{"id":10009,"date":"2025-02-06T14:51:35","date_gmt":"2025-02-06T18:51:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/brandon-sanderson-on-building-a-fiction-empire-creating-40m-kickstarter-campaigns-unbreakable-habits-the-art-of-world-building-and-the-science-of-magic-systems-794\/"},"modified":"2025-02-06T14:51:35","modified_gmt":"2025-02-06T18:51:35","slug":"brandon-sanderson-on-building-a-fiction-empire-creating-40m-kickstarter-campaigns-unbreakable-habits-the-art-of-world-building-and-the-science-of-magic-systems-794","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/brandon-sanderson-on-building-a-fiction-empire-creating-40m-kickstarter-campaigns-unbreakable-habits-the-art-of-world-building-and-the-science-of-magic-systems-794\/","title":{"rendered":"Brandon Sanderson on Building a Fiction Empire, Creating $40M+ Kickstarter Campaigns, Unbreakable Habits, The Art of World-Building, and The Science of Magic Systems (#794)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <a href=\"https:\/\/hop.clickbank.net\/?affiliate=infohatch&amp;vendor=J1R2C\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10614 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px.png\" alt=\"Profit Gen\" width=\"400\" height=\"217\" srcset=\"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px.png 400w, https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px-300x163.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"424\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tim.blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Tim.Brandon-2.jpg?resize=600%2C424&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-107504\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tim.blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Tim.Brandon-2-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C723&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tim.blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Tim.Brandon-2-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C212&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tim.blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Tim.Brandon-2-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C542&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tim.blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Tim.Brandon-2-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1084&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tim.blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Tim.Brandon-2-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1446&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tim.blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Tim.Brandon-2-scaled.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tim.blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Tim.Brandon-2-scaled.jpg?w=1800&amp;ssl=1 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, 600px\"\/><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Brandon Sanderson<\/strong> (<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/brandsanderson\">@BrandSanderson<\/a>) is the #1 <em>New York Times<\/em> bestselling author of <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Stormlight-Archive-Books-1-4-Oathbringer-ebook\/dp\/B0C5726Y6M\/?tag=offsitoftimfe-20\"><em>The Stormlight Archive<\/em><\/a> series and the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B0B4N71QWS\/?tag=offsitoftimfe-20\"><em>Mistborn<\/em><\/a> saga; the middle-grade series <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B074CCKTNR\/?tag=offsitoftimfe-20\"><em>Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians<\/em><\/a>; and the young-adult novels <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Rithmatist-Brandon-Sanderson-ebook\/dp\/B00AJGNICW\/?tag=offsitoftimfe-20\"><em>The Rithmatist<\/em><\/a>, the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B09C1YZTSV\/?tag=offsitoftimfe-20\"><em>Reckoners<\/em><\/a> trilogy, and the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B07PGLGJBH\/?tag=offsitoftimfe-20\"><em>Skyward<\/em><\/a> series. He has sold more than 40 million books in 35 languages, and he is a four-time nominee for the Hugo Awards, winning in 2013 for his novella <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Emperors-Soul-Elantris-Book-ebook\/dp\/B00A1XOPE8\/?tag=offsitoftimfe-20\"><em>The Emperor\u2019s Soul<\/em><\/a>. That same year, he was chosen to complete Robert Jordan\u2019s <em>The Wheel of Time<\/em> series, culminating in <em>A Memory of Light<\/em>. <\/p>\n<p>Brandon cohosts (with fellow author Dan Wells) the popular <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=02ENJRIxzcU&amp;list=PLSH_xM-KC3Zv3L2dLcX3WmtbQsfB8YSSw\"><em>Intentionally Blank<\/em><\/a> podcast and teaches creative writing at Brigham Young University.<\/p>\n<p>Please enjoy!<\/p>\n<p><strong><em><strong><em>Listen to the episode on\u00a0<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/794-brandon-sanderson-on-building-a-fiction-empire\/id863897795?i=1000689414620\">Apple Podcasts<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/episode\/0dJLtcP1H8l2hSFG0Ppe37?si=mCdlQO5jTya8qPeZNLD4pw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Spotify<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/overcast.fm\/+AAKebvtEXhM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Overcast<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/podcastaddict.com\/podcast\/2031148#\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Podcast Addict<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/pca.st\/timferriss\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pocket Casts<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/castbox.fm\/channel\/id1059468?country=us\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Castbox<\/a>,\u00a0<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/music.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLuu6fDad2eJyWPm9dQfuorm2uuYHBZDCB\">YouTube Music<\/a>,\u00a0<strong><em><strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/music.amazon.com\/podcasts\/9814f3cc-1dc5-4003-b816-44a8eb6bf666\/the-tim-ferriss-show\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Amazon Music<\/a>,\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.audible.com\/podcast\/The-Tim-Ferriss-Show\/B08K58QX5W\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Audible<\/a>, or on your favorite podcast platform<\/em><\/strong>. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em><strong><b style=\"font-style: italic\">This episode is brought to you by <\/b><a style=\"font-style: italic;font-weight: bold\" href=\"https:\/\/cressetcapital.com\/tim\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cresset<\/a>\u00a0prestigious family office for CEOs, founders, and entrepreneurs;<b style=\"font-style: italic\"> <\/b><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/seed.com\/tim\">Seed\u2019s DS-01\u00ae Daily Synbiotic<\/a> broad spectrum 24-strain probiotic + prebiotic<\/strong>; <a href=\"https:\/\/wealthfront.com\/Tim\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Wealthfront<\/strong><\/a><strong>\u00a0high-yield cash account<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-tim-podcast-link-main podcast-block wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><a class=\"podcast-block__link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/794-brandon-sanderson-on-building-a-fiction-empire\/id863897795?i=1000689414620\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tim.blog\/wp-content\/themes\/timferriss\/inc\/blocks\/podcast-link\/images\/apple-podcast.png?w=600&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"podcast-block__link-icon\"\/><span class=\"podcast-block__link-text-top\">Listen on<\/span><span class=\"podcast-block__link-text\">Apple Podcasts<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-tim-podcast-link-main podcast-block wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><a class=\"podcast-block__link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/episode\/0dJLtcP1H8l2hSFG0Ppe37?si=mCdlQO5jTya8qPeZNLD4pw\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"167\" height=\"167\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/tim.blog\/wp-content\/themes\/timferriss\/inc\/blocks\/podcast-link\/images\/spotify.svg\" class=\"podcast-block__link-icon\"\/><span class=\"podcast-block__link-text-top\">Listen on<\/span><span class=\"podcast-block__link-text\">Spotify<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-tim-podcast-link-main podcast-block wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><a class=\"podcast-block__link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/overcast.fm\/+AAKebvtEXhM\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1000\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/tim.blog\/wp-content\/themes\/timferriss\/inc\/blocks\/podcast-link\/images\/overcast.svg\" class=\"podcast-block__link-icon\"\/><span class=\"podcast-block__link-text-top\">Listen on<\/span><span class=\"podcast-block__link-text\">Overcast<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"podcast-player\">\n<div class=\"podcast-player-inner-wrap\">\n<p>#794: Brandon Sanderson on Building a Fiction Empire, Creating $40M+ Kickstarter Campaigns, Unbreakable Habits, The Art of World-Building, and The Science of Magic Systems<\/p>\n<p><noscript><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.art19.com\/shows\/58dacbdc-646e-4585-9914-19c3de11d1ba\/episodes\/000622c1-3a74-42e1-923b-5b5349f6f85a\/embed?type=micro\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 30px; border: 0 none;\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/noscript><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<p><strong>This episode is brought to you by <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/cressetcapital.com\/tim\">Cresset Family Office<\/a>!<\/strong> Listeners have heard me talk about \u201cmaking before you manage\u201d for years. And for me\u2014as a writer and entrepreneur\u2014I definitely gravitate toward making.\u00a0So it\u2019s important that I find the right people who are great at managing. That\u2019s why I trust this episode\u2019s sponsor, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/cressetcapital.com\/tim\">Cresset Family Office<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Cresset is a prestigious family office for CEOs, founders, and entrepreneurs. They handle the complex financial planning, uncertain tax strategies, timely exit planning, bill pay and wires, and all the other parts of wealth management that would otherwise pull me away from doing what I love most: making things, mastering skills, and spending time with the people I care about.\u00a0 Experience the freedom of focusing on what matters to you with the support of a top wealth management team. Schedule a call today at <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/cressetcapital.com\/tim\">cressetcapital.com\/tim<\/a> to see how Cresset can help streamline your financial plans and grow your wealth.<\/p>\n<p><em>I\u2019m a client of Cresset. There are no material conflicts other than this paid testimonial. All investing involves risk, including loss of principal.<\/em><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<p><strong>This episode is brought to you by <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/seed.com\/daily-synbiotic?utm_source=timferriss&amp;utm_medium=page&amp;utm_campaign=25p&amp;promo_code=25TIM\">Seed\u2019s DS-01 Daily Synbiotic<\/a>!\u00a0<\/strong>Seed\u2019s <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/seed.com\/daily-synbiotic?utm_source=timferriss&amp;utm_medium=page&amp;utm_campaign=25p&amp;promo_code=25TIM\">DS-01<\/a> was recommended to me months ago by a PhD microbiologist, so I started using it well before their team ever reached out to me. Since then, it\u2019s become a daily staple and one of the few supplements I travel with. I\u2019ve always been <em>highly<\/em> skeptical of most probiotics due to the lack of science and the fact that many do not survive digestion. But after incorporating two capsules of <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/seed.com\/daily-synbiotic?utm_source=timferriss&amp;utm_medium=page&amp;utm_campaign=25p&amp;promo_code=25TIM\">Seed\u2019s DS-01<\/a> into my morning routine, I have noticed improved digestion, skin tone, and overall health.\u00a0 Why is it so effective? For one, it\u2019s a 2-in-1 probiotic and prebiotic formulated with 24 clinically and scientifically studied strains that have systemic benefits in and beyond the gut. <strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/seed.com\/daily-synbiotic?utm_source=timferriss&amp;utm_medium=page&amp;utm_campaign=25p&amp;promo_code=25TIM\">And now, you can get 25% off your first month of DS-01 with code 25TIM<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<p><strong>This episode is brought to you by <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/wealthfront.com\/tim\">Wealthfront<\/a>!<\/strong> <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/wealthfront.com\/tim\">Wealthfront<\/a> is a financial services platform that offers services to help you save and invest your money. Right now, you can earn 4.00% APY\u2014that\u2019s the Annual Percentage Yield\u2014with the Wealthfront Brokerage Cash Account through its network of partner banks. That\u2019s nearly ten times more interest than a savings account at a bank, according to FDIC.gov as of December 16, 2024. It takes just a few minutes to sign up, and then you\u2019ll immediately start earning 4.00% APY interest on your short-term cash until you\u2019re ready to invest. <strong>And when new clients open an account today, they can <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/wealthfront.com\/tim\">get an extra fifty-dollar bonus<\/a> with a deposit of five hundred dollars or more. <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/wealthfront.com\/tim\">Visit Wealthfront.com\/Tim to get started<\/a>.<br \/><\/strong><br \/><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;\"\/><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;\"\/><em>Tim Ferriss receives cash compensation from Wealthfront Brokerage, LLC for advertising and holds a non-controlling equity interest in the corporate parent of Wealthfront Brokerage. See full disclosures <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/wealthfront.com\/tim\">here<\/a>. <\/em><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<p><strong>What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know <a href=\"https:\/\/tim.blog\/2025\/02\/05\/brandon-sanderson\/#respond\">in the comments<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span id=\"more-107489\"\/><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE: <\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><em><strong>Note from Tim\u2019s team: The below will be updated with the final list of links and timestamps shortly.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Books<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Dragonsbane-Barbara-Hambly\/dp\/B000G6I6LS?tag=offsitoftimfe-20\"><strong>Dragonsbane<\/strong><\/a> by Barbara Hambly: A middle-aged woman and her husband go on a quest to kill a dragon and save the kingdom.<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Way-Kings-Book-Stormlight-Archive\/dp\/0765326353\/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?tag=offsitoftimfe-20\"><strong>The Way of Kings<\/strong><\/a><strong> <\/strong>by Brandon Sanderson: A fantasy novel with a hard magic system where characters can use metal to enhance their abilities.<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Lord-Rings-J-R-R-Tolkien\/dp\/0544003411?tag=offsitoftimfe-20\"><strong>Lord of the Rings<\/strong><\/a> by J.R.R. Tolkien: An epic fantasy novel centered around the One Ring and a magic system based on the powers of Gandalf.<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Name-Wind-Patrick-Rothfuss\/dp\/0756404746?tag=offsitoftimfe-20\"><strong>The Name of the Wind<\/strong><\/a><strong> <\/strong>by Patrick Rothfuss: A fantasy novel that Brandon Sanderson considers a brilliant first novel.<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Writing-Stephen-King\/dp\/1444723251?tag=offsitoftimfe-20\"><strong>On Writing<\/strong><\/a> by Stephen King: A book about the craft of writing that emphasizes the importance of finding your own way as a writer.<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/How-Write-Science-Fiction-Fantasy\/dp\/158297103X?tag=offsitoftimfe-20\"><strong>How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy <\/strong><\/a>by Orson Scott Card: A guide to writing fantasy and science fiction that emphasizes the importance of world-building.<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Writing-Sell-Scott-Meredith\/dp\/0898797500?tag=offsitoftimfe-20\"><strong>Writing to Sell<\/strong><\/a><strong> <\/strong>by Scott Meredith: A guide to writing that focuses on the business side of publishing.<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Save-Last-Book-Screenwriting-Youll\/dp\/1932907009\/?tag=offsitoftimfe-20\"><strong>Save the Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You\u2019ll Ever Need<\/strong><\/a> by Blake Snyder: A book about screenwriting that provides a structured approach to storytelling.<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Save-Cat-Goes-Movies-Screenwriters\/dp\/1932907351?tag=offsitoftimfe-20\"><strong>Save the Cat! Goes to the Movies<\/strong><\/a><strong> <\/strong>by Blake Snyder: A book about screenwriting that examines different genres within the field.<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Mistborn-Final-Empire-Brandon-Sanderson\/dp\/0765377136?tag=offsitoftimfe-20\"><strong>Mistborn<\/strong><\/a> by Brandon Sanderson: A fantasy novel with a hard magic system where characters can use metal to enhance their abilities.<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B074CBP9DY?binding=hardcover&amp;ref=dbs_m_mng_rwt_sft_thcv_tkin?tag=offsitoftimfe-20\"><strong>The Stormlight Archive <\/strong><\/a>by Brandon Sanderson: A series of epic fantasy novels with a complex magic system and a focus on character development.<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Lies-Locke-Lamora-Gentleman-Bastards\/dp\/055358894X?tag=offsitoftimfe-20\"><strong>The Lies of Locke Lamora<\/strong><\/a><strong> <\/strong>by Scott Lynch: A fantasy heist novel that is more focused on the heist genre than Sanderson\u2019s Mistborn series.<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Wheel-of-Time-14-book-series\/dp\/B07F7MLR2R?tag=offsitoftimfe-20\"><strong>The Wheel of Time<\/strong><\/a> by Robert Jordan: An epic fantasy series that was finished by Brandon Sanderson after Robert Jordan\u2019s death.<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Tigana-Guy-Gavriel-Kay\/dp\/0007342047?tag=offsitoftimfe-20\"><strong>Tigana<\/strong><\/a><strong> <\/strong>by Guy Gavriel Kay: A standalone fantasy novel that is slower-paced than modern fantasy but digs deep into one world.<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Lions-al-Rassan-Guy-Gavriel-Kay\/dp\/0060733497?tag=offsitoftimfe-20\"><strong>Lions of Al-Rassan<\/strong><\/a> by Guy Gavriel Kay: A standalone fantasy novel that is slower-paced than modern fantasy but digs deep into one world.<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Princess-Bride-William-Goldman\/dp\/0747545189?tag=offsitoftimfe-20\"><strong>The Princess Bride<\/strong><\/a><strong> <\/strong>by William Goldman: A fantasy novel that is fun and whimsical, but doesn\u2019t take itself too seriously.<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Tress-of-the-Emerald-Sea\/dp\/1399613383?tag=offsitoftimfe-20\"><strong>Tress of the Emerald Sea<\/strong><\/a><strong> <\/strong>by Brandon Sanderson: A standalone fantasy novel that is a good starting point for readers new to Sanderson\u2019s work.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Movies<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Avatar-Sam-Worthington\/dp\/B0B657C78K?tag=offsitoftimfe-20\"><strong>Avatar<\/strong><\/a><strong>: <\/strong>A science fiction film that features a conlang created specifically for the movie.<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/video\/detail\/B018YLC752\/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r?tag=offsitoftimfe-20\"><strong>Sneakers<\/strong><\/a><strong>: <\/strong>A heist film that Brandon Sanderson cites as one of his favorites.<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/video\/detail\/B0933MGP64\/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r?tag=offsitoftimfe-20\"><strong>The Sting<\/strong><\/a><strong>:<\/strong> A heist film that Brandon Sanderson cites as one of his favorites.<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/video\/detail\/B008Q00U9W\/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r?tag=offsitoftimfe-20\"><strong>Ocean\u2019s Eleven<\/strong><\/a><strong>:<\/strong> A heist film that Brandon Sanderson cites as one of his favorites.<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/video\/detail\/B0CFPR1N9Q\/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r?tag=offsitoftimfe-20\"><strong>The Italian Job<\/strong><\/a><strong>: <\/strong>A heist film that Brandon Sanderson cites as one of his favorites.<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/video\/detail\/B00945XF8Q\/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r?tag=offsitoftimfe-20\"><strong>The Princess Bride<\/strong><\/a><strong>:<\/strong> A fantasy film that is fun and whimsical, but doesn\u2019t take itself too seriously.<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/video\/detail\/B008Q07GLW\/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r?tag=offsitoftimfe-20\"><strong>Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid<\/strong><\/a><strong>:<\/strong> A classic film written by William Goldman, the author of The Princess Bride.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Shows<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/writingexcuses.com\/\"><strong>Writing Excuses (Podcast)<\/strong><\/a><strong>:<\/strong> A podcast about the craft of writing, featuring Brandon Sanderson and other authors.<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt2919910\/\"><strong>Whose Line Is It Anyway?<\/strong><\/a><strong>: <\/strong>An improv comedy show that Brandon Sanderson uses as inspiration for his writing exercises.<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0944947\/\"><strong>Game of Thrones<\/strong><\/a><strong>: <\/strong>A fantasy TV series based on the books by George R.R. Martin, known for its complex characters and unpredictable plot.<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt11126994\/\"><strong>Arcane<\/strong><\/a><strong>:<\/strong> A fantasy TV series that features a magepunk aesthetic, where magic is combined with technology.<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0458254\/\"><strong>The Colbert Report<\/strong><\/a><strong>:<\/strong> A satirical news show that once featured Brandon Sanderson\u2019s picture in a segment about Zeppelins.<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.history.com\/\"><strong>The History Channel<\/strong><\/a><strong>:<\/strong> A TV channel that Brandon Sanderson\u2019s former editor, Moshe, used to watch as a form of self-medication.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Institutions<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.byu.edu\/\"><strong>Brigham Young University<\/strong><\/a><strong>:<\/strong> The university where Brandon Sanderson currently teaches a creative writing class.<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/uci.edu\/\"><strong>UC Irvine<\/strong><\/a><strong>:<\/strong> The university where Brandon Sanderson\u2019s 8th-grade English teacher, Ms. Reader, wanted to be a professor.<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thehugoawards.org\/\"><strong>The Hugo Awards<\/strong><\/a><strong>:<\/strong> The Academy Awards of science fiction and fantasy, where Brandon Sanderson once received a pin from Cory Doctorow.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Concepts<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Constructed_language\"><strong>Conlang<\/strong><\/a><strong>:<\/strong> A constructed language, such as Klingon or Elvish, that is created specifically for a fictional world.<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.andrews.edu\/life\/student-movement\/issues\/2022-10-20\/ideas-worldbuilders-disease.html\"><strong>World Builder\u2019s Disease<\/strong><\/a><strong>:<\/strong> The tendency for fantasy writers to get bogged down in world-building at the expense of the story.<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hero%27s_journey\"><strong>The Hero\u2019s Journey<\/strong><\/a><strong>: <\/strong>A common narrative structure in fantasy, where a hero goes on a quest, faces challenges, and ultimately triumphs over evil.<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Three-act_structure#:~:text=The%20three%2Dact%20structure%20is,the%20Confrontation%2C%20and%20the%20Resolution.\"><strong>Three Act Play<\/strong><\/a><strong>: <\/strong>A common narrative structure in plays and films, where the story is divided into three acts: setup, confrontation, and resolution.<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bkbass.com\/essays-articles-and-musings\/genre-studies\/everything-punk\/#:~:text=Magepunk%E2%80%94also%20sometimes%20called%20Dungeonpunk,coexist%20and%20are%20readily%20available.\"><strong>Magepunk<\/strong><\/a><strong>:<\/strong> A subgenre of fantasy where magic is combined with technology, such as in the TV series Arcane.<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/faq.brandonsanderson.com\/knowledge-base\/what-are-sandersons-laws-of-magic\/\"><strong>Sanderson\u2019s Laws of Magic<\/strong><\/a><strong>:<\/strong> Three rules that Brandon Sanderson follows when creating magic systems for his fantasy novels.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Companies<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dragonsteelbooks.com\/\"><strong>Dragonsteel<\/strong><\/a><strong>:<\/strong> Brandon Sanderson\u2019s company, which handles the production and distribution of his books and merchandise.<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/penguinrandomhouseaudio.com\/\"><strong>Random House Audio<\/strong><\/a><strong>:<\/strong> The audiobook publisher that Brandon Sanderson works with.<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/torpublishinggroup.com\/author\/brandon-sanderson\/\"><strong>Tor<\/strong><\/a><strong>:<\/strong> Brandon Sanderson\u2019s primary publisher for his fantasy novels.<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/us.macmillan.com\/\"><strong>Macmillan<\/strong><\/a><strong>:<\/strong> The parent company of Tor, which was involved in a dispute with Amazon over ebook pricing.<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.churchofjesuschrist.org\/?lang=eng\"><strong>The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints<\/strong><\/a><strong>:<\/strong> The religious organization that Brandon Sanderson is a member of, which influenced his decision to go on a mission to Korea.<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/celsius232.es\/\"><strong>Celsius<\/strong><\/a><strong>: <\/strong>A science fiction and fantasy convention in Spain that Brandon Sanderson has attended.<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/\"><strong>USA Today<\/strong><\/a><strong>:<\/strong> A national newspaper that once featured a story about Zeppelins, which led to Brandon Sanderson\u2019s picture appearing on The Colbert Report.<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/discord.com\/\"><strong>Discord<\/strong><\/a>: A social media platform that Brandon Sanderson uses to communicate with his beta readers.<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/booktalk.com\/\"><strong>Book Talk<\/strong><\/a><strong>:<\/strong> A book review website that has helped drive sales of Brandon Sanderson\u2019s book, Tress of the Emerald Sea.<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/store.steampowered.com\/\"><strong>Steam<\/strong><\/a>: A digital distribution platform for video games, which Brandon Sanderson uses to play games in his free time.<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kickstarter.com\/\"><strong>Kickstarter<\/strong><\/a>: A crowdfunding platform that Brandon Sanderson has used to successfully fund the publication of his books.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Additional helpful items: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLA3ZfaJiaf5xCQwC1c5sguPR1vmzT6Yiw&amp;feature=shared\"><strong>\u201cBrandon Sanderson\u2019s BYU Lectures on Writing Fantasy\u201d<\/strong><\/a><strong>:<\/strong> This YouTube playlist contains Brandon Sanderson\u2019s lectures on writing fantasy, which cover topics such as worldbuilding, magic systems, and character development.<\/li>\n<li><strong>\u201c<\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sejong_the_Great\"><strong>King Sejong the Great<\/strong><\/a><strong>\u201c: <\/strong>This Wikipedia article provides information on King Sejong the Great, the Korean king who created the Korean writing system.<\/li>\n<li><strong>\u201c<\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hangul\"><strong>Hangul<\/strong><\/a><strong>\u201c:<\/strong> This Wikipedia article provides information on the Korean writing system, including its history and structure.<\/li>\n<li><strong>\u201c<\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ryanestrada.com\/learntoreadkoreanin15minutes\/\"><strong>How to Read Korean in 15 Minutes<\/strong><\/a><strong>\u201c:<\/strong> This webcomic provides a basic introduction to the Korean writing system.<\/li>\n<li><strong>\u201c<\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Esperanto\"><strong>Esperanto<\/strong><\/a><strong>\u201c: <\/strong>This Wikipedia article provides information on Esperanto, a constructed language that is intended to be easy to learn and use as a universal second language.<\/li>\n<li><strong>\u201c<\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/writingexcuses.com\/\"><strong>Writing Excuses<\/strong><\/a><strong>\u201c:<\/strong> This website provides information on the Writing Excuses podcast, which features Brandon Sanderson and other authors discussing the craft of writing.<\/li>\n<li><strong>\u201c<\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brandonsanderson.com\/blogs\/blog\/sandersons-first-law\"><strong>Brandon Sanderson\u2019s First Law of Magic<\/strong><\/a><strong>\u201c: <\/strong>This blog post explains Brandon Sanderson\u2019s First Law of Magic, which states that an author\u2019s ability to solve conflict with magic is directly proportional to how well the reader<sup>1<\/sup> understands said magic.<\/li>\n<li><strong>\u201c<\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/jakonrath.blogspot.com\/2010\/12\/death-spiral.html\"><strong>The Death Spiral in Publishing<\/strong><\/a><strong>\u201c: <\/strong>This article explains the concept of the death spiral in publishing, where a book\u2019s sales decline with each subsequent printing, leading to fewer copies being ordered and less visibility in bookstores.<\/li>\n<li><strong>\u201c<\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brandonsanderson.com\/pages\/what-is-the-cosmere\"><strong>The Cosmere<\/strong><\/a><strong>\u201c:<\/strong> This Coppermind page provides information on the Cosmere, the shared universe that connects many of Brandon Sanderson\u2019s fantasy novels.<\/li>\n<li><strong>\u201c<\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/faq.brandonsanderson.com\/knowledge-base\/what-are-sandersons-laws-of-magic\/\"><strong>Sanderson\u2019s Three Laws of Magic<\/strong><\/a><strong>\u201c:<\/strong> This blog post explains Brandon Sanderson\u2019s Three Laws of Magic, which are guidelines that he follows when creating magic systems for his fantasy novels.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Timestamps: <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>00:00 Meet Brandon Sanderson<\/p>\n<p>07:10 Soundcheck Fun and Memory Skills<\/p>\n<p>11:21 Brandon\u2019s Writing Journey and Creative Process<\/p>\n<p>25:35 Teaching Creative Writing and Publishing Insights<\/p>\n<p>38:08 Brandon\u2019s Early Reading Experience<\/p>\n<p>44:18 Discovering the Magic of Storytelling<\/p>\n<p>45:32 A Journey from C Student to A Student<\/p>\n<p>47:02 The Influence of a Great Teacher<\/p>\n<p>48:51 Understanding Narrative and Plot<\/p>\n<p>56:42 The Art of Character Development<\/p>\n<p>01:09:42 Balancing Writing and Personal Life<\/p>\n<p>01:24:04 Meeting Editors and Early Struggles<\/p>\n<p>01:24:30 First Book Sale and Financial Realities<\/p>\n<p>01:25:28 The Danger of the Second Book<\/p>\n<p>01:25:49 Hitting the Bestseller List<\/p>\n<p>01:26:34 Amazon and the Changing Market<\/p>\n<p>01:29:03 Entrepreneurial Shift and Direct Sales<\/p>\n<p>01:36:45 Building a Team and Crowdfunding<\/p>\n<p>01:42:50 Kickstarter Success and Lessons Learned<\/p>\n<p>01:52:22 COVID and Creative Freedom<\/p>\n<p>02:02:53 Brandon Sanderson\u2019s Colbert Report Cameo<\/p>\n<p>02:03:48 Kickstarter Success and Subscription Boxes<\/p>\n<p>02:09:01 Test Readers and Feedback Process<\/p>\n<p>02:14:16 Warbreaker and Creative Commons Experiment<\/p>\n<p>02:22:50 Navigating Publishing Deals and Platforms<\/p>\n<p>02:33:26 The Wheel of Time Opportunity<\/p>\n<p>02:42:36 The Call to Finish The Wheel of Time<\/p>\n<p>02:43:10 Negotiating the Deal<\/p>\n<p>02:43:56 The Struggles of Mistborn<\/p>\n<p>02:45:02 The Cosmere and Building an Audience<\/p>\n<p>02:48:25 The Death Spiral in Publishing<\/p>\n<p>02:52:29 Magic Systems and Their Importance<\/p>\n<p>03:00:39 Sanderson\u2019s Three Laws of Magic<\/p>\n<p>03:14:35 The Zero Law and Final Thoughts<\/p>\n<p><h3 class=\"jp-relatedposts-headline\"><em>Related<\/em><\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/tim.blog\/podcast\"><strong>The Tim Ferriss Show<\/strong><\/a> <\/em><span>is one <\/span>of the most popular podcasts in the world with more than one billion downloads. It has been selected for &#8220;Best of Apple Podcasts&#8221; three times, it is often the #1 interview podcast across all of Apple Podcasts, and it&#8217;s been ranked #1 out of 400,000+ podcasts on many occasions. To listen to any of the past episodes for free, check out <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/tim.blog\/podcast\">this page<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/hop.clickbank.net\/?affiliate=infohatch&amp;vendor=J1R2C\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10614 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px.png\" alt=\"Profit Gen\" width=\"400\" height=\"217\" srcset=\"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px.png 400w, https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px-300x163.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><br \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Brandon Sanderson (@BrandSanderson) is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Stormlight Archive series and the Mistborn saga; the middle-grade series Alcatraz vs. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10010,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10009","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-growth"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10009","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10009"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10009\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10010"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10009"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10009"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10009"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}