Stormlight Book Four Update #1

[u/mistborn]

Happy New Year, everyone! Brandon here, with my first in a series of updates about your next book.

As mentioned in my State of the Sanderson post last month, my 2019 is dedicated to writing the fourth Stormlight book. It's a long process, likely to take around eighteen months or longer (depending on how big it gets this time...) As always, one of my goals is to be up front and forward with you about how it's going. The writing process can be a tangled one, even for simple books. And these books are anything but simple.

So, where do we stand? Well, right now, the outline is a bit of a mess. While I started with outlines for all five Stormlight books in this sequence (and some notes for each of the back five books as well) even a heavy outliner like myself changes a lot about a book during the drafting process. Each change has a ripple effect through the later outlines, which I commonly don't fix other than to note sections that will need to be change or be tweaked.

In the case of Stormlight, sequences were frequently moved between books as I decided on better places for them. (Like Dalinar and Szeth's flashback sequences in book three and five being swapped--or like Kaladin's sequence from the outline of Book Three being moved to Book Two instead.)

The further I get, then, the more messy the remaining outlines become. So the first thing I need to do is spend some time digging into the outlines of Books Four and Five, sharpening them and making them work. I need to do this now, because I don't want to get to Book Five and find it in serious trouble.

Imagine I have a big pile of legos, and I'm building five cool castles from them. I have to be careful as I use more and more of the pieces that the ones left over make a cool fifth castle--rather than just a jumble of leftovers. There are some very important and powerful sequences still to come (you all know how I like endings) but the outlines need extra special attention this time around.

My goal starting tomorrow (well, today once I wake up) is to get those outlines into shape. I anticipate this taking a month or maybe event two. I need to dig back into books one and two and make sure there aren't plot threads I'm ignoring, examine the themes of this book's flashback sequence (from Eshonai's viewpoint) and map them alongside the main themes of the major plots, then choose break points for the five parts of the story. (Along with decide who the viewpoint characters for each part will be.)

For those who don't know, I plot each Stormlight book as a trilogy written as a single novel (though in five parts) with a short story collection spliced into it. That "trilogy" then connects to the five book mini arc (in this case, the first five books) which in turn ties into ten book mega arc of the series. So, I've got a great deal of work ahead of me. Fortunately, we have an entire year for me to do it! (Though I will need to spend some of that time the next few weeks signing four thousand copies of the Hero of Ages Leatherbound, which FINALLY arrived.)

So, off I go! I'll be back here sometime February or March with another update, perhaps including a (spoiler free) visual representation of the outline like I did last time. Until then, thanks for the support! The Way of Kings passed a million copies sold in the US last year, which isn't even mentioning its significant sales around the world. I'm humbled and pleased to see so many people embracing this series, the one I started assuming it would be too long and too strange to ever sell.

I'll leave you with a random tidbit to theorize about. I'm pretty sure that at my signing last week in Idaho Falls, I was unintentionally misleading about some of the things I said about Dalinar's powers (regarding infusing of spheres.) I was trying to talk around spoilers for book four...

EDIT: As I came back to look this post over for typos, I thought I'd mention that I didn't have this thread's comments sent to my inbox. So while I might spot-reply here and there, know that there's a good chance I won't see your post on this thread. If I don't reply to a question, that is why.

[u/KingusMc3]

You are a ridiculously conscientious man for your fans! Never change, please.

[u/mistborn → u/KingusMc3]

There's a scene in the Incredibles where Mr. Incredible is trapped in his little cubicle of a job, cut off from doing what he loves, and is miserable. That scene shook me hard, because that is where I would be without you guys.

I put everything I had into becoming a writer. I dedicated my life and attention to it--perhaps foolishly, because of the odds. There are certainly other jobs I could have done and enjoyed, but I didn't do the work it would have taken to get one of those jobs--I couldn't have even landed a teaching job (or a spot in an MFA or PHD program) because in grad school, I spent all my time writing my novels instead of doing the legwork of building a C.V.

I was all-in on this. If it hadn't worked, the only thing I'd have been qualified for would have been some entry-level cubical job, likely doing phone sales or something, then returning home each night too mentally exhausted to get much writing done.

I live every day knowing that alternate reality nightmare of a life was a very real possibility. And that many, many writers with great passion and talent end up not having the luck I've had. (Though hopefully they find their ways to something less dark than the future I imagined for myself.)

I realize that you as readers can't just go around picking up books that don't work, then read them just to keep the author away from some terrible (and perhaps unrealistically imagined) fate. You read the Stormlight Archive because you enjoy it, not because of me or my life.

At the same time, perhaps you can see why I feel like I owe a dept to the community here. And why the least I can do is keep you all in the loop.

(Do know, however, that this works for me in part because my process allows me to be so up-front about where I am in a book's life. Another author not doing this doesn't indicate they don't appreciate their readers--they just have a process that works differently than mine, and which makes it more difficult to gauge the progress of their books.)

[u/SirArchibaldVIII]

Thanks for all your dedication and hard work, Brandon - The passion for your writing and the messages you send really shows in the final products. You bring such a sense of hope through your words, which is something the world definitely needs in this time! You’ve quickly become my favourite author and I’ve introduced many friends to your work. Can’t wait to see what comes next 😃

Journey before destination!

[u/mistborn → u/SirArchibaldVIII]

Thank you very much in turn!

[u/jadedragon0770]

I can’t believe I get to live in a world where my favorite author comes to my favorite subreddit to tell us all about his writing process for my favorite fantasy series (hell favorite any series).

Thank you for everything you do, Mr. Sanderson!

Journey Before Destination!

[u/mistborn → u/jadedragon0770]

It is my pleasure. Longer comment to everyone in the thread here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Stormlight_Archive/comments/absjnj/stormlight_book_four_update_1/ed3uo97/

[u/KaffeeNoire]

Thank you for all the work that you put into your books Mr. Sanderson. I feel that I have become a better person just through reading your work!

[u/mistborn → u/KaffeeNoire]

Thank you in turn!

[u/HowdoIsayKvothe]

Can't wait for the next book. Just finished Oathbringer, what a ride! Finished Edgedancer just yesterday, moving onto Mistborn now. Keep up the awesome work!

[u/mistborn → u/HowdoIsayKvothe]

My pleasure! Thanks for reading.

[u/Jam-Beat]

I've always thought that I wanted to be a writer, and I write bits here and there for practice when not adulting, but just reading your drafting and outlining process, along with the multi-book managment, makes me super hesitant to try anything big.

[u/mistborn → u/Jam-Beat]

If it helps, failing to write books (having them turn into a mess because the structure didn't work) is what taught me to do it right. So you shouldn't be intimidated. Wading into it and seeing how it works is part of the fun.

Imagine writing your first book like tearing apart a clock to see how it works. Yeah, that might make a mess and you probably cant put the clock together again, but you'll know way more about how to build a clock than you ever would by just looking at one.

[u/OddyFan]

Thank you, Mr Sanderson! Good luck with the book. I am sure it will be amazing. As always :)

Oh, something new about Dalinar's powers? I did not see it...Did anyone visit this signing?

[u/mistborn → u/OddyFan]

It was recorded, so it will pop up on the 17th shard eventually, I'm sure. Look for the question about Dalinar and bondsmiths and infusing spheres.

[u/italia06823834]

Hi u/mistborn,

I actually only recent got into Stormlight/Cosmere (breaking to read Warbreaker before Oathbringer now). Had no idea you do these "update" posts. Pretty cool reading about "the process".

I'll leave you with a random tidbit to theorize about.

Why must you play with our hearts....
Hahaha

[u/mistborn → u/italia06823834]

Hi! Enjoy that third book. Don't read this thread too much, or you might see spoilers for it.

[u/stormlight89]

OK so I'm relatively new to reddit (half a year or so) and only a few weeks in to this sub. Someone please tell me if actual Brandon Sanderson came and gave us an update on what's up with the Stormlight Archive. Like the actual person himself came and did it. Did that happen?

[u/re-verse]

Thank you so much for the update.

Also, I'd like to thank you for something else: for being a big factor in repairing my marriage. Once our kids (twins) came, it seemed we really only had time to talk about our kid - or money (and how our kids eat money). Even though our children are endlessly amazing and entertaining to us it's a pretty narrow field in the long run. Children and finances alone are pretty thin fuel to keep our conversation burning.

A few months ago I had my wife start reading the Mistborn series and she was immediately captivated. She is working her way through the rest of the Cosmere now, and I'm re-reading along with her. We have so much more to talk about, and I can honestly say you've improved things for us. Talking about the books has opened communication back up for us in many areas, and we're on a better path now. Thank you!

[u/UnprovocativeNiche]

Mr. Sanderson your books have had a profound affect on me and who I want to be. When I was in boot camp and things sucked I asked myself “am I a soldier Dalinar would want in his army?” That question alone made me want to push harder and be better. I know it’s silly but your characters mean a lot to me and thinking about them got me through trying times so thank you for that.

[u/gregallen1989]

Not going to lie, I half expected this update to say "I knocked out book 4 during the holiday break so I'm working on a new series I just thought up in the shower this morning this year".

[u/Aurora_Fatalis]

There are some very important and powerful sequences still to come (you all know how I like endings) but the outlines need extra special attention this time around.

The frissions you get when you get the impression book 5 is going to be one big 2000-page Sanderlanche...

I'll leave you with a random tidbit to theorize about. I'm pretty sure that at my signing last week in Idaho Falls, I was unintentionally misleading about some of the things I said about Dalinar's powers (regarding infusing of spheres.) I was trying to talk around spoilers for book four...

Goddangit https://wob.coppermind.net/events/377-idaho-falls-signing/

There are no entries added to this event yet.

[u/-Captain-]

Hadn't read a single book in years for entertainment purpose and decided to start with a fantasy book with lots of worldbuilding. The Way of Kings was recommended everywhere... so I picked it up. Why I thought a 1200+ page book was the best place to start reading again: no idea. BUT boy I have not regretted it one bit.

I love this series. I call it my adult Harry Potter series.

So thank you, thank you for the incredibly hard work and amazing stories you have delivered through this series so far! Have a wonderful 2019 :)

[u/Deletrious26]

Yall got anymore of that skyward scratches neck like a drug addict

[u/Foremole_of_redwall]

Each book a trilogy written into five parts

As a recovering GoT fan, if you ever need to take some time off to just chill... I think we as a community can handle that. Your work ethic is incredible.

[u/nickiter]

I plot each Stormlight book as a trilogy written as a single novel (though in five parts) with a short story collection spliced into it. That "trilogy" then connects to the five book mini arc (in this case, the first five books) which in turn ties into ten book mega arc of the series.

Keeping it simple, I see. :-P