
    Thanks very much for posting these, they are great and very helpful. Looking forward to the next installment of lecture 8.

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  33. Among the best to convey, i’m sure this website is top notch. You cash in on great aspects i srtongly argree using. I will be bookmarking this blog to get revised positions and additionally reviews. Thanks ! benefit.

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    • So I don’t sound to whiny, I just want to say that I greatly appreciate you and Brandon doing this, I wouldn’t have access to this kind of information as easily or affordable without you

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      • Don’t worry Chris. I too prefer viewing my videos outside of YouTube, most likely because I YouTube just “feels” like a place for cute chipmunk videos, and stuff like that, not lectures like this. I am on it man and it shall be done this weekend.

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  35. Just want to thank you for putting up these videos. It’s helped me tremendously with my own writing, and I’m not sure what I’d do without them. Again, THANK YOU!

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  37. Hi there! I’m an aspiring writer from Sweden, although educated and working as an electronics engineer. Guess I´m one of those who has spent ten years on their “great novel” but I’m actually only three chapters away from “finishing” the last out of three books. I know that chances are small of getting my trilogy published but writing them has been a very good lesson and I have tons of new ideas that I will use in my next book and the one after that. I just can’t stop writing now, it’s taking over. A friend of mine gave me the tip that Brandon Sanderson had these online lectures so here I am and I love them, as I do love Brandons writing (although it took his WOT-gig to make me discover him, starting with Elantris). These posts are really gonna help me in developing my own writing and give me a very useful tool-set to be more efficient at it. Thanks a lot for sharing this!

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  39. Just wanted to say thanks a lot for posting these. As a writer who lacks the funding for the proper schooling, these videos have been gold. Much thanks to Brandon and you for recording/posting these lectures.

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  41. I just wanted to say thank you to Brandon Sanderson for publishing this online. You give out so much helpful information without ever trying to say this is the one way to do write. I am learning so much by watching these lectures. Thank you!!

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  42. I am a brand new fan to Brandon Sanderson. I’m about halfway into The Way of Kings, and have not yet started the Wheel of Time series Brandon is finishing. I saw him on The Story Board ran by Patrick Rothfuss (also a new fan) and Geek and Sundry. I have just enjoyed what they had to talk about there and it is so inspiring to get to know these authors. Hopefully I’ll join them someday!

    I am a professional who enjoys writing, and would LOVE to be JUST a writer, but that’s a tough nook to get into. Thank you for posting these, and know that I will watch all of these more than once.

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  45. I missed out on the summer writing group project, but I’m still very grateful to have found these videos. They have been extremely helpful. If this site decides on another online writing group, I would love to take part in it.

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  46. Hi!
    I found this lectures on youtube by searching ‘creative writing lectures’. I can’t tell you how grateful I am to you for putting up those lectures. I am a doctor in the UK who actually dreams of becoming a full time writer. However, because of work, I’m not able to make time to attend creative writing courses so have never attended one.

    I found these lectures two days ago and have had them one all the time I’m at home -even when I’m asleep (hoping for learning by osmosis!). I’ve already gotten such great ideas for my WIP that may take me out of a massive block I’ve been in for nearly six months.

    So thank you and thanks to Brandon. It’s been a great way to kick off my new year :)

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  47. Thank you so much for publishing these great lectures online! Lots of useful stuff (still something new after having read several books on writing) and fun to watch. Unfortunately they don’t really offer lectures like these in my country.

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  48. I cant seem to find a way to contact the site Admin but I have converted all of the lectures to MP3 and would like to get them to you so you can share them with everyone. Let me know the best way to do that.

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    • I’m not a very good as a website admin Calmik :( But that would be sweet if you could get those to me Calmik. I’ve been meaning to do so for a long time now but haven’t gotten around to it. Sending the files by email probably isn’t possible so maybe you could just put them all in one folder, zip it up, and then share a download link to dropbox or something? Also, it’s best to email me at Scott@writeaboutdragons.com

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      • i would also like all of these to put on my ipod. Did you get these scott, and if so, can i get them? If not, calmik, can you get these to me? Dropbox? or something else you use?

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        • They’re not up yet but I’ll be making a page soon that will allow you to download them, maybe just a public dropbox folder.

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          • This would be amazing! I’d love to know how to get those MP3s. That would mean I could listen on my iPod, in the car, etc…. Thanks for doing this! I attended Brandon’s class a couple of years but it’s always great to get a refresher.

  49. I’m a self published children’s fantasy author who runs a YA novel workshop and I’d like to know if I am allowed to share these lectures with anyone from my group who could benefit from them? These are fantastic! Thank you so much for sharing these :)

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  51. Thank you, so much. Both for this and for our summer class. Absolutely amazing gift you’ve given us!

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  52. Thanks again for getting the audio up! I’m going to download and add to my phone for listening on my commute. A great way to get a lot of the knowledge embedded deep in the subconscious.

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  53. Howdy, There’s no doubt that your blog could possibly be having internet browser compatibility issues. When I take a look at your website in Safari, it looks fine however when opening in I.E., it has some overlapping issues. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other than that, great blog!

    Reply ↓

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