Reading Challenge 2025

Welcome to my Reading Challenge Entry! It is a summery fiesta of wonderful inspiration & creativity. I've mostly been focused on researching writing styles this year, as it is my plan to use September to plot my first short novel in the Hollow Men series, and write it the months after. Who knows, it might work xP

Let's discover the works of writing I read this Summer Camp season. These first three were read live during the Weekend Of Writing Wildly hosted by OHHOW. I selected them to incorporate worldbuilding into my breaks during writing sprints. Discover the event here!

The other articles, I read live on Twitch, apart from the last one. I will still read it live here ; next Wednesday! ^^

By: chairlegcharlie
Answering: "An ancient tongue from which many common idioms spring"

This article is a 'hot bath of letters to twist around in'! What I did here, was trying to come up with an idiom Gramma Dot could've come up with. Read this article if you love new fantasy idioms, and if you like the fact that this one Gramma influenced how her community speaks <33

By: Absinthe
Answering: "A substance known for its unique smell"

Sometimes, the smell of a sandwich says it all... It's lovely to learn sandwich recipes that DON'T bring their smell to the house/office, in a world were fresh ingredients (except for pigeons & rats) are hard to come by. I'll go for a Raw Onion (from in between pavement cracks) & Mustard Sandwich!

By: Lady Grayish
Answering: "A condition you can get from eating specific foods"

What can I say... I read the title and chuckled. So there's that & the fact the author addressed the condition's funny name. What I've learned? Don't trust cheese in Lady Grayish' worlds, think about the symptoms, the cure AND about the other patients in the hospital. Hope I never contract RCF :s

By: Make lore, not war
Answering: "A character known for their numerous progeny"

This is a tragic portrait about an Immortal torn between legacy & love. It is a wonderfully written story that conveys information in such an intriguing way. It was a great lesson on how to dose the right bits of info so that the reader will learn more with each paragraph, being sucked in by the story at the same time ^^

By: Mochimanoban
Answering: "An idealist manifesto published by a movement, political party, or other organization"

Such an intriguing title for this prompt! xP I was like: raiding is never good, no? Then I read about what Trash Planets are, and I was like: "yeah of course you raid them. Let nothing go to waste!" And then I was like "oh, sad". In the end, I am rooting for the Trash Council! It's a short article but very creative & there's so much info!

By: StoryArcs&Subplots
Answering: "A building that hasn't been finished yet"

Instant Mushrooms? Moving Cities? Sure, let's go! We start off with a quote, which works well here! I was surprised by the creative way of using mushrooms here. It's a nice & creative piece of writing & now I wanna have an Instant Mushroom, you know, just in case :p

By: kitoypoy
Answering: "A species that undergoes a metamorphosis"

I looove the axolotl, and now I looove Dula-Dulas as well! This article isn't a very long one but contains much info to think about. I like how their irreversible transformation shapes their culture. Did I mention the juxtapositions between sentient / animal & immortal / short life span?

By: Demongrey
Answering: "A myth surrounding the birth of an important person in your world"

First of all, this one had me tongue twistering a bunch, but I do like the flow in this language! It's grand how this article raises the question of myth versus reality, and how society responds to this mystery. Will anything ever be proven here? Is Aoraki an atua-kura and the Kīngitanga of all hapū & all Tāngata in Atu Motu? :o

By: Tynen_TM
Answering: "A diaspora spread around the world"

In another dimension, in another world, the French are not the French as we know them in France in our world... They have dispersed and inhabit other parts of the world. This alternative history world is very refreshing & it's interesting to read how a large nation in our reality has been reshaped in another. Next up on my reading list: what happened to Belgium in this world xP

By: Keon Croucher
Answering: "A diaspora spread around the world"

Born from fire & metal, the Forgeborn are an interesting bunch. How would I roam the world as a Forgeborn? I'd be named: Wincel (wine & pencil (to understand this, read the article)). I liked the focus on love & affection here, which are a source of misconception about them. It's nice to discover what makes them tick ^^

By: Wordigirl
Answering: "A myth about a legendary food or drink"

In space, no one can hear you cream! :o Personally, I don't like ice cream... So freeze dried ice cream sounds way over the top for me :p Still, it's sad to hear freeze dried ice cream in space might be a lie :( It's funny how this question sparks a whole myth and ruins childhoods, and how the adults affected are making excuses to still try and care - or act as if they don't xP

Hey, wasn't I supposed to have a cameo here, dude?

— Wayde Licht, annoyed with Aldus_Ken

And to end things with, here's some backstory if you like. So let's dive into my Summer ^^

For me, July was a busy time trying to get work done, attending multiple (!) weddings and getting a medical examination (note: all was fine!). And then the first half of August, we were on holiday <3 That is when I wrote my 4 SC entries & did a lot of plotting for my novel, which was a lot of fun! So here we are now, nearing the end of August & preparing for the new school year in which my sales project will take to the foreground again.

Also, here's a link to my own Summer Camp endeavours (psst, one of them was short-listed proudness ^^)