Brandon Sanderson Teases an Upcoming Book Change Because of Dungeon Crawler Carl

A lesson in anticipation

In an interview with Collider’s Maggie Lovitt at FanX Salt Lake City on October 8, 2026, Sanderson discussed what he had learned about his writing process. The interview clip about Dungeon Crawler Carl was published on November 3.

Sanderson said Dinniman gives readers a sense that an exciting event is coming, then waits until anticipation builds before delivering it. He described the approach as a pacing lesson he hopes to learn from Dinniman.

Sanderson’s pacing challenges

Sanderson’s earlier books drew criticism for spending too long building lore and world details before reaching climactic events. The resulting endings became known as a “Sanderlanche.” In annotations for 2009’s The Hero of Ages, Sanderson acknowledged criticism that too much was concentrated in the ending. He said he was trying to spread character climaxes out, but the article says later books sometimes lost tension as events were distributed more widely.

A possible shift ahead

In a November 3, 2026, weekly YouTube update, Sanderson said he would soon begin outlining The Stormlight Archive book 6. Applying Dinniman’s approach could affect the pacing of the series’ remaining five books from the start.

A 10-year jump in the story’s timeline could provide a fitting point for a change. The books are still expected to retain the high-fantasy identity, authorial voice and detailed magic systems that have defined the series.