Brandon Sanderson's Blog, page 18
November 23, 2019
I Hate Dragons Chapter Two
Starsight Available on 11-26-19!
The highly-anticipated sequel to Skyward.
LEARN MORE
Skyward Illustration (C) Charlie Bowater
SKYWARD NOW AVAILABLE!
Brandon's new young adult
novel from Delacorte Books.
LEARN MORE
Skyward Illustration (C) Charlie Bowater
' htmlDivCss '
' htmlDivCss '
STATE OF THE
SANDERSON
Every December
Brandon updates
readers on the state
of each of his projects.
#default-btn-838b57e85827687662c274ce0453d0fe {
border-radius: 1px;
font-size: 14px;
}
.btn-shadow#default-btn-838b57e85827687662c274ce0453d0fe {
-webkit-box-shadow: 0 1px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.12);
box-shadow: 0 1px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.12);
-webkit-transition: -webkit-box-shadow 0.2s ease-out, opacity 0.45s;
transition: box-shadow 0.2s ease-out, opacity 0.45s;
}
.btn-shadow#default-btn-838b57e85827687662c274ce0453d0fe:hover {
-webkit-box-shadow: 0 5px 11px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.18), 0 4px 15px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);
box-shadow: 0 5px 11px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.18), 0 4px 15px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);
}
.btn-flat#default-btn-838b57e85827687662c274ce0453d0fe {
-webkit-box-shadow: none;
box-shadow: none;
}
.btn-flat#default-btn-838b57e85827687662c274ce0453d0fe:hover {
-webkit-box-shadow: none;
box-shadow: none;
}
#default-btn-838b57e85827687662c274ce0453d0fe.ico-right-side > i {
margin-right: 0px;
margin-left: 8px;
}
#default-btn-838b57e85827687662c274ce0453d0fe > i {
margin-right: 8px;
font-size: 12px;
}
#default-btn-838b57e85827687662c274ce0453d0fe:not(:hover) {
border-width: 0px;
color: #b63636;
background: none !important;
padding: 12px 18px 12px 18px;
}
#default-btn-838b57e85827687662c274ce0453d0fe:not(:hover) * {
color: #b63636;
}
#default-btn-838b57e85827687662c274ce0453d0fe:hover {
border-width: 0px;
color: #b63636;
background: none !important;
padding: 12px 18px 12px 18px;
}
#default-btn-838b57e85827687662c274ce0453d0fe:hover * {
color: #b63636;
}
#default-btn-838b57e85827687662c274ce0453d0fe * {
vertical-align: middle;
}
READ THE LATESTEVENTS
See if Brandon is attending an event or signing near you.
#default-btn-61fab84339bcfb55c97705a32b03eeb0 {
border-radius: 1px;
font-size: 14px;
}
.btn-shadow#default-btn-61fab84339bcfb55c97705a32b03eeb0 {
-webkit-box-shadow: 0 1px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.12);
box-shadow: 0 1px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.12);
-webkit-transition: -webkit-box-shadow 0.2s ease-out, opacity 0.45s;
transition: box-shadow 0.2s ease-out, opacity 0.45s;
}
.btn-shadow#default-btn-61fab84339bcfb55c97705a32b03eeb0:hover {
-webkit-box-shadow: 0 5px 11px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.18), 0 4px 15px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);
box-shadow: 0 5px 11px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.18), 0 4px 15px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);
}
.btn-flat#default-btn-61fab84339bcfb55c97705a32b03eeb0 {
-webkit-box-shadow: none;
box-shadow: none;
}
.btn-flat#default-btn-61fab84339bcfb55c97705a32b03eeb0:hover {
-webkit-box-shadow: none;
box-shadow: none;
}
#default-btn-61fab84339bcfb55c97705a32b03eeb0.ico-right-side > i {
margin-right: 0px;
margin-left: 8px;
}
#default-btn-61fab84339bcfb55c97705a32b03eeb0 > i {
margin-right: 8px;
font-size: 12px;
}
#default-btn-61fab84339bcfb55c97705a32b03eeb0:not(:hover) {
border-width: 0px;
color: #b63636;
background: none !important;
padding: 12px 18px 12px 18px;
}
#default-btn-61fab84339bcfb55c97705a32b03eeb0:not(:hover) * {
color: #b63636;
}
#default-btn-61fab84339bcfb55c97705a32b03eeb0:hover {
border-width: 0px;
color: #b63636;
background: none !important;
padding: 12px 18px 12px 18px;
}
#default-btn-61fab84339bcfb55c97705a32b03eeb0:hover * {
color: #b63636;
}
#default-btn-61fab84339bcfb55c97705a32b03eeb0 * {
vertical-align: middle;
}
UPCOMING EVENTS
LATEST UPDATES
Brandon updates readers on Reddit.
#default-btn-42964f34e3695ae4756100b1ebfd27b2 {
border-radius: 1px;
font-size: 14px;
}
.btn-shadow#default-btn-42964f34e3695ae4756100b1ebfd27b2 {
-webkit-box-shadow: 0 1px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.12);
box-shadow: 0 1px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.12);
-webkit-transition: -webkit-box-shadow 0.2s ease-out, opacity 0.45s;
transition: box-shadow 0.2s ease-out, opacity 0.45s;
}
.btn-shadow#default-btn-42964f34e3695ae4756100b1ebfd27b2:hover {
-webkit-box-shadow: 0 5px 11px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.18), 0 4px 15px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);
box-shadow: 0 5px 11px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.18), 0 4px 15px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);
}
.btn-flat#default-btn-42964f34e3695ae4756100b1ebfd27b2 {
-webkit-box-shadow: none;
box-shadow: none;
}
.btn-flat#default-btn-42964f34e3695ae4756100b1ebfd27b2:hover {
-webkit-box-shadow: none;
box-shadow: none;
}
#default-btn-42964f34e3695ae4756100b1ebfd27b2.ico-right-side > i {
margin-right: 0px;
margin-left: 8px;
}
#default-btn-42964f34e3695ae4756100b1ebfd27b2 > i {
margin-right: 8px;
font-size: 12px;
}
#default-btn-42964f34e3695ae4756100b1ebfd27b2:not(:hover) {
border-width: 0px;
color: #b63636;
background: none !important;
padding: 12px 18px 12px 18px;
}
#default-btn-42964f34e3695ae4756100b1ebfd27b2:not(:hover) * {
color: #b63636;
}
#default-btn-42964f34e3695ae4756100b1ebfd27b2:hover {
border-width: 0px;
color: #b63636;
background: none !important;
padding: 12px 18px 12px 18px;
}
#default-btn-42964f34e3695ae4756100b1ebfd27b2:hover * {
color: #b63636;
}
#default-btn-42964f34e3695ae4756100b1ebfd27b2 * {
vertical-align: middle;
}
READ THE LATEST
PROGRESS BARSStormlight 4 & 5 Outlining 100%Starsight Release 100%Stormlight 4 Rough Draft 100%Stormlight 4 Draft 3.0 40%
.vc_custom_1571836810579{margin-right: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px !important;border-right-width: 0px !important;border-left-width: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;background-color: #000000 !important;}.vc_custom_1574525412312{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;background-color: #040c16 !important;}.vc_custom_1571836774767{margin-right: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px !important;border-right-width: 0px !important;border-left-width: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}.vc_custom_1574717288036{margin-right: 10px !important;margin-left: 20px !important;padding-top: 10px !important;padding-right: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;background-image: url(https://www.brandonsanderson.com/wp-c...) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}.vc_custom_1573153541066{margin-right: 10px !important;margin-left: 10px !important;}.vc_custom_1573153549868{margin-right: 20px !important;margin-left: 10px !important;border-right-width: 10px !important;padding-top: 10px !important;padding-right: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;background-color: #1f2c3e !important;}.vc_custom_1574844535369{padding-top: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 5px !important;background-color: #1f2c3e !important;}.vc_custom_1574844544176{margin-top: 20px !important;padding-top: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 5px !important;background-color: #1f2c3e !important;}I Hate Dragons Chapter Two
Chapter Two
“I’m so very tired,” Skip proclaimed in a loud voice. He was quite proud of his acting, not that any group of players would have hired him. It wasn’t good for business to have your theater periodically swarmed by hungry dragons.
“Also,” Skip said. “I hate sunlight. So I’m not going to look upward. I’m just going to stroll along across this . . . er . . . rocky place of rocks and find a place to lie down and take a nap.”
There was a beating of enormous wings above as the dragon circled. The trick was to get it to land. Dragons were not particularly agile creatures, though Skip didn’t really blame them for that. Try weighing approximately as much as a small house and see how easy it is for you to fly. They needed a good running start to get off the ground, and preferably a cliff to launch themselves off.
Dragons were dangerous in the sky. Of course, they were dangerous on the ground too. Just less dangerous. In the same way that a sword is less dangerous so long as it’s pointed at someone else. Anyway, if Skip could coax the dragon into landing, the hunters could strike. They’d never be able to take it out of the air, however, so they’d remain in hiding until it came down.
Normally, the dragons would try snatching him off the ground while in flight. He was ready for this. As a large rush of air came at him from behind, something unnaturally large and reptilian reaching for him with clawed fingers, Skip tripped. It was an expert trip—something else he was getting quite good at doing—and ended with him hitting the ground in a small hollow in the rock.
The dragon passed on just overhead, unable to get low enough to snatch him while remaining airborne. It would have to land. Midnight wings as wide as billboards thumped up and down, bearing the dragon back upward to wing around again.
“Gosh,” Skip said loudly—dragons had excellent ears, but you still needed to project. “I’m sad that I tripped and got dust in my eyes, so I couldn’t see anything for a few moments when that breeze passed me by. Perhaps I will take my nap in this little dip in the ground. I hope no wild beasts are around to savage me.”
Master Johnston stuck a bemustachioed head out from behind a rock. “Bite. The script saysbite me.”
“I’m extrapolating!”
“What’s the dragon’s skin have to do with this?”
“That’s exfoliate. Look, he’s coming back. Hush. Ahem. Yes, I’ll just be nodding off to sleep now!”
Skip actually had to close his eyes here; it was the most dangerous part. He remained tense, ready to leap up and scramble away while the hunters flooded in to attack. There was a whoosh of wind, though it wasn’t nearly close enough.
Silence.
Hesitantly, Skip cracked an eye. The large dragon had landed, but not on the ground. It clung to the top of one of the spikelike rock formations, perched like a bird in a tree. If that bird were as agile as a bathtub.
“You’re a terrible actor.” The dragon said in a low, rumbling voice.
“Er. Really? I actually thought I was getting better. I’ve been practicing in front of the mirror, you see.”
“Terrible. I’ve seen pieces of soap that were better actors than you. You have an entire fleet of dragon hunters waiting, I assume.”
“Um. No?”
“No, you don’t have them? Or no I don’t assume it? Because I really don’t think you’re capable of judging what I do and don’t assume. By the way, who wrote that script for you?”
“Master Johnston.”
“He needs an editor.”
“I’ve tried to explain that! Do you know how difficult it is to work with such awful lines?”
“That doesn’t excuse your bad acting.”
“It at least gives some context, though, doesn’t it?”
“Perhaps.”
“So, um, if you saw through the ploy . . . why are you still here? Shouldn’t you have fled?”
The dragon narrowed red, reptilian eyes at Skip while hanging from its perch. From up there, it could probably launch off and stay in the air—or, at the very least, hit the ground in the kind of skipping run while beating its wings that would let it take off quickly.
The hunters could have attacked anyway. The creature wasn’t in the air, and they might be able to pull it down. They remained in hiding, however. They probably found it too dangerous.
The dragon seemed . . . eager. He leaned forward on his perch, watching Skip intently. The monster wanted him, wanted to devour him and rip at his flesh. The scent was intoxicating. That was why it hadn’t flown away, despite recognizing the trap. The lure of Skip Dragon-nip was too great to turn down.
“Why don’t you climb up here to me,” the dragon said in its rumbling voice.
“Excuse me?”
“Climb on up here.”
“You’ll eat me.”
“That’s the idea.”
“Then I think I’ll decline.”
“Oh, come now. It won’t be so bad as you think. They’re will he hardly any pain at all.”
“I don’t care if there’s pain or not. I’ll still be dead. And you used the wrong version of ‘they’re.’ You wanted there instead.”
“I did? How can you tell? They’res no difference in the sounds they make.”
“Actually, I can hear apostrophes.”
“What, really?”
“Yes. I can hear spelling too, actually. It’s my other knack.”
“That’s . . . interesting, child. Very interesting. Well, time to get this over with. No use in delaying. Come on up and be eaten.”
“You don’t make a very compelling argument.”
“I’m a very busy dragon.”
“Funny. I have lots of time. I could sit here all day, so long as it involves not being eaten.”
“Oh, come now. Don’t be difficult. This is what you were created to do.”
“What gives you that terrible idea?”
“It’s the circle of life, young human! The beauty of nature! Each creature in turn is consumed by a larger creature, round and around, until we reach the apex predators. Um . . . I’m one of those, by the way.”
“I’d noticed.”
“Well, the cows eat the grass, the wolves eat the cows, the men eat the wolves, the dragons eat the men. All very majestic in its simplicity.”
“We don’t eat wolves, actually.”
“You don’t?”
“No. Not unless we’re very hungry. Even then, they don’t taste very good, so I’m told. Too stringy.”
“Yes, well, you’re supposed to. Men never do as they’re told. Case in point, this moment, where you have the startling rudeness to refuse being consumed. How can I persuade you?”
“Actually, you are persuading me.”
“Really? This is working? Er, I mean . . . of course I am. I’m known as being very compelling conversationalist, among my peers.”
“You didn’t need that comma,” Skip said, “but you should probably have put ‘among my peers’ after ‘I’m known.’ That’s beside the point. You see, I said you were persuading me because the definition of the word implies the act of trying to get someone to do something, whether or not you are successful. You persuade someone, then you either fail or succeed. Most people use it incorrectly. The word you wanted was convince. You need to convince me, not persuade me.”
“You’re not very much fun at parties, are you, small human.”
“I . . . uh . . . don’t get invited to parties very often.”
“I can’t imagine why. So, are you going to stop whining and come get eaten like a man?”
“No.”
“You’re making mother nature cry.”
“Good. We could use more rain. Why don’t you just go eat a cow?”
“Why don’t you go eat some grass?”
“Um . . . humans can’t digest grass.”
“And dragons can’t digest cows.”
“Really?”
“Really. Humans were designed and built to be eaten by dragons. It’s the nature of things.”
“I find that rather unfair. Who eats you?”
“The worms, once we’re dead. It’s all very metaphysical.”
“But you have to eat humans?”
“If we don’t, we die.”
“How are there any humans left?”
“We don’t need to eat very often, little human. Once every few months. There’s more than large enough a population of you to sustain us. You don’t run out of . . . what is it you eat, again?”
“Cows. Pigs. Carrots. Very few wolves.”
“Yes, well, this is much like you eating those things.”
“Except for the part about me dying.”
“Think of the good you’ll be doing.”
“Good? By keeping a dragon alive to continue terrorizing?”
“No, by sacrificing yourself for someone else. If I don’t eat you, I’ll just end up going off and finding someone else. Probably a fair young virgin. Poor child. If you think about it, getting eaten right now would be a very brave thing of you. Noble, heroic.”
“Well, when you put it that way . . .”
Skip carefully pulled himself up off the ground and pretended to consider. Then, trying to look resigned, he shuffled over to the dragon’s rocky perch.
The dragon leaned forward, red eyes widening in anticipation. The creature drew in a long breath that seemed to enchant him further, and his dry lips parted, revealing razorlike teeth.
Skip got close. Closer than he’d have liked. He could smell the dragon’s putrid breath, see his reflection moving on the creature’s steely claws. He stepped into its shadow.
“Wait,” Skip said, as if coming to a realization. “What am I doing?” He stopped.
That was enough to taunt the dragon, who thought it was missing the chance for a meal. The creature’s eyes went wide, and even a little bit mad, intoxicated by Skip’s scent. It knew that there were hunters waiting. It knew it was in danger, that if it landed on the rocks, it would have a tough time getting back into the air with any sort of speed.
It seemed to forget all of that, for the moment. Skip’s scent could have that effect. The dragon sprang, wings spreading as it dove into a half glide, half leap to attack him. Skip threw himself backward, hitting the rocks and rolling away.
“Have at ’im, boys!” Master Johnston yelled, ducking out and launching his crossbow.
There were two dozen hunters. Crossbows went first, firing thick bolts with wicked heads on them that were designed to puncture dragon scales. They only had enough force if fired close up, but they worked beautifully. A few other men ran out with blunderbusses—black powder weapons with wide barrels, packed with birdshot.
As the dragon roared, rearing up in front of Skip, Puke and Took—the blunderbussmen—fired sprays of birdshot through its unfurled wings. That left a spray of punctures in the taut skin there, further decreasing the dragon’s chances of being able to fly away.
The creature screeched in pain, and Skip took the chance to scramble away. Maddened, the dragon jumped forward to follow, brushing aside the blunderbussmen.
Skip’s heart thundered inside of him as he ran. He wasn’t as fast as a dragon, but he had a little bit of a lead. If he could reach the rock walls. Just a few feet—
He felt the dragon’s shadow fall on him.
Skip tripped.
A line of hunters leaped out of the rocks nearby and hopped over him, setting spears with the butts against the rock. The Dragon—now driven completely mad by pain and the scent of Skip—lunged downward, red eyes wide and almost sightless. Its momentum impaled it on the spears, snapping three of them free.
Its head got only inches from Skip, lips parting, drool dripping down from the bottom lip. Then it fell to the side, legs jerking.
The spearmen moved in to finish the butchery. Skip lay on the ground, breathing in and out, trembling.
I really need to find a new line of work, he thought.
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df.dividers-on.classic-layout-list article {
margin-top: 0px;
padding-top: 0;
border-color: ;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df.dividers-on.classic-layout-list article:first-of-type {
margin-top: 0;
padding-top: 0;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df.classic-layout-list.mode-list .post-thumbnail-wrap {
width: 0px;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df.classic-layout-list.mode-list .post-entry-content {
width: calc(100% - 0px);
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df.classic-layout-list.mode-list .no-img .post-entry-content {
width: 100%;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .filter-bg-decoration .filter-categories a.act {
color: #fff;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df:not(.mode-masonry) article {
margin-top: 0px;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df:not(.mode-masonry) article:first-of-type,
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df:not(.mode-masonry) article.visible.first:not(.product) {
margin-top: 0;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df.dividers-on:not(.mode-masonry) article {
margin-top: 0;
padding-top: 0px;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df.dividers-on:not(.mode-masonry) article:first-of-type,
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df.dividers-on:not(.mode-masonry) article.visible.first:not(.product) {
margin-top: 0;
padding-top: 0;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .post-thumbnail-wrap {
padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df.enable-bg-rollover .post-thumbnail-rollover:after {
background: ;
background: -webkit-linear-gradient();
background: linear-gradient();
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .gallery-zoom-ico {
width: 44px;
height: 44px;
line-height: 44px;
border-radius: 100px;
margin: -22px 0 0 -22px;
border-width: 0px;
color: #ffffff;
}
.bottom-overlap-layout-list.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .gallery-zoom-ico {
margin-top: -22px/2;
}
.gradient-overlay-layout-list.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .gallery-zoom-ico,
.content-rollover-layout-list.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .gallery-zoom-ico {
margin: 0 0 10px;
}
.content-align-center.gradient-overlay-layout-list.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .gallery-zoom-ico,
.content-align-center.content-rollover-layout-list.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .gallery-zoom-ico {
margin: 0 auto 10px;
}
.dt-icon-bg-on.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .gallery-zoom-ico {
background: rgba(255,255,255,0.3);
-webkit-box-shadow: none;
box-shadow: none;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .gallery-zoom-ico > span,
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .gallery-zoom-ico:before {
font-size: 32px;
line-height: 44px;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .gallery-zoom-ico > span,
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .gallery-zoom-ico:before {
color: #ffffff;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .fancy-date a {
background: #ffffff;
-webkit-box-shadow: none;
box-shadow: none;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .fancy-date a * {
color: #2d2d2d;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .entry-title,
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df.owl-carousel .entry-title {
margin-bottom: 5px;
font-size: 14px;
line-height: 16px;
font-weight: bold;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .entry-meta {
margin-bottom: 15px;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .portfolio-categories {
margin-bottom: 15px;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .entry-excerpt {
margin-bottom: 5px;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df:not(.centered-layout-list) .post-entry-content {
padding: 10px 20px 10px 20px;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df:not(.centered-layout-list):not(.content-bg-on):not(.mode-list) .no-img .post-entry-content {
padding: 0;
}
@media screen and (max-width: 768px) {
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df article {
-webkit-flex-flow: column nowrap;
-moz-flex-flow: column nowrap;
-ms-flex-flow: column nowrap;
flex-flow: column nowrap;
margin-top: 20px;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df.dividers-on article {
border: none;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df.content-bg-on.centered-layout-list article {
padding: 0;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df.blog-shortcode.dividers-on article,
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df.dividers-on.classic-layout-list article {
margin-top: 20px;
padding: 0;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df.blog-shortcode.dividers-on article:first-of-type,
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df.dividers-on.classic-layout-list article:first-of-type {
padding: 0;
}
#page .blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .post-thumbnail-wrap,
#page .blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .post-entry-content {
width: 100%;
margin: 0;
top: 0;
}
#page .blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .post-thumbnail-wrap {
padding: 0;
}
#page .blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .post-entry-content:after {
display: none;
}
#page .blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .project-even .post-thumbnail-wrap,
#page .blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df.centered-layout-list .post-thumbnail-wrap {
-webkit-order: 0;
-moz-order: 0;
-ms-flex-order: 0;
order: 0;
}
#page .blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df.centered-layout-list .post-entry-title-content {
-webkit-order: 1;
-moz-order: 1;
-ms-flex-order: 1;
order: 1;
width: 100%;
padding: 20px 20px 0;
}
#page .blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df.centered-layout-list .post-entry-content {
-webkit-order: 2;
-moz-order: 2;
-ms-flex-order: 2;
order: 2;
padding-top: 0;
}
#page .blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .fancy-categories {
top: 10px;
left: 10px;
bottom: auto;
right: auto;
}
#page .blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .fancy-date a {
top: 10px;
right: 10px;
left: auto;
bottom: auto;
}
#page .blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .post-entry-content {
padding: 20px;
}
#page .blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .entry-title {
margin: 3px 0 5px;
font-size: 20px;
font-size: 14px;
line-height: 26px;
line-height: 16px;
}
#page .blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .entry-meta {
margin: 5px 0 5px;
}
#page .blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .entry-excerpt {
margin: 15px 0 0;
}
#page .blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .post-details {
margin: 5px 0 10px;
}
#page .blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .post-details.details-type-link {
margin-bottom: 2px;
}
}
[image error]
I Hate Dragons Extended Version
[image error]
I Hate Dragons Chapter Two
[image error]
I Hate Dragons Chapter Four
Load more
I Hate Dragons Extended Version
Starsight Available on 11-26-19!
The highly-anticipated sequel to Skyward.
LEARN MORE
Skyward Illustration (C) Charlie Bowater
SKYWARD NOW AVAILABLE!
Brandon's new young adult
novel from Delacorte Books.
LEARN MORE
Skyward Illustration (C) Charlie Bowater
' htmlDivCss '
' htmlDivCss '
STATE OF THE
SANDERSON
Every December
Brandon updates
readers on the state
of each of his projects.
#default-btn-838b57e85827687662c274ce0453d0fe {
border-radius: 1px;
font-size: 14px;
}
.btn-shadow#default-btn-838b57e85827687662c274ce0453d0fe {
-webkit-box-shadow: 0 1px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.12);
box-shadow: 0 1px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.12);
-webkit-transition: -webkit-box-shadow 0.2s ease-out, opacity 0.45s;
transition: box-shadow 0.2s ease-out, opacity 0.45s;
}
.btn-shadow#default-btn-838b57e85827687662c274ce0453d0fe:hover {
-webkit-box-shadow: 0 5px 11px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.18), 0 4px 15px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);
box-shadow: 0 5px 11px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.18), 0 4px 15px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);
}
.btn-flat#default-btn-838b57e85827687662c274ce0453d0fe {
-webkit-box-shadow: none;
box-shadow: none;
}
.btn-flat#default-btn-838b57e85827687662c274ce0453d0fe:hover {
-webkit-box-shadow: none;
box-shadow: none;
}
#default-btn-838b57e85827687662c274ce0453d0fe.ico-right-side > i {
margin-right: 0px;
margin-left: 8px;
}
#default-btn-838b57e85827687662c274ce0453d0fe > i {
margin-right: 8px;
font-size: 12px;
}
#default-btn-838b57e85827687662c274ce0453d0fe:not(:hover) {
border-width: 0px;
color: #b63636;
background: none !important;
padding: 12px 18px 12px 18px;
}
#default-btn-838b57e85827687662c274ce0453d0fe:not(:hover) * {
color: #b63636;
}
#default-btn-838b57e85827687662c274ce0453d0fe:hover {
border-width: 0px;
color: #b63636;
background: none !important;
padding: 12px 18px 12px 18px;
}
#default-btn-838b57e85827687662c274ce0453d0fe:hover * {
color: #b63636;
}
#default-btn-838b57e85827687662c274ce0453d0fe * {
vertical-align: middle;
}
READ THE LATESTEVENTS
See if Brandon is attending an event or signing near you.
#default-btn-61fab84339bcfb55c97705a32b03eeb0 {
border-radius: 1px;
font-size: 14px;
}
.btn-shadow#default-btn-61fab84339bcfb55c97705a32b03eeb0 {
-webkit-box-shadow: 0 1px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.12);
box-shadow: 0 1px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.12);
-webkit-transition: -webkit-box-shadow 0.2s ease-out, opacity 0.45s;
transition: box-shadow 0.2s ease-out, opacity 0.45s;
}
.btn-shadow#default-btn-61fab84339bcfb55c97705a32b03eeb0:hover {
-webkit-box-shadow: 0 5px 11px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.18), 0 4px 15px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);
box-shadow: 0 5px 11px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.18), 0 4px 15px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);
}
.btn-flat#default-btn-61fab84339bcfb55c97705a32b03eeb0 {
-webkit-box-shadow: none;
box-shadow: none;
}
.btn-flat#default-btn-61fab84339bcfb55c97705a32b03eeb0:hover {
-webkit-box-shadow: none;
box-shadow: none;
}
#default-btn-61fab84339bcfb55c97705a32b03eeb0.ico-right-side > i {
margin-right: 0px;
margin-left: 8px;
}
#default-btn-61fab84339bcfb55c97705a32b03eeb0 > i {
margin-right: 8px;
font-size: 12px;
}
#default-btn-61fab84339bcfb55c97705a32b03eeb0:not(:hover) {
border-width: 0px;
color: #b63636;
background: none !important;
padding: 12px 18px 12px 18px;
}
#default-btn-61fab84339bcfb55c97705a32b03eeb0:not(:hover) * {
color: #b63636;
}
#default-btn-61fab84339bcfb55c97705a32b03eeb0:hover {
border-width: 0px;
color: #b63636;
background: none !important;
padding: 12px 18px 12px 18px;
}
#default-btn-61fab84339bcfb55c97705a32b03eeb0:hover * {
color: #b63636;
}
#default-btn-61fab84339bcfb55c97705a32b03eeb0 * {
vertical-align: middle;
}
UPCOMING EVENTS
LATEST UPDATES
Brandon updates readers on Reddit.
#default-btn-42964f34e3695ae4756100b1ebfd27b2 {
border-radius: 1px;
font-size: 14px;
}
.btn-shadow#default-btn-42964f34e3695ae4756100b1ebfd27b2 {
-webkit-box-shadow: 0 1px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.12);
box-shadow: 0 1px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.12);
-webkit-transition: -webkit-box-shadow 0.2s ease-out, opacity 0.45s;
transition: box-shadow 0.2s ease-out, opacity 0.45s;
}
.btn-shadow#default-btn-42964f34e3695ae4756100b1ebfd27b2:hover {
-webkit-box-shadow: 0 5px 11px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.18), 0 4px 15px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);
box-shadow: 0 5px 11px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.18), 0 4px 15px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);
}
.btn-flat#default-btn-42964f34e3695ae4756100b1ebfd27b2 {
-webkit-box-shadow: none;
box-shadow: none;
}
.btn-flat#default-btn-42964f34e3695ae4756100b1ebfd27b2:hover {
-webkit-box-shadow: none;
box-shadow: none;
}
#default-btn-42964f34e3695ae4756100b1ebfd27b2.ico-right-side > i {
margin-right: 0px;
margin-left: 8px;
}
#default-btn-42964f34e3695ae4756100b1ebfd27b2 > i {
margin-right: 8px;
font-size: 12px;
}
#default-btn-42964f34e3695ae4756100b1ebfd27b2:not(:hover) {
border-width: 0px;
color: #b63636;
background: none !important;
padding: 12px 18px 12px 18px;
}
#default-btn-42964f34e3695ae4756100b1ebfd27b2:not(:hover) * {
color: #b63636;
}
#default-btn-42964f34e3695ae4756100b1ebfd27b2:hover {
border-width: 0px;
color: #b63636;
background: none !important;
padding: 12px 18px 12px 18px;
}
#default-btn-42964f34e3695ae4756100b1ebfd27b2:hover * {
color: #b63636;
}
#default-btn-42964f34e3695ae4756100b1ebfd27b2 * {
vertical-align: middle;
}
READ THE LATEST
PROGRESS BARSStormlight 4 & 5 Outlining 100%Starsight Release 100%Stormlight 4 Rough Draft 100%Stormlight 4 Draft 3.0 40%
.vc_custom_1571836810579{margin-right: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px !important;border-right-width: 0px !important;border-left-width: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;background-color: #000000 !important;}.vc_custom_1574525412312{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;background-color: #040c16 !important;}.vc_custom_1571836774767{margin-right: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px !important;border-right-width: 0px !important;border-left-width: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}.vc_custom_1574717288036{margin-right: 10px !important;margin-left: 20px !important;padding-top: 10px !important;padding-right: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;background-image: url(https://www.brandonsanderson.com/wp-c...) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}.vc_custom_1573153541066{margin-right: 10px !important;margin-left: 10px !important;}.vc_custom_1573153549868{margin-right: 20px !important;margin-left: 10px !important;border-right-width: 10px !important;padding-top: 10px !important;padding-right: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;background-color: #1f2c3e !important;}.vc_custom_1574844535369{padding-top: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 5px !important;background-color: #1f2c3e !important;}.vc_custom_1574844544176{margin-top: 20px !important;padding-top: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 5px !important;background-color: #1f2c3e !important;}I Hate Dragons Extended Version
This is a slightly fleshed-out and extended version of the dialogue writing exercise Brandon posted in January 2011. This was posted on Brandon’s forum in May 2011 since we were having some issues with the website at that time, but it’s now getting a more permanent placement.
Chapter One
“Master Johnston?”
“Yes, Skip?”
“I was wondering if maybe we might review my employment situation.”
“What? Now? Lad, this isn’t the time.”
“Er, I’m sorry, sir. But I believe this is exactly the time. And, I apologize, but I don’t intend to move until I’ve had my say.”
“Fine. Fine. Be on with it then.”
“Well, Master Johnston, you know how we’re here to kill this dragon, sir?”
“Yes. That’s our job. Dragon hunters. It says so on your bloomin’ jacket, lad!”
“Well, sir, technically you and the other boys are the hunters.”
“You’re an important part, Skip. Without you, the dragon won’t never come!”
“I believe you mean ‘will never come,’ sir. And, well, this is about my part. I realize it’s important for you to have someone to draw the dragon.”
“You can’t catch nothing without bait.”
“‘Can’t catch anything,’ sir. And that is as you’ve said. However, I can’t help noticing one factor about my role in the hunt. I am, as you said, bait.”
“Yes?”
“And it seems to me that eventually, if you put bait out often enough . . .”
“Yes?”
“Well, sir, eventually that bait is going to end up getting eaten. Sir.”
“Ah.”
“You see my trouble.”
“You’ve been doing this for a year now, and you ain’t ever gotten ate.”
“That sentence was deplorable, sir.”
“What’s math have to do wi’ this?”
“You’re thinking ‘divisible,’ sir. Anyway, yes, I’ve survived a year. Only, I’ve started thinking.”
“A dangerous habit, that.”
“It’s chronic, I’m afraid. I’ve started thinking about the number of near misses we’ve had. I’ve started thinking that, eventually, you and the boys aren’t going to get to the dragon quickly enough. I’m thinking about how many reptilian bicuspids I’ve seen in recent months.”
“I’ve cussed more than twice myself.”
“So . . .”
“All right, lad. I can see where you’re going. Two percent, and nothing more.”
“A raise?”
“Sure. Two percent’s good money, son. Why, when I was your age, I’d have died to get a two percent raise.”
“I’d rather not die because of it, sir.”
“Three percent, then.”
“You pay me in food, sir. I don’t get paid any money.”
“Ah. I forgot you was a smart one. All right. Four percent.”
“Sir, you could double it, and it would be meaningless.”
“Don’t get so uppity! Double? What, you think I’m maid of coins?”
“The word is ‘made,’ sir.”
“Huh? That’s what I said. How—”
“Never mind. Sir, this isn’t about money, you see.”
“You want more food?”
“No. You see, er . . .”
“Be on with it! That dragon ain’t going to kill himself!”
“Technically, dragons—being sentient beings—likely have a suicide rate similar to other intelligent creatures. So perhaps this one will kill himself. It’s statistically possible, anyway. That’s beside the point. You see, sir, I think I’d rather change my participation in the hunts.”
“In what way?”
“I’d like to be a hunter, sir. You know. Hold a harpoon? Fire a crossbow? I wouldn’t mind just reloading for the other hunters until I get the hang of it.”
“Don’t be silly. You couldn’t do that while out in the center of the field, being bait!”
“I wasn’t talking about doing that while being bait. I’d rather do it instead of being bait. Sir.”
The two of them continued to crouch behind a formation of rocks that looked uncomfortably toothlike to Skip. The dragon winged about in the air. He was, as Master Johnston would have said, a “large fellow.” That put him close to thirty feet long, with an enormous wingspan.
During his months with Johnston’s Spears, Dragon Hunters, Skip had learned to identify many varieties of dragons. This was a Grummager, distinguished by the black shading of the scales that glowed radiant colors when struck by light, as well as the more webbed pattern on the skin of the wings.
The dragon had a stout, thick neck, and looked like he could swallow Skip in a single gulp.
Master Johnston was a large-waisted fellow with a bushy red mustache and a cap on his head from the military he’d served in years ago. He held his thick-bolted crossbow on his shoulder, and he studied Skip with a thoughtful expression. For him, that meant a lot of crossed eyes, scrunched up eyebrows, and one twitching eyelid. Forcing Master Johnston to think was like trying to start up a pump that hadn’t been worked in two decades. You could probably make it work, but it would spurt out a lot of slop first.
“I see that yer a smart one, son,” Master Johnston said.
“Thank you.”
“Five percent.”
Skip sighed. His clothing—coat, shirt, trousers, all sturdy but well-used—dripped with rose water. It had been dumped on him earlier to obscure his scent.
“Lad,” Johnston said, leaning closer. “We’ll talk about this later. I promise. But right now, there be a lizard in the sky and a cocked crossbow on my shoulder. I can’t bother with distractions. Yer tired of bein’ bait? Well, we’ll see if we can find someone else later.
“But lad, in all my years, I’ve never found anyone like you. Yer a superstar, and you have real talent. It’s what the Great Rock did give ye.”
Master Johnston, like most Wingosians, worshipped Lusia, the moon goddess. Scientists had recently explained that, through use of magic and telescopes alike, they’d determined that the moon was really just a big rock held in the sky by gravity. Being pragmatic folk, the Wingosians had adapted their belief system to accommodate this.
Master Johnston reached out, laying a meaty finger on Skip’s shoulder. “You’re special. It’d be a shame to waste that, son. Do what you were created to do. Reach for the stars.”
“Stars are giant balls of gas, burning far away.”
“They are?”
“Yes. Reaching for them, even if it were possible, would likely burn your hand. Sir.”
“Ain’t that something.”
“Isn’t that something.”
“That’s what I said. Either way, son, you need to explore your talents.”
“My talent is getting eaten by dragons, sir. It seems that’s less something to explore, and more something to experience. Once. In a grisly, painful, and abruptly ending sort of way.”
“That’s the spirit! On we go! The sorceress is waiting for us to gut this one, and it ain’t wise to keep a sorceress waiting.”
Skip sighed as Master Johnston waved for the others to continue their preparations. Nearby, Rimbor—a wiry dragon hunter with long hair braided into a ponytail—crouched with a large bucket of water. Skip would take off his rose water-soaked jacket, get doused with water, and wander into the open ground before the rocks. That would draw the dragon.
The mere scent of him would be enough. Most everyone on the Sixthface had special talents, as a function of living in such a magical land. Magic is like bad grammar; hang around it long enough, and it rubs off on you. The people called them knacks, and a person usually had a few. They were mostly simple things. Skip had three, but people only ever seemed to care about the first.
Skip smelled great to dragons.
He was irresistible, actually. He was like catnip to enormous, murderous reptiles. One whiff of him drove them into a frenzy, drawing their attention completely. People tended to be quite impressed by this knack. Or, at least, impressed that Skip had survived as long as he had while possessing it.
“Right, then,” Rimbor said, raising his bucket. “Ready?”
Skip sighed, taking off his coat. “Sure.”
Rimbor doused him with water, washing off the lingering scent of roses. Then Skip dashed out onto the open stone ground, bounded by the rocks.
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df.dividers-on.classic-layout-list article {
margin-top: 0px;
padding-top: 0;
border-color: ;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df.dividers-on.classic-layout-list article:first-of-type {
margin-top: 0;
padding-top: 0;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df.classic-layout-list.mode-list .post-thumbnail-wrap {
width: 0px;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df.classic-layout-list.mode-list .post-entry-content {
width: calc(100% - 0px);
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df.classic-layout-list.mode-list .no-img .post-entry-content {
width: 100%;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .filter-bg-decoration .filter-categories a.act {
color: #fff;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df:not(.mode-masonry) article {
margin-top: 0px;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df:not(.mode-masonry) article:first-of-type,
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df:not(.mode-masonry) article.visible.first:not(.product) {
margin-top: 0;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df.dividers-on:not(.mode-masonry) article {
margin-top: 0;
padding-top: 0px;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df.dividers-on:not(.mode-masonry) article:first-of-type,
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df.dividers-on:not(.mode-masonry) article.visible.first:not(.product) {
margin-top: 0;
padding-top: 0;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .post-thumbnail-wrap {
padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df.enable-bg-rollover .post-thumbnail-rollover:after {
background: ;
background: -webkit-linear-gradient();
background: linear-gradient();
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .gallery-zoom-ico {
width: 44px;
height: 44px;
line-height: 44px;
border-radius: 100px;
margin: -22px 0 0 -22px;
border-width: 0px;
color: #ffffff;
}
.bottom-overlap-layout-list.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .gallery-zoom-ico {
margin-top: -22px/2;
}
.gradient-overlay-layout-list.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .gallery-zoom-ico,
.content-rollover-layout-list.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .gallery-zoom-ico {
margin: 0 0 10px;
}
.content-align-center.gradient-overlay-layout-list.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .gallery-zoom-ico,
.content-align-center.content-rollover-layout-list.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .gallery-zoom-ico {
margin: 0 auto 10px;
}
.dt-icon-bg-on.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .gallery-zoom-ico {
background: rgba(255,255,255,0.3);
-webkit-box-shadow: none;
box-shadow: none;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .gallery-zoom-ico > span,
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .gallery-zoom-ico:before {
font-size: 32px;
line-height: 44px;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .gallery-zoom-ico > span,
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .gallery-zoom-ico:before {
color: #ffffff;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .fancy-date a {
background: #ffffff;
-webkit-box-shadow: none;
box-shadow: none;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .fancy-date a * {
color: #2d2d2d;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .entry-title,
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df.owl-carousel .entry-title {
margin-bottom: 5px;
font-size: 14px;
line-height: 16px;
font-weight: bold;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .entry-meta {
margin-bottom: 15px;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .portfolio-categories {
margin-bottom: 15px;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .entry-excerpt {
margin-bottom: 5px;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df:not(.centered-layout-list) .post-entry-content {
padding: 10px 20px 10px 20px;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df:not(.centered-layout-list):not(.content-bg-on):not(.mode-list) .no-img .post-entry-content {
padding: 0;
}
@media screen and (max-width: 768px) {
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df article {
-webkit-flex-flow: column nowrap;
-moz-flex-flow: column nowrap;
-ms-flex-flow: column nowrap;
flex-flow: column nowrap;
margin-top: 20px;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df.dividers-on article {
border: none;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df.content-bg-on.centered-layout-list article {
padding: 0;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df.blog-shortcode.dividers-on article,
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df.dividers-on.classic-layout-list article {
margin-top: 20px;
padding: 0;
}
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df.blog-shortcode.dividers-on article:first-of-type,
.blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df.dividers-on.classic-layout-list article:first-of-type {
padding: 0;
}
#page .blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .post-thumbnail-wrap,
#page .blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .post-entry-content {
width: 100%;
margin: 0;
top: 0;
}
#page .blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .post-thumbnail-wrap {
padding: 0;
}
#page .blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .post-entry-content:after {
display: none;
}
#page .blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .project-even .post-thumbnail-wrap,
#page .blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df.centered-layout-list .post-thumbnail-wrap {
-webkit-order: 0;
-moz-order: 0;
-ms-flex-order: 0;
order: 0;
}
#page .blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df.centered-layout-list .post-entry-title-content {
-webkit-order: 1;
-moz-order: 1;
-ms-flex-order: 1;
order: 1;
width: 100%;
padding: 20px 20px 0;
}
#page .blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df.centered-layout-list .post-entry-content {
-webkit-order: 2;
-moz-order: 2;
-ms-flex-order: 2;
order: 2;
padding-top: 0;
}
#page .blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .fancy-categories {
top: 10px;
left: 10px;
bottom: auto;
right: auto;
}
#page .blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .fancy-date a {
top: 10px;
right: 10px;
left: auto;
bottom: auto;
}
#page .blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .post-entry-content {
padding: 20px;
}
#page .blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .entry-title {
margin: 3px 0 5px;
font-size: 20px;
font-size: 14px;
line-height: 26px;
line-height: 16px;
}
#page .blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .entry-meta {
margin: 5px 0 5px;
}
#page .blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .entry-excerpt {
margin: 15px 0 0;
}
#page .blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .post-details {
margin: 5px 0 10px;
}
#page .blog-shortcode.blog-list-shortcode-id-733c207e7f1899eb71dcfd388ef424df .post-details.details-type-link {
margin-bottom: 2px;
}
}
[image error]
I Hate Dragons Extended Version
[image error]
I Hate Dragons Chapter Two
[image error]
I Hate Dragons Chapter Four
Load more
November 20, 2019
Warbreaker Leatherbound Preorders
Adam here. I know many of you have been waiting for the day we start talking about the special Tenth-Anniversary Leatherbound Edition of Warbreaker. Well, today is that day! On top of that, I’m going to tell you how you can get your hands on one of these beautiful books (skip to the bottom if this is the information you’re looking for). As has (unfortunately) become the norm, printing and binding delays have severely impacted our initial timeline for reception of these books. So much so that we still don’t have a fully bound copy, but we were able to get our hands on an unbound copy and wanted to show you a few pictures to let you know what you can expect.
We’ve shown a few sneak peeks of the end-pages on Brandon’s social media, and Dan Dos Santos has fully revealed them on his channels, but these are just a few of the many pieces we’re super excited about. They are absolutely stunning. But you don’t need to take my word for it.
One thing we’re doing for the Warbreaker leatherbound, is adding drop caps to all the chapter headings. This little feature is just one of the many ways this edition is the highest quality book we’ve ever produced and we’re excited to see how you respond.
As with previous leatherbound editions, we’re adding some of our favorite covers from around the globe. The left cover is from our illustrious UK artist Sam Green. The right is from the Chinese cover of by the incredibly talented Jian Guo.
Damage prevention & numbering
One thing we’re doing a little differently this year is how we are handling the books. Meaning we want to handle them as litte as possible. The books aren’t fragile, per se, but the more they’re handled the higher the likelihood that something can happen. So in that spirit, we decided to take the route of Brandon pre-signing and numbering all the books before binding. That way we can ship each book shrink-wrapped and individually boxed so that you can get as perfect condition a book as possible. This means we can’t control what numbers you get or offer personalizations, but we feel that offering you the highest possible condition of the books was worth the sacrifice. We hope you feel the same.
How to get your copy
We’re hopeful that this will be shipped in time for Christmas, but we can’t guarantee it. But if you’re wanting to get it preordered, we have partnered with several independent bookshops who would love to help you get your copy. (Some stores already have preorder links on their site open, if not, keep your eye out for when their site is updated.)
Subterranean Press
Mysterious Galaxy
Powell’s Books
Borderlands Books
BYU Store
Murder by the Book
November 18, 2019
The M-Bot Sticker You Never Knew You Needed is Here!
Brandon’s art director Isaac here. My ten-year old daughter—nicknamed “W”—has been reading Skyward in preparation for the release of Starsight on November 26th. She’s read plenty of books before, but this is the first time I’ve seen her dive into something this hefty. Of course, I’m terribly proud of her for reading a book that’s over 500 pages.
W is also an artist with an innate sense for drawing all things cute. She’s watched over the last few months as our Doomslug and Pattern designs have gained popularity, and she’s fallen in love with M-Bot—like many of us have—reading Skyward. So she approached me, a bit of righteous indignation in her attitude, and asked, “M-Bot is awesome. Why doesn’t he have a sticker?”
Scud. She was right. This is something we at Dragonsteel have been talking about for over a year. The problem is time. I explained this to W, that there are a lot of designs we would like to make for stickers and t-shirts, but there just isn’t time to get to all of them.
So she decided to do it herself. She drew a picture of M-Bot.
Then she asked me to take a picture of it so she could ink and color it on the iPad. When W finished, she showed her M-Bot sticker to me.
“Can we make this into a sticker?” she asked.
“That is incredible, W,” I said. “We can definitely make it into a sticker. Do you mind if I fix the perspective a bit?”
She didn’t mind, but when it took longer than a day for me to get around to it, W came to me with the iPad on a Monday night and said, “We’re fixing the sticker right now.”
So we spent the evening working on M-Bot. I fixed the perspective and inked it. Then W took the iPad back to make sure that we were using her original color pallete, so most of the colors are her choice too, including the banana-cream yellow outline, which I actually kind of like. (One of the artists I identify with most—Van Gogh; yes, I know, scary—LOVED yellow. Me…not so much.)
I showed Ben McSweeney, who designed M-Bot for the schematics found in the books, and he said, “You gonna pay the kid?”
It was a good suggestion. I asked W if she wanted to get paid; she hadn’t considered that part before. After thinking about it, she told me what she expected in return for Dragonsteel to use her design. Her demands were reasonable.
When I showed Brandon the M-Bot sticker design at our weekly art review, I didn’t even have to ask him about paying W. He basically asked the same thing Ben had, “Are we going to pay her?”
So I listed W’s expectations. “She wants to be paid in Barbie dolls.”
After getting the thumbs up from Brandon and Emily, W showed me the Barbie she’s been wanting for awhile, and Dragonsteel ordered it. (I should’ve asked W to invoice me like I do with all the other artists I work with. Maybe next time.) Two days later, W’s payment arrived in the mail.
And a few days after that, the stickers arrived!
These will be available at the Starsight release party on November 26th at the Dragonsteel booth. Or, if you can’t make it to the party, we’ll be adding a sticker to every order in December, so when you order from the store, make sure to request which sticker you want.
I hope you’ll be able to make it to the release and get to ooh and ah over W’s artwork. 
November 4, 2019
Starsight Release Party
Adam here. We are only three weeks away from the release of Starsight and its coinciding party. As we’ve said before, if you’re hoping to get a personalized copy of one of Brandon’s books this holiday season, your only opportunity will be at the Starsight release party on November 26th.
This will be a ticketed event but free tickets are available, though they don’t guarantee you a seat. More on this later.
The party starts at 6:00 p.m. at Mountain View High school in Orem, Utah and will include: games, prizes, swag, a reading from Brandon, booths, and more!
We are providing several different ticketing options for attendees but be sure to get your tickets soon as online ticket orders will close on November 23rd at 11:30 p.m. (MDT)
Free Admission Ticket – this will get you into the party. No book. And no guaranteed seat.
Pre-order Book and Pass – this ticket gets you into the party and ONE (1) reserved area seat, a pre-signed copy of Starsight, a doomslug lanyard, and pass. Plus One passes are available if you’re wanting to have someone accompany you. The Plus One pass includes access to the event, the doomslug lanyard, and pass. Ages 10+ need a ticket for a seat.
VIP Pass – This ticket gets you into the party and a pre-signed copy of Starsight, ONE (1) VIP reserved area seat, Starsight swag bag, premier event T-shirt (below), doomslug lanyard, and pass. VIP Plus One passes are available if you’re wanting someone to accompany you. The VIP Plus One pass includes entry to the VIP reserved seating area, Starsight swag bag, premier event T-shirt (below), doomslug lanyard, and pass. Ages 10+ need a ticket for a seat.
Designed by Isaac Stewart and Ben McSweeney.
Where to pick up your pass
9:00–5:30 p.m. at the Orem Barnes & Noble.
5:00–11:00 p.m. at the Mountain View High School Auditorium
Release day purchases of the book, event pass, and other products, are possible, but priority will be given to orders placed before 11:30 p.m. November 23rd.
October 27, 2019
Signed and Numbered copies from Weller Book Works
Adam here. In recent years, when Brandon releases a new book, we have offered a limited quantity of signed and numbered copies to Weller Book Works—a local book seller—to ship copies around the world for people who are unable to attend the release party. Starting with Oathbringer, we opted to turn this into a fundraising event by asking for small donations that will be sent to Worldbuilders—a geek-centered nonprofit supporting humanitarian efforts worldwide—which you should definitely check out.
Below you can read a message from Brandon about his idea and the specifics for ordering. You can see these, as well as order your copy, from the Weller Book Works website.
From Weller Book Works
Each signed and numbered copy is $19.99 plus Utah State Sales tax or New York State Sales tax where applicable, and shipping and handling. Inscriptions will require an additional $5 or $20 donation to charity as described by Brandon below. If you do not want an inscription, choose “none” in the inscription box before you click Add to cart.
This offer is limited to 300 copies. One copy per person please.
Books will ship to arrive as soon after the November 26, 2019 release date as possible. Shipping will be via USPS Priority Mail or First Class International Mail only.
Customers with credit cards drawn on banks outside the United States will need to pay with the PayPal interface. We’re sorry, this requirement comes from our credit card processor.
A Message from Brandon
Every year, it gets harder and harder to do these signings, as readers’ requests of me grow increasingly extravagant, with people asking me to draw sketches or write limericks in their books. I love and appreciate my fans, and I don’t want to stop doing the signings, but boy is it getting tough to manage all of this.
I’ve decided the best way to handle this is to start charging a bit for charity in exchange for handling the more difficult requests. In part, this is to make sure that the people who truly want a personalization or more lengthy inscription are the ones getting one. I fear that many people see the posts by other people with extravagant requests fulfilled in their books, and then feel they need to ask for something similar.
If you just want your book signed (along with the number) then there is no charge. But if you want a personalization, this requires a donation to benefit Worldbuilders. Every donation made for inscriptions will be matched by the Lightweaver Foundation.
For a $5 donation to Worldbuilders, in addition to the price of the book, I will personalize your copy with a name of your choice-and will write a short line (chosen by me) from the book. You can, instead of the quote, ask for something very simple. A “Happy Birthday” or the date, or something along those lines. Nothing more than three or four words. “Rust and Ruin” or “Life before Death” would be appropriate. The entire first paragraph of The Eye of the World would not be, nor would asking me to do a sketch. In most cases, I suggest just leaving me with a name, and letting me use the quote I’ve chosen.
For a $20 donation to Worldbuilders, you can ask something more extreme of me. This still has to be within reason. Along with a name, you can ask me to write a specific quote in the book up to around fifty words, or you can ask for a simple sketch, or something like that. (If you must have a limerick, then I’ll do that.)
Please note that my handwriting, as you may already know, is not fantastic-and the longer the thing you ask me to write, the more cramped it is going to look in the book. (Also, I can’t draw worth a hill of beans, so be careful asking for sketches. You’ll get a stick figure.)
Hopefully, this will calm things down a little for me during the signing process, but also make it certain that the people who have a special request are taken care of-all while doing some good for charity.
As always, thanks for reading, and please feel free to send me feedback about policies like this through the email form on my website.
Best,
Brandon
October 22, 2019
Assistant Peter Recommends: The Burning White by Brent Weeks
Hello again. Brandon’s assistant Peter here with another recommendation. It’s been a long time since the last one, whew!
Today the fifth and final book in the Lightbringer series by Brent Weeks, The Burning White was released. If you’ve read the previous books, the most important thing here is: It’s fantastic, so go buy it. I do have some more thoughts below if you’re interested, but personally if I already suspect I’m going to like a book, I just go out and read it without first reading reviews so I don’t get accidentally spoiled.
For everyone else, if you haven’t read the series, I highly recommend it! I’m going to crib liberally from my recommendation for the third book in order to explain why you should read it.
If you’re seeing this review, you obviously like Brandon Sanderson’s writing. Well, when I read the first Lightbringer book, The Black Prism, back in 2012 or so, it was the most entertaining book without the name Brandon Sanderson on the front cover that I had read in years—and in many ways it was very much like reading a book that had Brandon’s name on the front cover. I loved every minute.
Now that the fifth book is out and the series is finished, does it hold up all the way through? The answer is a resounding yes. This is a fine example of what great epic fantasy is, and the ending is every bit as epic as I had hoped.
Before I get into that though, let’s go over my caveats from last time—the content issues that a Brandon reader may not be expecting. But first: if you haven’t reread the first four books recently, this book does start things off with helpful summaries. Reading those myself was a big help. Now the caveats:
Sexual content: There’s certainly more sexual content than you’ll find in one of Brandon’s books. Not only the few on-screen sexual situations, but banter and jokes among friends that have a sexual theme. The amount of this content increases somewhat in the fourth and fifth books, but it’s not particularly gratuitous. In fact, a major plotline of the fourth book includes the serious treatment of one character’s struggles with a type of real-world sexual dysfunction. That’s not something I’ve seen a lot of in genre fiction, and I really like the way that Brent treated it. Kudos.
In my book 3 review I wrote that there weren’t horribly foul-minded characters. In the final two books there is one character who has a very sick mind indeed, but thankfully we have very few glimpses into it. (Ugh, I hate this person.)
Language: Again, there’s more profanity than you’ll find in Brandon’s books. It’s believable considering the characters involved.
I also called out the writing style in my book 3 review, but it’s really a minor issue that doesn’t merit a bolded heading. Yes, Brent’s non-italicization of internal thoughts did take some getting used to, but by the fifth book it didn’t bother me.
Now, about that epic climax.
Like I said before, books like these are why I read epic fantasy. Strong male and female characters, well-defined magic, politics, fighting, cosmology, emotional entanglements, the works. There are times like in the middle of The Way of Kings where you don’t know where everything is going, but you’re along for a great ride, and everything pulls together eventually. I give some examples of that in my other review, but now we’re at the finale.
This is, at last, the book where everything really comes together. At the beginning of this volume it takes Kip a while to figure out what was bothering him about the situation at the end of the fourth book, but once he does, everything converges on one colossal final conflict. You know how the final book in The Wheel of Time, A Memory of Light, has that 190-page chapter “The Last Battle” where everything comes to a head? Well, Brent doesn’t have his final battle in just one chapter, but it’s about 220 pages of nonstop climax, nearly a quarter of the book. It actually compares favorably to the one in A Memory of Light; there’s even a character detached from the others who in parallel undertakes a more psychological battle at the same time, the way Rand did in that book. When you start reading the climax, you’d best be prepared to not be able to put the book down for a long time. I lost quite a bit of sleep myself.
And that 220 pages is even more than it would have been in previous Lightbringer books. This novel is a long one—from chapter one to the end of the epilogues (yes, multiple) is 913 pages. The book is actually a few thousand words longer than The Way of Kings, because the publisher squeezed more words onto each page. And don’t by any means expect pages and pages of meal descriptions (though this book is all meat for sure). All you “big fat fantasy” lovers out there, this is one for you.
(Side note—there is a lengthy glossary/appendix at the end, but just so you won’t mistakenly think there’s a lot more left in the book than there actually is, these pages are helpfully marked in the hardcover with a grey edge. I think that’s a great idea! Doesn’t help people reading the ebook or audiobook though, alas.)
It’s not just a big battle. As with Brandon’s Mistborn trilogy, Lightbringer ups the stakes in the finale so that it’s not just a human conflict that matters. Things that were once considered only the realm of religion or myth spill out into the world of the characters, yet in a way that is deeply human. And as in the previous books, there are those “oh my goodness” moments where you have to reinterpret everything you thought you knew before about something, but since this is the final book there are quite a bit more of those. And it’s very satisfying.
What I appreciate most about reading a book is my emotional reaction. And there are a ton of character moments that prompt those emotions. Beneath all the magic and politics, this is truly a very character-driven book. Again and again, I laughed, I cheered, and I cried.
As in my earlier review, I’ll run down the characters here:
Kip: Even Andross Guile manages to be impressed by him, and if you’ve read the books you know that’s saying a lot. He continues his growth from the fourth book and really becomes a great leader. Like the best of them, he’s willing to sacrifice for his people, and oh boy does he.
Teia: Continues to be one of my favorite characters. What she has to do in this book is heartbreaking, with very serious consequences to her personally.
Gavin: He’s really been put through the wringer recently, and that doesn’t stop. Facing his flaws head-on leads to a few things we’ve been wishing would happen for quite a while.
Karris: I said I couldn’t wait to see what she did next, and I’ll just say that I was not disappointed.
Liv: Her transformation from the beginning of the series until the end is a very different character path from what we usually see. I somehow feel bad for her and admire her at the same time.
The Mighty: Kip’s friends really stood out to me in this book more than previously. They’re a lot more individualized and I finally feel like I really know them. There’s a very believable decision on their part that goes horribly wrong. Gee thanks, Brent.
Murder Sharp: I really never expected to list him here. But somehow he earns this spot. There’s a depth to his character that I really appreciate.
Andross: Comes even more to the forefront in this finale. As the character who really embodies “the ends justify the means,” some big surprises for him are still in the cards.
Again, I love how important the family relationships are in this series. Decisions of parents, grandparents, and siblings decades ago have far-reaching implications on the current story. It shows a verisimilitude that I’m very happy that writers like Brent are putting into their books.
I loved reading this series, and it came to a very satisfying conclusion, even though not every character’s fate was what I wanted it to be. That’s just the sign of good writing. Now, I’ve heard that next Brent will be going back to the world of his Night Angel series, so I’ll have to start reading those!
October 16, 2019
Tips & hints for applying to Brandon’s BYU class
Brandon’s assistant Karen here.
Brandon has asked me to judge the applications for his English 318r class and choose the 15 writers who will be in his small group workshops. This year I will only be considering the first 65 applications I receive. Based on the last few years, I will probably get that many in the first two or three days, so you should make sure you are ready to hit send on the 23rd.
If you’re looking for hints about how to put together an application that will impress me, you can check out this FAQ article. TLDR: Treat this application as if you are submitting your novel to an editor for publication. The most important hint is to follow the directions EXACTLY. I will not even look at your writing sample if you don’t have both files attached to your email with the EXACT names and formats I request.
Today I’m going to put the nuts and bolts aside and talk about the writing samples.
Judging the writing samples is a tough job. If you read science fiction or fantasy, you may be familiar with the steep learning curve at the start of a new book. In other genres, you have to learn the names of the characters, and figure out where and when the novel is set. The names will probably be ones you’ve heard before, and so are easy to pronounce in your head. The setting is probably also familiar: America in the 1980s, or France during World War II for instance. Even if you didn’t live in those times and places, you probably have a lot of background knowledge, so when the Nazis show up, you don’t have to be told the complete history of the last hundred years to know that they’re the bad guys.
In a fantasy novel, the names are often not Bob or Sue. They might be easy or hard (or impossible) to pronounce. You might spend the first part of the book thinking of someone as simply that guy whose name starts with Jq’. The setting is probably also not one you’re familiar with. It might be a fairly simple setting like faux medieval Europe, though the kingdoms and politics are not ours, or it could be set on the surface of a neutron star with characters that are essentially very smart amoebas. Then there’s the magic system. Is it something anybody can use? What kind of powers are available? What does it cost to cast spells? Does our main character even know that magic exists? You can see that in order to enjoy a fantasy novel, you have to figure out the answers to all of these questions fairly quickly.
Now imagine that as soon as you start to get your bearings, the first chapter ends and you need to put the book down and start over again with a new book, new setting, new characters, new historical backstory, new magic system, etc. And in twenty minutes or so, you get to do it again, and again, and again. By the time I’ve finished a day of reading, my brain is mush, and after a couple of days, I can’t even remember what any given book is about, let alone whether it’s any good.
If you’ve read this far, you might be wondering what you have to do in order to make your sample stick out in my head as a good one while I’m wading through the pile of slush. When I said that you should treat this application as if you were submitting your novel to an editor for publication, I meant that literally. This is how it works in the field of professional publishing.
The key, other than just writing really well, is to not turn me off. Knowing that I have a limited amount of mental energy to devote to this task, I’m not going to waste my time on something that I know will not make the cut. You have two, maybe three pages to convince me that I ought to keep reading. Use them well. Here are some things that are nearly always going to get your story rejected.
Grammar problems – I will stop reading after about the third mistake. There’s no excuse for this. If you aren’t confident about your ability to do a thorough proofread, have someone you trust help you.
Boring start – I get that you want to show how exciting it is for your character to leave their life behind and answer the call to adventure, but I don’t want to read about a day spent twiddling their thumbs at school.
Amateur pitfalls – Don’t have your character look in the mirror so that you can have an excuse to describe them. Don’t have a maid and butler scene where people tell each other things they both know in order to explain them to the reader.
Purple prose – If the gentle breeze kisses the raven locks on the knight’s noble brow as she gazes forlornly at the twisting smoke emerging from the crimson embers of her dying campfire, I’m going to put the book down in less than a page. You don’t need an adjective every other word, and I shouldn’t feel like you’re writing with a thesaurus in your hand.
White room – You do have to have some description. I need to be able to tell whether your characters are in a forest or a basement as they discuss their plans.
People have asked me, “If you see this many errors in my writing, doesn’t that mean that I’m the one who most needs to be accepted into this class?” The answer is no. This is advice you can get from books or the lecture portion of the class. Brandon’s time is much better spent helping excellent authors take their writing to the next level, and we have enough of those apply that the fifteen slots I have really ought to go to them.
I don’t want this to stop anyone from applying. I hope that people will read this advice and use it to make sure that they’re sending me their very best work. I also want to stress that I only have fifteen slots. I have to reject good stories every year, and it breaks my heart to send out the letters to the candidates who weren’t accepted. Brandon wishes that he could help every one of you, but if you want the next Stormlight book to come out sometime in the next ten years, he’s got to ration his time.
Good luck, and good writing,
Karen
October 4, 2019
FAQ Friday – Is my story too derivative?
I, not so recently, got an email asking me the following question. I hope my response will be useful to my fellow writers. You can read my last FAQ Friday post here.
Question: I’m absolutely in love with the world I’ve created and have spent years in its building—magic systems, political systems, cultures, races, etc.—but I feel it is not original enough to warrant publication. I have, to a certain extent, trapped myself in the tropes of fantasy—mid to late 13th-century setting, races based off the classics of orcs, dwarves, and elves, and unwittingly I created a nation of people who I fear will be compared to the Seanchan in their intent, if not their culture.
The storyline itself is very original (with the exception of the Seanchan-esque nation), and the few people I’ve spoken to about it have said it sounds exciting.
So I guess my concern is this: do you think I have a legitimate concern in that my work may be perceived as unoriginal and therefore not worth publication? Or can writing style and an original storyline make up for that fact? (Question sent by J. Hirz)
My experience has been that writers worry about this more than they should. Now, that’s not to say we shouldn’t worry about it at all—but generally, readers are a little more forgiving of us showing our influences than we think they will be. The Wheel of Time has some very Tolkien- and Herbert-inspired sections, and is generally considered to be a highly original setting, even if it’s true that the Aiel are inspired by the Fremen.
Harry Potter wasn’t actually that original an idea; wizard schools have been a staple of middle-grade fantasy for years. But her combination of everything together was amazing. So I think you can absolutely take tried-and-tested, well-worn tropes and combine them into something that is greater than the sum of the parts.
My suggestion to you is to write the book. I think that, because you’re aware of this possible problem, you’ll naturally take it in different directions. Then give the book to some readers and try very hard not to predispose them toward what your fears are. After they read the book, let them give you feedback. If a lot of them are saying it feels derivative, maybe see if you can make some things more your own. However, most likely they’ll say something like, “This feels like the Seanchan, but in a good way.”
We are all inspired by the things we read, watch, and love. Learning to take this inspiration and make it into something newly yours is part of the process of becoming a writer. Give yourself that chance, and I think you’ll find a balance you like.
Brandon
September 26, 2019
Mistborn Paperbacks 2019
Brandon’s art director Isaac here. The Mistborn series book covers have had a colorful history of different illustrations: the beautiful originals by Jon Foster, Chris McGrath’s iconic renditions that we can probably thank for some of the paperbacks’ success over the years, and of course let’s not forget Sam Weber’s fantastic covers for the young adult editions. Then there was that one cover with the grim reaper. Yeah, we don’t talk much about that one.
Book design, just like fashion and automotive design, goes through phases. Thankfully we’re not quite getting a different “book look” with each season of the year, but the way a book cover is illustrated and designed can definitely tell you about how long it’s been on the market.
Sometime last year, we got into a discussion with Brandon’s agent Joshua about the Mistborn mass market covers. They’ve been on the paperback books for over a decade now, and it was time for a refresh. This is a testament to the Mistborn series’ longevity that it’s stayed in print long enough to even need new covers!
After a few brainstorming sessions, we were drawn to some of the symbolic book cover illustrations that Sam Weber has done recently. His work on Robert Jackson Bennett’s Divine Cities trilogy is beautiful. (Please note, City of Stairs is one of my favorite fantasy books ever. It’s got more swears than Brandon’s books, so be aware of that, but oh man, can I get a leatherbound version of it someday, please?) Sam’s work for Kiersten White’s And I Darken series has resulted in some of my favorite book covers in any genre in any era. And have you seen his painting for Neil Gaiman’s Norse Mythology? Wow! And Sam’s cover for the YA version of Mistborn clearly showed that he really groks the series. So we asked Tor if Sam was available. We cheered when he was.
Here are the results. Symbolic paintings that hopefully convey the feeling of each of the books in the series. We hope these will reach across genres and capture readers’ attention. We hope they will stand out on the shelves and woo new readers at airports. Ultimately, we also hope the fans will like them. Hats off to Tor, and to Sam Weber, for putting these together. You have done the Cosmere a great service.
One more thing to note, Tor has redesigned the interiors of the mass market reissues, basing the text on the preferred versions found in our Dragonsteel leather editions. The result is a clean, very readable text, with fixes for the few typos and continuity glitches we’ve discovered over the years.
Please enjoy!
