Tim Ferriss - Brandon Sanderson’s Writing Exercises to Become a Bestselling Author
The speaker emphasizes the importance of developing consistent writing habits rather than relying on sporadic bursts of creativity. They suggest practical exercises tailored to individual writing challenges, such as writing longhand for those struggling with revisions or listening to real conversations to improve dialogue writing. The speaker advocates for setting specific goals, like writing a certain number of words daily or weekly, and using tools like spreadsheets to track progress. They also recommend creating a dedicated writing environment to reinforce these habits. The ultimate goal is to produce a substantial amount of writing over time, such as 100,000 words in a year, which is typical for a novel. The speaker also discusses the differences in word count and page formatting between genres, highlighting how thrillers and young adult books often use fewer words per page to enhance pacing.
Key Points:
- Focus on consistent writing habits rather than sporadic bursts.
- Tailor exercises to individual writing challenges, like longhand writing for revision issues.
- Set specific writing goals and track progress with tools like spreadsheets.
- Create a dedicated writing environment to reinforce habits.
- Aim for substantial yearly word counts, like 100,000 words, typical for a novel.
Details:
1. 📝 Unique Writing Assignments and Techniques
- Develop specific writing habits tailored to individual challenges, such as writing longhand to encourage mindset shifts.
- Address the issue of repetitive chapter revisions by suggesting writing longhand to transform the writing approach.
- Encourage writers to perfect their text only when transferring it from longhand to a computer, maintaining the creative flow.
- Advocate for writing the next chapter longhand immediately after digital transfer to sustain momentum.
2. 📚 The Importance of Writing Consistency and Habits
- Real-life dialogue listening and style emulation serve as effective exercises to improve dialogue writing, providing practical exposure to natural speech patterns.
- Most writers (90%) show significant improvement through consistent writing habits, while a minority (10%) succeed with binge writing strategies.
- Regular writing habits, such as daily or weekly writing sessions, are essential for novel development and enhance overall writing skills.
3. 📏 Understanding Word Counts and Novel Lengths
- Set a specific goal for word counts or hours, such as writing 35,000 words in a third of a year, to improve writing consistency and aim for 100,000 words annually, which is typical for an average novel.
- Establish dedicated writing spaces and specific music playlists to reinforce writing habits and create an environment conducive to productivity.
- Integrate new writing habits with existing daily routines, such as writing after going to the gym, to ensure consistency and build a sustainable writing practice.
4. 🧠 Publishing Tricks and Reader Engagement
- 'The Way of Kings' exemplifies the challenge of fitting large word counts into a single book format, with its 400,000 words spread over a thousand pages.
- In genres like thrillers and young adult, publishers reduce words per page by 50% to create a fast-paced reading experience that appeals to reluctant readers.
- This strategy contrasts with fantasy novels, which maximize word count per page to immerse readers in detailed storytelling, catering to those who prefer in-depth narratives.
5. ✍️ Brandon's Writing Routine and Word Goals
- Brandon aims to write 2,000 to 2,500 words per day, equivalent to approximately 10 to 20 pages.
- He estimates he can produce up to 10,000 words per week, leading to a potential 500,000 words per year.
- About one-third of his writing time is dedicated to revisions, reducing the yearly output to around 300,000 words.
- A Stormlight Archive book typically takes him 18 months to complete due to the comprehensive revision process.