Follow along with my WorldEmber progress!

I promised you a look over my shoulder this month as I bring a vague and disjointed collection of ideas together into a cohesive piece of world-building. These resources will help you keep track of my progress through this month-long marathon challenge:

• Haly’s Official WE Progress Report — each participant gets a page that automatically collects their author information and all WE-eligible articles across all worlds into a single, shareable package.
• Haly’s WorldEmber on Argentii Index — an on-the-fly journal page and handy sidebar displaying only new Argentii WE-eligible articles.

Quick Six 12/28/24

Across worlds, it seems, our admiration for the accomplishments of others and the accompanying desire to uplift them into greater status seems to be universal. From mythic heroes to legendary entertainers, celebrities captivate our imagination in the real world, and should likewise enthrall our characters and heroes.

Take a look at your world, and the values of your cultures. Think about the people that they hold up as examples. These might be famous athletes, renowned scholars, or lively entertainers.

Somewhere in your world, describe…

Who:

…a person who wanted to be famous, and now that they are, wishes they could go back to an anonymous life.

Very often, fame isn’t what it’s cracked up to be. From royalty, to pop stars the pressure of being constantly in the public scrutiny can be more than some can bear. What did this person think that fame would be, and how is the reality different? How has their life changed? Is there anything about being famous that they like.

What:

…an object associated with a famous historical figure.

The tools and objects that people leave behind can tell us a great deal about them and the time in which they lived! Think of things like George Washington’s teeth, King Arthur’s sword Excalibur, or Robert Hook’s microscope. What is the object, and why is it important? Who did it belong to, and how did it contribute to their fame? Where is it now?

When:

…a period considered the ‘golden age’ for a particular group of celebrities.

Trends come and go like the weather and everybody knows: one day you’re in, the next, you’re out. We talk about the ‘golden age’ of Hollywood (30’s-50’s) or the ‘golden age’ of comics (40’s-50’s). What led to this time of prosperity for this particular group? How long did it last? What did these people achieve during that time? When and why did it end?

Where:

…a place that is only accessible to celebrities.

Sometimes you just need a place to get away, and fame can really hinder relaxation. In the real world there are exclusive resorts and private destinations, members-only clubs, and other barriers. Where is this place, and who has access? Is there a membership fee or is it by invitation only or is there some other consideration? Is the place public, or a secret?

Why:

…a reason why a celebrity fell out of public favor.

There are countless reasons why people lose public face, from retirement to relegation to public shame. In the real world it might be for too many losses as an athlete or team owner, or as a politician it might be for corruption. Who was this person and why were they famous? What were the circumstances around their fall? How did the public react?

How:

…the differences between fame and anonymity.

In our world, people often associate ‘fame’ with ‘money’ due to the weight and influence that goes with personal branding. Is it the same in your world, or are celebrities expected to live lives of chastity and poverty? Are they constantly followed by crowds of people? Do they have to hire security?

Wrapping the Day

Did you know…if you are a member of my weird little community and you live in my neighborhood (literally), you can come over to my house for dinner and games? It’s true! Thanks tons, Mike B., for another great evening of riotous fun.

I’ve almost achieved my WorldEmber goal; as I write this, I’ve got 38,752 words written toward my 50,000-word goal, and I cannot thank you enough for being here with me on this journey. I know it’s not been the most thrilling ride, but I hope it’s been informative and educational! There’s just a few days left, and I hope to be done by Tuesday.

As always, don’t forget to share your creations with me and your fellow creative radicals in this weird little collective! I love seeing how you interpret these weekly prompts, and how they inspire such great stories and ideas in your worldbuilding.