Brandon Sanderson AMA 2015

[dvoraen]

Nor did he specify if it was a minor/major Shardworld so i'm guessing that there is barely, if any cognitive function on the world itself

Or it's something like an unpopulated moon of a planet: it only exists in the Cognitive Realm because people perceive the moon from the planet, and thereby create(?)* the Cognitive form of it, but nothing on the moon itself would have a Cognitive aspect aside from: "It's there."  Therefore, wasteland of nothing.

 

 

* Unsure about this choice of wording, but it's the best I've got.

Edited June 30, 2015 by dvoraen

[Oudeis]

Hasn't it been implied in the book that Awakener's used a lot of Breaths to Awaken Lifeless before the one-Breath Lifeless Command was discovered? Does that mean the very first Lifeless had some sort of personality? I suppose people would prefer their undead soldiers not having any personality whatsoever, so that's another advantage of the single-Breath Lifeless Command (aside from the obvious economic reason).

 

Per chapter 32, Lifeless used to take 50 Breaths. Nothing is said about whether that meant personality, but I doubt it did. I imagine it was just an incredibly inefficient use of Breaths, that all that energy was going towards doing it the hard way. If you used the better Command, but somehow did shove in 49 extra Breaths, maybe there'd be personality? Who knows?

[Kelek's Breath]

http://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/2ytg2h/im_novelist_brandon_sanderson_ama/csqm4wh?context=3

Q.And now, a couple serious questions. I want to ask about a billion, but I'll hold back.

-Could a hemalurgic spike be used it ways other than just sticking it into a bind point?

-Objects used for awakening turn gray. A limb cut with a shardblade turns gray. You mentioned earlier in this thread that the color of gemstones on Roshar is important. Is there a connection between these?

-Do you ever think of how other series might fit in the Cosmere? Are there any that you think would mesh particularly well?

A.

1) Yes.

2) Between those two things? Yes.

3) I haven't really considered this. I'll give it more thought.

Also, thanks for reading!

 

http://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/2ytg2h/im_novelist_brandon_sanderson_ama/csqm8th?context=3

Q.I'm a huge fan of the Reckoners series! I missed Cody in firefight though. But anyway how's Calamity coming along?

A.Done, turned in, and scheduled to come out in February. Cody makes a return.

 

http://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/2ytg2h/im_novelist_brandon_sanderson_ama/csqmc5e?context=3

Q.One minor Stormlight timeline question: I had a lot of fun putting the timeline for Words of Radiance together, with the countdown and Taravangian's list of Highstorm dates, and not least of all a bit of help, but you didn't quite give me enough to work with for the Way of Kings. Kaladin arrived at the warcamps at the middle or end of the 7th month (Betab) and from there the book spanned 70-100 days. Could I get a date for some event along those 70-100 days?

-Seems like Taravangian asked for the capacity to do two different things from Nightwatcher as his Boon, and got two different things in return, am I reading that right?

-Where will we find out what happened to Vivienna first, in a subsequent Stormlight book or will we be waiting until the Warbreaker sequel?

Kaladin: “Have you ever had to choose between two equally distasteful choices?” Vasher: “Every day I choose to keep breathing.”

Does that mean he needs to consume Stormlight on a daily basis rather than weekly?

 

A.-You'll have to track down Peter and ask him the question for timeline on Stormlight One.

-RAFO, I'm afraid.

-Warbreaker sequel.

-This is more mundane than that. Vasher is indicating that not letting himself die is a tough choice for him.

 

http://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/2ytg2h/im_novelist_brandon_sanderson_ama/csqmfne?context=3

Here's a writing advice question.

You once said that aspiring authors would do well to write two books a year and to self-publish one of them while trying to get the other published conventionally. How do you decide which of the two books to put down which track? Should you self-publish your "best" one or save it for publishers? Should you self-publish your longest or your shortest? Is it better to self-publish more ambitious or further "out there" works and send more conventional stuff to prospective publishers or the other way around? Basically, I'm just asking for qualification on your comment.

I am absolutely blown away, I should say, by your support for aspiring writers! It's really fantastic! I think I've learned more from your annotations (and especially the multiple versions of Warbreaker and Sixth of the Dusk) than from any class or workshop I've ever done!

 

A.Hopefully, every book you write is your "best" in some way. All other considerations set aside for the moment, I'd put the shorter, more serial, and more fast-paced one on-line. Say you have an urban fantasy with a serial set of adventures, Dresden Files like. That's the one I'd pick for on-line, while the long epic fantasy I'd save for traditional publishing, at least at first.

This, again, is only one way to look at it. There are lots of different arguments for what would work and what wouldn't. A very niche book might be better self published, while a mass appeal book better traditional. However, if you look at what sells best by self-published authors, it tends to be the shorter, faster paced books.

 

http://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/2ytg2h/im_novelist_brandon_sanderson_ama/csqm4dh?context=3

Q.I know it is hard for you to pick favorites among your books/characters, but do your assistants or Mrs. Sanderson have favorites from what you write?

A.My wife says her favorite is: Warbreaker (because it was the book I was writing when we were dating, and it is dedicated to her.)

Edited July 3, 2015 by Kelek's Breath

[Kelek's Breath]

http://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/2ytg2h/im_novelist_brandon_sanderson_ama/cssn5lb?context=3

Q.So I was wondering how you'd spin Szeth's new sword into The Stormlight Archive's narrative. I know it's very similar to the Shardblades, but its differences are going to be worthy of explanation, if the new sword is going to appear as frequently as a planned Szeth-centric book suggests.

So, if I am not missing anything, either the differences 1) will be explained vaguely, or 2) will be integrated into the greater lore (Cosmere/Zahel), or 3) will be somehow integrated into The Stormlight Archive's own magic system.

And since the sword's emitted Investiture is black and compared to stormlight by Szeth, this is my question: is the blade's "corrupted stormlight" related to anything else we've seen so far in TSA? (e.g. Gavilar's sphere...)

 

A.RAFO.

 

http://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/2ytg2h/im_novelist_brandon_sanderson_ama/cssn63g?context=3

Q.1) How simple is it to bond an Honorblade? Is it just a matter of willing it? Shardblades need gemstones, but it seems like Honorblades might not even need those.

2) Do you need to be bonded to an Honorblade to Surgebind? Or is just holding it in your hand sufficient?

3) Do you need to be bonded to an Honorblade for it to change your eye color? Or would holding it in your hand be sufficient to do the eye color trick?

 

A.RAFO.

 

http://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/2ytg2h/im_novelist_brandon_sanderson_ama/cssn8bx?context=3

Q.Hi, I'm really impressed by how many responses you've given here, and I see you are still answering questions! I have a couple I've been thinking about for a while...

1. The Hero of Ages prophecy: For a while it seemed to me that the prophecy was entirely bogus (invented by Ruin as a lure), but it ended up coming true! So my question is, where did the prophecy actually come from? Was it Atium in some form, or something else entirely?
2. Taravangian: On his "Special Day" where he created the Diagram, was he actually as smart as he thinks he was, or was something else going on? It seems suspicious that any level of raw intelligence would let him deduce all of that...

A.

1. The religions of Scadrial had a lot of ups and downs. First, you have Ruin and Preservation working together as two gods. Then you have the schism between them, and Preservation betraying Ruin, with Preservation adapting the religion to his own needs and trying to hide in it practices that will keep Ruin imprisoned as long as possible, and then give a chance to defeat him when he escapes. (As Preservation assumes he'll be dead by then.) Finally, you have Ruin corrupting the religions with his influence, trying to figure out what he can twist to his own needs--while missing the hidden layers that Preservation left.

2. That sure IS suspicious, eh? Let's just say that HE believes it was rational deduction. But other theories are valid.

Q.Were there a lot of Hero of Ages who ascended beyond the ones we directly saw in the books?

 

A.I wouldn't say so.

Answer number 2 certainly leaves the door open for Taravangian to have been influenced by an external force; Cultivation maybe who is better at seeing the future than Honor?

 

 

http://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/2ytg2h/im_novelist_brandon_sanderson_ama/cstci8x?context=3

Q.Hi, Brandon. I just created this account so I could say that I have enjoyed your books immensily - the cosmere has blown my mind, you are my absolute favourite author. And thanks for keeping this thread alive with all your answers - your dedication to your fans is amazing.

I just have one question: Did the Lord Ruler have any hobbies / anything he just enjoyed doing not related to being a tyrant?

 

A.Thanks! He did. Actually, across a thousand years he tried pretty much everything. He was most fond of music.

 

http://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/2ytg2h/im_novelist_brandon_sanderson_ama/cstckxz?context=3

Q.I heard you were still answering questions, so:

1. Could decapitation kill a Gold Compounder? With a guillotine, for example?

2. Do you have a plan for a central work that would connect the different parts of the Cosmere together (Similar to what The Dark Tower does for Stephen King's books)? Maybe Stormlight or the thrid Mistborn trilogy?

A.

1. Most forms of extreme cosmere healing don't care much what is done to the physical body, as the person's spiritual template is in power at the time.
2. Yes, but it is not on a world you have seen.

 

http://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/2ytg2h/im_novelist_brandon_sanderson_ama/cstcn34?context=3

Q.I think I may have actually stumbled upon a question that nobody's asked yet (at least in this thread)...

Was the food "chouta" in Words of Radiance, and the subsequent conversation between Kaladin and Lopen regarding its pronunciation, inspired by this scene from The Simpsons?

A.I am not sure what scene is linked as I am on mobile, but it was not based on any particular thing unless it was unconscious.

 

 

http://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/2ytg2h/im_novelist_brandon_sanderson_ama/cstcots?context=3

Q.Hi Brandon I love your books particularly war breaker and words of radiance. You are very talented! Two questions: 1.Can stormlight be used to fuel allomancy like the mist in the mistborn trilogy? Is stormlight therefore a manifestation of honour? 2. Will there be a metal called harmonium in the mistborn world?

A.

1. This is possible.
2. RAFO. But good question.

 

http://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/2ytg2h/im_novelist_brandon_sanderson_ama/cstcr3e?context=3

Q.We have seen that Epics have a compulsion to pick a name for themselves (and have been told that some apparently have very bad taste) but is there also some kind of compulsion for them to be at least somewhat appropriate or for example could Nightwielder also have called himself Sunshine Shimmer (if he were such inclined)? And on a similar note, about when does this need start to manifest itself.

On a rather different note, what is Obliteration's usual M.O.? Does he destroy every town he goes to or does he usually just kill a couple people, melt a small neighborhood, maybe go and hold a sermon and then goes shopping?

 

A.

1. It is possible for him to have named himself that.
2. He does not destroy every town. More in book 3.

Edited July 6, 2015 by Kelek's Breath

[ccstat]

http://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/2ytg2h/im_novelist_brandon_sanderson_ama/cstigzf?context=3

Q. Unfortunately, only a few of the stances (i.e. Windstance, Smokestance) are mentioned in the books.
Have you given thought to what the rest of the stances are, and the qualities they emulate in combat? What are they?

A. Going into the Stances in depth is going to be tough for me as I am answering on mobile. But yes, I have thought about them all. They should all appear in the books eventually.

 
http://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/2ytg2h/im_novelist_brandon_sanderson_ama/csupctx?context=3

Q. My wife and I really love the character of Vasher/Zahel. We were especially struck by his reaction to the kidnapped girl in Warbreaker, and how that was really the one thing that got a reaction out of him. My wife really wants to know whether Vasher has had children, or wants to have children. It would mean a lot to her to find out from you!

A. Vasher doesn't have kids, but he really does want them. Or, at least, he has wanted them at most points in his life.

Note: this Q/A also had some good self publishing advice, which I didn't copy here. If that interests you, check it out at the link.
 
 
Follow up on the Harmonium Question RAFO'd above:
http://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/2ytg2h/im_novelist_brandon_sanderson_ama/csuq5u3?context=3
 

Q.Just an fyi but you have confirmed the existence of harmonium before (And this is probably a RAFO, but is there a reason you didn't follow the convention of the other "god metals" and call it something like sazedium? "Harmonium" just seems out of place.)
 

A.Sazed didn't like the sound of Sazedium.

 
http://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/2ytg2h/im_novelist_brandon_sanderson_ama/csuq7a5?context=3

Q. Who is Gaidal Cain reborn? We know you know
 

A. My lips are sealed on that one. Sorry!

 

http://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/2ytg2h/im_novelist_brandon_sanderson_ama/csuq8z1?context=3

Q. I find the Shin fascinating. Given their reputation for docility and Szeth's internal monologues, am I right in thinking that the Shin do not feel The Thrill?
If so, is this due to the protection of Cultivation or sheer distance from Nergaoul? And finally, is an awareness or fear of the Thrill the reason for the Shin societal disdain for soldiers or is it primarily to discourage use of the honour blades?


A. Distance is the big factor here, though there are cultural reasons for things as well. In addition, being very close to something tied to Honor reduces the effects of things like the Thrill. As for the Shin culture, you'll find a great deal in the next three books, so I'd rather not say much now.

Edited July 7, 2015 by ccstat

[Kipper]

Gotta love that one about Nightblood.

And more Obliteration! YAY!

[skaa]

Sazed didn't like the sound of Sazedium.

Ah well, there goes my theory that harmonium existed before Sazed's Ascension.

Edited July 7, 2015 by skaa

[ccstat]

http://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/2ytg2h/im_novelist_brandon_sanderson_ama/csvfhre?context=3

[Previous Answer: TLR was fond of music]

Q. Composing, playing, or listening to?

A. Playing and listening to. Not composing.

http://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/2ytg2h/im_novelist_brandon_sanderson_ama/csvfjeb?context=3

Q. With bits and pieces of the respective pieces of harmony still laying about is Harmony actually skewed in one way or another if slightly and does Sazed's personality circumvent this in any way ?

A. Personality can always circumvent the powers--it just gets harder and harder to hold out as centuries pass.

 

http://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/2ytg2h/im_novelist_brandon_sanderson_ama/csvgrcw?context=3

 

Q

1. What is your favorite citrus fruit?

2. Which character in the Cosmere is the best breakdancer?

3. Is Stick a worldhopper?

A

1. Mandarin Oranges.

2. Nobody has invented breakdancing in the cosmere, alas.

3. I can't say much, but he does belong to the super-secret organization B.A.R.K.

Q. Can we presume that B.A.R.K. is a more dangerous organization than B.I.T.E.?

A. Of course. Though naturally, he belongs to both.

This response, not from the AMA, addresses e-book pricing if you purchase a hardcover.

http://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/3cbpi1/shadows_of_self_is_only_299_on_kindle_if_you/csvgffh?context=3

Q. Shadows of Self is only $2.99 on kindle if you buy/pre-order the hardcover. This is awesome for people like me who like to have both formats. Does anyone know if this is this going to be a regular occurrence?

A.This was the best compromise I could reach with Tor, and I do applaud them for trying to find a way to make this happen. I still want to be able to give away a copy for free with every hardcover--I feel that the hardcover, more and more, is going to become a collector's item, and foresee a simultaneous release of a paperback alongside the ebook coming in the future. (As sometimes happens in the UK already.)

However, Tor's agreement with bitlit allows us to also do this with Amazon. (We didn't want to just do the Amazon one, as we wanted something that also helped our booksellers, in particular the science fiction bookstores like Mysterious Galaxy of which we are very fond.)

So, going forward, you should be able to get an ebook copy for three bucks with any hardcover. If you buy from your local bookstore, look into bitlit. If you prefer amazon, then Matchbook will work for you.

Edited July 8, 2015 by ccstat

[Kobold King]

Q. Can we presume that B.A.R.K. is a more dangerous organization than B.I.T.E.?

 

A. Of course. Though naturally, he belongs to both.

 

I asked that as a joke for other Sanderfans reading the AMA. Didn't expect him to actually answer it--though of course, his response was perfect.

[Smye]

I asked that as a joke for other Sanderfans reading the AMA. Didn't expect him to actually answer it--though of course, his response was perfect.

 

I'm just waiting for Sanderson to reveal in the second SA arc that B.A.R.K is actually an organization in the cosmere and that stick's membership was a HUGE spoiler and none of us had a clue.

[Voidus]

I'm just waiting for Sanderson to reveal in the second SA arc that B.A.R.K is actually an organization in the cosmere and that stick's membership was a HUGE spoiler and none of us had a clue.

Bearers Against Rayse's Kraziness?

(The Stick is now a Shardbearer)

[Guest]

I'm thinking Stick, armed with ALL of the Honorblades, has used Stormlight to grow into a multi-branched shrub

[Titan Arum]

I'm thinking Stick, armed with ALL of the Honorblades, has used Stormlight to grow into a multi-branched shrub

 

Little did we know that the Knights of Ni are actually the priests of the Church of Stick, hoping that Stick will one day ascend into shrubbery form.

 

Arthur: Well what is it you want?

Knight of Ni: We want.....

(pregnant pause)

A SHRUBBERY!!!!

(dramatic minor chord)

Arthur: A *WHAT*?

Knights of Ni: Ni! Ni!! Ni! Ni!

Arthur; No! No! Please, please, no more! We will find you a shrubbery.

Knight of Ni: You must return here with a shrubbery... or else you will never

pass through this wood... alive.

Arthur: O Knights of Ni, you are just and fair, and we will return with a

shrubbery.

Knight of Ni: One that looks nice.

Arthur: Of course!

Knight of Ni: And not *too* expensive.  

[yafeshan]

Stick is the most likely candidate to combine all shards and become adonalsium. All hail the Stick Supreme 

[Erai Sedai]

this thread is just gold! haha i love it.

[Orlion Blight]

I'm thinking Stick, armed with ALL of the Honorblades, has used Stormlight to grow into a multi-branched shrub

 

Odium lay panting on the ground, his life force slowly draining from his being. How could this be? How could his perfect plan have failed? He was the very Anger of God, this should not be happening to him!

"Who...are you?" he croaked.

"I am...a Stick!"

 

Then Odium explodes or something, I don't know... I don't want to spoil too much!

[Mistdork]

Not to bring this up again but...this is the REAL CANON, after all: "The Stick reigns," said the Stormfather. That explains everything.

 

The Godbeyond. Probably just a manifestation of the Stick. Whatever Adonalsium was exactly? Another manifestation of the stick! It's all the stick, that's why B.A.R.K. and B.I.T.E. really are hiding. The Stick reigns.

[Shardcellist]

Well, I'm definitely very late to this party...

Does anyone know when the last questions were answered and if it's too late to ask any? I've read through the answered portion of the questions (there still seem to be a few hundred left), but I didn't notice any time indicators. Maybe I'm just Reddit-illiterate.

There are definitely quite a few gems in there, not least of which are B.A.R.K. and B.I.T.E.

And I find: "Send my mother my respect. Keep her at arm's length, Uncle. She bites." (TWOK, page 423)

Coincidence? I think not! Navani is a confirmed member of B.I.T.E.!

[WeiryWriter]

The most recent answer was answered four days ago, it's not too late (it may not get answered, but there's no harm in submitting the question).

[ccstat]

More answers! There are a few writing advice questions, but I'll just include everything this time for completeness. In the future, what is the hope for people reporting on this thread? Should we focus on book and magic-system questions, or include everything? I know that it is partly for discussion and partly to help those who will later enter things into theoryland.
 
Also, I have been removing all the attributions for the question askers, and letting 17S members claim their questions in this thread if they want to. Should I be including info about who asked the questions? How much do we care about credit here?


https://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/2ytg2h/im_novelist_brandon_sanderson_ama/ct2nb42?context=3

Q. If you are still answering questions

• Other then Birgitte and Gaidal Cain, where any other Heroes of the Horn reborn before the conclusion of aMoL?
• Is the magic on Sel geographically based because the techtonic plates act like Aon's, or is it distance from shardpools?
• Now that Scadrial is on a better orbit, are there landmasses between the poles that are inhabitable?

Thanks as always for your amazing novels and dedication to your fans.
 
A.

• I personally believe there were, but RJ did not specify so far as I could see in the notes.
• No, but that's a great guess.
• Yes, indeed there are.

https://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/2ytg2h/im_novelist_brandon_sanderson_ama/ct2nbw4?context=3

Q. Does a more powerful Mistborn burn their metals more quickly, or do they use what they get more efficiently?

A. Metal burning speed is proportional to power withdrawn.

https://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/2ytg2h/im_novelist_brandon_sanderson_ama/ct2nf87?context=3

Q. Hey Brandon! Just finished the books of the Stormlight Archive and am now preparing a SA inspired D&D game while reading the Mistborn series! I love your work and had one question, that may already be answered but you communicate with fans so much it's hard to keep track!
If Shallan's mother was a Ghostblood and Shallan is recognized by the ghostbloods in WoR is it safe to assume that they are aware of her role in her mothers death?

A. Not 100% safe to assume, but it wouldn't be an outlandish conclusion either.

https://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/2ytg2h/im_novelist_brandon_sanderson_ama/ct2nhfw?context=3

Q. Hi Brandon, I was wondering, who wrote way of kings? google says Brandon Sanderson, Jennifer Mendenhall, and Michael Kramer but the cover only says Brandon Sanderson. Who actually wrote it?

A. Ha. Well, I assume you are joking--but in case you aren't, I am the one who wrote it. Michael and Jennifer (who goes by Kate as a stage name) are the audiobook readers. You were looking at the audiobook version, which (rightly) lists the narrators, as they put a lot of work into the production of the audiobook.
So far, the only books I've been involved with where I didn't write everything were the Wheel of Time books.

https://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/2ytg2h/im_novelist_brandon_sanderson_ama/ct2nhv4?context=3

Q. Is there more to metallurgy in mistborn than just trying to aim for the 'perfect' ratio for alloys? Like, can you make pewter that gives more strength but less endurance, or brass that soothes anger better, but doesn't work as well for other emotions?
 
A. No, unfortunately that isn't the way Allomancy works.

https://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/2ytg2h/im_novelist_brandon_sanderson_ama/ct2nmms?context=3

Q. Hi Brandon! How are you doing today? I wanted to say thank you for the countless hours of enjoyment you have given me through your work. I have a couple of questions for you. First do you have any signings planned in Canada, specifically Alberta? I'd love to be able to go to one. Second , and this one will probably get Rafo'ed, but would a feruchemist actively storing identity be more susceptible to Forgery? Would more outlandish changes be able to take effect? Thanks for your time, and have a wonderful day.

A. Alberta is a rare place for me to visit, I'm afraid. I did get to Calgary once a year ago on tour, so it's not impossible--but I've been to Vancouver far more often. I would love to get back, but it's really up to the publisher and/or the local science fiction conventions.
Yes, if you store identity, it makes you susceptible to ALL KINDS of things in the Cosmere. Forgery would be on the short list.

https://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/2ytg2h/im_novelist_brandon_sanderson_ama/ct2nocd?context=3

Q. My apologies if this is too personal a question...
If you were to burn gold allomantically, who do you think you would see?

A. Hmm... That's an amazingly good question.
I would probably see the alternate me who never discovered fantasy novels, and never became a writer.

https://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/2ytg2h/im_novelist_brandon_sanderson_ama/ct2nq1e?context=3

Q. Hi Brandon! Just finished reading Alloy of Law, and I've got to say Scadrial just keeps getting better and better! I've got two very unrelated questions:

• If Wax bonded with an Honorspren and got to the Second Oath, would he be able to use his Twinborn powers in conjunction with Windrunner powers? Or would they draw from the same "pool of Investiture"?
• Hoid likes to be in interesting places. What was so interesting about the Yomen/Joshin wedding that he had to be there?

A.

• He could use them, but I do warn that I don't want to dive far into questions about mixing the magics. That sort of thing is years off in the Cosmere.
• In that case, he went to congratulate friends. Not everything is about large-scale cosmere problems.

 

 

https://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/2ytg2h/im_novelist_brandon_sanderson_ama/ct2nqf4?context=3

Q. Is Stick a relative of Groot? Their vocabulistics are similar.

A. Obviously wood-related dialects are similar no matter what universe you are in.

https://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/2ytg2h/im_novelist_brandon_sanderson_ama/ct2nqqo?context=3

Q. 
You've mentioned that a person's personality eventually erodes and is replaced by the will of the shard they hold. Besides Harmony, are there any Shards holders that are still actively and significantly defying the intent of their shard?

A. Yes.

https://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/2ytg2h/im_novelist_brandon_sanderson_ama/ct2nrnh?context=3

Q. Did he [the Lord Ruler] perhaps play the flute?

A. Yes, he did.

 
 


https://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/2ytg2h/im_novelist_brandon_sanderson_ama/ct2ns4z?context=3

Q. I just wanted to share the challenge I faced while reading your brilliant work, The Way of Kings.
A few chapters into the paperback, my toddler tore off the first 20 pages. The binding was ruined and every time I picked the book up, I lost an increasingly large amount of pages.
At one point I began to read sheets no longer attached to the spine, but I caught up and eventually finished with some of it still intact.
Totally worth the effort it took. Thanks for being so wonderfully imaginative and allowing us to read your works.
 
A.  As a parent of three, trust me, I know exactly what you're talking about.

Q. I was upset when I didn't pre-order Words of Radiance in time to get a signed copy.
Having you respond to my post personally... well that beats it 1000 fold.
Thanks, friend.
 
A. Also, if you want a book plate to put in that copy of WoR, we've got them for sale at cost on my website

https://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/2ytg2h/im_novelist_brandon_sanderson_ama/ct2odey?context=3

Q. Hi Brandon,
Before I ask a question, I first have a confession to make. Last summer I illegally downloaded Steelheart and the Mistborn trilogy.
After seeing your name regularly mentioned across Reddit, I finally decided to give your books a try. However, I was really short of money at the time, and so I chose to torrent them. I started Steelheart and loved it so much that I immediately shared it with my brothers, both of whom live far away from me. Over the next several months, I also shared it with one of my closest and oldest friends, who hasn't read a book in years. It took him several months to actually open up the file on his phone, but when he finally did, he blasted through it in a couple days.
Shortly after finishing Steelheart, I started getting a regular paycheck, and I signed up for a trial membership of Audible. I'd started Mistborn by then, but I wanted to try listening to it too, so it was the first book I got on Audible. I was quickly hooked, and over the coming months, I used my credits to buy the whole Mistborn trilogy, both Stormlight Archive novels, and Warbreaker.
As my brothers likewise jumped into Mistborn (by purchasing it) after Steelheart , I suddenly found myself with a new connection to my siblings, something more to discuss on the phone. My friend found a love of reading, and shocked me by immediately pre-ordering a copy of Firefight.
Then, to my complete surprise, my girlfriend started listening to Mistborn on my Audible account, and fell in love with the characters of that world. So, even though I already had the audio books, I bought her the Mistborn box set because she likes to read and listen at the same time. Through the stories of Kesier and Vin and Elend, I found an amazing new connection with the woman I will soon marry.
I want you to know that your work has had a profound impact on my life. It has brought me closer to my girlfriend, my brothers, and my best friend, and I want to thank you for that.
I also want to make you a promise. One day I will come to one of your signings, and I promise to bring a legally acquired copy of Steelheart
I know that writers don't make nearly enough, and I hope you can accept my apology.
I guess I have to ask a question now.
Do you plan on having a true, definite ending to the Cosmere, such that no more books will be written that exist in it?
 
A.
I've said before that I, personally, have no trouble with people torrenting my work to try it out. I'd certainly prefer they eventually buy copies, particularly if they like them. And it should be noted that I don't own the ebook rights any longer--I license those to Tor--so I can't legally even say you can do what you did. However, I doubt there's an author out there who would fault you for downloading the books to try them out. We write to be read; the money is secondary.
That said, thank you for having the integrity to--when you had the money--buy some of my books. There are a lot of people who work on them other than myself, and they deserve a paycheck too. You've done right by me. To be honest, if I could give everyone on this planet copies of my books for free--on the odd chance they'd support me once they had the means to do so--then I'd do it without a second thought.
I'm honored to read your post, particularly because of the influence my work has had on your life. Give my best to your family and friends. Looking forward to seeing you at a signing some day.
Also, I DO have a true, definite ending. However, I can't say "no more books could exist" as there are always more stories to be told. But when I reach this ending in the years to come, I might very well decide enough has been done on this story. We shall see.

https://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/2ytg2h/im_novelist_brandon_sanderson_ama/ct2ofj7?context=3

Q. You once said that Investiture follows its own version of the laws of thermodynamics. The first one is that Investiture is neither created nor destroyed.
Is the second law of Investodynamics that the amount of corrupted Investiture in the Cosmere cannot decrease?

A. Basically, the idea is that there is a third item in the equations--matter, energy, and investiture. That's the basis of how they work.
Entropy is not corrupted Investiture. The second law stands as is. However, there is a fourth law that relates to Adonalsium, which I'm not going to talk about at the moment.

Not from the AMA: 

https://www.reddit.com/r/writing/comments/3d7eny/should_you_save_your_favourite_ideas_for_when/ct2q0fw?context=3

Q. Should you save your favourite ideas for when you're a better writer?I was listening to Brandon Sanderson's lectures on youtube and he discussed this premise a little. Do writers on this sub have ideas that they've stored for later, for when they are more experienced because they feel their current level couldn't do the project justice?

A. You're making me try to remember exactly what it was I said on the topic.
For what it's worth, I think this comes down solely to your own temperament as a writer. I've known some newer writers who stress so much about their favorite ideas that they stop writing. They just can't allow themselves to fail, yet can see the story isn't going as they want it to, so they hit a brick wall and get discouraged.
For these people, I often suggest writing something they're not as attached to as a method of training themselves not to stress so much about first drafts. However, there's also something to be said for just getting the stories out of your system--as you can't actually "ruin" them. You can write them poorly, but this will just help you write those same ideas better once you've improved in skill.
The answer to this one, as it is with so many similar questions, is to do what keeps you productive as a writer.

 

Edited July 14, 2015 by ccstat

[ParadoxicalZen]

This fourth law only being related to Adonalsium....fascinating!

[Argent]

This fourth law only being related to Adonalsium....fascinating!

 

My eyes lit up when I read that, yeah  

[Kurkistan]

Also, I have been removing all the attributions for the question askers, and letting 17S members claim their questions in this thread if they want to. Should I be including info about who asked the questions? How much do we care about credit here?

I always try to err on the side of attribution.

[Moogle]

Re: Adonalsium, I'm going to guess 'Intent is conserved' for that law. Quite an interesting set of answers. Thank you for grabbing them all for us, ccstat.

[Zas678]

An interesting one is TLR playing the flute. Maybe that's why Hoid was so upset that Kaladin lost the flute...