E47: You Need Your Own Worldbuilding Process

Author: Tim Mcburnie
Published: Wed 11 Jun 2025
Episode Link: https://share.transistor.fm/s/0fc8a8d4

Check out my Free Brainstorming Workshop: https://mightyartisan.com/worldbuilding Learn to silence your inner critic. Ignite creative ideas. And watch a live demo of these techniques in action.

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This is The Forty Seventh Episode of the Visual Scholar Podcast - With Tim Mcburnie.

Ever feel like you're doing creativity "wrong" because your process doesn't match what the experts recommend? Lets talk about developing your own Worldbuilding Process...

Below is in Automagically generated summary so you can check out the content and also to help with search functionality!

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In this episode, I dive deep into finding your unique creative process for world-building and storytelling. As someone who's been a professional artist for over 20 years, I've learned that while there's plenty of advice out there on "the right way" to create, what truly matters is discovering YOUR way.

I explore how different creators approach their work - from visual directors like James Cameron who start with powerful images (like the T-800 emerging from flames in a fever dream), to writers who begin with character perspectives, to interactive designers who focus on player experiences.

What I've discovered through my own journey is that creative processes are inherently messy and often illogical. When creating my fantasy comic, I struggled following traditional writing advice until I realized my process worked better starting with character visuals first, then developing stories around them.

I also found that writing from each character's first-person perspective helped me understand their motivations and create authentic conflict. The key insight is that constraints and limitations often fuel creativity rather than hinder it - so don't be afraid to experiment with your own "weird" methods. Your unique creative approach isn't something you'll find in books; it's something you'll discover through practice, experimentation, and embracing your natural tendencies. —

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Intro

01:12 Welcome

02:28 The Importance of YOUR Creative Process

03:31 How Are Great Things Made?

10:35 Creative Process Needs a Focus

14:31 Anchoring Your Ideas

19:06 The Journey of Discovering Your Process

27:33 Analytical Takeaway

29:18 Simple Takeaway

29:47 Practical Takeaway

31:44 Philosophical Takeaway

34:41 Out

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The Visual Scholar Podcast is designed to help you demystify the world of Art, Productivity, and Creativity. So you can get better faster, and enjoy your Art Journey.

We discuss Drawing, Painting, Illustration and Entertainment Design. Along with Productivity and Career Advice.

You Can Find The Visual Scholar Podcast In These Places:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-visual-scholar/id1678505411

Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/6VbdwbiZqy8nqb90ruKQCX?si=21b9c1d02c85419f

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MightyArtisan

Show Homepage:

https://visualscholar.mightyartisan.com

Where To Find More About Tim Mcburnie:

Learn Drawing and Illustration at The Drawing Codex:

www.thedrawingcodex.com

Take Your Career and Productivity To The Next Level:

www.mightyartisan.com