The Mind of a Worldbuilder
Habits, creativity and choices with Haly Dearinger
Are you warm by the fireside? Today’s interview is a juicy one if you’ve ever tried to put together a plot, game or picture from a fantasy setting. Haly is a pro at worldbuilding - both in work and at play. She also covers her strategies for juggling multiple projects without burnout and ways to work with your mind if you are neurodiverse. Her Substack: Rhapsody by Moonlight is the place to go if you feel stuck.
A talk with Haly Dearinger
“You need to be a fan of your own work first and foremost. And it's a tricky balance because a lot of people are either such a fan of their own work that they can't accept any criticism of it or else they are such a critic of their own work that they have trouble accepting legitimate praise.”
Links
Haly’s world-building portfolio: https://www.worldanvil.com/w/rhapsody-in-realms-moonlight-bard
Argentii, the Fractured Land (the one Haly mentions in the interview): https://www.worldanvil.com/w/argentii-moonlight-bard
Audio Highlights
[00:05:00] Haly's Worldbuilding Journey: Haly discusses her passion for worldbuilding and how it developed over time.
[00:10:00] Juggling Creativity and Life: Haly shares her strategies for balancing her writing, game design, and personal life.
[00:20:00] Argenti: A World of Islands: Haly introduces her worldbuilding project "Argenti" and its unique features.
[00:25:00] AI and Creativity: Haly shares her thoughts on the impact of AI on creative industries.
Show Notes
In this episode, we dive deep into worldbuilding with Haly Dearinger, a flamboyant writer, game designer and worldbuilder. Haly shares her experience and daily writing practices, including the importance of consistent effort and the "hard yes" method for prioritizing tasks. She also offers practical advice on developing compelling worlds, such as focusing on unique features and exploring the interconnectedness of different elements. We go into the two paths of creative success: the need for courage and what history tells us will happen to AI.
Enjoy the interview!