Summer Camp 2022

Pledge + Homework

Week 1 Homework

Creative Goal

To expand the lore on the southen continent of Monyus, the third major landmass on Neyush.

Motivation

Partially, this is just logical; for my first Summer Camp in 2020, I focused on an area in Pfemba, and the 2021 Summer Camp helped to build out the second continent, Chezri.

Mostly, though, I'm planning my next book, now I'm more or less happy with the first and almost ready to start querying agents (scary stuff). I have the major characters and arcs planned, but the 2020 Summer Camp gave me so much inspiration for The Nomad Stone, and I'm hoping to get more of that sweet, sweet creative juice this year, too.

Challenge Goal

Well, diamond, of course! I can't let my streak drop.

I also really appreciate the gentle squeeze of external pressure to make sure I reach my creative goals.

Week 2 Homework

Bronze: Expanse

This one came to mind as soon as I saw the word.

The centre of Monyus is dominated by a huge, ice-cold desert. I haven't really fleshed it out at all, other than knowing it exists, so it should be a perfect canvas for these prompts.

Think the Gobi Desert, on which there's a fantastic section on the Desert episode of Planet Earth.

Silver: Leadership

This one is trickier. The monoduga who occupy the continent are famous for their psychic link. It's not a hivemind in the same mindless, greater-good sense of bees, but it isn't far off.

I could write about how society is organised with such a link, or about groups who seek power over everyone else for whatever reason, or maybe important Severed who are fighting for equal rights and representation.

I'll need to play this one by ear, depending on what prompts come up.

Gold: Discovery

I expect this one to start brimming with ideas as I start to fill the previous two in.

There will be plenty to discover in this chilly desert, but the monoduga are the least magically-inclined people on the planet, and therefore the most tech-savvy. I would be very surprised if I don't end up writing about some new monoduga inventions this Summer Camp.

Diamond: Monstrous

The plot of the book I'm planning centers around a mysterious, psychic disease that's running rampant and killing monoduga, leaving Severed unaffected.

Failing that, I'm sure there are plenty of beasties and whatnot from the chaotic oceans of the north to the brutal deserts of the south.

Plus, there's always the threat of extradimensional weirdness from one of the Spheres.

Week 3 Homework

People walking on snow-covered field during daytime

Blue and black galaxy digital wallpaper

Brown sand under blue sky and white clouds during daytime

Photo by Possessed Photography

I wouldn't class Drake's Dozen as a Steampunk setting exactly, but the Monoduga certainly fit the aesthetic. This music should keep me on track, as long as I remember to get the cultural and horror-related stuff right, too.