Hey, Writers!
If you enjoy thinking about how you write just as much as the writing itself, this first video from Brandon Sanderson’s 2025 lecture series is a fantastic kickoff. It’s an introductory talk, but it quickly becomes a deeper exploration of what it means to approach your craft with a professional mindset.
Watch the lecture here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEUh_y1IFZY&list=PLSH_xM-KC3ZvzkfVo_Dls0...
In the lecture, Sanderson breaks down:
• His philosophy for teaching writing
• The difference between discovery writing and outlining (and why neither makes you more or less of a “real” writer)
• How to understand your natural process so you can support it rather than fight it
• What it actually means to write with the long-term goal of becoming a working professional
• The mindset shifts that matter far more than genre, background, or education
One of the most helpful parts is how he frames the idea of professionalism — not as publishing credits or sales numbers, but as how you treat your work, manage your time, and refine your process. It’s a grounded, approachable way to think about leveling up.
Even if you don’t write sci-fi or fantasy, the core ideas apply to any writer building discipline, clarity, and momentum.
Drop one key takeaway in the comments below!
1 person likes this
Thank you very much for sharing this video with us.
I’ll watch it to learn more.
I was trying to understand my own pattern of sci-fi writing and I realized I usually follow the same structure, which I call “the triangle creative theory,” because it consists of three elements: Earth, Planet X, and ISS astronauts.
I’m happy to understand my own pattern, but I’m also trying to break it to explore new perspectives in sci-fi world-building.
Hey, Ashley Renee Smith! Thanks for sharing the video. One key takeaway is when Brandon talked about exploring with your style. I used to outline and write scripts differently when I started writing scripts, but I've tried different things over the years, and my style is way different now.
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I'll watch that, thanks, love your precis. In truth, I'm very disciplined, but one can always change the way one uses that discipline.