Summer Camp 2025 Reading Challenge

So, I set out to start my summer camp only doing copper, or at least copper was the minimum requirement I could set so I picked that. In truth? I didn't have a goal, I just thought I would try my hand at it and see where I landed.

Well, I landed quite far! I got diamond, I'll admit even now I don't fell fully deserving of it because I pretty much hit word count for alot of these articles then moved on, but I did in fact write 40 articles of at least 300 words so that is something!

I hope to polish up said articles in WorldEmber or once they're judged but I'm quite happy with how far I got. Now, the fun begins! We get to read other people's work!

nnie - Solaris - Cuisine of Neptune

Would it be a World Anvil challenge if I didn't immediately bow to the queen of minimalism and understated but well-thought out building herself, nnie?

In my own world, especially as I was building Merfolk I thought alot about the mechanics of food. I think I ended up just mentally squaring it away as 'they have their own water/fire' and honestly I probably need to go back and revise it.

nnie however, navigates this concept with grace and beauty. In her article she describes the process, rough flavour profile and the thought behind food on Neptune in a way that is clear and succinct, getting the point across in a very minimal amount of words. When combined with her beautiful art, depicting a Neptuinan Fishcake, the article is easy to read and understand the concept fully without overwhelming or overstimulating the reader.

I will definitely be taking some inspiration from this article going forward with my own Merfolk.

Strixxline - Malkora - Pinnate Hummer

Another person I've been looking up to alot, in alot of ways is Strixxline. Both of her worlds, Ayun Sovos and Malkora are so creatively resonant with me in ways that just, drive me and motivate me.

The Pinnate Hummer is everything I love about her style of worldbuilding condensed into a bow. With a cute, almost encyclopaedia or journal like illustration, easy to understand but beautifully immersive also. The idea of birds blooming from flowers is so beautifully enchanting and captivating too.

One day I hope to have a world on the level of Strixxline's creations, she sets the bar I really wish to strive for, but for now I'm happy being an observer and a cheerleader to her glory on the sidelines.

Wordigirl - Secret Agent Someone - Transpiration

There's something quite fun about Wordigirl's work that always draws me in. Their world - Secret Agent Someone - evokes this feeling of spies and mystery with it's terminal-like thriller style of presentation.

Wordi's wording walks this beautiful tightrope of corporate speak where it feels very stiff (intentionally so!) but also very informative but it never bores. Her work nails the feeling of governmental documentation but with enough clues and little snippets to keep you wanting more and searching through to read behind the lines.

Transpiration is such a well thought out and beautifully immersive peace that I can't help but recommend it to anyone and everyone (even my cats!)

Mochimanoban - Yonderverse - Lefckili Volcano

There's something so strange and weirdly intriguing about considering a Volcano as a living being that keeps bringing me back to this article.

This article is Mochi's answer to their own prompt, but they've taken their prompt and twisted it in a such a way that really piques me. It's a interesting proposal and the article is small and simple enough to give you a taste and then let you form your own opinions. Their simplified presentation is something I aspire to greatly.

I think on World Anvil there's this need as a write to fill all the boxes and wonderfully flesh out an article and answer all the questions, but what I'm slowly learning here and whilst reading all of these prompts is that, sometimes you can write just enough that in conveys the meaning without overwhelming or belabouring the point.

Mochi's presentation style, css, and their world as a whole is very aspirational to me. I'll be taking alot of inspiration going forward, especially when I approach my css overhaul.

cow2face - Solarium Imperium - Yael People

cow2face is an expert in providing you with the information you need, the context, and letting you simmer with the rest.

Within their article cow sets up who the Yael people are, where they live, how it links into the prompt (without breaking the fourth wall), and wraps everything in a brilliant final summary paragraph with a big ol' bow. Cow's article is a masterclass in giving you exactly the information you need, with no distractions, no images needed, and a simple site design.

There's nothing more I can really say here, I love it.

eccbooks - Clarkwoods Literary Universe - Tunnel of Babble

There's such a delicious layer of Mystery to Eccbook's work that makes me crave more.

While I read his article I found myself asking, why did the tunnel stop being built? Why did the goddesses appear? and even while reading as some of my questions were answered even more appeared. I'm still craving the answer but as usual with a master wordsmith such as Chris the way the article is written and presented is beautiful.

To be honest the more of Chris' work that I interact with, read and digest the more I find myself actually wanting to read his published works and projects which I think is a good thing. I'll have to consider it if I ever have a coin to spare.

Overall, like always, Eccbook's talent shines through in this article and it's a great, short read for anyone wanting to taste a snippet of this man's work and ability.

Those2Nerds - Su-Mehr Qiamp - Tellin Kuyold

Su Mehr Qiamp is a world Rin wrote purely for Summer Camp 2025 - with the world itself being a linguistic play on the words 'Summer Camp' itself, and following that same logic the name of this article might be a reference to that but I cannot for the life of me decipher what it might be.

Although the world is new the formatting and shape of this article easily and clearly shows Rin's mastery of the world anvil platform, their use of different sized sections to guide the reader's eye is stellar and quite a big inspiration for me. I hope to one-day be able to wield this platform as they do.

Overall, and even when not considering that this world was made for this event only, the article is absolute artistic mastery and perfection and a heavy inspiration for me going forward.

Absinthe - Tales from the Peppermint Twist - Shopping Trolleys

As a person who was born in the UK, specifically quite close to London, Absinthe's world the Tales of the Peppermint Twist feels very familiar to me. Their use of Shopping Trollies for this prompt is kind of actually hilarious.

It's an item you don't really think about or focus on but when placed under a microscope like this the abstraction of it makes it so funny to me in ways I cannot fully explain. This subversion of expectations is spectacular and I hope to see more of it in the future.

Darth_Nikolas - Sand & Scale - Bosco

On the multiplayer sheet Darth_Nikolas was my neighbour to the left of me, so I've been checking in on their progress throughout WorldAnvil and how it's progressed. With understanding that their real life has obligations, I've found their work surprisingly quite good, and Bosco is no exception.

Bosco is a seemingly terrifying dinosaur with a terrible personality. What I find funny and sort of cute in a way is Nikolas' use of the first heading being 'Early Trauma' as in a way of explaining the character.

Keon Croucher - Adventures in Valerick - Saltie Flats

Keon, I know you're reading this. Please, I'm begging you, less words. My brain can only take so much.

Keon's article is almost a novel in itself and no less informationally dense. They describe the nitty-gritty of the Saltie Flats in an interesting and engaging way that really paints a vivid picture of the place. It's amazing how much detail Keon seems to spray onto a page fire-hose style that really gets you the fullest idea of a place.

kitoypoy - World of Wizard's Peak - Malong

After scrolling through so many AI entries it's refreshing and reassuring to see Kitoypoy's article, perfectly constructed and very beautifully balanced, decorated with stock images and Heroforge minis. It reminds me of a WorldAnvil before the scourge of the plagiarism machine and it gives me hope for a future without it. It's so beautiful to see the dying art of using what free and open tools are available to you to speak to a world and I love it so much.

The article itself speaks of a Garment worn by the people of Kamplain in Kitoypoy's world, and using a fresh and exciting range of images, quotes, and text really gives you a full and enriching view of the garment and it's cultural ties.

After everything, Kitoypoy shows us that we survived without Midjourney for thousands of years, and that we do not need it to survive and I think that in itself is beautiful.

I just want to take the time to thank all of you who helped create such a beautiful and vibrant environment to create in.

Keon & Mochi for their support and wonderful friendship that bloomed over the event

Strixxline & Wordigirl for their co-working streams that kept me on track.

nnie, Hanhula, and Rin who helped me with article formatting and css work.

Crabaro & Hanhula for their brilliant multiplayer and singleplayer organisational sheets and also for Hanhula's Brigid which helped me tackle tagging.

Secondhand, Ondo, Xuroth for being responsive and helpful with my needs regarding the site & features.

Lou, GreytailZA, Darth_Nikolas, Kitoypoy, Crabaro, CoolG, Absinthe, Mochi, The Winter Salmon, Keon, Autumn Fae, Nnie, AmelieS, LittleRaider, Make lore, not war, and anyone else in the community who uplifted, liked, and commented on my stuff, you were the wind under my wings!

And not least of all to Janet, Dimi, and the rest of the WorldAnvil site team, moderation team, and events team for making such a beautiful place to work.