Alright, let’s talk about Brandon Sanderson, the guy who pumps out epic fantasy books faster than I can jump to a conclusion. The man who signed one of his books for me with “your head is red.” With multiple series, teaching gigs at BYU, and a podcast that’s basically Writing 101 for nerds, his output seems like black magic. The trick? This “Points on the Map” outlining thing he cooked up after twelve unpublished novels went down in flames. As a wannabe author staring at my own half-baked drafts, I’m taking notes.
From Hot Mess to Master Plan
Sanderson’s early writing days were a disaster—pure discovery-writing chaos, just throwing stuff at the page and hoping it stuck. Twelve manuscripts later, he finally cracked it with Elantris. Why? He hates revising. Like, loathes it. So he flipped his process, got smart about planning, and figured out how to keep the creative juice flowing without wandering into plot purgatory. It wasn’t instant—he tried a ton of outlining styles, most of which crashed and burned before he landed on what clicks. Now, it’s like he’s cracked the code to writing without the soul-crushing rewrites.
Points on the Map: Plotting Without the Handcuffs
His “Points on the Map” deal is like planning a road trip: you know the big stops, but the route’s flexible. Sanderson’s rule? “I need the ending first, or I’m just lost in the weeds.” So he starts at the climax and works backward, mapping out four big chunks, each ending with a bang—think major reveal or epic fight. Between those, it’s loose bullet points like:
- “Bob hates plants. Show it.”
- “Stick him in a garden, make him miserable.”
- “He starts vibing with tomatoes. Growth moment.”
The outline’s not a prison; it’s alive. New ideas pop up, threads twist together, and the story gets beefier as he writes. It’s structured but not suffocating, which is huge for someone like me who’s terrified of outlines killing the fun.
Magic Systems: The Story’s Backbone
Sanderson’s a worldbuilding nerd, spending months on magic systems before touching the plot. It’s not just geekery—those rules are the story’s scaffolding. His three laws of magic are gold:
- If readers don’t get your magic, it’s just deus ex machina BS.
- Limits are cooler than powers.
- Don’t keep adding new systems; milk what you’ve got.
Take Mistborn: Allomancy’s built around heist crew roles—brute, sneak, charmer—so the magic fits the vibe. Toss in physics like steel-pushing recoil, and it’s not just flashy, it drives the plot. As a tech guy, I respect the logic; it’s like coding a system that doesn’t crash.
The Sanderson Avalanche: Engineered Chaos
You know that insane rush in his books where everything slams together at the end? That’s the “Sanderson Avalanche,” and it’s no accident. He uses a “three-dial” trick for characters—tweaking their likeability, drive, and skills—and weaves that into the plot. He plans backward from the finale, tracks mysteries and arcs, and plants clues like a magician hiding cards. For massive series like The Stormlight Archive, he picks one main hero per book to keep things focused, while side characters get interlude cameos to flesh out the world without clogging the story.
His Toolkit’s Basic but Boss
For all his epic scope, Sanderson’s tools are low-key. Microsoft Word in Outline view for structuring, WikiDPad for linking worldbuilding details like a personal Wikipedia. WikiDPad? Someone tell this guy about Obsidian. His editing? Five or six passes, each with a purpose:
- Plot draft: nail the structure.
- Character draft: make voices pop.
- Language draft: polish prose, cut 10%.
- Editorial drafts: publisher tweaks.
His outlines mean he rarely rewrites the whole thing—huge time-saver.
Real Talk: The Outline Lives and Breathes
Check out his early The Way of Kings notes—total chaos, mixing character vibes like “Merin’s crew protects the weak” with detailed fight scenes. It’s raw but sticks to the core plan. He tweaks the system per project: light for standalones, beefy for Stormlight’s sprawling saga. It scales, which is clutch for a guy like me dreaming of stories but drowning in deadlines.
Teaching Newbies to Slay
Beyond books, Sanderson’s a teaching beast through BYU and the Writing Excuses podcast with folks like Mary Robinette Kowal. He’s all about the “why” behind his methods, not just “copy me.” His “Promise, Progress, Payoff” hook keeps readers glued, no matter your style. He’s not preaching one way—he wants you to experiment and find your groove. For a newbie like me, that’s less intimidating than it sounds.
The Productivity Hack Nobody Asked For
Here’s the kicker: all this planning frees him up. By front-loading the outline, he skips plot holes and endless rewrites, letting him juggle series like it’s nothing. Those progress bars he posts online? Only work because he knows where he’s going. It’s like he’s sharing a live working session with fans, and discovery writers could never pull that off.
Wrapping It Up
Sanderson’s outlining isn’t just scribbling notes—it’s a mindset for cranking out epic fantasy without losing the spark. Starting from the end, building magic like code, keeping outlines flexible—it’s how he delivers those killer payoffs. His “Points on the Map” are guideposts, not shackles, making writing feel like an adventure, not a chore.
Trying to ditch tech for storytelling, his openness—sharing real outlines, owning his flops, teaching concepts—is a goldmine. If his method turned a dozen failed drafts into a fantasy empire, maybe there’s hope for us mere mortals.
Works Cited
“Brandon Sanderson’s 2025 Guide to Plot (Lecture #2).” Brandon Sanderson, www.brandonsanderson.com/blogs/blog/brandon-sandersons-2025-guide-to-plot-lecture-2.
“Can You Go Into Depth About Outlining?” Brandon Sanderson FAQ, faq.brandonsanderson.com/knowledge-base/can-you-go-into-depth-about-outlining/.
“How Do Pull Off Your Twist Endings?” Brandon Sanderson FAQ, faq.brandonsanderson.com/knowledge-base/how-do-pull-off-your-twist-endings/.
“How Much Worldbuilding Do You Do?” Brandon Sanderson FAQ, faq.brandonsanderson.com/knowledge-base/how-much-worldbuilding-do-you-do/.
“Plotting like Brandon Sanderson with LivingWriter.” LivingWriter Writing Blog, livingwriter.com/blog/plotting-like-brandon-sanderson/.
“Sanderson’s First Law.” Brandon Sanderson, www.brandonsanderson.com/blogs/blog/sandersons-first-law.
“The Way of Kings early brainstorms / outlines.” Brandon Sanderson, www.brandonsanderson.com/blogs/blog/the-way-of-kings-early-brainstorms-outlines.
“What Influenced The Structure Of The Book With Flashbacks, Interludes, Etc?” Brandon Sanderson FAQ, faq.brandonsanderson.com/knowledge-base/what-influenced-the-structure-of-the-book-with-flashbacks-interludes-etc/.
“What Is Your Process For Drafting A Book?” Brandon Sanderson FAQ, faq.brandonsanderson.com/knowledge-base/what-is-your-process-for-drafting-a-book/.
“What Program Do You Use To Organize Your Writing?” Brandon Sanderson FAQ, faq.brandonsanderson.com/knowledge-base/what-program-do-you-use-to-organize-your-writing/.