Bookmarked by Reese’s Book Club: “Building Fandom-Worthy Fantasy Worlds with Leigh Bardugo”
Host: Danielle Robay
Guest: Leigh Bardugo
Release Date: September 23, 2025
Overview
This episode features a candid, inspiring conversation between host Danielle Robay and bestselling fantasy author Leigh Bardugo, creator of the Grishaverse and Alex Stern series. Bardugo reflects on the realities of artistic discomfort, the nonlinear path to literary success, and offers an insider’s glimpse into her creative process and the pressures of visibility. For aspiring writers or anyone who’s ever felt “behind,” this is a masterclass in resilience, creativity, and finding your voice—at any age.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Late Bloomers and Artistic Timelines
- Bardugo emphasizes that creativity knows no age limit:
“I’m a late bloomer. Right? Published at 37. There are people who don’t publish until their 40s, in their 50s. And guess what? That doesn’t change the success they have... If you have a story to tell, it’s a story nobody else can tell.” (04:01 and 26:26)
- She challenges the cultural obsession with youth and ‘discovered prodigies’ as a form of societal “con.”
2. From Makeup Artist to Fantasy Writer
- Before becoming an author, Bardugo worked fifteen years in various creative jobs, notably as a makeup and effects artist:
“Not a very good one, but I did my best.” (07:24)
- The hands-on, physical nature of makeup fostered space for subconscious storytelling, allowing creative ideas to incubate away from the page.
“If you’re a mom, if you’re working full-time, ... use your 15 minutes, use your 30 minutes. But end that with a question... because your subconscious will be working on it.” (07:54)
3. Discomfort as Artistic Fuel
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Bardugo contends that discomfort isn’t a sign to stop—but a necessary ingredient for creativity:
“What I always tell people is... most things worth doing actually take small steps, small progress, and the willingness to fail regularly. I had no chops in that, and it took me a long time to develop them.” (06:13)
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She expands on this idea via her TED talk:
“If art were easy, everybody would do it, right? ... The only way you learn is by doing, and the only way out is through... I am going to acknowledge that. And I’m going to ask myself what is scary about this and how to walk towards that with confidence.” (15:40 and 17:30)
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The discussion connects discomfort in creation to personal growth and even neuroscience, referencing Daniel Coyle’s The Talent Code and the growth triggered by “friction.” (19:10)
4. On First Drafts and Finishing
- Bardugo’s number-one advice for aspiring writers:
“The first step is to finish a draft... You will learn more from a flawed beginning, middle, and end than you will from a thousand perfect beginnings or perfect paragraphs. ... Once you finish, find readers you trust.” (26:26)
- She shares her own process of overcoming the intimidation of a first draft by treating it as a “zero draft,” only for herself and for learning, not perfection. (09:42)
5. Protecting Creative Seeds from Social Media
- On maintaining creativity in an age of instant sharing:
“One of the things that I think is most important for writers and artists is to keep something special for yourself, to let an idea ... have time in the dark. ... If you take a seed and you expose it to sun too soon, it won’t grow.” (29:44)
- While grateful for fan communities and online engagement, Bardugo emphasizes that real creative breakthroughs need privacy and patience.
6. Fandom, Aesthetics, and Personal Style
- Bardugo embraces her “Goth Auntie” aesthetic:
“I have two settings. I have pajama and drama. ... I love clothes that feel like an event.” (28:36)
7. Worldbuilding Techniques
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On organizing vast fantasy worlds:
“I always start with a new notebook... I use a program called Scrivener... For Six of Crows, I would plug things into Google Calendar to keep track of where everybody was at the same time.” (33:22)
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She encourages writers to “pay attention to everything in genre and outside of genre”—worldbuilding is present in all fiction, not just fantasy. (35:13)
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George R. R. Martin is cited as a worldbuilding influence, specifically for illuminating how geography shapes destiny.
8. Experiences with Adaptation (Page to Screen)
- Lessons learned from adaptation:
“Pick your partners wisely and then trust them to do what they do best... With Ninth House, I wanted to be involved in co-writing that pilot... but with The Familiar… I knew I needed to step back.” (40:06)
9. Secret Societies: Fact and Fantasy
- The Yale secret society culture directly inspired the Alex Stern series, blending reality with myth:
“There are these big tombs with no windows littered across campus... It has this vibe that’s like, look at me, but don’t look at me… For me, [the books] were about hyper mystifying the world... as opposed to demystifying them, which I think is really boring.” (47:20)
10. Where It All Begins: The Power of Questions
- Shadow and Bone’s famous “Fold” originated from a simple spark:
“What if darkness was a place? ... What if the monsters you imagined there were real?” (50:43)
- Bardugo traces the chain of questions that build up a world, stressing that finding the right question is often more vital than quick answers.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On embracing discomfort in writing:
"Discomfort... when I experience that, instead of turning away from it, I'm going to open my arms and turn toward it. ... That, I think, is the way interesting work gets done." (18:37-19:10) -
On AI and the creative process:
“Using AI to write is like using a forklift to lift weights for you. ... Did you get any stronger? Did you get any better? ... You’re missing the satisfaction of that struggle.” (19:37) -
On artistic validation and longevity:
“There is no expiration date on your talent.” (26:26) -
On her signature look:
“My favorite description has been Goth auntie—that’s where I like to live. ... I have two settings: pajama and drama.” (28:36) -
Advice for all aspiring creatives (bookmark moment):
“Be secret and exalt, because of all things known, that is most difficult.” (41:39) -
On favorite books:
“Dune was like my high school survival guide. ... It was sort of the first world I fell into and did not want to come out of.” (54:59)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Leigh Bardugo on Being a Late Bloomer: 04:01, 26:26
- Creative Beginnings & Outlining Process: 09:42, 11:30
- Art & Discomfort, TED Talk Insights: 14:57, 15:40
- AI, Practice, and the Artist’s High: 19:10, 21:13
- Advice to Aspiring Writers: 26:13, 26:26
- Style & Fandom Discussion: 28:16
- Navigating Social Media as a Creator: 29:44, 31:23
- Worldbuilding Mechanics: 33:02, 35:13
- Evolution as a Writer: 37:32
- Adaptation to Film/TV: 40:06
- Personal Bookmark (Yates quote): 41:39
- Secret Societies, Yale & Inspiration: 46:39
- Speed Round—Rapid Literary Q&A: 54:09
- Favorite Book Shaping Life: 54:59
Conclusion: Why the Hard Parts Matter
This conversation spotlights the hidden labor and inner turmoil behind literary success. Bardugo’s vulnerability about fear, doubt, and creative discomfort is as illuminating as her practical writing tips and playful rapport with Danielle Robay. Whether you’re a fellow writer, devoted fan, or simply curious about the alchemy of fantasy storytelling, this episode offers both reassurance and challenge—reminding us that “the hard part is exactly where the magic lives.”