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Lecture #5: Worldbuilding Part One — Brandon Sanderson on Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy

Brandon Sanderson・60 minutes read

Brandon's workshop focuses on world-building, with upcoming discussions on short stories with Mary Robinette. Sanderson's Laws, including the First Law on magic systems, are explored, highlighting the importance of establishing rules for reader satisfaction and storytelling engagement. The text emphasizes the balance between hard and soft magic systems, incorporating flaws, limitations, and costs to drive plot progression and character development, ultimately urging writers to prioritize storytelling and intriguing concepts in their world-building for compelling narratives.

Insights

Sanderson's First Law emphasizes that reader satisfaction in magical problem-solving is tied to their understanding of the magic system, highlighting the importance of clear rules in magic systems for engaging storytelling.
Incorporating flaws, limitations, and costs in magic systems, as detailed by Sanderson's Second Law, adds depth and intrigue to narratives, driving character development and narrative tension while balancing the use of magical elements in storytelling.

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Recent questions

What is Sanderson's First Law?
The reader's satisfaction with magical problem-solving is tied to their understanding of the magic system.
What is the Monkey's Paw story about?
Making wishes with unknown consequences leading to horror.
How does Sanderson's Second Law impact storytelling?
Flaws and limitations in magic systems add depth.
What themes are prevalent in Superman stories?
Focusing on flaws, limitations, and costs of powers.
How should authors approach world-building for fantasy novels?
Focus on finding interesting problems or hooks.

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Summary

00:00

"Sanderson's Laws: Balancing Wonder and Rules"

Brandon received a request from his workshop participants to focus on world building for the next two weeks.
Mary Robinette is scheduled to visit on the 20th for a discussion on short stories.
Following the world building sessions, there will be a Q&A session and prose discussions.
Sanderson's Laws were created by Brandon after realizing a flaw in Mistborn 1's ending.
Sanderson's First Law states that the reader's satisfaction with magical problem-solving is tied to their understanding of the magic system.
Brandon's initial belief in magic systems requiring rules was challenged during a panel discussion at a convention.
He developed a new perspective on magic systems, emphasizing a balance between wonder and problem-solving.
A rule-based magic system involves characters using defined tools to solve problems creatively.
Soft magic systems, where consequences and costs are unknown, can also be effective in storytelling.
The satisfaction in storytelling comes from characters using tools or magic creatively to solve problems, enhancing reader engagement.

15:04

"Magic systems in fantasy stories"

The Monkey's Paw story revolves around making wishes with unknown consequences, transitioning from a sense of wonder to horror.
Wishes made on the monkey's paw always result in awful and frightening outcomes as the story progresses.
The story employs a soft magic system where characters can make wishes but cannot control the consequences.
Lord of the Rings uses a hard magic system with the ring, turning users invisible and extending lifespans, but with known costs like being seen by Sauron or turning into Gollum.
Gandalf's magic in Lord of the Rings is mysterious and powerful, with consequences that are not always clear, emphasizing the characters' smallness.
Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss features both hard and soft magic, contrasting magical devices with sympathetic magic and naming magic.
The contrast between engineering and poetry classes in Name of the Wind showcases the different disciplines of magic.
It is beneficial for stories to have a balance between hard and soft magic, leaving room for mystery and exploration in subsequent books.
Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics often involve contradictions that are resolved by understanding how the laws interact, showcasing foreshadowing in storytelling.
Foreshadowing in narratives can lead to satisfying conclusions, allowing readers to anticipate outcomes based on established setups, as seen in Oathbringer and Lord of the Rings.

28:42

"Magic systems: Promises, payoffs, and limitations"

The setup for characters in the movies differs; in the third movie, they defend Minas Tirith with a promise of protection, while Aragorn saves them with ghosts.
Emotional reactions to the movies vary due to promises and payoffs in the narrative.
The importance of setting up promises and payoffs in storytelling is highlighted, ensuring readers receive what they were promised.
Avoiding info dumps in explaining magic systems is crucial; various methods like dialogue and practical demonstrations are discussed.
Balancing tension and explanation in scenes is essential to keep readers engaged and avoid confusion.
Constructing scenes deliberately to showcase magic while revealing character details is key in fantasy writing.
Sanderson's Second Law emphasizes that flaws and limitations in magic systems are more intriguing than powers alone.
Incorporating costs and limitations in magic systems adds depth and storytelling potential, making them more engaging.
Examples like flying only when parents are asleep or risking a loved one's life when using magic illustrate the impact of limitations on storytelling.
The Wheel of Time series exemplifies the balance between mystical powers and the potential consequences of using them.

41:21

"Superman's Flaws and Magical Costs Drive Stories"

The prologue sets a high-stakes tone by depicting a character who goes mad and kills loved ones.
Superman films historically struggle due to the challenge of portraying his immense power effectively.
Small-screen adaptations of Superman, like "Lois and Clark," succeed due to limited special effects budgets.
Superman stories often revolve around three main themes: a stronger opponent, kryptonite weakening him, or his powers being ineffective.
The success of Superman stories lies in focusing on his flaws, limitations, and the costs associated with his powers.
When developing magical elements in storytelling, conflicts often revolve around character flaws, magic limitations, and costs.
Flaws in characters or magic systems can be addressed through character growth or understanding the magic better.
Limitations in magic, like directional constraints, can lead to narrative tension and character development.
Costs in magic systems, such as resource depletion, can drive plot progression and add depth to the story.
Storytelling often centers on exploring flaws, limitations, and costs, whether in characters or magical elements.

53:47

Embracing limitations in storytelling for character depth.

The Rithmatist features individuals with magic abilities and those without, with a character who admires magic but lacks it.
The story focuses on accepting limitations rather than overcoming flaws.
Different climaxes are crafted for stories centered on working with limitations.
Characters' journeys and climaxes are crucial considerations in storytelling.
Quirky traits can enhance characters, like Luke's unbeatable space chess game skills.
Quirky powers can be added for fun and character depth, not just problem-solving.
The balance between quirky powers and plot progression is essential.
The Stormlight Archive's history and challenges in world-building are detailed.
The importance of expanding existing elements rather than adding new ones is emphasized.
Deep exploration of a few concepts is preferred over superficial inclusion of many in world-building for better storytelling.

01:07:13

"Prioritize storytelling over exhaustive world-building"

The lecture emphasizes the importance of finding an interesting problem or hook in world-building for fantasy novels, pushing writers to expand their views on storytelling and science fiction.
Authors are advised to focus on essential world-building elements, using the "iceberg theory" as a guide, where only necessary details are shown to readers while hinting at a deeper, unexplored world.
In the context of professional writing in the sci-fi/fantasy genre, writers are encouraged to prioritize storytelling over exhaustive world-building, learning to "fake it" by providing only essential details and hinting at a rich, unseen world.
Sanderson's Zeroeth Law advises writers to prioritize what is "awesome" in their storytelling, starting with cool ideas and working backward to create a compelling narrative, emphasizing the importance of creating a great story above all else.

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