Mystery Project in Sanderson's Status Bar

[Exalted]

So this appeared on Brandon's status bar when I refreshed the page today, replacing the "Apocalypse Guard Trilogy Draft" that was at 33% before. Anybody have any speculation as to what it is?

 

[asterion137 he/him]

secret history #2

Khriss/Nazh short story

But imo its probably

Spoiler

Alcatraz #6

since the very existence of the book is kind of a spoiler.

[Exalted]

1 minute ago, asterion137 said:

secret history #2

Khriss/Nazh short story

But imo its probably

  Reveal hidden contents

Alcatraz #6

since the very existence of the book is kind of a spoiler.

Ah, right, I'd forgotten about that. Kind of disappointed, I was hoping for some sort of Cosmere work.

[Pagerunner he/him]

Oh, hey, he finished Legion 3. If it's not Apocalypse Guard, then who knows? He's got a month until OB release and the holidays, so maybe he decided to write another novella, rather than lose a month's worth of momentum on AG2.

[StormingTexan he/him]

I just saw this 2 minutes ago and the suspense is already killing me! Please be a Cosmere short (or long) story!

[+Extesian he/him]

SILVERLIIIIIIIIIGHT

[Eternum he/him]

SILVERLIIIIIIIIGHT

[Nathrangking he/him]

Yes please Silverlight. Some of the answer that we seem concerning the worldhopping community may soon be revealed. O master of adolasium I beseech thee to make it so!

[Ammanas]

Hopefully something cosmere; most likely a novella. I get that Brandon owes his fans nothing, but one cosmere story for the next three years (after November 14) is a tough pill to swallow.

[Farnsworth]

Arcanum Rebounded? With a Nalthis short story?

[thegatorgirl00 she/her]

I think Alcatraz 6 is most likely. If not that, then the second Rithmatist book. I actually do believe we will be getting a cosmere novella at some point before Stormlight 4, I just don't think he's writing it yet. 

My theory on Brandon's writing schedule:

• Apocalypse Guard 1
• Legion 3
• Alcatraz 6
• Apocalypse Guard 2
• Cosmere novella
• Apocalypse Guard 3
• Rithmatist 2
• W&W 4
• Stormlight 4

[Flying she/her]

I actually jumped out of my seat when I saw that there was a "mystery project" on Brandon's writing status and now my heart is pounding incredibly fast. I'm hoping that it's a cosmere novella, but I wouldn't mind if it was Alcatraz #6 because I've been wanting to read those books for a long time and need the motivation to get out of the "all I'm gonna do is read Stormlight over and over again and not pick up another book for a few months" trance 

[Draginon he/him]

It'd be funny if it was the non-Cosmere short story collection and he's just doing something forwards/postscripts along with a little information on those worlds to explain why they are so different from our world.

Otherwise I think it's going to be a short story/novella or even Secret History 2.

[Kaymyth she/her]

I don't think we'll see Secret History 2 until after Era 2 is complete, if we ever see it at all.

Speculation is rampant, but there are hints that this Mystery Project is something not on his regular calendar from SotS last year. Whatever it is, I suspect it's his NaNo project, and he won't tell us what it is until at least the first draft is done.

[Toaster Retribution he/him]

11 minutes ago, Kaymyth said:

Speculation is rampant, but there are hints that this Mystery Project is something not on his regular calendar from SotS last year. Whatever it is, I suspect it's his NaNo project, and he won't tell us what it is until at least the first draft is done.

Where is it hinted? Reddit?

The biggest question for me is why he removed Apocalypse Guard for it. Why not just throw away one of the finished ones?

[What's a Seawolf?]

Maybe he accidentally wrote a book again and the mystery project is its second draft?

If he was clarifying the backstory and powers of a certain sword I can see how, Brandon being Brandon, that would magically turn into an unanticipated novel.

[Rage_Fortress he/him]

12 minutes ago, What's a Seawolf? said:

Maybe he accidentally wrote a book again

This sums up why Sanderson is my favorite author.

[Kaymyth she/her]

2 hours ago, Toaster Retribution said:

Where is it hinted? Reddit?

The biggest question for me is why he removed Apocalypse Guard for it. Why not just throw away one of the finished ones?

Someone pulled it out of last year's State of the Sanderson. Just vague hints that he might have something else kicking around in the back of his brain. 

(Edited To Add: Okay, I just went back and re-read this person's speculation. My mistake; it wasn't anything hinted at, just someone making a wild intuitive guess that it isn't on the last year's SotS list.)

But...he didn't remove Apocalypse Guard. It's right there on the bottom of the screenshot.

2 hours ago, What's a Seawolf? said:

Maybe he accidentally wrote a book again and the mystery project is its second draft?

Heh. I don't think that's the case, as it is showing only 1% complete. He's only just begun.

[CaptainRyan he/him]

18 hours ago, asterion137 said:

But imo its probably

  Reveal hidden contents

Alcatraz #6

since the very existence of the book is kind of a spoiler.

./agree

[CosmereQuestioner]

Since he publicly stated Alcatraz 6 is revealed I don't think he would continue the "surprise" by calling it the mystery project.  My guess would be something not on his State of the Sanderson. That or something he's doing much earlier than previously stated. (See what I did there? )

[StormingTexan he/him]

3 hours ago, What's a Seawolf? said:

Maybe he accidentally wrote a book again and the mystery project is its second draft?

If he was clarifying the backstory and powers of a certain sword I can see how, Brandon being Brandon, that would magically turn into an unanticipated novel.

Nothing would make me happier than if this was true.

[The Invested Beard]

My hope is Warbreaker 2, Elantris 2, or a Silverlight novella. Although with my luck it will be a non-fiction memoir about his dog or something.

[What's a Seawolf?]

7 minutes ago, The Invested Beard said:

My hope is Warbreaker 2, Elantris 2, or a Silverlight novella. Although with my luck it will be a non-fiction memoir about his dog or something.

And we will still pour over it for Cosmere Easter Eggs.

And we'll find some too.

[thegatorgirl00 she/her]

58 minutes ago, Glamdring804 said:

Calling it now. The mystery project is Stormlight 5, which he needed to write so he could figure out how to write Stormlight 4.

This.

Just, this. 

[SilverTiger she/her]

I hope it is The Dark One.