Resolved to Write in 2025

Here it is! 2025! I almost didn't survive 2024, but hey, we're a quarter of a century in to the 2000s! What a world we live in huh? Alright well, here's a snippet of what I hope to do this coming year. It's gonna be great. I'm gonna be great. You're gonna be great. We're gonna be great.
Firstly, I want the community of World Anvil to know how proud I am of all of you. That means little coming for someone with little influence here, but you guys make a huge difference. Seeing life and activity and so much amazing creativity really gives me motivation. I often fall into this cynical mindset that people aren't interested in books and stories and worlds anymore. I hate thinking like that, and you all are my logical proof that the opposite is true. So thank you all for being creative and putting your amazing ideas out there. You are inspirational and I can't wait to see us all be awesome together.
That brings me to my New Years Resolutions for 2025. I'm not usually one to do the traditional Resolutions, but more a list of goals and motivations towards them. My father would always make it a special moment to bring the heavy miniature scroll case from off the Christmas tree, either just after midnight, or sometime on New Years. The scroll inside was a little bit of prose, encouraging us to choose a goal and press towards it. You resolved to do your best and follow through.
Yes, I'm aware that's extremely similar, but there's more forgiveness in steady progress rather than rushed production. I want to make my world truly fleshed out. I'm about a third of the way done with the associated book, but I fall into the trap of writing articles and things here, rather than putting effort in to the story. And I want to spend this next year reveling in that; a true outpouring of creativity for a land I'm committed to filling. I don't want it to be all Boston Donut, no Creme, get what I'm saying?
I'm striving to participate in every challenge offered this year by World Anvil, and possibly some outside of it. Find a way to test the waters more before I launch something that doesn't even have the fuel to make it to the atmosphere, let alone maintain orbit.
I want to begin to really push for articles that flesh out my world, spider-weaving it together so that readers can get lost on one side and end up on the other, and still find new secrets when they revisit old stories.

Articles that have inspired me, and that I've learned from.

By: Mochimanoban
This first fantastic article is by Mochimanoban who really brought the astehtic and theme of his world to life in this one article. Junk Bandits is an easy conduit to open up the world; what treasures are left behind in the junk? Who takes care of these scavangers? I really enjoyed the way this article was structured as well; it brought a brightness to the world and the article itself. Very much worth the read, and please check out Mochimanoban! I went back and read a few more articles, so many fascinating characters, conditions, and stories!
By: Little Raider
Wow, the absolute sombre horror of this condition was absolutely gripping. I was asking questions, reeling from NOT having answers, because the answers I did have were incredibly disconcerting. It reminded me that sometimes, subtle horror is much more unnerving. I want to really indulge in the dark and gritty aspects in my story, so this is something to keep in mind. Also, a fantastic analogy to the suffering of addiction. Please fall down the same rabbit hole I did and give Little Raider some love!
By: Jester%
I read this haunting article a few times over the last 3 weeks, and every time I've found myself comforted, like I'm listening to the bard in a tavern. It's something for me to consider, lulling the reader in with prose, inviting them to stay and listen to the tale being told. I love how much is conveyed, how you can feel the tone, hear the crackling fire and accompying lute.
By: AmazingChi
Have you ever just wanted to be allowed to see a snippet, a clip, of a world? This article did it for me. I'm a sucker for prose, and AmazingChi delivered. It made me really wanting to learn and see more about the world of Axora and particularly its hearty sea faring population. They fear little in their waters, and drink to death in the sea's grasp. It's good to have a grounded population with a strong culture. Please, check it out with me!
By: CaptainKindling
When I first saw the title "The Necronomihonk" sitting innocently on the World Ember Competition Page, I knew I was in for something wild. I did not expect it to be such a hilariously ominous read, and frankly it blew me away. Humor like this is exactly what fleshes out even a dark and morbid seeming world. I quite frankly don't want to ever perform "a ritual for using a goose as a conduit to the Nocturnal Abyss", as I do not want to go to the Nocturnal Abyss. However, I would pay good money to watch someone else do it. Ya know, from a safe distance. Not just from the abyss and possible magical complications, just like... away from where the geese are gonna eat me. Have you seen their teeth? Don't google that, you'll regret it. Oh you're back? Yeah, I TOLD YOU NOT TO GOOGLE IT. Go read The Necronomihonk by CaptainKindling now to try and erase that visual from your mind. Try.
By: Cal
This article is just the breathe of fresh air you need. This single article will open you up to the world of Ishloon, and I don't hesitate in saying that it is a world you MUST visit. Go. Explore this amazing world for yourself. I do not want to spoil it for you, because honsetly, this one has to be experienced on your own. Take the five (or 10) minutes to really sink your mind into the detail this article gives you. Let it lead you to more discoveries. Cal, you're a fantastic author. I'm going to come back and immerse myself in your world, and give it the time it's due. I'm glad to have discovered you, and I hope many others do as well.
By: Catoblepon
You've been warned right here, right now. This article is your introduction to one of the coolest projects on World Anvil. You WILL be lost in a sauce you cannot escape as your choose your journey through the land of Vadiases. I didn't get to plunge in like I wanted, but I will soon! I chose the forest by the way. There are dangers lurking in the shadows, but many resources to uncover. Wish me luck!
Bye: David Cutuli (Naelin) Quick warning: This article discusses adult topics and can be skipped if you're sensitive to topics of sex and drug use.
With that said, this article is beyond well written. There's something that draws you in about Naelin's writing, it's brooding but reverant. I'm not one for brothels personally, but I want to be a fly on the wall here to understand the importance Respite holds. There's something stoic and traditional about this pleasure house; it's not the dirty overrun whorehouse one might expect. Take time to read the little hoverable links, and invest yourself in the explanations to make the entire article feel even more full.

Thank you, I can't wait to move in to the New Year :)

I'm so ready for this year. I'm getting my health on track, I'm really putting in TIME to my writing, and I feel more confident this year than I did the last few. I've written so many things, deleted them, left them to rot in a folder. I've had so many topics I've researched and written scripts for, only to put them down because I was so worried about how different and anxious I'd be on camera or even just recording my voice. I don't particularly fear failure, more just failing because of my own anxiety. But this last year, I tried and succeeded at a job I had so many worries about. I loved it. I was already maximizing my potential, and was in a place of leadership. I accomplished that, up until I slipped coming out of the shower and now I require back surgery. But I did it. And if I can do that, and survive the absolute depression that came from having that opportunity ripped from me, I can do this. I can do something I love, and have loved since I was a kid.
This year, I'm resolving to let the nostalgia for my childhood wash over me. I was the kid who got in trouble for reading in class. I was the weirdo that had 5 notebooks in my backpack, and three were for the books and stories I was writing. I'm that adult who scavanged old harddrives from my last two laptops, just to keep the ramblings and random writings on them safe. Why did I stop? Why have those notebooks and folders collected so much dust? My goal is to give my ideas life outside my head and outside of those dusty files. Put them in to the world, for people to love or hate as they will. Give them the chance they should have to thrive or die. I can't forsee the future, but I can at least get the path set in motion.
Thank you for anyone who joins me on this journey. I'm so greatful to anyone who likes one of my articles, follows my world or me, and particularly comments. I love the interaction, encouragement, critiscim. Without the rest of you out there, what would be the point of all this? Stay awesome. I can't wait to see how much we all grow this coming year. - AJisAJ