Worldember 2024 Preparation

by World Anvil

Week 1

Worldember is finally here, and everyone’s excitement is so contagious; it’s impossible not to get swept up in it! This is my first time joining the event, and I can’t wait to see where this journey will lead. I’ve been using World Anvil for four months now, and my enthusiasm only grows stronger with each passing day (which says a lot, but that’s a topic for another time and place).

Anyway, back to WorldEmber! I’m not usually the “plan ahead” type, but this pledge actually feels like fun homework, so why not? Every challenge that comes my way is something completely new, and I feel like a kid discovering a whole new world. I'm ready to dive in!

My Pledge

One thing to know about me: I’m not a fan of word limits or summaries. So, a challenge like this- with a minimum word count and not a "roof"- has me hooked already! I want to keep things realistic though and not set any impossible goals, so I’m aiming for 25,000 words. We’ll see where this journey takes me!

What I'll write about

My world is relatively new here and still has plenty of room to grow, so there’s a lot I could write about! WorldEmber feels like the perfect chance to lay down some foundations for the stories that will unfold in Kena'an. For this reason, I’m planning to focus on the main seven kingdoms of my world, exploring their cities, villages, and geographic features. Since my human empire, called Keraian is already quite fleshed out on these aspects, I am thinking to focus on the following kingdoms/areas:

1. Kingdom of Zolirak: The elven kingdom, known for its deep connection to nature and ancient magic. I plan to explore its lush forests, elegant cities, and the elven culture that values artistry and harmony.


2. Undead Kingdom of Myltery: A vast land infested by the undead. I want to delve into the dark history that led to this cursed state, the struggles of the living against the undead hordes, the remnants of a once-thriving society and the Necropolis that now serves as its capital city.


3. Grounds of Louthiran: The kingdom of the dwarves, characterized by its mountainous terrain and impressive underground cities. I’ll write about their craftsmanship, rich traditions, and ongoing conflicts with surface dwellers.


4. The Frozen Lands of Ekiran: A once-thriving kingdom now trapped in an unnatural winter. I aim to uncover the mystery behind the eternal frost and how the inhabitants have adapted to their harsh environment.


5. The Islands of Alyrath: A complex of several islands in the Aerethia Archipelago, known as a land of exiles and pirates. I want to explore the diverse cultures that inhabit the islands and the pirate lore that permeates their history.


6. The Wastelands of Pariant: A harsh land of deserts and ruins, hiding numerous ancient secrets and lost knowledge. I plan to investigate the remnants of past civilizations and the dangers that lurk in the wastelands.

World Meta

I havent's used the Meta so far, but I thought to give it a try now. It's not finished yet, but it was like giving an interview, which was fun! Feel free to check out my progress so far!

Week 2

Review your homepage

I'm fairly satisfied with the current state of my homepage. I have finally managed to find a style and an aesthetic I like for it. Yet, I will work on my pitch for the world of Kena'an. What I have now feels a little too generic and doesn't have the impact I would like. So, this goes into the to do list and I hope I'll fix it before December 1st.

Create or review your world primer

That is my number one priority now. I've got some feedback on my current introduction from fellow Anvilites and I think I understand what the problems are with it. What I want to do is create a comprehensive intro to my world and not only a guide through the various categories. I'm already working on it and I believe it will be done before the end of Novermber. If you have any pointers for me on the matter, I'd love to hear them out!

Set up your community tools

I think what I have setted up with community tools is pretty descent already- I don't want to over do it (I was never good at promoting myself). The important staff here is the subscriber containers which I recently came to know and started to use. Right now what I do with them is very raw and basic, but eventually I plan to use them a lot more. Finally, I was considering setting up a discord server of my own, but I am undecided in the moment. Would you be interested in something like that?

CSS wizardry

CSS... that beautiful and all consuming rabbit hole! I'm certainly not a wizard, barely a novice and that only in good days. CSS is a whole new world for me, one that demands a lot of time and concentration. I hope I'll dwell more in it, but for now my goal is much simpler: to make all my articles have the same layout :D Since I started messing around with CSS I tried several staff (mostly to stylize the pages of my articles) and now it came to a point where there is random CSS everywhere. I plan to fix this and hopefully in the end I'll have some consistency through my world.

Week 3

Read a book, watch a movie (...or something else entirely!)

1. Books

   I regret to say I’m not reading as many books as I’d like at the moment. Most of my reading these days revolves around the amazing worlds and articles I discover here every day. But honestly, they leave me feeling more inspired than ever!

2. Movies

   "My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die!"

   — Princess Bride

   Come on, how can this line not be inspiring? In my endless quest for creativity, I’ll definitely be rewatching The Princess Bride. The story, the characters, the aesthetic- everything about this movie never fails to spark my imagination.

3. Role Playing Games

   Nothing inspires me more than a session of Pathfinder, Dungeons & Dragons, or Vampire: The Masquerade with my close friends. My entire world was created as a setting for my campaign, and I couldn’t be happier about it. TTRPGs are my safe space. Whether as a player or a DM/Storyteller, I love the immersive experiences, rich lore, and deep emotions these games provide. They also let me explore parts of myself I usually keep hidden- even from myself.

Create a Moodboard

Imagery is a huge source of inspiration for me. Unfortunately, my artistic talents are mostly limited to writing, occasional mapmaking, and miniature painting. While I wish I could create my own art, I rely heavily on platforms like Pinterest and prompting sites to bring my ideas to life.

That said, below is a collage of images that capture the mood of my world. And here is a link to one of my Pinterest boards: Fantasy Landscapes. I hope they give you a glimpse into the atmosphere and aesthetic I’m trying to convey!

Create or expand your writing playlist

Music makes everything better. I use a lot of different playlist depending on my writing mood, but specifically for my world I keep returning to one I also use in my Pathfinder sessions. It mostly includes Two Steps from Hell music, Hans Zimmer compositions, Immediate music and others, which always manages to give me the epic vibes I need. I hope you'll enjoy my Fantasy Music Playlist!

Bonus Inspiration

Taking a cue from Mochi, I’d love to share some of the incredible worlds that captivate me every time I explore their articles. They’re brimming with creativity and wonder, and each visit sparks fresh ideas and excitement. I hope you’ll find them as inspiring as I do!

Aran’sha is a breathtaking, mystical world with deep lore and tales woven so delicately, they feel as though they’re made of stardust. Every time I read something written by Tyrdal, it feels like I’m transported to this magical place- a rare and truly special experience.

Waking Materia is an absolute gem! Alan Byers is a phenomenal writer whose immersive style never fails to blow my mind. If you haven’t explored this nautical world yet, I urge you to dive in- it’s brimming with tales that will whisk you away to countless other planes of existence.

Mirintha is a recent discovery for me, but it’s already a world that has me completely hooked. I believe Leijona, is a TTRPG player and DM, which makes this world resonate with me even more. The layout is one of the most beautiful I’ve seen, the writing is superb, and the level of detail is truly impressive.

Week 4

Find a Community

I’ve said it countless times before, and I’ll say it once more: the most important thing I’ve gained since joining World Anvil is the chance to be part of such a diverse, helpful, and non-toxic community. As an introverted person, I often struggle with insecurities, especially when it comes to reaching out and talking to people I don’t know. That’s one of the reasons I’ve never been drawn or extremely active to social media.

But what I’ve found here has helped me in so many ways. You’ve shown me support and offered help in ways that mean so much to me. I hope I can do the same in return because this community is truly important to me. Since I joined the WA Discord server, I’ve found people I talk to almost every day- and that’s both surprising and fulfilling at the same time.

Thank you, all of you, for making this place so engaging, fun, and inclusive!

And a special thanks to some extraordinary beans I love chatting with: Alan Byers, Mochi, CoolG, Demongrey, Tyrdal and Qurilion. You nerds are so supportive!

I'm also joining the beautiful initiative introduced by the amazing Annie Stein and take up my place among the Comment Carolers! I think it's a great way to help each other and I'm always in for actions that help us connect and heighten our spirits!

Plan your Writing Schedule

Planning has never been my strong suit. Luckily, WorldEmber falls during a very relaxed period when I’m not working. Writing is already what I love to do in my free time, and until January, I’ll have plenty of it!

I intend to use this time to expand my world and fuel my creativity to the fullest.

Get some fresh air

I’m not much of an outdoorsy person, but I still find ways to get some fresh air and recharge. I’ve planned a few mini-trips to the countryside on Sundays, which is always a treat.

What relaxes me the most, though, are game nights with my amazing, nerdy friends. Whether it’s board games or a TTRPG session, there’s nothing more comforting than spending time with them!

Final Thoughts

I am incredibly excited about this challenge! With plenty of free time in November and December, I aim to make the most of it. I’m also eager to dive into your amazing worlds and read all the fantastic things you’ll be creating! So, without further ado, let’s get this done! Light up the forge, and don’t forget to #SharetheLove!

P.S. I’ve noticed that some people have an “Accountability Buddy”, or someone to keep track with their progress mentioned in their preparation articles.I think this is a fantastic idea! So if any of you are looking for someone to share thoughts with or help keep track of things, feel free to DM me on my Discord account @Imagica|MLNW|Kena'an. I’d love to connect and support each other throughout this journey!