Critics complain about Brandon Sanderson’s prose. They groan at his massive novels. Some even say he’s overhyped and overrated.
But in my opinion, his true superpower completely overshadows all of those criticisms.
Brandon Sanderson’s superpower isn’t his worldbuilding, and it isn’t his magic systems. His real strength is the sheer amount of time he dedicates to his craft.
His work ethic is impeccable. His habits, routine, and discipline are the backbone of his incredible books. Even those who criticize his writing can’t deny his success.
So what can aspiring writers learn from Brandon Sanderson’s greatest strength?
Consistency Always Beats Inspiration
Many writers—especially new writers—wait for the right mood or the perfect idea before they start writing.
Brandon, on the other hand, writes every day.
That daily consistency has led to millions of words on the page, and that practice has produced the aspects of his novels that many of us love most: his worldbuilding and his magic systems.
Brandon reportedly wrote around twelve novels before he was ever published. I can’t be certain, but based on the size of a typical Sanderson novel, I would estimate he easily wrote well over a million words before becoming a published author.
Those words gave him the practice necessary to execute his worldbuilding and create the simple yet elaborate magic systems his readers enjoy today.
The lesson is simple: don’t wait for inspiration. Build consistency instead.
Build a Writing Routine That Fits Your Life
Sanderson has talked extensively about his writing habits over the years.
His routine allows him to write roughly eight hours a day in two four-hour blocks. That’s enough time to turn even an average writer into something special.
Most of us, however, have jobs, families, bills, and responsibilities. We simply can’t dedicate eight hours every day to writing.
But we can build routines that fit our own circumstances.
Personally, I like writing in the mornings and try to write at least three times each week. Your routine may look completely different, and that’s okay.
The important thing is having one.
Sometimes Quantity Beats Quality
I don’t believe Sanderson is nearly as poor a writer as some people claim.
He captivates an enormous audience and entertains millions of readers. In my opinion, you don’t sell millions of books if you’re a bad storyteller.
He’s obviously doing something right.
One of the biggest strengths of his career isn’t just the quality of his books—it’s the quantity.
Because Sanderson writes consistently, his readers almost always have something new to look forward to. He’s never forgotten because there’s nearly always another project, another announcement, or another novel on the horizon.
I mean, the man writes secret books that nobody even knows exist until he announces them.
His fans love it.
When readers feel like an author consistently delivers stories they enjoy, they’re far more likely to stick around for the next release.
You don’t need to write as quickly as Brandon Sanderson, but learning to consistently finish books is a skill that will serve you well throughout your writing career.
Discipline Always Beats Talent
Sanderson certainly isn’t untalented.
But his strengths don’t necessarily lie in the areas people usually associate with literary talent.
For example, many readers judge an author’s talent by the beauty of their prose. Prose isn’t generally considered Sanderson’s greatest strength, yet he’s become one of the most successful fantasy writers of his generation.
He accomplished that through discipline, imagination, and years of developing his craft.
Instead of worrying about whether you’re talented enough, focus on becoming disciplined enough.
That mindset will take you much farther.
Kindness Is a Hidden Superpower
One lesson people don’t talk about enough is Sanderson’s kindness.
Part of the reason he landed his literary agent was because he made such a positive impression in person. His writing still had to be good enough, of course, but his agent has shared that Brandon’s kindness played a role in giving his work a chance.
That same kindness has also helped build the Cosmere community.
Sanderson offers his writing lectures for free on YouTube, regularly supports aspiring writers, participates in interviews, and consistently gives back to the writing community.
He’s an incredibly busy person, yet he still finds time to help others.
People notice that.
Kindness builds goodwill, and goodwill builds loyal readers.
It’s an underrated lesson that every writer can learn from.
Final Thoughts
Brandon Sanderson’s greatest superpower isn’t his magic systems.
It isn’t his worldbuilding.
It’s the habits that allowed him to build those skills in the first place.
Consistency.
Routine.
Discipline.
Kindness.
Those are lessons every aspiring writer can apply, regardless of whether they’re writing epic fantasy or something completely different.
What do you think? Do you agree with these lessons, or is there something Brandon Sanderson does especially well that I didn’t mention?
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