Frequently Asked Questions on Writing Plot - Brandon Sanderson's Writing Lecture #4.5 (2025)

Comments · 579

• TH

  @ThatGeometryDude · 1 year ago

  "In romance they are gasping, the gasps are just a different variety" - Sanderson 2025

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• BR

  @briannahenwardpersonal · 1 year ago

  I have zero need or desire to write a book nor have I read any of Sandersons books, yet I've listened to him talk about writing for hours now 😂

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• SY

  @Syedaxox · 1 year ago

  "you need to have your own try fail cycles" these are the nuggets of wisdom I'm here for 😌

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• KI

  @KingSpectre844 · 1 year ago

  I love how you have the giant NerdForge stormlight tomes behind you. They really are enormous.

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• JA

  @JasperRenwick · 1 year ago

  Brandon is the man!  He is the sole reason that I have started writing my story!  I am over 60,000 words into the series and so looking forward to sharing it one day! Thanks for the help, advice, and awesome stories, Brandon!

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• DE

  @declanmullen3907 · 1 year ago (edited)

  I loved the moment where I realized Brandon will hide bigger reveals by having easier mysteries to piece together, and even after noticing that I still was able to be surprised with well paid off plot points. That’s definitely something I want to try to work out and implement as a writing tool.

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• LY

  @LynetteTheRogue · 1 year ago

  <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CJbLLOrPjc&amp;t=184">3:04</a> omg i just realized this is how Sozin and Roku are written in that episode of ATLA. And even tho we knew that they were going to end up as enemies, it still felt emotional when Sozin left Roku behind to die

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• _S

  @_Squiggle_ · 1 year ago

  This was maybe my favorite lecture. I really liked it. I think having pre-decided questions means the answers are more applicable to more writers or at least that the questions are more interesting. Please keep doing these

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• ZE

  @zephbaxterauthor · 1 year ago

  🔥Frequently Asked Questions on Writing Plot 🔥<br><br><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CJbLLOrPjc">00:00</a> – Intro &amp; bonus Q&amp;A overview.<br><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CJbLLOrPjc&amp;t=42">00:42</a> – Writing a betrayal arc that hits hard.<br><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CJbLLOrPjc&amp;t=214">03:34</a> – Balancing bittersweet endings.<br><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CJbLLOrPjc&amp;t=383">06:23</a> – Layering internal &amp; external conflict.<br><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CJbLLOrPjc&amp;t=705">11:45</a> – Books vs. movies: What books do better in plotting.<br><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CJbLLOrPjc&amp;t=934">15:34</a> – Writing for video games: How story &amp; mechanics interact.<br><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CJbLLOrPjc&amp;t=1247">20:47</a> – Try-fail vs. try-succeed cycles in storytelling.<br><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CJbLLOrPjc&amp;t=1278">21:18</a> – Why Dune works despite Paul succeeding at everything.<br><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CJbLLOrPjc&amp;t=1467">24:27</a> – Stories that use try-succeed cycles effectively.<br><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CJbLLOrPjc&amp;t=1665">27:45</a> – Using plot archetypes &amp; blending genres.<br><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CJbLLOrPjc&amp;t=1924">32:04</a> – Scaling your plot: When to expand or shrink a story.<br><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CJbLLOrPjc&amp;t=2129">35:29</a> – How book length affects pacing &amp; reader experience.<br><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CJbLLOrPjc&amp;t=2191">36:31</a> – Outro &amp; upcoming Q&amp;A on character writing.

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• DG

  @dg_cait · 1 year ago

  <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CJbLLOrPjc&amp;t=2124">35:24</a> The gasp variety caught me off guard 😂

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• PH

  @PhoenixCrown · 1 year ago (edited)

  <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CJbLLOrPjc&amp;t=2130">35:30</a> &quot;The gasps are just a different variety&quot; (in romance vs. thrillers). HA!

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• SE

  @seafoam6119 · 1 year ago

  A good movie can hook you for 1/5 to 2 hours <br><br>A good book can hold you for 100s of hours.

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