Reading challenge
Section 1 - Prompts selected for reading
Section 2 - Articles and analysis.
Species
What it is:
Ancient beings are dominating the food chain pyramid so much, that they might as well BE THE PYRAMID.
Ancient beings are dominating the food chain pyramid so much, that they might as well BE THE PYRAMID.
Lesson learned:
The Leviathans is a massive article, containing a lot of references to other Articles made by the same author. This made me realize, that some larger articles may need to be double-checked for clarity through a reader who has no other clue about the rest of the world. To ensure the article makes sense even in absence of a larger context.
The Leviathans is a massive article, containing a lot of references to other Articles made by the same author. This made me realize, that some larger articles may need to be double-checked for clarity through a reader who has no other clue about the rest of the world. To ensure the article makes sense even in absence of a larger context.
What it is:
A literal Beer elemental, a playful being hiding in barrels. Causing nasty loss in profit to tavern owners.
A literal Beer elemental, a playful being hiding in barrels. Causing nasty loss in profit to tavern owners.
Lesson learned:
Simplicity is king. People rarely decide to dig into chonky 2k words species. But something of A4 size? That's compact. Question is, if I could manage to squeeze all the info I use for my species into such a format? Doubt, but would be nice to keep it in mind.
Simplicity is king. People rarely decide to dig into chonky 2k words species. But something of A4 size? That's compact. Question is, if I could manage to squeeze all the info I use for my species into such a format? Doubt, but would be nice to keep it in mind.
What it is:
Tasty and very heavy squids washed on the shore by wave caused by unknown means.
Tasty and very heavy squids washed on the shore by wave caused by unknown means.
Lesson learned:
This article reminded me that the insides of ones stomach can show up detail about the diet of the individual. It immediately inspired me to few scenes, where Raiders determine general state of the area, simply by how fed some specific prey is. Also immediately tasting an arm of random specie that just appeared... Seems like the Flow will not be the deadliest thing on Atocitera after all. It will be various species being flat out toxic to eat. So big note to self - Not everything should be edible. Some things are fine as just not worth the effort needed to down them.
This article reminded me that the insides of ones stomach can show up detail about the diet of the individual. It immediately inspired me to few scenes, where Raiders determine general state of the area, simply by how fed some specific prey is. Also immediately tasting an arm of random specie that just appeared... Seems like the Flow will not be the deadliest thing on Atocitera after all. It will be various species being flat out toxic to eat. So big note to self - Not everything should be edible. Some things are fine as just not worth the effort needed to down them.
Characters
Who is it?
Archivist knowledgeable of how to stay wary of varying gods. After years of reading archived knowledge, she got quite powerful, yet still hides.
Archivist knowledgeable of how to stay wary of varying gods. After years of reading archived knowledge, she got quite powerful, yet still hides.
Lesson learned:[be]
Character is narrated in the first person as if the character was telling its own story. Their abilities and powers were only mentioned, meaning it did not need vast paragraphs citing everything. Instead, it was vague enough for any possible use the plot may need.
Who is it?
Army person who decided to get to paperworking instead of retiring. Which seemed to be her major call.
Army person who decided to get to paperworking instead of retiring. Which seemed to be her major call.
Lesson learned:
Even if a character is made short and simple, with enough information, it can still raise questions. It is therefore up to deciding if these questions are better answered or intentionaly left vague and open.
Even if a character is made short and simple, with enough information, it can still raise questions. It is therefore up to deciding if these questions are better answered or intentionaly left vague and open.
Who is it?
Elven archmage and great leader of unknown age and past. Ruthless in her approach yet driven by safety of her people.
Elven archmage and great leader of unknown age and past. Ruthless in her approach yet driven by safety of her people.
Lesson learned:
The traveling to diferent place and then introduction of magic made me think... What if the magic is created inside the body of specific race, and is leaking to the area and atmosphere over time. For the specific race it could be similar process as creation of CO2 is for humans. It would simply take something in, and out goes magic. What if the magic was immaterial, and needed real materials to get created? Some absurdly magical places could be facing shortage of specific material, causing the race to migrate while leaving behind a wake of magic./col3]
The traveling to diferent place and then introduction of magic made me think... What if the magic is created inside the body of specific race, and is leaking to the area and atmosphere over time. For the specific race it could be similar process as creation of CO2 is for humans. It would simply take something in, and out goes magic. What if the magic was immaterial, and needed real materials to get created? Some absurdly magical places could be facing shortage of specific material, causing the race to migrate while leaving behind a wake of magic./col3]
Settlements
What and where it is?
Archeologistic and mining settlement placed next to still active mines. Under these mines lie big city which survived many world shaping events.
Archeologistic and mining settlement placed next to still active mines. Under these mines lie big city which survived many world shaping events.
Lesson learned:
While mentioning that something exist, an example in the article can prompt the reader further into the world. While the article got my curiosity, there was almost no other places to folow deeper into the world. This interest can be nice way to get more readers of not only connected articles, but of the world as a whole.
While mentioning that something exist, an example in the article can prompt the reader further into the world. While the article got my curiosity, there was almost no other places to folow deeper into the world. This interest can be nice way to get more readers of not only connected articles, but of the world as a whole.
What and where it is?
A settlement hosting criminal life and outcast from all over the world. A hub for crime without much of an authority keeping things in check.
A settlement hosting criminal life and outcast from all over the world. A hub for crime without much of an authority keeping things in check.
Lesson learned:
Part of the city is on floating island, which is collecting water condensing on its lower part. While Majority of my Atocites are large enough to have some sort of sustained water collected from rain. The method mentioned in this article is definitely something to remember for later.
Part of the city is on floating island, which is collecting water condensing on its lower part. While Majority of my Atocites are large enough to have some sort of sustained water collected from rain. The method mentioned in this article is definitely something to remember for later.
What and where it is?
It appears to be a first city on specific planet. City being build on mainly land claimed by clearing vast bogs surrounding the city.
It appears to be a first city on specific planet. City being build on mainly land claimed by clearing vast bogs surrounding the city.
Lesson learned:
Settlements have districts. Places separeted by all sorts of reason. Be it wealth, focus, etnicity... Some may be more favored than others simply beause they are frequented or because they are less dangerous. It is easy to forget these things exists or not even care about them. But their inclussion gives a certain depth to the settlement on their own. Even if the description of districts is lacking or shalow, the mere inclussion of their existence invoke a dragging feeling of curiosity. It is then to the execution of the writing to use this curiosity.
Settlements have districts. Places separeted by all sorts of reason. Be it wealth, focus, etnicity... Some may be more favored than others simply beause they are frequented or because they are less dangerous. It is easy to forget these things exists or not even care about them. But their inclussion gives a certain depth to the settlement on their own. Even if the description of districts is lacking or shalow, the mere inclussion of their existence invoke a dragging feeling of curiosity. It is then to the execution of the writing to use this curiosity.
What and where it is?
Ressearch station which appears to be created in order to ressearch self replicating metal forest.
Ressearch station which appears to be created in order to ressearch self replicating metal forest.
Lesson learned:
There is a scary element in the fact, that something known is altered to a point where it still seems and looks similar, but is now an unstoppable, slow, threat.
There is a scary element in the fact, that something known is altered to a point where it still seems and looks similar, but is now an unstoppable, slow, threat.
Extra reading
Organisations
The first-person narrative feels odd when it is not expected. A reminder that organizations require a few things to properly function - base, funding, recruiting...
Primals
Starting with the general idea of what the world looks like. Including basic areas, the key features of the world, and how things are around. Features articles that further explain the key areas.
Section 3 - Summary
Every article is a lesson on its own, some more impactful, some more informative.What I learned is that my way of doing things is going to be considerably complex. Probably like the leviathans. Massive, full of things known about it, with refferences to other articles whenever mentioned.
When I am already planning for such vast bodies of text, I should strive for the simplicity and readability of the individual parts. Instead of having chunks of text slapped together, I should also focus on the balance between weaving them together to serve as a one big description, and haing the parts be individual.
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