Warbreaker

[fuzzyoctopus]

This one won't steal the magic system, however.  I want to keep thinking about it more before I do that--I don't think I got that magic down very well in that book.

You know I remember thinking this. I can't remember exactly *what* the problems were, but there were some logistical problems with some of the magic. The healing powers, especially, as I recall.

Don't worry; I'll keep pushing for Pandora. And everything else.    Actually, one of my coworkers from last year dug up my email out of who-knows-where and asked me what that book I lent to them was, (Elantris).  So he went and bought a copy and said he'd stop by Walden to have it signed.

[MsFish]

You might want to read/be aware of Gail Carson Levine's Two Princesses of Bamarra, which sounds like it has a very similar setup. However, the firebrand sister runs off to save their father, rather than marry an enemy king.

Of course, Two Princesses didn't do very well, and I haven't seen a book from her since besides the Princess Tales. (This is the author of Ella Enchanted, one of my favorite books of all time.

I have that one, if you want to see it, EUOL.  I like it much better than Ella Enchanted, actually.

[Fellfrosch]

I actually rooted for the bad guys and loathed the heroes in every Shannara book I ever read. I don't think that's what the author intended, though.

[stacer]

I have that one...  I like it much better than Ella Enchanted, actually.

I kept looking at it in bookstores when it first came out, but never had the money for it. Now, I've never gotten back to it, so I've never had the chance to read it. I should check it out from the library sometime. So pretty much all I know about it is that it didn't sell as well as Ella Enchanted (which was a Newbery Honor, so no surprise there) and a basic idea of the plot.

[MsFish]

I don't think EUOL needs to worry though.  Two Princesses really isn't his style, so I wouldn't worry about likenesses.

[Spriggan]

I don't think EUOL needs to worry though.  Two Princesses really isn't his style, so I wouldn't worry about likenesses.

Wait, isn't that a song by the Spin Doctors?

[neiana]

that's Two Princes, not Two Princesses  

[EUOL]

Since some of you seemed interested in this, I'll post some sample chapters as I have them, to let you see what I'm working on.

These will be rough, first drafts.  Those of you familiar with my process will know that I often rewrite beginning chapters quite extensively.  The events generally remain the same, but the visuals, motivations, setting elements, and character themes often go through a lot of refinement.

Regardless, feel free to post thoughts and criticisms, if you wish.

www.brandonsanderson.com/graphics/WarbreakerCh1.doc

[EUOL]

And, chapter two, double posted because I feel like it.

Note that the names in this are not static.  The spellings will change a bit until I settle on ones I like.


www.brandonsanderson.com/graphics/WarbreakerCh2.doc

[EUOL]

Just in case you downloaded the earlier version of Chapter 2, I just revised it significantly, doubling it in size.  I decided that since Siri was going to be a main--if not the main--character of the book, I really wanted to focus more on her viewpoint than her father's.  So, I added a ten page section at the beginning of Ch2.  Then, I revised the father's viewpoint to match the personality and things I'd fleshed out for Siri.

Right now, my biggest area of interest is Siri's character.  I'm a lot less worried about it now than I was earlier, but I'd still like to know what--if anything--is working for people in this story.  

EDIT--just went back and revised Chapter One too, making it more readable.

[Peter Ahlstrom]

I am saving these to my computer at work, but don't have a good way to get them to my home computer at the moment, as we just moved and haven't got internet set up yet. (Being able to walk to work now trumps any temporary inconvenience...)

[EUOL]

No prob, Ookla.  As I said, I'm mostly just posting these because people expressed curiosity about the project.  I'll take feedback if it comes, but that's no the main purpose here.

[EUOL]

And, Chapter 3


www.brandonsanderson.com/graphics/WarbreakerCh3.doc

I'll probably post one more of these.  After that, you can ask for them by mail, if you want.

Right here, I'm worried that the story isn't weighty enough.  I'm reacting against MISTBORN, I think, shooting for something more lighthearted.  But, is it too light?  I have some deep things I want to get into in this book, and I don't want an early start that seems too fluffy to undermine me.  

[Peter Ahlstrom]

I printed out the first 2 chapters, and it didn't seem very light to me. Chapter 1 guy was pretty evil, and the magic system is pretty brutal.

[EUOL]

Chapter three is the one I worried about, I guess.  Maybe needlessly.  The thing is, I've been in the MISTBORN world for so long that ANYTHING seems light to me by comparison.  

Thanks for the reassurance.