When I first decided to dive into Unreal Engine, I had no idea what I was getting into. I mean, I knew it was going to be a challenge—learning an advanced game engine while outlining and writing multiple creative projects and holding down a day job is no small feat. I love a challenge! But, I didn’t fully grasp the scale of it until I was deep into a rabbit hole of MetaHuman eyebrows. Yes, eyebrows. I spent an entire afternoon trying to perfect the expression of a character, only to realize I’d accidentally given them a permanent look of mild panic. Relatable, honestly.
The thing is, Unreal Engine is a lot. It’s like being handed a spaceship manual written in Klingon and being told, “Good luck, you’re the pilot now.” Enter: AI, my co-pilot in this wild learning journey.
AI: The Study Buddy I Didn’t Know I Needed
Let me tell you, I’ve never appreciated the power of planning more than I do now. Using AI to help structure my learning curve has been an absolute game-changer. Instead of aimlessly clicking through random tutorials, I now have a tailored plan. It’s like having a personal trainer, but instead of getting abs, I’m building a virtual world where my creative ideas can live and breathe.
I’ve broken my learning process into manageable chunks: one week focusing on environment design, another on animation, and so on. AI tools even suggested bite-sized goals like “Learn how to import assets without breaking the entire project” (spoiler: I still broke it once or twice). The best part? This structured approach keeps me from spiraling into late-night panic mode, wondering if I’ll ever “get it.” Achievement unlocked!
The Balancing Act
Of course, this doesn’t mean it’s been easy. Between learning Unreal Engine, outlining and writing my projects, holding down a day job, and still having quality family time . . . sometimes feel like a one-woman circus act. One minute, I’m scripting an emotionally charged scene; the next, I’m yelling at my laptop because my beautifully rendered trees have turned into a painting of green blobs.
A couple of highlights from my journey so far:
- The Case of the Vanishing Floor: I spent an hour trying to figure out why my character kept falling into the void, only to discover I’d accidentally deleted the ground. It was an existential metaphor I didn’t need.
- Synesthesia for Beginners: While experimenting with lighting, I accidentally created a scene so neon-bright I felt like I could taste the color purple.
Progress and Future Plans
Despite the hiccups (and wee episodes of existential crisis), I’m making progress. I’ve started building small test projects to experiment with the tools, and I’m excited to share some videos of my learning process in the coming weeks. Spoiler alert: expect a mix of cool experiments and hilarious fails—because let’s be honest, what’s creativity without a little chaos?
Anyway – every new skill I learn brings me closer to realizing my creative ideas, and that’s what keeps me going—even when my MetaHumans’ hair looks like they’ve been electrocuted.
Final Thoughts
If you’re considering learning a new skill or taking on a big creative project, I can’t recommend a structured approach enough. It’s not about being perfect—it’s about showing up, experimenting, and letting yourself learn through the process.
Stay tuned for some behind-the-scenes videos of my progress—and maybe a blooper reel. Spoiler: there will be bloopers. Always bloopers.
How are you navigating your creative learning journey? I’d love to hear about your adventures (and mishaps)!
