Reading Challenge 2024

Hello and welcome to my Reading Challenge 2024 page! This Summer Camp was one helluva challenge for me compared to last year, but I still managed to snag 42 out of 42 prompts completed. That's pretty awesome, but do you know what else is pretty awesome? The amount of worldbuilding all of us did last month!! I look forward to stepping back from writing this August, or at least part of it, to read some of that awesome work. I tried to keep up during July, but somehow I hate 750 notifications.
Thankfully, I do not suffer from delusions of gradeur. I will almost certainly not clean out my notifications for this challenge. I have, however, read about 229 articles for the prompt "a building considered a refuge against the world." Below are ten articles that I would like to showcase from this prompt, as well as any other articles that caught my eye from other prompts. Without further ado, let's get started:

A Refuge Against the World

Judges Notes

My judging process is simple. I judged the articles in rounds. The first round was the broadest, where I looked through every single article and determined which articles would go on to round two, three, four, and so on.
I've stopped at ten articles for the sake of the Reading Challenge, but in about a week, I will continue the process until I reach just one article, the winner. If my judging process for Summer Camp turns out to be anything like when I judged a category for WorldEmber, I imagine I won't actually know the winner until I submit my decision to the WA team.
That is to say... The articles presented below are in not particular order! I love them and I hope you all check them out, as well!

Candle Light Inns by Momococa

Candle Light Inns is a charming article about magically protected inns in odd, often dangerous, places that function like a refuge for travelers and explorers.From a personal perspective, I enjoyed the thought exercise surrounding what other uses magical barriers and wards might have in a society.

Empress' Kitchen by Haleo

Haleo not only wrote about a cozy kitchen, but they wrote a cozy article in general! I enjoyed their writing and the way they painted the kitchen very much. The fact that the kitchen staff place cushions around the room for their visitor also makes me so happy. <3 Excellent, cozy article.

Habita by Mochimanoban

Habita is the setting of a new world by Mochimanoban. Its article is a perfectly creepy and mysterious introduction to the setting... Making me wonder just what, exactly, Habita was meant as a refuge for? From whom?

The Grumpy Seagull by Kaleidechse

The Grumpy Seagull is a tavern that caters to criminals. Since they are also still just a tavern, they need a passcode and other ways to distinguish their clientele. Interesting concept and article! Love the grumpy seagull sign, too.

Home by Eccbooks

Home is a wonderful article about the philosophical concept of home in Eden as well as the different kinds of homes that may be found there. The descriptions of the types of dwellings are fascinating, architecturally and culturally speaking within the world.

Convent of St. Hette by Iris the Lop

The Convent of St. Hette is in the format of an interview between the writer and one of the priestesses. I enjoyed this perspective because it gave me an insight not only into the building itself, but also into the beliefs of the priestesses (and likely others in the culture around them).

Living Mausoleum by Hanhula

A beautifully written article and lovingly mournful concept. There are many details within this article that I adored. The link between a traveler and their flame for their family's sake, the hidden villages, and more.

The Silent Spire by Travakh

The Silent Spire, a place to escape the hubbub and have quiet time to yourself... The opening scene in the article juxtaposed with the description of the spire is jarring in a good way. On one hand, I want to spend some time in the spire. On the other, the opening scene makes me extremely aware of the dangers, like, say, murder!

Queen Sable's Getaway Cabin by SableAradia

Privacy, something that some of us have much less of. I can only imagine how hovered over a queen must be. I admire the work that went into designing Queen Sable's cabin on minecraft. Check it out!

The Temple of Twilight Dreams by RPGDinosaurBob

The Temple of Twilight Dreams is a metaphysical temple that is only accessible after long studies by dreamwalkers. Excellently executed article!

Reflecting and Goal Setting

Summer Camp Woes

Against my own better judgment, I completed every prompt during Summer Camp. I sincerely hope that I do not push myself in the same way next year. I'm proud, but also frustrated with myself for succumbing to a completionist mindset. I desperately wanted to focus on other articles that I had already submitted, but the brain goblins wouldn't let me do it. I was able to complete the entire set and work on some of them afterwards, but it's not the same. I could've had so much time! 
That's a problem for future Aster, though. Hopefully I'll remember this feeling when we approach homework time next June and plan accordingly.

Goal Setting

I need to meditate on my six-month plan for Babikiye a little longer.
For the last six months, I have been stuck in a creative rut. I hardly added a single word to my world this year until Summer Camp, which is a real shame. Part of the problem is that I know, or thought I knew, where I should start. I should start with the overarching content, like the primer and the geography of Babikiye, right? Honestly, as far as worldbuilding is considered, I'm starting to think not. Maybe? I don't know. Whatever has malfunctioned in my creative process, though, I need to get down to the bottom of it.
...Preferably now! Summer Camp has jump-started me like a dead car battery. Now, my challenge is to keep the momentum going. If I stop, I fear that I won't be able to start again until WorldEmber rolls around.
That likely means that I should set tangible goals for myself. I'm thinking an article, however small, per week. Maybe even a spreadsheet. Eugh.