Creator Insights 02: Better Together

The creation of a world is often seen as a long road traveled alone. While that may be a way to get to a destination, sometimes bringing along another can make a world of difference.

4. More Hands = More Done.

In the last insight we talked about the formation of Tinderkell as an idea. For the first year or so it stayed as a collection of my own ideas that would only be shown through the occasional art piece I shared online and with friends. As I continued to have conversations with those who took interest in the greater setting, I met a background artist who would later become the co-creator of Tinderkell, Jasken. I would talk with her late into the night about our collective interests in fantasy, and she would offer ideas for fleshing out the world of Tinderkell using outside influences that came from old ideas she had.

These conversations started with simple ideas and then went on to take a wrecking ball to the existing world, even down to the map.

This is the original world map idea I had originally started.

And this is what started quickly evolving during our conversations.

Eventually through our talks, we realized that our visions lined up really well for this world, and she became as much as the creator of Tinderkell as I was. With two minds, things were about to pick up really fast.

5. Build the World Through a Character's Lens.

As worldbuilding can be overwhelming, building it around a character really helps make it more manageable. What was once an edgy fantasy setting soon turned into a globetrotting adventure in a world more inspired by the early-modern period, where Landylyn, a noble soldier of the Qothic Empire, sets out to this new world to secure Qoth's interests abroad.

With the elements of war present in the original story, Landy would see herself thrust into battle, trying to honor the legacy of her family before her. Though unforeseen circumstances would lead her to become separated from her men and waking up in the care of one of the enemies, or so she would think.

This enemy of hers was actually a friendly traveler by the name Mehrik. Reluctantly, Landy would accompany him as she remains stranded on the continent of Hovehko. She would use this time to get an outside perspective on the world and grow as a result.

So at this point in this insight, we've gotten to the end of 2020. We now have a much more fleshed-out world that is becoming increasingly recognizable to current Tinderkell.

If you're still scratching your head with how we built a world from Landy, let's break it down into a mind map:

Starting with a basic sense of who Landy is in this world, we've cooked up a story bit, chronology be damned. Not much focus on worldbuilding beyond names, until...

...We start asking "why?" Now you can see more of the world become vivid. Let's keep going.

Some questions can end up with the same answer.

And one more just to flex. Look how much worldbuilding we did just from a single character! These mind maps can virtually go on forever, but I think you get the idea.

Having another to stand beside you in the creation of a world can lead to vast progress in such a short time, as being able to share ideas and discuss ways to build a better world with others is immensely helpful. And even though we didn't end up with Landy as the protagonist in the end, her character proved vital in expanding our universe.

In the next Insight we'll dive in deeper into the process that has led to current Tinderkell. See you next month!