Write What You Love | SanderFAQ #writing #storytelling #fantasyauthor
Why It Matters
By normalizing both tradition and innovation in fantasy, the talk expands creative freedom and market opportunities for writers, fostering a richer, more diverse genre landscape.
Key Takeaways
- •Author admits past snobbery toward fantasy tropes like elves.
- •Embraces writing any beloved genre, including classic races.
- •Advocates experimenting with magic versus science boundaries in worldbuilding.
- •Highlights value of both innovation and tradition in fantasy storytelling.
- •Encourages writers to read and write what genuinely excites them.
Summary
The video opens with the speaker reflecting on a period of self‑imposed snobbery toward popular fantasy conventions, especially the over‑use of elves and dwarves. After achieving publication, he questioned why he dismissed what many readers love, realizing his attitude was needlessly elitist. He recounts his earlier "kill the elves" essay, which urged writers to move beyond Tolkien‑style races. Over time, he softened that stance, recognizing that well‑crafted stories can still thrive on classic mythic races while pushing the limits of magic, science, and world‑building. He now champions experimentation with the nature of magic and its intersection with speculative science. Key moments include the mantra, "write your book, read your book, read what you love, write what you love," and a nod to fellow author Brandon, noting even he includes dragons. The speaker emphasizes that both innovative twists and reverent re‑interpretations of traditional lore are valid. The broader implication is a call for inclusivity in fantasy writing: authors need not abandon beloved tropes to be original. By validating both new ideas and time‑tested elements, the talk encourages a broader, more diverse market of fantasy works, empowering writers to pursue authentic passions without fear of genre gatekeeping.
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