#156 overall
Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy (Brandon Sanderson)
BYU
3 recommenders · 3 threads · recommended in 3 years, 2016–2025 · score 2.8
A creative writing course taught by fantasy author Brandon Sanderson at Brigham Young University, covering how to build worlds, magic systems, plotting, and viewpoint in speculative fiction. Most lectures were recorded and posted online across several YouTube playlists.
Commenters recommend it as a practical, detailed guide to writing fiction, with one calling the "description and viewpoint" lecture the best tool for non-fiction writers learning fiction craft.
Recommendations by year
20062026
"Write about Dragons" is a video recording of one of the writing classes titled "Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy" that Brandon Sanderson teaches at BYU. He teaches the class every year, and frequently updates it with new material, and most of the lectures are online (spread across myriad Youtube channels). Here are several of the others:
* 2014 class lectures (via BYU English dept): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRO9W1Nmh6clZP-IAhMeM...
* 2016 class lectures (via Camera Panda): http://brandonsanderson.com/2016-sanderson-lectures/
He also delivered lectures at JordanCon in 2010 and 2011. I frequently recommend his "description and viewpoint" lecture as the best tool for competent non-fiction writers to understand what separates the skill of fiction writing from non-fiction writing.
* JordanCon 2010: description and viewpoint https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3A1F631BCD668EDF
* JordanCon 2010: plotting https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLB2AB4CCF96ECB552
* JordanCon 2011: sanderson's second law of magic systems https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF9F2E7291F6FBFEB
Brandon Sanderson is also one of the hosts on the weekly Writing Excuses podcast: http://writingexcuses.com/
The only way to get better at something is to do it. Start writing short stories or small novels, and you will get there over time. You don't even have to be a great writer to write a great book as well :). It helps, but readers will forgive a lot along your journey.
Brandon Sanderson has a great series of lectures on how he approaches it that are awesome ->
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSH_xM-KC3ZvzkfVo_Dls...
You will get so many mental benefits from writing, too. I promise it is worth it. AI is a great tool if you hit a block and need to brainstorm.
For this, I'd also highly recommend Brandon Sanderson's lecture series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6HOdHEeosc