New Year's Resolutions - 2025

The Task

WorldEmber 2024 is over - and this means, it is time for the associated reading challenge. So let's have a look at other people's work and see what I can learn from them.

The 10 Articles

1 - A Living Organization

This guild is a powerful force for progress at the expense of morals - which already hints at its impending downfall. I especially liked the vivid descriptions of all major people in its hierarchy, and the dynamics between them.
Coincidentally, my first novel will involve the leaders of two rival ore companies. Reading about the Veinstone Guild made me realize that I must think beyond those leaders - they may be the face of their companies, but there need to be complete structures below them to make those organizations believable.

2 - Heat Amidst The Ice

A major invention that not only helped civilization survive, but actually allowed them to thrive in a hostile environment. This version of the steam engine blends real-world science with fantastical materials, and the impact of its creation is explained in great detail.
In my Elven society, I will probably need similar combinations of technology and magic. Therefore, this article gives some nice examples for spicing up mundane machines with something as simple as a fictional metal. It also reminds me to think more about who will use an invention and what reputation it has within the population.

3 - Scary Security

An intelligence service that sniffs out enemies of the Dictator - except they don't. I liked reading how their loyalty is not tied to a particular government, but to the country itself. I love how they lean into their intimidating reputation or the Dictator's assumption that they were his personal police.
I love spy networks and secret agents. This one was particularly interesting to read, thanks to the contrast between people's assumptions and the truth about their job. A nice balance between putting on a show and thinking practically.

4 - A Poisonous Spice

A substance that can serve many purposes, but its use is limited by its toxicity. There is a way to neutralize it, but the procedure is rarely worth the risk. Consequently, the one species that is immune to the poison has an advantage when it comes to processing it into a luxury spice.
I love how versatile this deadly substance is. I've never considered immunities before, so I probably should change that. Also, ways to neutralize poisons are definitely something I need to think about.

5 - Handle with humor

The essence of the "self" is described as a physical substance that is slightly disgusting and challenging to extract. Therefore, the quoted instructions point out that congratulating oneself after the first step should not be skipped - it's important for morale and therefore influences the overall result.
I love the witty, slightly snarky tone of the article. My own articles are written in a very factual voice, but I've dabbled with humor for in-universe quotes. This is definitely something I should explore further.

6 - Multi-layered plot

This pivotal scene highlights how two contrasting characters complement each other, and reveals a greater threat to their organization.
This article takes a close look at the different narrative layers. We see the character dynamics, the power structures among the antagonists, and the implications for the overall plot. The setting itself is packed to the brim with meaningful details - mismatched crates, reluctant and clumsy workers, dangerously slippery floors, dark shadows cast by floodlights.

7 - Bloody and raw

A candid look at two people returning to their ship, finding it looted and devoid of all that made it home. What is worse, they barely find the supplies to treat the gruesome wounds of one of them. During treatment, their sexual relationship is mentioned and contrasted with their current situation - notably, how odd it feels to remove her clothes for medical treatment in the kitchen where intimacy had always been taboo.
This story snippet is full of emotions. It gives the reader a good idea of the characters' bond, and hints at what else they care about. The mature topics are approached really well - enough details to make the reader share their discomfort while keeping everything relevant to this scene.

8 - His own biggest fan

A bard telling about his adventures - and of course, this amazing hero effortlessly saves the day and has to fend off all the beautiful ladies throwing themselves at him. Scholars scoff at the unproven events while other adventurers fawn over the stories as if every word was true.
I love the over-the-top, dramatically poetic excerpt of the book - it clearly shows why the opinions differ that strongly. The utter lack of humility is very entertaining to read.

9 - Neujahrssuppe

A very loosely defined recipe that became a tradition for some unknown reason. The article includes one version of it, detailing the ingredients and preparation steps. Next to it, there's a scribbled comment complaining that the perfectly good soup is ruined by including brussels sprouts.
A soup of meat and vegetables may appear mundane at first glance. However, this simple dish includes fantastical vegetables - just similar enough to some real-world ones that are helpfully suggested as substitutes for whoever wants to try it at home.

10 - A good deed at the right time

Passersby are out of sync with the main timeline, crossing paths with "normal" people in crucial moments. What they do appears simple - a kind word or gesture on a bad day, wisdom that helps with a decision, or just showing interest in the other person.
The central idea that small acts of kindness have a huge impact is really heartwarming. It's an important reminder that not all heroes need to swoop in with shiny armor and fancy weapons to help those in need.

My New Year's Resolutions

Looking past the surface

I want to put more thought into comparing what others see with what goes on behind closed doors.

• The leader of a company serves as its public face, but it also needs a body of advisers and operation managers to run properly.
• An organization may appear antagonistic, but have good intentions that just so happen to clash with the protagonists' goals.
• Someone or something might be revered by the public, but despised by those who know the truth.

Flipsides and countermeasures

I want to think beyond the obvious use of things, and what people would do to prevent those usages.

• When magic is abundant, people will have ways to restrict it - but a creative magician might be able to weave around those.
• Materials tend to be useful for a wide range of applications - from decoration to medicine and weapons.

Adding life and flavor

I want to move away from the overly serious, encyclopedia-style tone in my articles.

• Quotes are a great way to break up factual sections and show things from a personal perspective.
• Documents might be written by a snarky, poetic, or self-absorbed author.
• Documents can be annoted by someone with vastly different views from its author.
• Recipes are a nice opportunity for mentioning fictional flora and fauna.

This is even more important for the prose I will be writing.

• Whenever a character makes an observation, there is an opportunity to charge it emotionally.
• Mature topics like gore or sex work well when every detail is relevant and adds context to why a character feels a certain way.

Layers and details

I want to remember that character actions do not exist in a void.

• Settings need to address all the senses.
• Seemingly small actions can hint at interpersonal conflicts.
• A small gesture may have far-reaching consequences for a character's mindset and therefore their decisions from that point on.