Writers of the Future Podcast 146. Writing Panel with Brandon Sanderson, David Farland, SM Stirling, Eric James Stone, Darci Stone
25 snips
Oct 16, 2021 
S.M. Stirling, veteran SF/fantasy writer who mines daydreams and history. David Farland, longtime judge and editor focused on hooks and wonder. Brandon Sanderson, prolific epic fantasist who builds readership through openings, revisions, and events. They discuss blending the familiar with the strange, crafting strong beginnings and endings, pacing and scene-tightening, switching genres to stay fresh, and engaging readers via conventions and social media.
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Open With An Interesting Character Doing Things
- Start with an interesting character doing interesting things and avoid mundane opening scenes like waking-up descriptions.
- Eric James Stone recommends immediate action or personality to hook slush readers quickly.
Always Nail The Ending
- Ensure you "stick the landing" so a strong beginning and middle don't end in a disappointing finish.
- Darci Stone warns that a failed ending leaves readers with a bad taste and kills sales despite earlier strengths.
Conventions Plus Social Media Amplify Each Other
- Conventions and social media both matter but require a preexisting reason for attention; one boosts visibility while the other builds direct engagement.
- Sanderson used panels, tours, and early internet savvy to convert awareness into readers.
