The Three Pillars of Storytelling-Brandon Sanderson

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  • čas přidán 15. 02. 2021
  • This is a short segment from my 2021 Creative Writing Lectures at BYU. If you want to watch my lectures in their entirety, you can watch all of my 2020 lectures here: • Lecture #1: Introducti...
    Link to Dawnshard: www.amazon.com/dp/B08MXXWYT7?t...
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Komentáře • 120

  • @KingDooburu
    @KingDooburu Před 3 lety +260

    YES, the three stories of pillar building! Wait...

    • @pipitameruje
      @pipitameruje Před 3 lety +53

      The pillar that fell, the pillar that never rose, and the pillar that lasted long enough to end up in a museum.
      There

    • @adamguthrey6160
      @adamguthrey6160 Před 3 lety +1

      @@pipitameruje whats that from?

    • @pipitameruje
      @pipitameruje Před 3 lety +29

      @@adamguthrey6160Out of the top of my head. I should warn you that I'm sleep deprived.

    • @8thMusketeer
      @8thMusketeer Před 3 lety +2

      @@pipitameruje
      Right there with you pal

    • @ricekrispies1917
      @ricekrispies1917 Před 3 lety +11

      @@pipitameruje Sounds like a writing prompt

  • @intentionally
    @intentionally Před 3 lety +191

    Brandon says it's true:
    Conflict is the glue!

    • @austinmc4004
      @austinmc4004 Před 3 lety +11

      i have no idea why i love this so much
      you are a true poet

    • @MasterTow1994
      @MasterTow1994 Před 3 lety +1

      This explains genres - if a genres is not for you, then the conflicts they usually represent are not of your interest

  • @Grux_ASG
    @Grux_ASG Před 3 lety +186

    "Your story is not an encyclopedia"
    (Glances at the size of his books)
    "Yeah right buddy"

  • @tristanangayon6161
    @tristanangayon6161 Před 3 lety +94

    In short conflict is needed to make your story intresting and not boring. You have your character, setting, and plot, but without conflict between each pillars, there will be just a plane encyclopedia.

    • @JG-vh6oy
      @JG-vh6oy Před rokem +7

      It’s never “just” a plane encyclopaedia. Aviation, its history, and its present state are all incredibly important topics!

  • @ChrisBurnes
    @ChrisBurnes Před 3 lety +47

    I wonder what the 3 pillars will be? maybe I'll just skip ahead a little and check the whiteboard.
    HAHAHAHAHAAHAHA!!

    • @DTHRocket
      @DTHRocket Před 3 lety +14

      Why, they are obviously Seth, Pl.T, and Ch~

  • @TheEccentricRaven
    @TheEccentricRaven Před 2 měsíci +1

    I have seen writers defend infodumping, saying but the Hobbit starts slow. They missed that the first chapter of the Hobbit includes both the hook and the inciting incident. Chapter 1 portrays what Bilbo wants and how he's pushed out of his comfort zone, showing his external conflict and internal conflict.

  • @wilson1728
    @wilson1728 Před 3 lety +31

    The three pillars are Wamuu, Esidisi and Kars

  • @knightonart8886
    @knightonart8886 Před 3 lety +12

    Grace us with your wisdom, m'Lord Baradon Sanderos

  • @VoorNuNogVerandern
    @VoorNuNogVerandern Před 3 lety +74

    Reading Mistborn: The Final Empire, as I got this notification😌

    • @hondasamer5920
      @hondasamer5920 Před 3 lety +5

      I was reading Well of Ascension

    • @abdoul5176
      @abdoul5176 Před 3 lety +2

      @@hondasamer5920 same

    • @allthenewsordeath5772
      @allthenewsordeath5772 Před 3 lety +2

      I haven’t read mistborn era two yet, but era one is really good.
      It’s still no book of the fallen, I mean the end of that series literally brought tears to my eyes, in addition to having made me cry already several times, but I digress you’re in for a good journey.

    • @cybersketcher1130
      @cybersketcher1130 Před 3 lety +2

      Currently on Warbreaker and Words of Radiance

    • @kristianprigl7895
      @kristianprigl7895 Před 3 lety

      Same i just finished chapter 34

  • @Rhadagar
    @Rhadagar Před 3 lety +17

    I’m no writer but these are still darn interesting!

  • @louisegoode2100
    @louisegoode2100 Před 3 lety +13

    I really appreciate all of the expert writing advice! Thank you!

  • @bookyodaianimate8982
    @bookyodaianimate8982 Před 3 lety +41

    Great Brandon, for your next topic can you discuss why some beginners struggle to write past their first few chapters and how can they solve it. I have been trying to write using many TOOLS that you have talked about in your lectures. I was originally a discovery writer but it was too bad for me as I was unable to progress after writing my 10,000 words. Which led me to changing my writing to outlining but even with that I only managed to write the first few chapters. I thought the outline was the issue at first but after reading it again the outline was still good. It would seem that expanding my outline into a story has made me stuck. In the end what I want to ask is that how do you keep the story as interesting as the outline? That is your outline is more interesting than your story itself.

    • @pipitameruje
      @pipitameruje Před 3 lety +18

      I would suggest dropping the chronological writing. You don't have to write chapter 2 to write chapter 3, especially of you lean on the discovery side.
      Just write bits and pieces as they come to you. I sometimes only write scenes, sometimes half chapters. I have chapters and scenes written in my computer files that are written for years before the rest of the work assembles. It even helps with figuring out the in betweens (I find).

    • @samsampier7147
      @samsampier7147 Před 3 lety +1

      I’m not Brandon. But who are your characters and how can you show progress? Trying and Failing can interesting. How can show promises that will pay off later? Then your reader knows they won’t be failing forever.

    • @Magicpoppy
      @Magicpoppy Před 3 lety

      @@pipitameruje such a good point, thank you!!

    • @rukiasands5171
      @rukiasands5171 Před 9 měsíci +1

      @@Magicpoppy I have the same problem, so I decided to finish a book or story no matter what. A short story focused on telling a particular scene. czcams.com/video/blehVIDyuXk/video.html The lecture here helped me with that. Once I did, I slowly began to write longer stories till that was no longer a problem. Hope this helps you.

    • @Valkrill
      @Valkrill Před 5 měsíci

      There's a good video on YT that gives a 9 act / 27 Chapter story structure that should help any writer make progress and get through writers block. Each of the 27 chapters is labeled and detailed for a rough guideline.

  • @renard6012
    @renard6012 Před 3 lety +9

    I like dystopian, post-apocalyptic or "grimdark" settings because they add all sorts of conflict to the main story. Even going at 2AM for a glass of water in a world where all water is poison and where the government tries to kill you for going out at night has potential for an interesting story.
    What I don't like is the authors not knowing how to handle those settings.

  • @josefinehansen6096
    @josefinehansen6096 Před 3 lety +10

    Thank you, Brandon, for all the free tips and inspiration

  • @whitrobinson
    @whitrobinson Před 2 lety +1

    Simple and straightforward. Brilliant advice! Much appreciated!

  • @dennis_duran
    @dennis_duran Před 3 lety +10

    Holy smokes, I don’t think I’ve ever seen 1.7k+ likes and 0 dislikes. Not a one. Not an accidental one.

  • @Ouvii
    @Ouvii Před 3 lety +28

    No that's wrong
    After Santana dies, the three pillarmen are Wammu, Kars, and Esidisi

    • @ars7374
      @ars7374 Před 3 lety +2

      AC/DC

    • @Ouvii
      @Ouvii Před 3 lety +2

      @@ars7374
      The Cars
      Wham!

    • @KennyMelan
      @KennyMelan Před 3 lety +6

      iS tHiS a JoJo REferEnCe???

    • @jjms7167
      @jjms7167 Před 3 lety +4

      @@KennyMelan, everything is

    • @alansmithee419
      @alansmithee419 Před rokem

      @@jjms7167 Wait, it's all JoJo references?

  • @danaobera4207
    @danaobera4207 Před 8 měsíci +1

    What a brilliant lecture; easy to understand, fun to listen to and inspiring me to write more.

  • @StarBoundFables
    @StarBoundFables Před 2 lety +3

    Cool! Thank you, Brandon, I just took a whole bunch of notes from this presentation! Cheers 😃🙏🏽

  • @platonist21
    @platonist21 Před 3 lety +3

    Just finished sixth of the dusk holy crap that was soooooo good!

  • @cody1334
    @cody1334 Před 3 lety +1

    I saw the board in the back of his other video and immediately started taking notes. Now there’s an explanation.
    Life is good rn.

    • @cody1334
      @cody1334 Před 3 lety

      Also my character wants to be recognized as a hero, and he can’t have it because he keeps failing at everything.

  • @MarieK36
    @MarieK36 Před 3 lety +6

    Thanks, love this channel. Rlly helps put my mind to work and being an effective writer.

  • @AEVAN00B
    @AEVAN00B Před 3 lety +5

    I think you can write a great book with a bland plot + setting, but good characters.
    Pillars don't need to be of even sizes!

  • @BlackRose3610
    @BlackRose3610 Před 3 lety +4

    Damn Brandon, handwriting that good you could be a doctor too

  • @alansmithee419
    @alansmithee419 Před rokem +1

    As someone who's currently crafting a story (not seriously, and it's unlikely to ever become a book), just my gut instincts tell me that setting and plot are probably doable for me to come up with, but characters, especially character growth, would probably be incredibly difficult for me to achieve in... well, *any* way, let alone a satisfying way.
    (I also don't have any experience, I stopped studying literature after GCSEs lol).

  • @emmanuelboakye1124
    @emmanuelboakye1124 Před 3 lety +1

    I woudnt expect anything less.👍👍

  • @Biru-blue111
    @Biru-blue111 Před 3 měsíci

    Thanks

  • @danielpetrasko2283
    @danielpetrasko2283 Před 2 lety

    This really helps me, thx

  • @LrnecBuma
    @LrnecBuma Před 3 lety +8

    Is this like an early teaser of this lecture coming soon or just a link back to 2020 lectures?

    • @pipitameruje
      @pipitameruje Před 3 lety +3

      I think he said he won't be posting his 2021 lectures, as they would be too similar to 2020's

  • @NecroCryx
    @NecroCryx Před 3 lety +2

    Design time within your world. What is year, days, weeks, months, hours, etc called in your world? Would it be too confusing to rename those? Would the reader be able to pick it up or is it something that should be avoided? Or could I put a glossary in the back of the book?

    • @alicial4857
      @alicial4857 Před 3 lety +2

      I cannot tell whether you are asking for advice or merely giving a thought exercise, so if you want some basic advice, read the next paragraph. If not, you have successfully gotten me even more invested and interested in the worlds and cultures of Konigrey and Thaliresse (the most important countries to my main characters, as of now). Good job.
      Time exists; people name and divide it. For each featured culture in your world, figure out their relationship with time. How important is keeping track of it to them, and on what levels? That determines what you might possibly need to invent. Figure out the definitions you need. Then, pull out the dictionary. If a term already exists for your definition, use the pre-existing term. If not, invent a new term, and make it as intuitive as possible. If you want readers to learn it (and maybe even start using it in their everyday conversations), tell the story with it. (Focusing on teaching can result in boring and awkward sections.) Beta readers will be able to tell you whether they believe the average reader will pick up your term if he or she were to read your current draft. A brief glossary might not harm a book, regardless of how important is it that the reader learn the term in the story section. Whether and how fast the reader needs to learn the term depends on the story you want to tell.

    • @NecroCryx
      @NecroCryx Před 3 lety +2

      @@alicial4857 Asking for advice. But looks to be a good exercise too :) I have designed an entire Timeline for the world I am building. How everything is reference as well. A year is a cycle in my world. Even the days, weeks, months, and decades are named differently. My Zodiac is even changed and represented in a calendar of cycles. I have even broken down the seasons to go along with the weather patterns in my world. As well as them being an important part of certain cultures too.
      With all of that being said. Would a reference/appendices section in the back be useful to the reader? I found the appendices in The Prince of Nothing series to be exceptionally useful. The Wheel of Time glossary was needed, for me at least.
      I just started to write my novel after spending two years building the world. I started from the ground down. With time and space being the starting point. This is looking to be a heavy fantasy style. Similar to the books I referenced.

    • @alicial4857
      @alicial4857 Před 3 lety +1

      @@NecroCryx I think a reference section could be useful, and even if it is unnecessary, if you write it in an interesting way (maybe from the perspective of a scholar of some sort studying the cultures of the world you use), readers who like the book will probably want to read it. In-world artifacts do have an appeal.
      Still, not all readers read appendices, so be sure that you know which information about your time system is the most vital for readers to understand.

  • @haydongonzalez-dyer2727
    @haydongonzalez-dyer2727 Před měsícem

    Yes

  • @Rockblue01
    @Rockblue01 Před 3 lety

    Wow. Not a single dislike.....so....tempting.......

  • @coolcatmemes1204
    @coolcatmemes1204 Před 3 lety +22

    I was writing, then I got the notification.

    • @Florfilm
      @Florfilm Před 3 lety +1

      I can’t write without muting all my devices and notifications.

  • @abdoul5176
    @abdoul5176 Před 3 lety +10

    Anyone else take notes while watching this? lol
    If so please share 👀

    • @gregothy9190
      @gregothy9190 Před 3 lety +3

      Plot setting and character attached by the glue of conflict

    • @abdoul5176
      @abdoul5176 Před 3 lety +3

      @@gregothy9190 and that your story doesn't exist to showcase your setting I think.

    • @sterlingmuse5808
      @sterlingmuse5808 Před 3 lety +2

      @@abdoul5176 I think he was saying that your story doesn't exist to showcase any single one of these but instead to showcase how all three work in tandem.

    • @abdoul5176
      @abdoul5176 Před 3 lety +1

      @@sterlingmuse5808 that's brilliant.

  • @piercecosmo
    @piercecosmo Před 3 lety

    Is that his home theater? It's HUGE!

  • @EVER_PRINCE
    @EVER_PRINCE Před 3 lety

    i love the Blue Mana Magic The Gathering shirt

  • @SatiricallyPoetic
    @SatiricallyPoetic Před 3 lety +1

    ALWAYS sweep your hobbit hole, even when going on an adventure.

  • @tranglomango
    @tranglomango Před 3 lety +1

    This man is a blue mage....why am I not surprised.
    His demeanour screams Tolaria for some reason

  • @abcdef27669
    @abcdef27669 Před 3 lety +3

    Maybe you just want to live your life, and then... Boom! Plot happens!

  • @marcelolage1395
    @marcelolage1395 Před 6 měsíci

    To me, conflict is a part of the plot

  • @thesamuraiman
    @thesamuraiman Před 3 lety +1

    💜

  • @yoinkling
    @yoinkling Před 2 lety

    :O 3 | | | Pillars! Strong! Strength!

  • @michaelc.4724
    @michaelc.4724 Před 2 lety

    Nice shirt

  • @lyingcat9022
    @lyingcat9022 Před 3 lety

    King Brandon Sanderson,
    Tindwyl Keeper of Terris says to STOP saying “Um”! ;)

  • @HexagonMusic
    @HexagonMusic Před 3 lety +4

    Would it be possible to actually see brandon write?
    If he starts a new book he could record himself in the process and maybe spell out his thoughts while stitting in front of his computer; this footage can then be cut and maybe he could add a voice over explaining a bit more in depth.
    When he finishes the story the Video could be added to the Book in some way as a Bonus or Deluxe Version.
    I think this can be informative and somewhat entertaining.
    I would buy the "Behind the scenes Deluxe Version" immediately.

    • @katherined1417
      @katherined1417 Před 3 lety +1

      There is already a playlist on his channel with videos of him writing a Words of Radiance interlude.

  • @JoanieDoeShadow
    @JoanieDoeShadow Před 3 lety +2

    Have to give like for While You Were Sleeping reference.

  • @jamescaldwell2357
    @jamescaldwell2357 Před 3 lety +2

    Like many here, I too was writing when I saw the notification!

  • @weariedtrout6101
    @weariedtrout6101 Před 3 lety +10

    Well I guess you don't need good handwriting to be a good writeer. My parents disagree.

  • @arkade1289
    @arkade1289 Před 3 lety +1

    Woah i'm early

  • @celestialhylos7028
    @celestialhylos7028 Před 14 dny

    0:34 you are ScHmart people😂😂😂

  • @littleneuron4432
    @littleneuron4432 Před 3 lety +5

    I was just using gorilla glue as I watched this😂😂😂

  • @PureMagma
    @PureMagma Před 3 lety

    Forced out by what was in my pipe that I smoked... I've been there.

  • @Merrick
    @Merrick Před 2 lety

    wow, this video has perhaps the best like/dislike ratio i've ever seen

  • @NirvashTypeSeven
    @NirvashTypeSeven Před 3 lety

    Of course Brandon is a Blue mage.

  • @antogameseng744
    @antogameseng744 Před 3 lety +10

    Last time I was this fast The Lord Ruler was still alive

    • @Rafas216
      @Rafas216 Před 3 lety +5

      Delete this comment please...

  • @frankstarshiphead6839
    @frankstarshiphead6839 Před 3 lety

    Dude

  • @Florfilm
    @Florfilm Před 3 lety

    Great Video. It’s Meg Ryan though not Sandra Bullock.

    • @taftsandbakken6995
      @taftsandbakken6995 Před 3 lety +4

      You might be thinking of Sleepless in Seattle. While you were Sleeping is certainly Sandra Bullock

    • @Florfilm
      @Florfilm Před 3 lety +2

      @@taftsandbakken6995 Ok I got that mixed up. :-)

  • @juneo.7764
    @juneo.7764 Před 3 lety

    The dislike comes from this one person who wasnt smart enough to figure out his handwriting