Writing Excuses 9.21: Sanderson’s 3rd Law episode artwork

EPISODE · May 19, 2014 · 20 MIN

Writing Excuses 9.21: Sanderson’s 3rd Law

from Writing Excuses · host Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler

When building your world, go deep rather than going wide.Our Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com* Check out Talkiatry and use my code Talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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Brandon has some rules about magic systems -- rules he uses as guideposts for his own writing. In his own words, "I name them Sanderson's Laws partially out of hubris..." Sanderson's third law states, in effect, that a thorough exploration of a single magical ability is better than the creation of lots of different abilities--going for depth rather than breadth. And to immediately break that rule, we explore the wider application of this rule in other arenas. We talk about how we apply this principle--depth rather than breadth--in many aspects of our own work, and then we drill back down (*ahem*) on its application in the creation of magic systems. Our Sponsors: * Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com * Check out Talkiatry and use my code Talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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Writing Excuses 9.21: Sanderson’s 3rd Law

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