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Organization Judging Guidelines

This WorldEmber, I'm judging entries to the organization template. This template covers countries, kingdoms, and religions as well as guilds, companies, and non-profits. There's a million different ways to approach the template, and I can't wait to see what you all do with it!
  Here, I'm sharing some things that I like reading about in an organization article. This isn't a definitive list of what makes a good Organization article, and you may have different opinions and preferences than me. The best organization you can write is always one that appeals to you, and not one written to appease any particular judge.

Why worldbuild organizations?

In the real world, organizations define your every day life. You live in a country, which defines laws you follow and possibly part of your identity. You likely work for a company, made your own, or attend a school. You might donate to a non-profit, join a gym, or participate in a religion. Sports groups, after-school clubs, support groups, daycare providers, and more are all organizations.
  Organizations express how people work together. They show what a society values, how it conflicts with others' values, and how individuals can make broader impact. They're sources of collaboration, hope, and identity, as well as conflict, fear, and prejudice. The larger the organization, the more likely it causes as many problems as it resolves.
  If you're worldbuilding for a game, organizations inform how players interact with the setting. It's how they can get goals, targets, enemies, and allies. If you're worldbuilding for a novel, organizations are often part of how characters define themselves. They can be helpful or harmful to the protagonist's goals, and can cause or highlight various conflicts.
  Why worldbuild organizations? Because it's how things happen in your setting.
 

How am I judging organizations?

Basics

Readability
This includes the size and style of your font as well as your general formatting with headings, paragraph breaks, and other tools.
Art Credit
Set credits on all art, including cover images, through the image manager.
Human Made
I'm looking for cool things made by cool people!

Optional

Visual Art
Art is only a requirement when your personal style demands it. I never judge writers based on what paintings they've made.
Custom Styling
Styling that fits the setting is nice, but it's also not required for a good article.
Language
I'll translate whatever you submit!

 
For more details and suggestions on writing articles for challenges, check out my article on How to Write an Award-Winning Article.

 

Extras

The two main things I like to see in articles are story and context. These apply no matter the scale or scope - your organization can be an inter-galactic empire or a local pet-sitting non-profit. The below questions might help get you started, but don't stress about answering all of them. Take what's helpful and leave the rest behind. You know your worldbuilding best.
 

Story

Stories require goals and roadblocks on the way to reaching those goals. They show change over time as circumstances change and people learn from their past mistakes (or don't).
  • Why was this organization founded?
  • What were its goals and how did it plan to achieve them?
  • What got in the way and how has the org dealt with those conflicts?
  • What has changed about the org as a result?
  • What is the org's current status?

Context

Context refers to how things interact and interconnect. Nothing exists in a vacuum, and all worldbuilding affects or is affected by other worldbuilding.
  • What was happening in the setting that influenced the start of this org?
  • How has this org influenced the setting in turn?
  • What is the org's relationship to its members and supporters? To its detractors and rivals?
  • What has changed because this org exists?

 
For more ideas, check out the guide to writing an organization . It has some great suggestions that I did my best to not simply repeat here.

Judging Status

WorldEmber is currently ongoing! I'll read your completed articles after the event ends.
 
Writing
Reading
Shortlist
Winner!

 

Examples

Check out the official Guide to the Organization Template for more discussion on how to use the template, along with several great organizations from various Worlds.
  For examples from my own work:
Mother of the Stars
Organization | Apr 8, 2025

Religion that views psionics as a gift from the Mother of the Stars.

This article about a futuristic, sci-fi religion won an organization prompt in Summer Camp 2023.
 
Advocacy for Better Living
Organization | Aug 2, 2025

Qiampian volunteer organization that fills in where the government falls short.

Written during Summer Camp 2025, this article uses no guild tools, including no custom styling.

Reminders

  • You can toggle competitive mode in your Features menu. With it off, your articles won't be judged and you won't appear on leaderboards, but you can still go for the WE word count badges.
  • Even with competitive mode on, you have to manually submit articles to categories. Use the trophy icon to submit.
  • It's OK if you don't feel up for submitting or competing! Work at your own pace.
  • About the Prize

    Picking a prize was my biggest hurdle to sponsoring, and I ultimately decided on a gift card to ebooks.com to share my love of reading in a way that doesn't care where you live or what device you have. They even have a search for DRM-free books, which includes all books published through Tor.
      Since they were established in 2000, ebooks.com has been an ethics-forward ebooks store, promising things like paying taxes, caring about the environment, and making sure you own the books you buy. This shouldn't be unusual, yet here we are.
      Ethical Consumer ranks ebooks.com as their highest rated ebook seller at a score of 72 (out of 100). For comparison, Rakuten has a score of 5, Waterstones is at 2, and Amazon is at 0.

    Comments

    Author's Notes

    Check out these other judging guidelines from other WE2025 sponsors!
    Please note that sharing these links does not mean I endorse the messages in these articles.
      Conditions
    Natural Laws


    Please Login in order to comment!
    Nov 29, 2025 21:05 by Mochi

    I hope to cook up a great entry to your category! <3

    I'm a Comment Caroler! Click to learn more
    I hope you have a great day!   Explore the endless planets brimming with life of the Yonderverse! Go after creatures, discover new places, and learn about the people you find along the way. While you're at it, come visit the A to Zoo, the Yonderverse's largest zoo!   Come prep for WorldEmber with me!
    Dec 3, 2025 18:25 by Rin Garnett

    I can't wait to read it!

    ⭐ Cause problems in wow that's a lot of stars
    ✏️ Add yourself to the World of Worlds
    Dec 5, 2025 13:52

    Added this to my reading list as a guideline for when I will write my first organization ... I hope during WE, if I have enough time ...

    Enjoy Worldember 2025!
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    Dec 7, 2025 13:12 by Rin Garnett

    I look forward to reading it before or after WE :D

    ⭐ Cause problems in wow that's a lot of stars
    ✏️ Add yourself to the World of Worlds
    Dec 11, 2025 15:05

    You will probably read it after WE, but I will submit it for this WE :) Looking forward to your feedback on this!

    Enjoy Worldember 2025!
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