Weird Feedback We Get-Ep.11 of Intentionally Blank
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- čas přidán 3. 07. 2024
- In this week's episode of Intentionally Blank, Brandon and Dan talk about some of the weird feedback they’ve received and how it should be responded to.
You can join the discussion and vote for your favorite podcast title at r/sanderson: / sanderson
Can be listened to almost everywhere podcasts can be found.
Produced by Adam Horne
Sound engineering and editing by Daniel Thompson - Zábava
I have almost written you so many times to show my appreciation for your depiction of people with morals, ideals, and religious beliefs that I know are so different than your own. I am one of those people and the respect you show in your writing always impresses me as I fear that if I were to write a novel I would have a hard time doing the same. Your books show that characters can have immense depth and be very realistic without having interactions on screen that wouldn’t be consistent with your own belief system.
It is my honor. Thanks for the kind words.
this is so interesting. When martin wrote asoiaf in 1998 people told him to write epic fantasy and not grimdark because everyone wrote epic fantasy. Later sanderson had the same thing happen to him in reverse.
It kind of demonstrates the folly of trying to chase the market, eh?
@@BrandSanderson OMG brando sando responds to comments now? Or is this Adam / an assistant / someone else?
@@etluxaeterna Your perception determines your reality, so let’s just go with it being Brandon. 😆
Heeeeey Brandon Sanderson RESPONDED TO MY COMMEEEENT.
I'LL FRAME THIS😂😂😂
@@vespasw yeahhhh after hearing the new video where Brandon says he doesn't even read fanmail anymore and Adam and co have to read it cus he's way too busy, I'm pretty positive this is definitely not Brandon himself replying
I think the "amazing book buuuuuuut..." often comes from the angle of "it's so good, I don't see how you could not see all the good things about it, so the only thing worth going into detail about are the bad things"
it could also be that the perceived faults create even greater contrast with the perceived perfection/greatness, but discussions framed as faults v greatness would probably generate more negative reactions.
another possibility is any perceived juxtaposition, which when discussing these things with other fans whose perspectives differ, could almost be like experiencing the media again with new eyes
That's exactly what I think
I remember a couple of observations in Mistborn that made me think 'Oh, you can tell this writer's an atheist' (I'm an atheist myself). When I found out I was wrong, my appreciation of the books went up a notch.
I actually had the same assumption when I read Mist Born. It had Atheist vibes.
I remember reading stormlight and thinking.. bruh the religious influences are in so many parts of the book.
"Intentionally Blank, with Brandon and Dan" I like that.
I would like you to know how much I appreciate the way you treat Dalinar & Novani. Couples who are middle-aged & older are so rarely portrayed as romantic & genuinely attracted to each other. So thanks!
Brandon: I can't write grim dark.
Me: Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell is one of my favorite things you written!
It is so so good. I will always have bittersweet memories for that one because I listened to it on my last day with our dog before we had to put him to sleep, but somehow (unintentionally) it was was really fitting.
It's quite dark, but it's not grimdark. I love that one too.
Yes! I think would be a fabulous movie
I consider it dark fantasy, but honestly, can't say I could define the distinction. That is the story I wrote specifically for GRRM, though.
@@BrandSanderson To me, dark is when the story has heavy content and themes, whereas grimdark is when the story weaponizes those elements to make you sorry you're alive. If the story engine is curiosity or wonder, then it makes you happy to be alive to experience it, so it can't be grimdark. Grimdark is the meaningless sorrow, and catharsis (if any) is obtained through anti-sublime.
I feel like Brandon is just always signing things…even in his sleep.
His hand just keeps doing that movement, whether there's a pen in it or not, a'la Charlie Chaplin in _Modern Times._
I just pretty much died laughing with your comment.
I just assumed that's when he was writing
Thanks for still going with this podcast, especially the video element-it adds a lot. These episodes certainly make a workout much more bearable.
"... and I never have to write another word ever." Goodness, could such a hell actually exist where Brandon never writes another novel?!
No, no it doesn't. It is actually a blessing that he doesn't _have to_ write another novel, because that means he can write (and do) whatever he feels like, and don't care about publisher's preferences.
@@guillermorelobalopez7553 I am talking about an alternate reality where Brandon doesn't write anything else, not the real reality where he continues to write even though he doesn't have to. Imagine a world where Brandon never wrote a word after Words of Radiance. Sure, very nice for him to be able to retire to Hawaii, but I would not pick that reality to live in.
@@RobertKaucher Well, hopefully in that reality Sir Terry Pratchett is still with us. Or I don't think I could handle that.
Edit: Now I'm wondering which reality would I prefer. I'll have to go with the alternate reality but only because I'd want my favorite authors to be alive and well even if they refuse to write more books.
If Brandon tired to write a book with zero words, it would have 100,000 words.
Love the religion talk! I understand why you would want to refrain from going too deep into it, but as someone who doesn’t share your religion (assuming I’m correct you’re Mormon), I thought it was great
Thanks! This is helpful to hear.
Brandon, I want to echo this viewer’s comments. I personally have long struggled with the faith I was brought up with and the value it gave me versus my current beliefs. Suffice it to say the religious brooding of characters in Elantris and Mistborn struck a chord with me, and it’s great to hear the author elaborate on how faith ties into the writing process.
I think this is the first I have heard the formal “digital demons” argument in terms of justifying fictional violence. Great stuff!
I agree! I think it's worth pointing out that on the other side of the fence, so to speak (as a nonbeliever), it can also be really interesting to hear thoughtful believers talk about their religion and their relationship to it. I at least find that fascinating and equally helpful in treating people as who they are and not as caricatures of an ideology.
@@BrandSanderson as someone who was raised Mormon and left the faith, seeing you talk about how you think about it is great. I love you how you treat religion in your books and I love to see your real world insight that goes into it.
Just a quick shout out that I think it's awesome how you treat romance writers with the same respect as other writers, and don't just dismiss them out of hand because they write "smut" or whatever.
I now wonder what would be the titles of Bradon's books if they were japanese light novels...
I've got one for Well of Ascension: My Boyfriend Became the Emperor But His Insane Half-Brother Wants Me to Break Up with Him?!?
I'd hate to see the ones for the stormlight books where there's three or more semi equally prominent plots going at once XD
@@notthis9586 light novels usually have a lot of plot lines going concurrently, and the title only focus on the most superficial one... it's kinda like clickbait in a way
@@KalleVilenius that was a really good one... I want to try it now too... what about "That time I went from a disposable slave to a super powered hero" for The Way of Kings?
@@warwizard1309 This but they also have to be a Ketek that will also be another Ketek when combined with the rest of the series
For the past few years I've been struggling to believe In my own fantasy story concept and made little headway. Since finding you as an author and the amount you give back to the community, I found it so inspiring and feel like I am learning so much from reading and listening to talk. I have probably made more headway in the past few months than I have in the past few years.
Thank you for everything you do
It us my pleasure. Keep going!
A Sanderson typo! Only in Unintentionally blank!😜
“I would put money down that these are from our same religion.”
As a Mormon, I found that line funny on a few levels. XD
I'm a little bit proud that I've read 5 of the John Wayne Clever books before I knew who Brandon Sanderson is. Now I'm reading Mistborn and enjoying this two legends work
Dan looks like Chris Evans.
I love Brandon. Other than being an awesome author, he is the best novel writing teacher. I can’t wait for the next installment of classes.
Holy crap he does. I would never have noticed that on my own 😂
It feels like I have two cool, long lost uncles giving me professional advice for when/if I become published as an author.
This episode took a turn from prior recordings. Perhaps this was therapeutic for both authors to address issues with fandom and how the stories they tell are recieved.
First time here and enjoyed the honesty of how you two handle good and bad experiences.
Hey, i just wanted to say thank you to everyone involved in making this podcast and keeping it going every time! I usually watch it at 4am while getting ready for work (which is why i haven't commented before, cause my hands be busy and my brain still dreamy) and having you guys here with me feels like my childhood breakfast listening to my parents chat. It really helps me start my day with a smile on my face.
Also i absolutely apply for the job of fan mail sorter! We get these categories: purely positive, constructive feedback, negative, emotional and traumatic. And maybe another category for fun and imaginative!
Brandon, I wrote this in an email for your content a few months back and I am going to summarize it here. Your practical, nuanced, approach really saved me from just wafting away. Especially your metrics of tracking progress. Seeing I was only 50 days away from finishing my first draft made me sore.
I read Stephen King's memoirs, I listened to lectures, I wrote and played DnD for my friends all the time. But it was just hear you speak so honestly that helped me pick up the pen (or rather hit the keys) with confidence once more. Thank you.
Thank you for having this conversation. As a person in your culture, and an aspiring writer it's something I have also struggled with. Balancing the responsibility of a writer to depict life and good people outside of my belief system with my responsibility to be a "good example" and put good out into the world is still something I hum and haw over. It's comforting and eye opening to hear two successful writers and great storytellers discuss this.
Going through and watching a ton of your videos post secret project kickstarter, very entertaining!
As an former adherent to the LDS faith (born in the covenant), I feel like you handle the belief systems of your characters extremely well. Reading about people struggling with what to believe and amending their beliefs based on personal experiences (eg Dalinar) is very refreshing to me, and I feel like you write their faith journeys extremely well. I also truly appreciate that you include characters who's life choices are contrary to your own beliefs (Drehy), and have the characters of your stories support the others' choices (Sazed vs everyone, including himself). And I can't leave out my appreciation for your depictions of repressed peoples fighting for their the betterment of their society, highlighting how wrong these oppressive cultures are.
Keep on keeping on man! I'm caught up on stormlight, on book 3 of mistborn, and am looking forward to reading the rest of your published works :)
One of my favorite things about reading is experiencing different "people" and points of view. You can read books, both fictional or non, and it gives you a deeper perspective of how other people live and think. I love that you said you try and write your characters how they would realisticly act despite what you may personally believe because really that is just how life is (I mean there are obviously always the bad characters that you probably wouldn't agree with morally that you write but I'm talking about the good ones). And I think your stories do a great job of this.
Appreciate this talk. Thank you two guys for doing this.
As a young Christian woman who loves fantasy I am very thankful for how you write your books. There was a time when I started to grow really close to the Lord that I was getting really tired of having to skip large chunks of a book due to explicit sex scenes. I was very close to giving up on any newer fantasy books until someone from my church recommended your books and I fell in love. I am extremely thankful that your books aren’t explicit and more then that I’m so thankful that you share these wonderful worlds and amazing stories with the world.
I found your Stormlight Archive only a year ago. You have reignited that fire in my heart; you have rekindled my love for writing and literature. I was having trouble finding a modern author to enjoy, and just as I was about to give up, an acquaintance of mine lent me a Brandon Sanderson book.
I must say it is absolutely fascinating to hear you two talk about your religion. I thought you deliberately avoided talking about it, yet suddenly I find a pretty deep dive into a specific aspect of it, not just from Sanderson himself, but another Mormon too!
I have always been curious about how your own moral beliefs affect your writing and the aspects I feel are being portrayed as positives that one would imagine conflicts with your personal views.
I must really thank you for opening up about this, cause it was really interesting and something I thought I would never get to hear about in such detail.
Appreciate the link, and the podcast, thanks!
This was a very interesting conversation. Being a former manager of Barnes&Noble for 5 years, in the USA, when a customer brought back a book and gave their reasons why they didn't like it, I would help them and not turn them away. With receipt, I would either refund their money, give a gift card for the amount of the book, or they could go pick a different book out. Without receipt it was gift card or a different book.
I love the video piece to the podcast. Please continue!
4:51 OMG It is in words!! I been wondering, why my prodictivity drops when I don't have an audience. I thought I was selfish and needed to show off or that I just needed company. But this!!! I think this is it!
Great episode! I love the video format
The idea of sitting down and writing an email to an author is wild to me. The presumption that my opinion is that important that I have to write them directly? Baffling.
First time checking out the podcast. I freaking love it! This was a fun listen
If you end up going through the backcatalog of podcasts, you should also check out Live Signing Session #28. With all the movie talk, it’s basically another episode of the podcast - but much longer!
Really glad you guys talked about this. I recently put up a story I wrote for feedback on a website, and after a while I removed it because I was constantly getting critiques in my email when I had already gotten all the feedback I wanted. I was feeling bad, because aren't authors supposed to always be able to take criticism? Glad to hear two famous authors don't feel a need to hear each and every criticism.
It's so interesting to see 2 mormon writers discussing what they think is appropriate to write in terms of intimacy and religion. This was very helpful to me particularly, so thank you so much!
Mormons aren't Christian
@@TomorrowWeLive ok. I fixed it
@@TomorrowWeLive we definitely are
Yeah, Mormons definitely fall under the Christian umbrella
Correct, it's even in the name: The church of **Jesus Christ** of Latter Day Saints
It is a nontrinitarian Christian church, but still believes that "that Jesus is the Christ, whose coming as the Messiah was prophesied in the Hebrew Bible (called the Old Testament in Christianity) and chronicled in the New Testament." thank you, wikipedia
Dan, I listened to Ghost Station about a month ago and I absolutely loved it. 5/5 Stars, thank you for writing it.
BUT....
I really like Brandon's perspective on the acceptability of violence in media being different from sex. The common idea that violence is accepted and sex isn't as hypocritical always bothers me and I'm glad that I'm not the only one. My own perspective tends to deal on the fact that sex is something that is apart of most people's lives and as such is much more "real" to the audience than violence is, but Brandon's more religious take is also one that I fundamentally agree with.
I just found this, and I absolutely love it.
I'm an LDS writer/artist myself, and I've felt obligated in years past to have the heroes live our beliefs in my work, regardless of whether or not it fit the setting, not to mention guilt for even writing profanity. It's gotten better over the years as I've come to realize and accept that I don't want to write stories that can be shared in Sunday School, I feel like garbage if I'm censoring myself for people who wouldn't like my work anyway, and I've gotten sick of being told what I can and can't portray in fiction, regardless of who's telling me.
One of the bigger developments in the past couple of years is that I'm writing a character who's waiting for marriage to have sex. Why is that a development? Because for once I'm writing a character that way because I choose to do so and it makes sense for the character, not out of guilt. Other heroes have differing standards, and they're no better or worse because of it.
So, thanks for addressing that topic. I've been on the lookout for LDS creators who've dealt with that kind of thing.
28:25 Copper Feruchemy is high on my list of thing I would want, because then I could store my memory of a book AND read it a second first time!
Thanks for this conversation. As a fellow member of the same religion, I often feel bad about the types of games I’m willing to let my son play. It wasn’t until I met another “gamer” dad at church who lets his similar age son play similar titles, that I started feeling less judged about it. Diablo 3 is about as far as I’ve played with him, but most other parents would think I was wrong to do so. I don’t think violent video games leads to violent children, either. Thanks for voicing that side of the argument.
I had a discussion with my step father when I was a child.
At the time I was 12: I think, and very in to gaming.
At that time the game was Diablo II. And he got a hissy fit when I installed it on the computer.
He said it was for devil worshipers 🤦🏻♀️.
It was all about defeating it.
Either way... I don't think a game like that would move a child to become a bad person for playing those games. It's on the parent to explain that it's fantasy, and the kids are smart and more than you think.
That was the game I played the most before getting bored, the prohibition give to it a delight extra. Only for the thrill.
I appreciate you guys. Definitely gotta start watching/listen to more of this podcast.
As someone who is of your faith, I love the way you approach intimacy in your books. I love the fade-to-black approach, I can fill it in, and I still know exactly what's going on in the scene. It would be weird if every character in the books had the same beliefs that I do, and acted the way I would act. I do not feel like it upsets God for me to read other people living how they live, while I live how I live.
That was a really really nice podcast, dear Brandon and Dan. One of my favorite, I must say !
Now, let me tell you about what I didn't like about it.
These are awesome, can we have these put into a playlist for the channel? To find them easier?
Hello! Here from Argentina, English is my second language so I will start apologizing if there are mistakes. Autocorrector can only go so far.
First of all I want to say to you that your books are awesome.
So much that I pay the insane taxes to buy in dollars so I can read them as soon as are available.
You are the only one that I know that writes consistently very good books, long enough to last me at least one week. Lol.
On second hand, I adore this podcasts, they make my job so much easier.
It would be out of this world if you make more clases about writing.
Also it is great that you speak so clearly. I'm mostly used to the robot voice of the phone and it's a little difficult to understand some people, but not you.
I also appreciate that you while religious don't try to preach in your books, that is something that breaks my enjoyment of any book.
So if you some time travel here I will be the crazy one talking theories and giving lessons for free of how a mate is served.
Saludos!!!
I loved this episode - especially what Brandon said about what he lets his children watch " what is ok for me to watch is ok for them to watch"
I agree with this wholeheartedly - if my children are to follow my example, then all I do should be good and moral.
Of the books I've read from Brandon, I've enjoyed them all.
I haven't read any of Dan's yet, but I just bought I Am Not a Serial Killer and plan to start it soon.
Am I the only one two thinks "Intentionally Blank" actually sounds really cool and should be here to stay?
I'm pretty sure at this point it's here to stay, and coming up with a title each episode is just a joke. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if that was their plan from the beginning.
@desertrosereads Brandon has mentioned several times in other streams that he's still looking for a name for the podcast. I just wanted to see if other people liked the interim title as much as I did
This was awesome!!!
Awww... Dan, I enjoyed Ghost Station! Got lost on the codes due to the audio book format and my own issues. I hope more people find it and enjoy it for you.
I'm sure it would get old eventually, but I actually love people saying they love my book and then ripping into it. Maybe that's because my mom shows love through criticism? Don't know. I just think if you love something, you're super invested in it, and if you spend a lot of time writing your ideas about how it could be better, it's because you really care--and that is really touching to me. It's a huge compliment to dream that my book could somehow be your ideal book... if I tweaked a half a dozen things.
Your writing and podcast/youtube material has changed my life. I love your characters... I love how you were able to take the reins of the WOT legacy and help finish it off. BUT... ;) What advice do you have for someone who says they've always wanted to write full time but now, at 48 years old, is still having difficulty committing due to day job issues and a fear of failure? Also: As a Canadian, I love maple syrup.
I have to say, Brandon. I really like your books, but I have nothing else to say
The fact that you can respectfully and maturely discuss things that are not necessarily within your own beliefs doesn't make you a hypocrite, nor does it mean that you condone them. It means that you're an intelligent, nuanced, and complete human being. And your audience appreciates it.
When you see the evolution of his thinking on the topic, he will end up a full-blown atheist by the end of his life. (Even if he never advertises it publicly)
Brandon should have done the prank call trick where you have 2 different places in one call and sit silent while they argue on those two emails where they wanted less and more intimacy lmao.
That service you talked about near the end was a subject of a South Park episode 😂 (Safe space or something)
I enjoyed the discussion but . . . :)
Lust is to adultery what hate is to murder. We'll see this in the world regardless of how well we shelter ourselves unless we find that the best way to live life is through willful ignorance. I enjoy your stories and I appreciate that you allow them to unfold honestly. The world, believers or not, needs more of that.
I understand about the serial killer with magic argument. But I had a experience with a Stephen king novel. I don't remember the name one of his newer c tier books. And I knew going into it it would be magic. But the first half got me a man murders a child and leaves DNA. But there's very solid proof he was in another town. It can't be denied. How did he kill the child? That was such a perfect mystery. And then it fell apart hard on the second half when the boogie man was introduced. It got me so bad after I finish my fantasy novel I'm writing that book with a proper end.
32:45 IMO, that's because it's played as a comic relief rather than an intimate moment to be taken seriously. It's seen and then laughed at. People with our same cultural background are more accustomed to suggestive content in early 2000s PG-13 comedies than they are to depictions of intimacy, regardless of marital status.
For me personally, it has a little to do with which character's head I'm in at the time. I felt awkward during all of the scenes mentioned, but the strongest for me was in Well of Ascension during one of Straff Venture's perspectives. There was a particular line that bugged me enough that I actually decided to quit Mistborn, despite loving the rest of what I had read. I actually got back into it since then, since my sister checked The Hero of Ages out from the library and Staff Venture wasn't in it. I've even reread the second book again, just without his perspectives. Anyways, something about being inside a character's head while they think suggestive thoughts bugs me more than just the situation being there without too much description. Maybe that's just a strange psychology unique to me, but I thought I'd try to explain it.
When Brandon said that his audience gets "line item veto" about their own personal experience with the book, I felt validated in stubbornly choosing to pronounce Elhokar's sister's name as 'Jazz-nah' instead of his intended pronunciation of 'Yahz-nah'.
I had read the first three stormlight books without hearing anyone pronounce her name as Brandon possibly intended, and in my head it reads better as 'Jazz-nah'. Rysn to me was read as "Reen" but I was more than happy to change it in my head to "Risen" because of how her novella plays out. I have no criticisms to share lol, I was just happy to hear the "line item veto" conversation :) I don't feel like you wrote their names wrong, I just prefer my pronunciations to words sometimes. I appreciate your viewpoint of how the reader is free to interpret and experience the story how they choose, and I like your interpretation of what forms of criticism are appropriate to share :)
And btw, In the Weeds with Brandon and Dan is a phenomenal title
There is an Army psychologist, Dave Grossman, that wrote a series of books that I read the first one, "On Killing: the psychological cost of learning to kill in war and society" and half of the follow up "On Combat: the psychology and physiology of deadly conflict in war and peace". He has a few sections in those books where he addresses the video game violence and overall think they are great reads. I just saw another collab he did with other authors most recently specifically about video games, "Assassination Generation: Video games, aggression, and the psychology of killing" but I haven't read any of it. I am not saying video games turn people into killers (I am a gamer) but it is interesting to see how they can affect psychology
Going Postal was literally too funny to read. Had to put the book down twice during the first chapter. Was laughing too hard to see.
I'm not sure where else to tell you this Mr. Sanderson but I'll just say it here:
Thank you so much for what you do. The Stormlight Archive has helped me through so many tough times and the characters have shaped me into the person I am today.
(I'm curious, which of your own characters is your favorite...?)
Well Bridgeboy, I believe he has said that Dalinar is his personal favorite, as he’s the character he has been working on the longest, other than Hoid.
The way Brandon thinks and agrees to things reminds me of Pattern. Mmmmmmm
I can't decide what makes more sense, a taboo against depicting sex or a taboo against depicting violence.
Very good ep
Brandon's argument about violence vs sex is very interesting. I would push back a little though. What is the difference between killing a digital person and lusting after a fictional character in a book? Seems that they would both be okay in regards to the religion.
29:40 the story I'm working on right now, my first attempt science fiction, literally has talking squids in space... 😭 I'll just pretend it was a clever response to Atwood's remark😅
Idk what YA you are reading but from my experience YA fantasy is absolutely flourishing!
Very interesting point of view, BUT... I can't wait for the next content release. Lol
I just don't understand why books don't have a good content rating system yet. People should be able to know before they start reading how much violence, sex, profanity, and other such things exist in a book before they start reading, and subsequently end up reading through a scene that makes them horribly uncomfortable. I personally hate little more than getting thoroughly invested in the story before finding out that it contains content I'm not comfortable reading. As a non adult who likes reading more adult books for their more mature themes and story lines, I personally would really love some kind of small warning off in the corner of a page or some kind of page stamp system that could let me know when I might want to skip a few pages where the story spikes in any of these areas. It seems like half of the reviews you guys were talking about came from people who just didn't know what to expect.
I’m with you on this. Sometimes reviews are helpful but not always. I wonder if there is any king of community rating web site out there for books. I know there is a great one for video games where anyone can tell you who they feel a game is appropriate for and why. I do this for M rated games that I can’t tell offhand why they received an M rating.
I don't think I agree with this being directly on the book, because that honestly constitutes spoilers to me. (Like, I don't *want* to know if there is certain content in the a story before reading it, because the tension of "could something like this happen?" is part of the fun. If I *know* that certain atrocities will be committed before I open the book, I already lost a lot of the anticipation.)
But there should definitely be a community effort for these things, websites that an individual reader can check to see what chapters (or even pages) have content that they may want to skip. Trigger warnings are very important, I just don't think they belong on book covers or whatever. A general thing like video game ratings would be fine, but nothing that flat out spoils the content in the book.
Anyway, I think readers who value this information can definitely start a website/database where they keep track of this stuff. Perhaps one already exists?
I agree with Izzy and wouldn't trust imposing such a regulatory body, but I also haven't had difficulties in finding others of which to ask such questions
@@izzya8132 I figured they could just add it to the very beginning of the book, where it would be there for those who wanted it, but easy to ignore for those that don't.
@@captainsirk1173 That kind of system would definitely work for me. As long as it's easy for me to not accidentally spoil myself by looking at the warnings, then 100% the warnings should be there for people who need them.
Great episode! Does anyone have a link to the Terry Pratchett editorial?
on the topic of media affecting/creating personality disorders, you're correct, playing a game will not create a psychopath. Psychopaths are born, (1% of adult men, .5% of adult women are psychopaths.) Sociopaths are made, growing up in a violent and abusive environment whether that is a domestic violence situation or a war zone. Constant exposure in a culture to violence can lead to a certain level of tolerance which you alluded to with the Little Mermaid, one culture shrugs another holds up a halting hand concerning it.
Ah yes, I remember reading era 1 and finding it a bit weird that Elend and Vin having sex was never mentioned, not even off-handedly. Since that was around the time I found out that he was a Mormon, I thought that that was just a quirk of his religion, so the Wayne and MeLaan scene really shocked me.
Brandon has also become noticably more liberal over the years. Back when JK Rowling revealed that Dumbledore was gay like in 2007, he posted a rant about how authors shouldn't shove their views down people's throats. Last year he published a book with a trans character
@@rymdalkis Can't help but think "Sometimes a hypocrite is just a man in the process of changing". Though...that being said, JK adding that felt so tacked on and stupid at the time. Like, his sexuality had 0% importance in those books, so bringing it up felt like "Hey! Look at me! I'm inclusive!" without actually doing any of the work to be actually inclusive.
@@rymdalkis those aren't similar. Annoyingly retconning a character via tweets for brownie points is not the same as including a character from a minority group in your book.
@@bigfat4172 His rant wasn't about the fact that she retconned Dumbledore. It was about the fact that she made him gay at all.
Brandon just mentioned a scene about Vin and Elend in era one in this episode. As I recall there was at least one, possibly two, instances where it happens "off screen".
Speaking on your "books have some interactive aspects based off of the readers imagining" I would be really interested in your thoughts on aphantasia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphantasia). I love Brandon's books (sorry Dan, I haven't gotten to you yet, Brandon keeps releasing stuff), but my ability to visualize is incredibly limited. I don't have full aphantasia, but because I have less ability to visualize, I zone in really hard on descriptions that include a sound, texture or smell. I might not be able to describe Adolin's face, but I can definitely say he smells like citrus and leather. His coat is rough, but his interior shirt is soft. Dalinar's face is scratchy, even if he's just shaved, Navani (for some reason) smells like almonds and morning glories, etc. Do either/both of you fully experience your stories in visual form, or are there things that only appear through a different sense for you?
This is now my favourite podcast sorry misfits you’ve been demoted
I love the idea of having someone pass on positive feedback as needed as part of their job lol Like a mental health coordinator
What, Dan Wells wrote I am not a serial killer???? I remember I watched the movie with no expectations one day I was really bored and was very pleasantly surprised! I loved the plot twist of the monster!
When I rate a book or movie and I think it deserves a half star, I look at the current rating of the item. If it's above my rating I go the low rating, if it below my rating I go the high end.
eg. I think something is a 4.5 If I see it's rated 4.3 I give it a 5, if I see it's rate a 4.7 I give it a 4.
That's a smart way to do it.
Having gotten the "You were supposed to be a paragon of virtue and you've spoiled yourself with your licentious writing" message far more than once, I feel this.
In my comic, there was a scene that took place in a church basement. So in the background, I placed one of those little visual aid standees that said something like "Jesus loves me!" with a rainbow, except it was half-behind a shelf. This got an extreme negative reaction from the forum catholic who had been ASSURED I was christian, but I DARED cover up the name of our lord and savior, and he was DENOUNCING me and LEAVING with a bunch of his buddies.
Previously a similar thing had happened when I had a character who was obviously of some strange pagan belief system say "oh my goddess"
Later, a similar thing happened when someone realized I'd drawn An Adult Artwork... that was nowhere present on the comic page at all, but they'd been holding me up as a super clean artist to recommend to everyone, and at what point did I want THAT to be my "thing"? I'd always discouraged people from holding me up as a paragon of something I do not represent. That's WAY too much pressure.
So, yeah. I've slowly grown to be of the opinion that people attempting to over-moralize someone else's work are frequently looking for an excuse to get angry. Much easier to just admit that stories are complicated, I'm imperfect, and anyone attempting to read my work on the basis that they will find agreement with their doctrinal purity--no matter what doctrine it is--is not gonna find it.
Brandon has discovered light novels. Mormon God be praised
On the subject of adding to a book, I've gotta say I am soooo grateful for the fact that there is so much art- official and fan-created- for the Starlight Archive. I am TERRIBLE at visualizing something in my head from even the most detailed description. I rely on fan art to keep the image of what a character looks like consistent in my head, because if I don't have that aid I substitute something that does not resemble a character as described in the slightest. In short, I have a very poor imagination, and that is why I don't write books
Stormlight Archive. Darn autocorrect
'Taking on the Potterheads is not an inconsequential thing to have done' very diplomatically said XD
We still have that stigma about fantasy and sci-fi writing in Sweden, no one really wants to take that label still. Those that write it disguise it a lot with thrillers themes, which is much more common in writing here, and use the sci-fi/fantasy to a small degree, but never the main genre. Which is too sad because I've heard some people wonder where all the sci-fi/fantasy books from Sweden are and the truth is that they are either not authors, or they are thrillers and detective writers with tiny elements of sci-fi/fantasy because it wouldn't sell otherwise. It is very discouraging to even try to write sci-fi/fantasy in Swedish, we translate big sci-fi/fantasy authors, but we got none of our own.
That piece by Terry Pratchett on Rowling seems to have been a letter to the Sunday Times, but it's not on the Times' website anymore, and all you can find of it are snippets and references in other pieces (and the wailings of Potterheads)
Not sure if it's the whole thing but this is what I found:
'WHY IS it felt that the continued elevation of J K Rowling can only be achieved at the expense of other writers (Mistress of magic, News Review, last week)? Now we learn that prior to Harry Potter the world of fantasy was plagued with “knights and ladies morris-dancing to Greensleeves.”
In fact the best of it has always been edgy and inventive, with “the dark heart of the real world” being exactly what, underneath the top dressing, it is all about. Ever since The Lord of the Rings revitalised the genre, writers have played with it, reinvented it, subverted it and bent it to the times. It has also contained some of the very best, most accessible writing for children, by writers who seldom get the acknowledgement they deserve.
Rowling says that she didn’t realise that the first Potter book was fantasy until after it was published. I’m not the world’s greatest expert, but I would have thought that the wizards, witches, trolls, unicorns, hidden worlds, jumping chocolate frogs, owl mail, magic food, ghosts, broomsticks and spells would have given her a clue?
Terry Pratchett
Salisbury, Wiltshire'
@@basil_jackson I saw the second and the last para excerpted in different articles, but this seems like it might be the full letter. Thank you for sharing it!
I think "In the Weeds" is the first title that's as good as "Intentionally Blank."
‘Weird tangents’ that should be the podcast name.
My wife and listen to your podcast every week over lunch, and we often pause to have our own tangential discussions based on what y'all talk about. This episode gave us a lot to discuss, and I wanted to let you know how much we respect the honor and humility with which you approach creating, crafting, and sharing your stories. We have read them time and again, and never once have we finished a book and thought, "Yeah, I could totally sense an agenda/bias." That in itself is stunning.
You are absolutely reaching your goal to represent real life, along with all of its diversity, through your works... and we, along with countless others, are better because of it.
Shalladin is canon in my mind!
What's your favorite archive of our own story with them? Asking for a friend...
@@TheFantazingo I do not understand what you are asking
Here's the editorial mentioned that Terry Pratchett wrote about J.K. Rowling's comment about Harry Potter not being Fantasy:
'WHY IS it felt that the continued elevation of J K Rowling can only be achieved at the expense of other writers (Mistress of magic, News Review, last week)? Now we learn that prior to Harry Potter the world of fantasy was plagued with "knights and ladies morris-dancing to Greensleeves."
In fact the best of it has always been edgy and inventive, with "the dark heart of the real world" being exactly what, underneath the top dressing, it is all about. Ever since The Lord of the Rings revitalised the genre, writers have played with it, reinvented it, subverted it and bent it to the times. It has also contained some of the very best, most accessible writing for children, by writers who seldom get the acknowledgement they deserve.
Rowling says that she didn't realise that the first Potter book was fantasy until after it was published. I'm not the world's greatest expert, but I would have thought that the wizards, witches, trolls, unicorns, hidden worlds, jumping chocolate frogs, owl mail, magic food, ghosts, broomsticks and spells would have given her a clue?'
I really really need another son so I can name him renarin or adolin. My first son was named after Roland from the dark tower series. My wife wouldn't let me name either of my daughters shallan or egwene. Random thought but I really appreciate your work Brandon more than anything I have read before. Dan I've never read any of your books but just ordered 3 to give it a go. Thank you guys for everything you do.
I think it's a better strategy to not include sex scene if a story can exist without them. It is easy to imagine romantic events happening between characters that are obviously interested in one another if that is something you want to happen, but if you don't or you don't want to read a scene like that, it is impossible to ignore it if it does occur in the book.
Who's the author they're referring to regarding the drama of answering back to critics?
Adoooonalsiiiiium
I wanted to know what's the feedback Holmberg is getting but never found out