In today’s Journal
* More Brandon Sanderson
* Mentorships Discontinued
* Of Interest
More Brandon Sanderson
Another very short but important post today, primarily to mention two things:
First, I took the time to look around and find Brandon Sanderson’s “318-R” course, the course on writing that he teaches at BYU. It’s free online (with his blessing) in a series of YouTube videos. I encourage you to watch at least the Course Overview (58 minutes) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4ZDBOc2tX8&list=PLH3mK1NZn9QqOSj3ObrP3xL8tEJQ12-vL.
If you go to that particular URL, you’ll see not only the Course Overview video, but the list of the other videos on the right side of the screen. I have not watched the videos, so this is not a personal endorsement of Sanderson, but a lot of others do endorse him.
Second, even if you already saw it, read “Brandon Sanderson’s Second Kickstarter,” but this time also read the comments. (Not mine so much, but the others.) You can find the article and comments at https://www.deanwesleysmith.com/brandon-helps-us-all-once-again/#comments. Lot of good stuff there that might help you decide whether to do a Kickstarter.
I have discontinued my mentorships. If there’s ever anything I can do to help with your writing, don’t hesitate to email me at harveystanbrough@gmail.com. If I can help, I will.
Talk with you again soon.
Of Interest
See “Immersion” at https://killzoneblog.com/2022/03/immersion.html.
See “How Angry Should Other Writers Be About Brandon Sanderson’s $22 Million Kickstarter?” (seriously???) at https://www.thepassivevoice.com/how-angry-should-other-writers-be-about-brandon-sandersons-22-million-kickstarter/. See PG’s take.
See “It’s Time to Come Clean” at https://www.thepassivevoice.com/its-time-to-come-clean/. A short, 16-minute video by Brandon Sanderson.
See “Fantasy author raises $19 million on Kickstarter in two days to self-publish new novels” at https://www.thepassivevoice.com/fantasy-author-raises-19-million-on-kickstarter-in-two-days-to-self-publish-new-novels/.
Disclaimer: In this blog, I provide advice on writing fiction. I advocate a technique called Writing Into the Dark. To be crystal clear, WITD is not “the only way” to write, nor will I ever say it is. However, as I am the only writer who advocates WITD both publicly and regularly, I will continue to do so, among myriad other topics.
There are a lot of people in this world for whom writing ONE book and getting it published – big publisher, literary press, academic press, but not self – is THE teaching credential for the rest of their lives.
I’ve talked to some who were quite bitter about that experience, and never intend to try to write another and get it published.
I’m not sure I understand what they’re bitter about. Were they somehow “required” to write a book and publish it through a traditional press in order to get the opportunity to teach? And why would they want to teach writing in the first place if they weren’t interested in writing themselves?
Either way, if I heard anyone say they would never “try to write another and get it published,” my reaction probably would be a frown (to indicate Why are you telling me this?), a shrug, and “So?” The loss of the ability or desire to tell stories “hurts” only the would-be writer, not the world.
I love Brandon’s lectures. He seems like such a nice person and his courses teach you a lot. I certainly benefitted from watching his videos.
Its sad to see how bitter some writers can be. Why not be happy for him instead of crying that he doesn’t deserve the money? I’m sure if the roles were reversed and it was them in that position, they wouldn’t turn it down because they already make good money.
Thanks, Matt. I guess that’s just how some people are.