Scott King
Out of all the books you've written which do you think is the best?
Brandon Sanderson
Well, Emperor's Soul is the one that won a Hugo, which gives it some objective credibility for being the best. [A Memory of Light] was the hardest by a long shot, and in some ways the most satisfying, but I'm perhaps most proud of The Way of Kings. So one of those three, likely.
M.M. Schill
I always wondered. You say you produce clean drafts, and you apparently produce stories quickly (relatively to a lot of people I've met.), how do you keep cranking it away? What is the motivation to keep creating? (I think this might be the key to why some many people start and never finish projects. ??)
Brandon Sanderson
I'm not actually a fast writer, hour by hour, but I am very consistent. I enjoy writing, but I will admit, some days it is hard. What keeps me going? This has changed over the years. At first, it was a desire to prove myself, and to make a living doing this thing I love. Eventually, it has transitioned into a feeling of obligation to the readers mixed with a desire to see these stories in my head told.
Shauna Mahana
If you had to pick any one of your characters to be your new best friend (besides your wife) for the rest of your life, who would would it be and what do you imagine would be your weekend "Let's hang out, but I don't want to plan anything, so let's do the 'usual'" ritual?
Brandon Sanderson
I think I'd dig hanging out with Sazed. The usual would be, "tell me about a religion you've studied."
Anderson Tiago
How do you feel on being read and worshiped as one of the best writers in the world by people that doesn't even speak English?
Brandon Sanderson
Humbled, honestly. I don't know if "worshiped" is the right term, and I would hope that most people are focused on the stories, rather than on me. They're what matter. That said, it has been incredible to see the reception my work has received.
Marcus Glantz
How do you keep so many different worlds you created separate so they don't "float" into each other?
Brandon Sanderson
Lots of notes, a good internal wiki, and an even better continuity editor. (In the form of Peter Ahlstrom.)
Jerry Dol
What has been your favorite book to write so far?
Brandon Sanderson
I've liked them all for different reasons. Some are fun and fast, others are deep and challenging. My favorite would change day by day based on my mood.
Jerry Dol
Do you think that there will ever be a movie trilogy or tv series of The Stormlight Archive like they have done with Game of Thrones and Harry Potter?
Brandon Sanderson
Boy, I'd love it if there were. I will work to make it happen, though with Stormlight I probably won't be optioning the books for film until a few more are out. I don't have a lot of power over what Hollywood decides to do, though.
Lee Allen
When Kaladin helped Adolin fight in the arena, did Elhokar notice him Surgebinding?
Brandon Sanderson
RAFO. :)
Hanna
What advice would you give to someone who is trying to write an epic fantasy novel for the first time?
Brandon Sanderson
Turn off the internal editor. Write with passion, and don't spend a lot of time on revision. You will grow so quickly as a writer during your first book that you want to power through it, learn a lot about the process, THEN do your revisions. Otherwise, you might end up stuck in an endless loop of revising the first few chapters.
Also, don't spend so long planning that you don't get around to writing. The goal is to train yourself to learn how to write—and you only do that by actually writing.
Mandi
Both Parshendi and Horneaters are able to see spren, ordinary humans can't. Is there a connection between these abilities, or do they come from completely different sources?
Brandon Sanderson
Horneaters are human/Parshendi hybrids. (There are several Roshar races that have Parshendi blood in them.)
Matteo
Why do you so often include some sort of religious government in so many of your worlds? Is it something that comes from looking at how history developed on Earth, or do you think your religious faith influences the way you write/worldbuild?
Brandon Sanderson
There are a lot of reasons. One is because it happened that way so often in our world. Another is my fascination with religion, and wanting to explore what people do with it. The biggest one, however, is related to how I worldbuild. I like things to be very interconnected, as I think that's how real life is. So, when I build a religion, I ask myself what its political ties are, as well as its relationship with things like the magic, economics, and gender roles of the culture.
Argent
Do all Surgebinders breathe Stormlight in, or are there other ways? Is Lift one-of-a-kind in this regard?
Brandon Sanderson
Lift is one of a kind.
Alex Clarke
Did the Davar Soulcaster ever work?
Brandon Sanderson
Yes, it did. (Good question.)
Argent
You've said that there are three types of Blades in The Stormlight Archive. We've seen "dead" Shardblades, Honorblades - is the third type the "living spren" Shardblades, or is there another type we haven't seen?
Brandon Sanderson
Nightblood is a very unique kind of Shardblade, but IS a Shardblade.
Adrienne
Can the various forms of Investiture on other worlds in the cosmere be classified as "end positive" or "end negative" like they are on Scadrial?
Brandon Sanderson
Some can. Not all.
Kritika
I'm blown away by all the different types of people you portray in The Stormlight Archive (different cultures, social classes, genders, varying levels of...morality). What kinds of things help you create such diverse casts of characters? I'm imagining that you have a secret encyclopedia somewhere that helps you keep all your cultures and customs straight!
Brandon Sanderson
I do, actually, have a secret encyclopedia. It's a wiki on my computer, filled with information. That helps me keep things straight. However, specific inspirations are often in the people I meet. I do spend a fair amount of time looking through the internet for blogs/forums populated by people who think very differently from myself. This helps me create realistic portrayals.
Sharade
The fantasy universe is very fond of antiheroes lately, so I was surprised when I read your books with charismatic and inspiring lead characters, who, almost single-handedly, give faith to people and make them claim back their dignity. What is so compelling about creating characters such as Kaladin or Kelsier?
Brandon Sanderson
I find that the antihero angle is very well covered by other authors. I am fascinated by people who are trying to do what is right because most everyone I know is actually a good person--and a good person needing being forced to make unpleasant decisions is more interesting to me. The great books I read as a youth inspired me; I'd rather dwell on that kind of story than the opposite. (That said, it's great that the genre is big enough for both types of stories.)
It IS interesting to me that over the last twenty years, what I do has become the distinctive one.
Kyrah Dicroce
Which of your worlds, if any at all, have ice cream, or at least, the ability to make ice cream?
Brandon Sanderson
Scadrial probably has it already. Roshar is farthest, not having as much in the way of milk products.
EODO
Of the 7 remaining Stormlight Archive books (or 3 in the sub-series), which one are you most looking forward to writing?
Brandon Sanderson
Book ten.
William Anderson
Who is the oldest character we know?
Brandon Sanderson
Frost is almost certainly the oldest by a small amount. After that, Hoid.
Jerry Dol
How much time do you usually spend on creating a magic system?
Brandon Sanderson
It really depends on the book, the length of the story, and how integral to magic is to that particular story. Some are as fast as a couple of days; some take months and months. It is also difficult to answer this question because I spend a lot of time thinking about a book before writing, and the Magic is often part of that. I will often spend years with an idea growing in the back of my mind before writing--and in those cases, the actual "outlining" may take a month, but that doesn't begin to cover the time spent on the idea.
Jesse
I love stories in any medium, and I would love to tell one myself. But, I don't think I have anything in particular to say that hasn't been done a thousand times before. I invariably come across some story that already parallels my ideas. What makes a story worth telling even when its like has been done before?
Brandon Sanderson
The answer is simple: YOU are what makes your story worth telling. Harry Potter wasn't an original story, and yet told very well, it became an excellent series.
My suggestion to you is to ask what unique passions or life experiences you have that aren't found in the average fantasy book. This genre still has a lot of room to grow. A person passionate about sports could write a very different fantasy novel from one passionate about lawn care—assuming they take what they know and love and make us, as readers, come to know and love it as well.
Good luck!
Tirithna
As [Feruchemy] is the magic system combined from Ruin and Preservation's powers, and they created humankind on Scadrial, how is it that it only occurs in persons with Terrispeople in their ancestry?
Brandon Sanderson
RAFO :)
Jerry Dol
Won't it be difficult to keep the storyline interesting for 10 books straight?
Brandon Sanderson
We'll have to see! I think the storyline for the series is quite captivating, but I've never done something this long before.
Leinton
So a friend and I who share a passion for sword fighting have been trying to find the real world correlates for the stances that Sharbearers use. So far we've made connections between Windstance and Haidong Gumdo, and Smokestance and the late Medieval/early Renaissance fencing. I was wondering if you could give us more information or at least hints on the other real world correlates?
Brandon Sanderson
I developed these with Ben McSweeney's help, and we plan to include representations of all the stances eventually. However, a few are NOT based on real-world equivalents, because of the size of Shardblades. Look at how various very-large weapons like zweihanders or Zanbat's were used.
Tirithna
Does Shardplate have one general style as a pattern, or do different types exist (like European armour vs. Japanese armour), as the different kingdoms have different cultures?
Brandon Sanderson
Different types exist, but it's more along order lines than cultural ones. (That said, a person's culture could certainly influence their armor.)
Mandi
In [Words of Radiance] Shallan notes that spren don't appear around dense groups of people, even if emotions are high. Why is that?
Brandon Sanderson
You'll find out more eventually. There are several reasons, but imagine how a creature attracted to a specific color would respond if you dumped every color together in a big mess.
Val
How quickly are you able to get back into the storyline flow when you begin another book? e.g. Do you have to review notes extensively for a few days?
Brandon Sanderson
This is one of the most difficult things for me to do. I wish I had a better way to do it, actually. I usually lose a few days or more while trying to get into a book I've stopped for some reason. My primary method is to read what I've written before (or, if it is a new book in a series, the last part of the previous book.) That tends to help get me into a mood, so to speak. But it can take days of thinking, working, and throwing away my work to get into the groove.
EHyde
On Roshar, do they have an equivalent for cats, like how they have axehounds instead of dogs?
Brandon Sanderson
No, they do not. Though there are various domesticated animals fulfilling a similar role across the planet. (Domesticated minks and pigs come to mind.)
Annie Lown
In the Wheel of Time books, did the Creator have a power, similar to the True Power that the Dark One had?
Brandon Sanderson
I'm afraid I don't have the answer for this, not for certain. I think that readers of the text could argue both ways. For example, a certain event in the epilogue of [A Memory of Light] could be interpreted this way--though everyone in Team Jordan seems to have a different opinion on what is going on, and [Robert Jordan] didn't leave an explanation.
William Anderson
Why are do the Windrunners, Elsecallers, Stonewards, and Dustbringers have an extra connection on the Surgebinding diagram? Why do the Edgedancer, Skybreaker, Lightweaver, Willshaper's have a broken connection on the diagram? What are the dragon type things in the back of the diagram?
Brandon Sanderson
The dragon type things are a certain animal you've seen several places in the story so far.
These connections will be explained eventually, but remember it's not the orders being connected, but instead their elemental representations. This diagram is very metaphysical, and some of the elements of it are cultural.
Mariya Kiryakova
What was your inspiration for Kaladin?
Brandon Sanderson
Kaladin was inspired originally by reading about surgeons in the middle ages.
Hanna
Do Zahel and Hoid know each other?
Brandon Sanderson
They've met.
Otherwise, RAFO.
Justin Carmony
One of my favorite things about being a Brandon Sanderson fan is how consistently you publish books, I always know you'll have a new book coming out without having to wait years. What do you do to help keep up the consistency and overcome the times when you sit down and the "creative juices" aren't there, or at least not easily accessible?
Brandon Sanderson
I throw away a fair amount of fiction. If it isn't flowing, I write anyway, then file that chapter away under junk. I also hop projects a lot. I've found this makes me much more creative and eager to write.
Alex Clarke
Did the Lord Ruler know how to worldhop?
Brandon Sanderson
He was familiar with the idea that people lived on other planets, but had no interest--or experience--in visiting other places. During his Ascension, he could have left Scadrial, if he'd wished.
Krystal Hammond
How much do you use science to influence/guide your world building in what most people would identify as a fantasy setting?
Brandon Sanderson
I use it quite a bit, but as I'm writing fantasy, I go by the rule "do what is awesome first, then explain it." Meaning, I am looking to tell a certain kind of story, and while science is often a springboard into a magic, I will sometimes chose to do what I think makes the story better as opposed to what is scientifically rational. The way the Metallic Arts work with mass is one example.
Marina
You said that Shallan will have different apprenticeships, we know 2 , Will be Hoid another?
Brandon Sanderson
RAFO. :)
Marina
We know that Pattern was with Shallan before the murder of Shallan's mother. Will we see in the next books how they met?
Brandon Sanderson
Yes, you will probably see this some day.
Adrienne
In Well of Ascension, it mentions that the language of Terris had a gender neutral pronoun. If you actually constructed the language, what was that pronoun? Or did you just leave it as its English translation of "it"?
Brandon Sanderson
I didn't spend a long time on the languages in Scadrial, since most people were speaking the same tongue. I just used "it" in my own writings. Roshar has a lot more detail on the languages, because culture-clash is a bigger part of the theme of the series.
Marina
Zahel/Vasher is in Roshar for Nightblood? Will we know in Stormlight Archive why these two were separated? Or in the sequel of Warbreaker?
Brandon Sanderson
The Warbreaker sequel will give clues about this, but the actual event happened between that and [The Way of Kings]. So I'm not sure where I'll slip it in.
Moogle
If a non-Windrunner Surgebinder (who had spoken all the Ideals of their Radiant Order) summoned Jezrien's Honorblade, what color eyes would they get? A blend? Different colors for each eye?
Brandon Sanderson
:) I'm going to RAFO eye color questions for the moment. We'll actually be dealing with some of these in the books. Maybe not the specific ones you ask, but the concepts in general.
Brian Seavey
Do you have any advice for aspiring writers who are educated in a field other than literature and in a profession already that is not centered around writing?
Brandon Sanderson
Yes! I'll tell you that you're in luck. Take what you've learned in your field of education, and in your profession, and apply it to your writing. RJ used his experience as a solider; Grisham made a career out of writing books related to his work. You have special experience and knowledge that will make your books distinctive. Make use of it!
Judy
Brandon, your books are always seamless and so well put together. Do you use any specific software when compiling a story?
Brandon Sanderson
I'm afraid I don't. I use Microsoft Word. Compiling is all done the old-fashioned way with lots of editing.
Brady Dill
What kind of college classes (not English courses) would best prepare someone for writing fantasy?
Brandon Sanderson
Whatever you're fascinated by! You can incorporate basically anything into a story. If you love numbers, study economics. If you like history, pick an area and type and become an expert. Whether it be law or botany, you will find a way to use it in your books.
Noah Hill
Is there any chance we will have a deeper backstory for Bridge 4 members? Maybe an anthology or something with short stories that detail backstory for Rock, Lopen, etc? That would be amazing!
Brandon Sanderson
I do intend to dig into some of them a little. (Rock, for example, is currently plotted to have a viewpoint sequence in a later book.)
Argent
The "God Surges" you mentioned recently, are they a part of the Way of Kings frontsheet?
Brandon Sanderson
All I said regarding this was to tell a fan that it was possible to make an analogy between the god metals on Scadrial and certain powers on Roshar. However, these are not a codified part of the magic system.
Moogle
If you used Stormlight to Awaken, would you drain color or create frost?
Brandon Sanderson
You'll have to see if this happens in the future! (Note that mixing the investitures is usually not easy to do.)
William Anderson
Can "modern" (as in Adolin's) Shardplate be summoned similar to how "dead" Shardblades (as in Oathbringer) can be?
Brandon Sanderson
RAFO.
Kirsty Cabot
Were there any characters you found difficult to connect with when writing the remaining books of The Wheel of Time series?
Brandon Sanderson
I've never really been able to get into Cadsuane as a character, and so she was the most difficult for me to do. I love Aviendha and Tuon, but both of them think so differently from the rest of the characters that they gave me a challenge.
Crimzonwarlock
In your opinion who is stronger in the the world of dreams? Perrin or Egwene?
Brandon Sanderson
I'd say that at this point, it's less a matter of who is stronger, and more a matter of what they're doing. Perrin could probably win a fight, but his raw knowledge and understanding is less--he works on instinct.
Anthony
Sixth of the Dusk doesn't have much that directly ties it to the cosmere. Is this a world we'll see later?
Brandon Sanderson
It is not hugely important to the cosmere. We will see signs and hints of it, but don't expect a book set there.
Catherine
Does a Shard's power being manifested either physically or not (through metals vs through light) have anything to do with its individual abilities/powers?
Brandon Sanderson
RAFO. :)
William Anderson
Can a Seeker inside a Coppercloud Seek someone out of one?
Brandon Sanderson
It is possible.
William Anderson
What about a Soother instead of a Seeker?
Brandon Sanderson
Yes, again possible.
William Anderson
Do all Epics' weaknesses come from things in their past?
Brandon Sanderson
RAFO.
WeiryWriter
In Elantris the Aon used for healing is Aon Ien, but the definition given in the back of the book says it means "Wisdom". The other Aons have effects and definitions that go together, but "Healing" and "Wisdom" don't seem to match. Is there something there or is it an error?
Brandon Sanderson
It's more a cultural thing. When I was naming the Aons I had some of them cross-align like this because I feel that languages, and cultures, are often messy. (Drive on a parkway, park in a driveway kind of issues.) This is the only one that ended up in the glossary that was like this, though, so I probably should have spotted that and changed it.
Heather
Do you get inspiration for the settings in your books from anywhere?
Brandon Sanderson
Settings are often inspired by something I've seen in our world, then taken to the extreme. The storm on Roshar, the mists on Scadrial...even Elantris was based on my readings about leper colonies.
Jaz
When you're writing/planning a new series, how much time would you say you spend on world building? Do you like to have a good sense of the world before you starting writing or do you adapt and evolve the world as you write?
Brandon Sanderson
I do a moderate amount ahead of time, but it depends on the series--most importantly, the length of the book. If I'm writing a shorter work, I can develop more on-the-fly, knowing I can make it all consistent after the fact. If I'm writing in a series, I need much more ahead of time. Developing the world for The Way of Kings took years.
Trevor Allen
There is certain type of chicken that makes two appearances in Words of Radiance, is that chicken an Aviar?
Brandon Sanderson
No, but good question.
Jason Wright
If a kandra eats a bead of lerasium, can he burn it? Alternatively can he gain Allomancy via Hemalurgy?
Brandon Sanderson
Yes on both counts.
Moogle
Would a Returned who bonded an Honorblade have their eye color change when they summon it?
Brandon Sanderson
That's a RAFO! (More because I don't have my notes handy than anything else, though.)
Kurkistan
Could Miles heal back his Allomancy if it was spiked out of him?
Brandon Sanderson
No, he could not. He would no longer be an Allomancer. Also, he'd probably be dead. :)
Kurkistan
Thanks!
I'd thought maybe he could just do some super-tapping from his existing Health in his goldminds (since he'd still have his Feruchemy)...
Brandon Sanderson
Oh, I see what you're asking. Using Feruchemy to heal the removed portion of soul. That's actually plausible, not so different from healing other kinds of soul-wounds. If he survived, then yes, this actually might work. (That's why I get for reading the questions so quickly.)
William Anderson
Does Khriss write the Ars Arcanum?
Brandon Sanderson
RAFO.
Christien Skousen
Were the aliens in Sixth of the Dusk from [Scadrial]?
Brandon Sanderson
RAFO. :)
All I've said is that they're from a planet you've seen/heard of before.
Catherine
Does the metal on [Scadrial] contain within it any sort of spren-like being, or anything similar to that, and also, does the Splintered nature of the Shards on [Sel] have anything to do with how the magic manifests itself without a physical representation?
Brandon Sanderson
Scadrial did not have an analogous, self-aware Invested set of entities. The power has to be "let go of" in a way.
William Anderson
What is the term for a full Feruchemist who is also a Mistborn?
Brandon Sanderson
They use Full Feruchemist right now. We'll see if it develops into something else.
Peter Ahlstrom
I asked Brandon about that "Full Feruchemist" question and he said he misread the question.
Connor
Are you planning to release White Sand as a graphic novel exclusively, or will the story be published as a regular novel further down the line?
Brandon Sanderson
The plan is graphic novel right now. We'll see how the reception is, but I think it would be awesome if this entry into the cosmere story were always in a graphic form.