How to Build a World - From the Perspective of an Illustrator

Welcome to the tutorial!

Glad you could join me

On this lovely early morning hour.

You’ve already passed step 1!

You’re staying well after you should have been in bed

Asleep

Congratulations!

The next step is to put on some music.

Mind you, good music!

The kind that engages your mind and brings you to that new world;

The one that you ache to put into words on a page,

Or paint into existence.

So turn it up!

For it will help you in ways you do not yet understand.

Step 3?

Well, that is a thought;

Or, rather, a series of thoughts

Stretching far and wide every night.

Every detail of your world

Is planned perfectly in this time

Though things may still be somewhat fuzzy

During these small hours.

As for step 4,

This is the point where you have to write it down.

All the details!

All the thoughts!

Even the ones that do not work in any way possible!

Get it all down in writing,

And do not—I repeat!—do not worry about perfection!

Step 5:

Organize those thoughts.

Weed out what doesn’t work in your mind,

And be sure to carefully go through

What does.

Step 6 is to give yourself a break.

Surprised?

Allowing your mind to rest

Is key to actually building the world that you envision!

Finally, let’s look at Step 7.

Most people consider this the fun part;

The part where you get to finally write,

Or paint,

Or draw,

Or sculpt,

Or play your own music to.

You’ve made it this far,

Don’t quit now!

Get your chosen tools out,

And build the world of your dreams.

For you are the only one

Who can do it.