Summer Camp 2025 Reading Challenge and Goals
Reflections, Reading, and Goals
My first summer camp is complete. I set out to do 8, I did 8, and I am in absolute awe of everyone who did more than 8, because that was tough enough. I'm super chuffed with all the articles I made. Many were subjects that I had been meaning to write for a long time, but had just never got around to it, so Summer Camp definitely did its job there and pushed me to write.
Reflections
I reached my goal. This year copper, but next year bronze. It really has been a massive learning experience, not only connecting with the community, but also seeing my own improvements. In the spoiler below, I've reflected on my experience writing each of my articles for Summer Camp.
...Read MoreA myth about a legendary food or drink
This has been the most popular article I've ever written. I find this very ironic as in recent life, I quit my corporate job and went freelance instead as a graphic designer, and to tide me over, I started up a coffee shop and started selling my own cake recipes. Selling cake IRL has been very successful for me, but freelancing not quite so, and in a world where I've never written anything or even considered food before... of course, my article on cake is successful. I took the message from the universe and am now expanding my cake business.
Write what you know... or know what you write?
A substance known for its unique smell
I love it when you're looking at a prompt and you're thinking... I haven't got the foggiest idea, and suddenly your hands start writing, and in an hour, you've written something that you're super pleased with. Now I have an item that is always just going to be in the background: that smell, those cans... and that judgemental face of Mrs Rightly, because not conforming is wrong.
Spontaneity leads to creativity
A profession related to spirituality or philosophy
This was an article that's long been on my list to write. Its supporting articles are unfortunately still in the long WIP folder, as I rewrite them over and over again, and question everything about them, myself and my efforts in general. I think I found that was one of the most helpful things about summercamp: that I just had to write, I had to get it down, and in that I answered lots of questions, I was spontaneous, and I managed to actually get somewhere.
Take the leap and just write
A charity dedicated to helping those in need
This is one of those subjects that I had known about for a while, and suddenly, there it was, the answer, because while I knew not all Magi were bad, I certainly had presented all Magi indifferent to the suffering of others, and that wasn't good either. And so I created a sort of half-way point, a group for people who think they're doing good by making sure others are being legally subjected to their suffering.
Consider both side of an argument
A species that feeds through a symbiotic relationship
Nightwalkers are a major important part of my story. Like major. So why has it taken me 3 years to write an article on them? I wish I knew. Up to this point, my understanding of their motivations has always been conflicting, especially as I knew always that there were two tribes, and one is 'good' and one is 'evil' which technically in my book made no sense as nothing is ever so black and white. It was also their relationship with 'pets' that was throwing me off, so when this prompt came up, I saw an opportunity to resolve.
The best way to resolve is just to write it down
An organization rooted in controversial principles
The terrorist group of the Ananans has had about thirty names over the last few years. Again, they were important, but in my brain they also were very abstract and scattered, and I could never pin down what their actual goal was. Freedom? Isolation? Inclusion? Exclusion? They all worked at some point in the novel, and so I just leant into that. They have no singular motivation or driving force. Their chaos is both their success and downfall.
Be honest, and lean into those problems
The place of origin of a people in your world
I knew when I saw this prompt come up that it was going to be about the isle of Midden, as that is the centre point for all life. Never did I think I was also going to create another conflicting religion off the back of it. Midden was always based on the middle east: a holy land of constant war in one form or another. But originally I was going for just territorial, as I didn't want to be too on the nose... and then I remembered I was writing satire.
Embrace the rabbit hole this journey can lead you on
A war that resulted in the creation of something new
When I saw this prompt, I thought that's a shame I've already written an article on that. Maybe there's another conflict I can use. (Look through her article list...) Oh seems I dreamt about writing that one instead. I'll be honest, this isn't the article of my dreams. It has all the information, but I think the layout is to be desired. So come September, I'm going to look at making it a bit snazzier.
The base is solid, just needs more
Reading
I've been spoilt for choice with the great range of articles made by everyone, but I decided to specifically choose articles that have inspired me, and will lead into my goals.
The Biscuits of The Gentle Hand
Snow Celeste
There is a lot of real life and real experiences in this article, and it shows. The vulnerability expressed here really allowed me to connect with the article. I felt like not only did I get a glimpse into the world, but the author themselves. Sometimes I think I hide myself away (made easier by creating fantasy) when I should really be using this as an opportunity to let people in.
Be vulnerable to your readers
Stonebrine Vinegar
rugrat0ne
This was a particularly clear and informative article. I really like the detail in the recipe, so in depth that you could pick out any stage in its manufacture and use it when casually describing someone making this in the background. I love these little details in world building. It can lead to the disease sometimes, but it also enrichens the world and makes it a more tangible place.
Details enrichen your world
Krates Priest
Dimitris Romeo Havlidis
What I appreciated most in this article was that every facet described in this career serves a purpose, so that you would know a krates priest is emphatic by more than a statement that is what they are, but also by their dress, their nature and their journey to their position. This makes it a solid and cohesive idea, so solid that you would never have to explain what a krates priest is, only give an example of how they behave.
Always show, don't tell
Ratfashion
D! Van Bergen
As someone who likes to write satire in their own world, I really enjoyed this article. It reflects the idiosyncrasies of fashion that we're so familiar with, but placed in a future world, and for me, that is what makes it so tangible and believable. Humanaut takes you on a story in this article, revealing the natural journey this clothing has taken to being simultaneously loved, and hated, and uses this as a vehicle to show the attitude of their world.
Be inspired by the world presently
The Labyrinthine Tower
Demongrey
This is more than just a building, its a physical manifestation of the cultist movement it represents. Though I was encouraged by this article to go on and read more about the Cult of the Leviathan that built this tower, truthfully, everything I needed to know about them, without ever reading about them, was represented in this building.
Anything can embody your message
Aether Train
Imagica
Without a doubt, I adore the styling of this world in general. Being a bit more custom about how I present my articles is something definitely on my goal lists as opposed to just writing. I want visual interest too, and this comes in scores. And it's more than just an article of information, its a series of stories, personal accounts, quotes, diary logs, and so forth, making it in all, a really engaging read
There are many ways to present information
Dreadnoughts
Jon
The writing of articles in a voice that's not a wikipedia tone, is something that is really appealing to me. In real life, I am often told I sound like a walking Wikipedia, and I though I use the voices of characters in my book, when writing articles, back comes the dissociated academic tone. But this article has shown me that you can be informative, and also relatable to the mood through your use of language. I totally feel like I'm sat at some campfire while some wild eyed hunter tells me all the horrifying things about these dreadnoughts.
There are many 'voices' to be had
Vîma Lwgox - Shroomy Hurly-Burly
Blue Fairy 74
I wanted to include an article that just made me smile. It's pure and sweet and brings together that joy of community spirit, with a touch of healthy rivalry. I have a genre: a world that looks nice on the outside but is dark underneath, and understandably, that is what I gravitate to when seeking out other worlds, but sometimes its refreshing to experience something that is just... nice. This article has caused me to pause and think more than anything else I've read and think, maybe my world deserves nice things too.
It's nice to have fun
Toothwedge
Grey
As a visual person, I'm always drawn to articles with some good imagery. I particularly like these ones as they were as informative as they were well drawn. Just looking at the pictures alone I understood what this species was all about. There are many things that could be better explained with an image only in a lot of my articles, and I'd like to focus on this more in the future.
A picture says a thousand words
Samar Sha'haq
Tyrdal
This article is a more a piece of prose, describing this forbidden desert through the senses as opposed to a series of facts and information. I understand how this landscape looks through their words alone, because they described how it feels and the madness it brings your brain. But my favourite part is the text that subtly changes, making you question your mind as you read it, just as the desert messes with your mind.
Describe with all the senses (and containers)
Goals
Before I felt very stagnant in my world building, I was churning out whatever AI suggested would work, and I wasn't taking the time to figure stuff out for myself. The article, Angel Cakes, was one of the first times that I just went for it. I drew, I wrote, and I created something that I was really pleased with, and that has been reflected in the responses of others.
Moving on, I want to continue this same energy. It waned during Summercamp, as I got worried about not finishing on time, so I have plans to return to some of my articles and get them tip-top.
I've been asking myself 'what do I need to know' every time I write an article. It's simple, but its really helped me get stuff worked out. There's a few fundamental articles that I've written, and I was so pent up with the notion of 'if this was wikipedia, what information would be expected to be seen here?' that I never actually questioned what I needed to know to get the job done at hand i.e writing a novel!! and so I was working out things that had very little relevance, and not considering things that were important.
I love detail, I'm very detail focused, but also my brain is always moving onto the next thing, and so I get obsessed, and overwhelmed, very quickly. So to keep my energy, I want to make sure every articles has a good base, and then as I write, I can answer more questions, and get the details in. But first I need the fundamentals.
1. Create a firm base to build details into later
2. Write for you, and what you need to know
3. Keep drawing and writing, yourself
Thanks for including the Labyrinthine Tower in your list!
You're welcome!
Visit my world of Middengeard. It's an eternal work in progress, but we always love a visitor!