Homework #1
I pledge to achieve the diamond badge of July 2023 to improve my world of Nideon
But to be Honest...
I usually work on the world of Nideon in conjunction with my novel, Natural Magic. This year, since I am also in a writing group in which I challenge myself to write a short story a week, I may also explore some other worlds, including Milon and The Overlap. I'm not really sure, and since my worldbuilding projects are going hand in hand with my writing projects, I may not know until July! I'm okay with that.
A Definite Commitment
I do know that since we no longer do language prompts during summer camp, I want to bring in some conlanging! I am going to challenge myself to create an idiom connected to my response for each prompt. Once Summer Camp starts, you'll be able to find the whole list here: Idiom Dictionary Summer Camp 2023
Power
In Nideon
There's a lot I could talk about here, but as for the power structures pertinent to Natural Magic, the setting of the story includes the battle of power throughout the southern hemisphere. Chitaa Sololsol is using her power as leader of Ethion to persecute the Pelan. Other countries, such as Atlinthaia, who have close ties to the Pelan and the Thisaazhou, are fighting against this, and there's likely to be a domino effect throughout the Southern Continent. In the Southern Islands, Antarand is at a standstill with Florarova. While Florarova claims Antarand is still part of it, much of the political power has reverted to the Antaran King (but Antarand has had a king and an elected body, so there are some details to be hashed out there.) And, of course, up north, Alaj has been enmeshed in a long civil war. Don Lumo, Miriam Lumo's uncle is one of the province leaders, and trying to gain control of the nation. In the past, he's had his daughter and niece as spies to help him get the upper hand on other leaders, but we'll see if that lasts.
In The Overlap
The Overlap has thriteen magical communities, all with their own unique power structure, which I don't have time to get into right now. What I've been focusing on lately are the Seers and the Scavengers. Namely, I'm planning to write a short story about The Librarian and the head seer, who have power for sort of opposite reasons. Among the scavengers, knowledge is often power, and thus the Librarian has garnered great respect due to the wealth of knowledge he has amassed. Though he is physically weak, people don't typically try to fight him, either out of respect or the knowledge that his followers would seek revenge. The head seer inherited her position through a centuries old family line. While she technically could have absolute control over her people that family line has taught everyone to forego all use of power, unless it pertains to their secret goal of piecing the magical world back together. She is currently struggling with how to do that, or if it's even possible.
In Milon
This is an underdeveloped world, though there are a few things that can be said about power. My most recent story involved the country of Jadinth, which has occupied another country and is trying to destroy the culture of the peope who previously lived there. A different nation, Melzi, operates as a meritocracy, in which students who fail certain standardized tests are denied citizenship and made "Voiceless." Finally, since Milon is Nideon's secret Homeworld, to some degree, power depends on who has colonies/access to other parts of the Frist system.
Power Relationships Between Characters and/or Countries
See above section
World Metas
I have completed about 70% of the metas for each of these three worlds, which is likely about as much as I will complete before summer camp begins.
Homework #2
Frontier
Nideon
The obvious frontier in Nideon are the planets around it (though this is kind of a reverse frontier, considering the Astromythological theory is that the people of Nideon once came from those planets. Therefore, metaphorical frontiers include both the continued study of astronomy and astromythology, as well as the study of magic. Other frontiers might include places like Igbi and Lowoni, which is both a literal and a metaphorical frontier in that scientists are still mapping the island and the waters around it, as well as studying the array of species and natural phenomenon found there.
The Overlap
The Overlap, in contrast, has an obvious metaphorical frontier--the exploration of the different magical systems, particularly by the scavengers. Though there are also literal frontiers that few people have explored, such as the Tradebird Foothills, where the Shadowcasters perform their annual ritual of balance, and the supposedly haunted Diveguard Crags. In a way, the land of the dead is a frontier in this world, as it plays a significant role, though it's not a place people typically want to visit.
Milon
On Milon, like Nideon, the frontier is the other planets in the solar system, as they always have been. Several countries also have a tendency to look at other countries as frontiers these days, with some governments hoping to expand their borders as far as possible. Metaphorically speaking, any sort of scientific study, but especially that which is related to biology, is considered a frontier. Scientists, especially those in Melzi, had an obsession with improving the human body.
Maps
I've been trying to get into quilting my maps, so I decided I would try my hand at a few of the locations mentioned here:
Igbi and Lowani
Igbi and Lowani by Molly Marjorie
Driveguard Crags
Diveguard Crags by Molly Marjorie
Jadinth/Dhadiz
Autumn Sea by Molly Marjorie
I've definitely learned a few things about this process, so hopefully they'll improve in the future!
Organization
I have several tasks to improve my organization in my worlds. All three worlds need an introductory article to help direct new visitors. The Overlap needs a new category system (I think WA has changed a lot since I first organized that world) and Milon needs well... something in it to read. It was earlier created as a setting for a game I intended to run with my students, but I am no longer running said game, and don't really need any of those elements for the stories I am currently telling, so it's currently an empty husk.
Homework #3
Relics
Nideon
I've actually covered a lot of ancient relics in Nideon, from Virginia Blake's binoculars, to Pine Hill and The Rings of Auras. Relics in Nideon typically center around forgotten origins of one form or another. Perhaps that's obvious, but these are often central to Nideon folklore, which fuels the mysteries of the world. So it's likely other relics would center on Calistian myths, Astromythology, or other stories about local origins.
The Overlap
Relics in the Overlap are similar to relics in Nideon. They are remnants from a past that has been forgotten, though in this case, not entirely. Relics here are usually associated with the world of magic, which was fractured, as if gathering all of these could allow someone to piece the world back together. They are often, but not always, texts, and more often than not, eventually make their way into the hands of Scavengers.
Milon
While there might be relics in Milon which are connected to its origins, unlike Nideon, these are mostly remembered. Relics of the world's origins, however, would be mostly feared, as they might prove evident of ancient magic. Less frightening, more revered relics would be associated with the colonies on other planets. These are memories of better times. And of course, individual locations have relics of brighter or simpler times as well. Relics in Melzi might reflect a time before the Voiceless were separated from everyone else, and relics in Jadinth would be pieces of Dhadiz culture that people managed to smuggle to safety or otherwise keep alive.
Chronicles
Chronicles is a part of World Anvil I haven't used much. At best, I've just mucked about with it. Since I've been working on cleaning up old articles lately and fleshing out histories of peoples and nations, this might be a good opportunity to add some of the dates from those articles to it, which could also give a better idea of how the different histories intertwine with one another.
Images
I usually Unsplash for my images, though I sometimes take my own photos. I have a collection on Unsplash of possible pictures that may be useful.
Homework #4
Communication
Nideon
The level at which different organizations and cultures interact varies greatly by organization, culture, and location. For example, in Antarand, different cultures and temples regularly communicate, with religious lines blurring across neighborhoods. This is especially clear during events like The Day of Refuge. In contrast, the Huxoth remain relatively isolated from everyone. I think the key idea around communication for my current project is propaganda and news. National and international conflicts make up a lot of the background setting for my novel, which means politicians are going to be trying to control who receives what information. There is a lot of anti-Pelan propaganda coming out of Ethion, and likely they are trying to make it reach other countries who are allies, like Suxad, whereas countries like Atlinthaia will be trying to cut through the noise. Similar information battles will envelop the conflicts in Antarand and Alaj.
The Overlap
The Overlap is a very different situation because people communicate secretly on a regular basis. All of the cultures revolve, to some degree, around relaying information to people who are in the know without letting outsiders know what they are talking about. Furthermore, from Werewolf masks to Scavenger code, each group does this differently. Some groups will also be concerned with how to communicate information to people who are outsiders, but whom they want to induct, such as Illusionists recruiting new members. (And speaking of illusionists--their armbands are another form of communication.) There is also conflict over who is allowed access to information, such as gender norms among Foxes keeping women out of libraries and Scavengers routinely stealing books and scraps from everyone, most of whom have no interest in sharing. This all plays against the tension of the need to share information to bring the fractured pieces of magic back together, but ironically, there is a very small number of people engaged in this, and they are led by the Head Mistwalker, who is one of the most secretive people on the planet.
Milon
Like Nideon, national and international conflicts lead to governments trying to control who has what information. Jadinth is trying to destroy information about its occupied peoples and Melzi's meritocracy requires you to earn your way to any information. There is also an element of lost communication, what with the broken connections to colonies on other planets. Countries that can still make contact will often find themselves with both increased power and a target on their backs. Interpersonal communication happens at a rapid rate, given the sci-fi setting. People have screens and computers and communicators, making it relatively easy to reach anyone or learn about anything, though at times it also makes it easy for those in power to filter information. The Bronzewalker rebellion has probably resorted to more low-tech methods of communication, in the hope of bypassing the governments they are trying to overthrow.
Dictionaries
As I mentioned before, I love conlanging, and I have used the dictionaries on some of my language articles, but not on others. One thing I can do to prepare in this regard is to go through my novel and add any missing words to those dictionaries.
Reviewing Articles
Fortunately, I've been doing a lot of this the last few weeks, as part of my writing challenge to myself!
Summer Camp is a Goooo!!
Only a few days left! In the meantime, I'm going to clean up what I can, work on polishing the last few chapters of Natural Magic, dust off my idiom dictionary, and replace the needle on my sewing machine! SQUEE!
A Definite Commitment
I do know that since we no longer do language prompts during summer camp, I want to bring in some conlanging! I am going to challenge myself to create an idiom connected to my response for each prompt. Once Summer Camp starts, you'll be able to find the whole list here: Idiom Dictionary Summer Camp 2023
Power
In Nideon
There's a lot I could talk about here, but as for the power structures pertinent to Natural Magic, the setting of the story includes the battle of power throughout the southern hemisphere. Chitaa Sololsol is using her power as leader of Ethion to persecute the Pelan. Other countries, such as Atlinthaia, who have close ties to the Pelan and the Thisaazhou, are fighting against this, and there's likely to be a domino effect throughout the Southern Continent. In the Southern Islands, Antarand is at a standstill with Florarova. While Florarova claims Antarand is still part of it, much of the political power has reverted to the Antaran King (but Antarand has had a king and an elected body, so there are some details to be hashed out there.) And, of course, up north, Alaj has been enmeshed in a long civil war. Don Lumo, Miriam Lumo's uncle is one of the province leaders, and trying to gain control of the nation. In the past, he's had his daughter and niece as spies to help him get the upper hand on other leaders, but we'll see if that lasts.
In The Overlap
The Overlap has thriteen magical communities, all with their own unique power structure, which I don't have time to get into right now. What I've been focusing on lately are the Seers and the Scavengers. Namely, I'm planning to write a short story about The Librarian and the head seer, who have power for sort of opposite reasons. Among the scavengers, knowledge is often power, and thus the Librarian has garnered great respect due to the wealth of knowledge he has amassed. Though he is physically weak, people don't typically try to fight him, either out of respect or the knowledge that his followers would seek revenge. The head seer inherited her position through a centuries old family line. While she technically could have absolute control over her people that family line has taught everyone to forego all use of power, unless it pertains to their secret goal of piecing the magical world back together. She is currently struggling with how to do that, or if it's even possible.
In Milon
This is an underdeveloped world, though there are a few things that can be said about power. My most recent story involved the country of Jadinth, which has occupied another country and is trying to destroy the culture of the peope who previously lived there. A different nation, Melzi, operates as a meritocracy, in which students who fail certain standardized tests are denied citizenship and made "Voiceless." Finally, since Milon is Nideon's secret Homeworld, to some degree, power depends on who has colonies/access to other parts of the Frist system.
Power Relationships Between Characters and/or Countries
See above section
World Metas
I have completed about 70% of the metas for each of these three worlds, which is likely about as much as I will complete before summer camp begins.
Homework #2
Frontier
Nideon
The obvious frontier in Nideon are the planets around it (though this is kind of a reverse frontier, considering the Astromythological theory is that the people of Nideon once came from those planets. Therefore, metaphorical frontiers include both the continued study of astronomy and astromythology, as well as the study of magic. Other frontiers might include places like Igbi and Lowoni, which is both a literal and a metaphorical frontier in that scientists are still mapping the island and the waters around it, as well as studying the array of species and natural phenomenon found there.
The Overlap
The Overlap, in contrast, has an obvious metaphorical frontier--the exploration of the different magical systems, particularly by the scavengers. Though there are also literal frontiers that few people have explored, such as the Tradebird Foothills, where the Shadowcasters perform their annual ritual of balance, and the supposedly haunted Diveguard Crags. In a way, the land of the dead is a frontier in this world, as it plays a significant role, though it's not a place people typically want to visit.
Milon
On Milon, like Nideon, the frontier is the other planets in the solar system, as they always have been. Several countries also have a tendency to look at other countries as frontiers these days, with some governments hoping to expand their borders as far as possible. Metaphorically speaking, any sort of scientific study, but especially that which is related to biology, is considered a frontier. Scientists, especially those in Melzi, had an obsession with improving the human body.
Maps
I've been trying to get into quilting my maps, so I decided I would try my hand at a few of the locations mentioned here:
Igbi and Lowani
Igbi and Lowani by Molly Marjorie
Driveguard Crags
Diveguard Crags by Molly Marjorie
Jadinth/Dhadiz
Autumn Sea by Molly Marjorie
I've definitely learned a few things about this process, so hopefully they'll improve in the future!
Organization
I have several tasks to improve my organization in my worlds. All three worlds need an introductory article to help direct new visitors. The Overlap needs a new category system (I think WA has changed a lot since I first organized that world) and Milon needs well... something in it to read. It was earlier created as a setting for a game I intended to run with my students, but I am no longer running said game, and don't really need any of those elements for the stories I am currently telling, so it's currently an empty husk.
Homework #3
Relics
Nideon
I've actually covered a lot of ancient relics in Nideon, from Virginia Blake's binoculars, to Pine Hill and The Rings of Auras. Relics in Nideon typically center around forgotten origins of one form or another. Perhaps that's obvious, but these are often central to Nideon folklore, which fuels the mysteries of the world. So it's likely other relics would center on Calistian myths, Astromythology, or other stories about local origins.
The Overlap
Relics in the Overlap are similar to relics in Nideon. They are remnants from a past that has been forgotten, though in this case, not entirely. Relics here are usually associated with the world of magic, which was fractured, as if gathering all of these could allow someone to piece the world back together. They are often, but not always, texts, and more often than not, eventually make their way into the hands of Scavengers.
Milon
While there might be relics in Milon which are connected to its origins, unlike Nideon, these are mostly remembered. Relics of the world's origins, however, would be mostly feared, as they might prove evident of ancient magic. Less frightening, more revered relics would be associated with the colonies on other planets. These are memories of better times. And of course, individual locations have relics of brighter or simpler times as well. Relics in Melzi might reflect a time before the Voiceless were separated from everyone else, and relics in Jadinth would be pieces of Dhadiz culture that people managed to smuggle to safety or otherwise keep alive.
Chronicles
Chronicles is a part of World Anvil I haven't used much. At best, I've just mucked about with it. Since I've been working on cleaning up old articles lately and fleshing out histories of peoples and nations, this might be a good opportunity to add some of the dates from those articles to it, which could also give a better idea of how the different histories intertwine with one another.
Images
I usually Unsplash for my images, though I sometimes take my own photos. I have a collection on Unsplash of possible pictures that may be useful.
Homework #4
Communication
Nideon
The level at which different organizations and cultures interact varies greatly by organization, culture, and location. For example, in Antarand, different cultures and temples regularly communicate, with religious lines blurring across neighborhoods. This is especially clear during events like The Day of Refuge. In contrast, the Huxoth remain relatively isolated from everyone. I think the key idea around communication for my current project is propaganda and news. National and international conflicts make up a lot of the background setting for my novel, which means politicians are going to be trying to control who receives what information. There is a lot of anti-Pelan propaganda coming out of Ethion, and likely they are trying to make it reach other countries who are allies, like Suxad, whereas countries like Atlinthaia will be trying to cut through the noise. Similar information battles will envelop the conflicts in Antarand and Alaj.
The Overlap
The Overlap is a very different situation because people communicate secretly on a regular basis. All of the cultures revolve, to some degree, around relaying information to people who are in the know without letting outsiders know what they are talking about. Furthermore, from Werewolf masks to Scavenger code, each group does this differently. Some groups will also be concerned with how to communicate information to people who are outsiders, but whom they want to induct, such as Illusionists recruiting new members. (And speaking of illusionists--their armbands are another form of communication.) There is also conflict over who is allowed access to information, such as gender norms among Foxes keeping women out of libraries and Scavengers routinely stealing books and scraps from everyone, most of whom have no interest in sharing. This all plays against the tension of the need to share information to bring the fractured pieces of magic back together, but ironically, there is a very small number of people engaged in this, and they are led by the Head Mistwalker, who is one of the most secretive people on the planet.
Milon
Like Nideon, national and international conflicts lead to governments trying to control who has what information. Jadinth is trying to destroy information about its occupied peoples and Melzi's meritocracy requires you to earn your way to any information. There is also an element of lost communication, what with the broken connections to colonies on other planets. Countries that can still make contact will often find themselves with both increased power and a target on their backs. Interpersonal communication happens at a rapid rate, given the sci-fi setting. People have screens and computers and communicators, making it relatively easy to reach anyone or learn about anything, though at times it also makes it easy for those in power to filter information. The Bronzewalker rebellion has probably resorted to more low-tech methods of communication, in the hope of bypassing the governments they are trying to overthrow.
Dictionaries
As I mentioned before, I love conlanging, and I have used the dictionaries on some of my language articles, but not on others. One thing I can do to prepare in this regard is to go through my novel and add any missing words to those dictionaries.
Reviewing Articles
Fortunately, I've been doing a lot of this the last few weeks, as part of my writing challenge to myself!
Summer Camp is a Goooo!!
Only a few days left! In the meantime, I'm going to clean up what I can, work on polishing the last few chapters of Natural Magic, dust off my idiom dictionary, and replace the needle on my sewing machine! SQUEE!
In Nideon
There's a lot I could talk about here, but as for the power structures pertinent to Natural Magic, the setting of the story includes the battle of power throughout the southern hemisphere. Chitaa Sololsol is using her power as leader of Ethion to persecute the Pelan. Other countries, such as Atlinthaia, who have close ties to the Pelan and the Thisaazhou, are fighting against this, and there's likely to be a domino effect throughout the Southern Continent. In the Southern Islands, Antarand is at a standstill with Florarova. While Florarova claims Antarand is still part of it, much of the political power has reverted to the Antaran King (but Antarand has had a king and an elected body, so there are some details to be hashed out there.) And, of course, up north, Alaj has been enmeshed in a long civil war. Don Lumo, Miriam Lumo's uncle is one of the province leaders, and trying to gain control of the nation. In the past, he's had his daughter and niece as spies to help him get the upper hand on other leaders, but we'll see if that lasts.
In The Overlap
The Overlap has thriteen magical communities, all with their own unique power structure, which I don't have time to get into right now. What I've been focusing on lately are the Seers and the Scavengers. Namely, I'm planning to write a short story about The Librarian and the head seer, who have power for sort of opposite reasons. Among the scavengers, knowledge is often power, and thus the Librarian has garnered great respect due to the wealth of knowledge he has amassed. Though he is physically weak, people don't typically try to fight him, either out of respect or the knowledge that his followers would seek revenge. The head seer inherited her position through a centuries old family line. While she technically could have absolute control over her people that family line has taught everyone to forego all use of power, unless it pertains to their secret goal of piecing the magical world back together. She is currently struggling with how to do that, or if it's even possible.
In Milon
This is an underdeveloped world, though there are a few things that can be said about power. My most recent story involved the country of Jadinth, which has occupied another country and is trying to destroy the culture of the peope who previously lived there. A different nation, Melzi, operates as a meritocracy, in which students who fail certain standardized tests are denied citizenship and made "Voiceless." Finally, since Milon is Nideon's secret Homeworld, to some degree, power depends on who has colonies/access to other parts of the Frist system.
Power Relationships Between Characters and/or Countries
See above section
World Metas
I have completed about 70% of the metas for each of these three worlds, which is likely about as much as I will complete before summer camp begins.
Homework #2
Frontier
Nideon
The obvious frontier in Nideon are the planets around it (though this is kind of a reverse frontier, considering the Astromythological theory is that the people of Nideon once came from those planets. Therefore, metaphorical frontiers include both the continued study of astronomy and astromythology, as well as the study of magic. Other frontiers might include places like Igbi and Lowoni, which is both a literal and a metaphorical frontier in that scientists are still mapping the island and the waters around it, as well as studying the array of species and natural phenomenon found there.
The Overlap
The Overlap, in contrast, has an obvious metaphorical frontier--the exploration of the different magical systems, particularly by the scavengers. Though there are also literal frontiers that few people have explored, such as the Tradebird Foothills, where the Shadowcasters perform their annual ritual of balance, and the supposedly haunted Diveguard Crags. In a way, the land of the dead is a frontier in this world, as it plays a significant role, though it's not a place people typically want to visit.
Milon
On Milon, like Nideon, the frontier is the other planets in the solar system, as they always have been. Several countries also have a tendency to look at other countries as frontiers these days, with some governments hoping to expand their borders as far as possible. Metaphorically speaking, any sort of scientific study, but especially that which is related to biology, is considered a frontier. Scientists, especially those in Melzi, had an obsession with improving the human body.
Maps
I've been trying to get into quilting my maps, so I decided I would try my hand at a few of the locations mentioned here:
Igbi and Lowani
Igbi and Lowani by Molly Marjorie
Driveguard Crags
Diveguard Crags by Molly Marjorie
Jadinth/Dhadiz
Autumn Sea by Molly Marjorie
I've definitely learned a few things about this process, so hopefully they'll improve in the future!
Organization
I have several tasks to improve my organization in my worlds. All three worlds need an introductory article to help direct new visitors. The Overlap needs a new category system (I think WA has changed a lot since I first organized that world) and Milon needs well... something in it to read. It was earlier created as a setting for a game I intended to run with my students, but I am no longer running said game, and don't really need any of those elements for the stories I am currently telling, so it's currently an empty husk.
Homework #3
Relics
Nideon
I've actually covered a lot of ancient relics in Nideon, from Virginia Blake's binoculars, to Pine Hill and The Rings of Auras. Relics in Nideon typically center around forgotten origins of one form or another. Perhaps that's obvious, but these are often central to Nideon folklore, which fuels the mysteries of the world. So it's likely other relics would center on Calistian myths, Astromythology, or other stories about local origins.
The Overlap
Relics in the Overlap are similar to relics in Nideon. They are remnants from a past that has been forgotten, though in this case, not entirely. Relics here are usually associated with the world of magic, which was fractured, as if gathering all of these could allow someone to piece the world back together. They are often, but not always, texts, and more often than not, eventually make their way into the hands of Scavengers.
Milon
While there might be relics in Milon which are connected to its origins, unlike Nideon, these are mostly remembered. Relics of the world's origins, however, would be mostly feared, as they might prove evident of ancient magic. Less frightening, more revered relics would be associated with the colonies on other planets. These are memories of better times. And of course, individual locations have relics of brighter or simpler times as well. Relics in Melzi might reflect a time before the Voiceless were separated from everyone else, and relics in Jadinth would be pieces of Dhadiz culture that people managed to smuggle to safety or otherwise keep alive.
Chronicles
Chronicles is a part of World Anvil I haven't used much. At best, I've just mucked about with it. Since I've been working on cleaning up old articles lately and fleshing out histories of peoples and nations, this might be a good opportunity to add some of the dates from those articles to it, which could also give a better idea of how the different histories intertwine with one another.
Images
I usually Unsplash for my images, though I sometimes take my own photos. I have a collection on Unsplash of possible pictures that may be useful.
Homework #4
Communication
Nideon
The level at which different organizations and cultures interact varies greatly by organization, culture, and location. For example, in Antarand, different cultures and temples regularly communicate, with religious lines blurring across neighborhoods. This is especially clear during events like The Day of Refuge. In contrast, the Huxoth remain relatively isolated from everyone. I think the key idea around communication for my current project is propaganda and news. National and international conflicts make up a lot of the background setting for my novel, which means politicians are going to be trying to control who receives what information. There is a lot of anti-Pelan propaganda coming out of Ethion, and likely they are trying to make it reach other countries who are allies, like Suxad, whereas countries like Atlinthaia will be trying to cut through the noise. Similar information battles will envelop the conflicts in Antarand and Alaj.
The Overlap
The Overlap is a very different situation because people communicate secretly on a regular basis. All of the cultures revolve, to some degree, around relaying information to people who are in the know without letting outsiders know what they are talking about. Furthermore, from Werewolf masks to Scavenger code, each group does this differently. Some groups will also be concerned with how to communicate information to people who are outsiders, but whom they want to induct, such as Illusionists recruiting new members. (And speaking of illusionists--their armbands are another form of communication.) There is also conflict over who is allowed access to information, such as gender norms among Foxes keeping women out of libraries and Scavengers routinely stealing books and scraps from everyone, most of whom have no interest in sharing. This all plays against the tension of the need to share information to bring the fractured pieces of magic back together, but ironically, there is a very small number of people engaged in this, and they are led by the Head Mistwalker, who is one of the most secretive people on the planet.
Milon
Like Nideon, national and international conflicts lead to governments trying to control who has what information. Jadinth is trying to destroy information about its occupied peoples and Melzi's meritocracy requires you to earn your way to any information. There is also an element of lost communication, what with the broken connections to colonies on other planets. Countries that can still make contact will often find themselves with both increased power and a target on their backs. Interpersonal communication happens at a rapid rate, given the sci-fi setting. People have screens and computers and communicators, making it relatively easy to reach anyone or learn about anything, though at times it also makes it easy for those in power to filter information. The Bronzewalker rebellion has probably resorted to more low-tech methods of communication, in the hope of bypassing the governments they are trying to overthrow.
Dictionaries
As I mentioned before, I love conlanging, and I have used the dictionaries on some of my language articles, but not on others. One thing I can do to prepare in this regard is to go through my novel and add any missing words to those dictionaries.
Reviewing Articles
Fortunately, I've been doing a lot of this the last few weeks, as part of my writing challenge to myself!
Summer Camp is a Goooo!!
Only a few days left! In the meantime, I'm going to clean up what I can, work on polishing the last few chapters of Natural Magic, dust off my idiom dictionary, and replace the needle on my sewing machine! SQUEE!
In Milon
This is an underdeveloped world, though there are a few things that can be said about power. My most recent story involved the country of Jadinth, which has occupied another country and is trying to destroy the culture of the peope who previously lived there. A different nation, Melzi, operates as a meritocracy, in which students who fail certain standardized tests are denied citizenship and made "Voiceless." Finally, since Milon is Nideon's secret Homeworld, to some degree, power depends on who has colonies/access to other parts of the Frist system.
Power Relationships Between Characters and/or Countries
See above section
World Metas
I have completed about 70% of the metas for each of these three worlds, which is likely about as much as I will complete before summer camp begins.
Homework #2
Frontier
Nideon
The obvious frontier in Nideon are the planets around it (though this is kind of a reverse frontier, considering the Astromythological theory is that the people of Nideon once came from those planets. Therefore, metaphorical frontiers include both the continued study of astronomy and astromythology, as well as the study of magic. Other frontiers might include places like Igbi and Lowoni, which is both a literal and a metaphorical frontier in that scientists are still mapping the island and the waters around it, as well as studying the array of species and natural phenomenon found there.
The Overlap
The Overlap, in contrast, has an obvious metaphorical frontier--the exploration of the different magical systems, particularly by the scavengers. Though there are also literal frontiers that few people have explored, such as the Tradebird Foothills, where the Shadowcasters perform their annual ritual of balance, and the supposedly haunted Diveguard Crags. In a way, the land of the dead is a frontier in this world, as it plays a significant role, though it's not a place people typically want to visit.
Milon
On Milon, like Nideon, the frontier is the other planets in the solar system, as they always have been. Several countries also have a tendency to look at other countries as frontiers these days, with some governments hoping to expand their borders as far as possible. Metaphorically speaking, any sort of scientific study, but especially that which is related to biology, is considered a frontier. Scientists, especially those in Melzi, had an obsession with improving the human body.
Maps
I've been trying to get into quilting my maps, so I decided I would try my hand at a few of the locations mentioned here:
Igbi and Lowani
Igbi and Lowani by Molly Marjorie
Driveguard Crags
Diveguard Crags by Molly Marjorie
Jadinth/Dhadiz
Autumn Sea by Molly Marjorie
I've definitely learned a few things about this process, so hopefully they'll improve in the future!
Organization
I have several tasks to improve my organization in my worlds. All three worlds need an introductory article to help direct new visitors. The Overlap needs a new category system (I think WA has changed a lot since I first organized that world) and Milon needs well... something in it to read. It was earlier created as a setting for a game I intended to run with my students, but I am no longer running said game, and don't really need any of those elements for the stories I am currently telling, so it's currently an empty husk.
Homework #3
Relics
Nideon
I've actually covered a lot of ancient relics in Nideon, from Virginia Blake's binoculars, to Pine Hill and The Rings of Auras. Relics in Nideon typically center around forgotten origins of one form or another. Perhaps that's obvious, but these are often central to Nideon folklore, which fuels the mysteries of the world. So it's likely other relics would center on Calistian myths, Astromythology, or other stories about local origins.
The Overlap
Relics in the Overlap are similar to relics in Nideon. They are remnants from a past that has been forgotten, though in this case, not entirely. Relics here are usually associated with the world of magic, which was fractured, as if gathering all of these could allow someone to piece the world back together. They are often, but not always, texts, and more often than not, eventually make their way into the hands of Scavengers.
Milon
While there might be relics in Milon which are connected to its origins, unlike Nideon, these are mostly remembered. Relics of the world's origins, however, would be mostly feared, as they might prove evident of ancient magic. Less frightening, more revered relics would be associated with the colonies on other planets. These are memories of better times. And of course, individual locations have relics of brighter or simpler times as well. Relics in Melzi might reflect a time before the Voiceless were separated from everyone else, and relics in Jadinth would be pieces of Dhadiz culture that people managed to smuggle to safety or otherwise keep alive.
Chronicles
Chronicles is a part of World Anvil I haven't used much. At best, I've just mucked about with it. Since I've been working on cleaning up old articles lately and fleshing out histories of peoples and nations, this might be a good opportunity to add some of the dates from those articles to it, which could also give a better idea of how the different histories intertwine with one another.
Images
I usually Unsplash for my images, though I sometimes take my own photos. I have a collection on Unsplash of possible pictures that may be useful.
Homework #4
Communication
Nideon
The level at which different organizations and cultures interact varies greatly by organization, culture, and location. For example, in Antarand, different cultures and temples regularly communicate, with religious lines blurring across neighborhoods. This is especially clear during events like The Day of Refuge. In contrast, the Huxoth remain relatively isolated from everyone. I think the key idea around communication for my current project is propaganda and news. National and international conflicts make up a lot of the background setting for my novel, which means politicians are going to be trying to control who receives what information. There is a lot of anti-Pelan propaganda coming out of Ethion, and likely they are trying to make it reach other countries who are allies, like Suxad, whereas countries like Atlinthaia will be trying to cut through the noise. Similar information battles will envelop the conflicts in Antarand and Alaj.
The Overlap
The Overlap is a very different situation because people communicate secretly on a regular basis. All of the cultures revolve, to some degree, around relaying information to people who are in the know without letting outsiders know what they are talking about. Furthermore, from Werewolf masks to Scavenger code, each group does this differently. Some groups will also be concerned with how to communicate information to people who are outsiders, but whom they want to induct, such as Illusionists recruiting new members. (And speaking of illusionists--their armbands are another form of communication.) There is also conflict over who is allowed access to information, such as gender norms among Foxes keeping women out of libraries and Scavengers routinely stealing books and scraps from everyone, most of whom have no interest in sharing. This all plays against the tension of the need to share information to bring the fractured pieces of magic back together, but ironically, there is a very small number of people engaged in this, and they are led by the Head Mistwalker, who is one of the most secretive people on the planet.
Milon
Like Nideon, national and international conflicts lead to governments trying to control who has what information. Jadinth is trying to destroy information about its occupied peoples and Melzi's meritocracy requires you to earn your way to any information. There is also an element of lost communication, what with the broken connections to colonies on other planets. Countries that can still make contact will often find themselves with both increased power and a target on their backs. Interpersonal communication happens at a rapid rate, given the sci-fi setting. People have screens and computers and communicators, making it relatively easy to reach anyone or learn about anything, though at times it also makes it easy for those in power to filter information. The Bronzewalker rebellion has probably resorted to more low-tech methods of communication, in the hope of bypassing the governments they are trying to overthrow.
Dictionaries
As I mentioned before, I love conlanging, and I have used the dictionaries on some of my language articles, but not on others. One thing I can do to prepare in this regard is to go through my novel and add any missing words to those dictionaries.
Reviewing Articles
Fortunately, I've been doing a lot of this the last few weeks, as part of my writing challenge to myself!
Summer Camp is a Goooo!!
Only a few days left! In the meantime, I'm going to clean up what I can, work on polishing the last few chapters of Natural Magic, dust off my idiom dictionary, and replace the needle on my sewing machine! SQUEE!
World Metas
I have completed about 70% of the metas for each of these three worlds, which is likely about as much as I will complete before summer camp begins.
Homework #2
Frontier
Nideon
The obvious frontier in Nideon are the planets around it (though this is kind of a reverse frontier, considering the Astromythological theory is that the people of Nideon once came from those planets. Therefore, metaphorical frontiers include both the continued study of astronomy and astromythology, as well as the study of magic. Other frontiers might include places like Igbi and Lowoni, which is both a literal and a metaphorical frontier in that scientists are still mapping the island and the waters around it, as well as studying the array of species and natural phenomenon found there.
The Overlap
The Overlap, in contrast, has an obvious metaphorical frontier--the exploration of the different magical systems, particularly by the scavengers. Though there are also literal frontiers that few people have explored, such as the Tradebird Foothills, where the Shadowcasters perform their annual ritual of balance, and the supposedly haunted Diveguard Crags. In a way, the land of the dead is a frontier in this world, as it plays a significant role, though it's not a place people typically want to visit.
Milon
On Milon, like Nideon, the frontier is the other planets in the solar system, as they always have been. Several countries also have a tendency to look at other countries as frontiers these days, with some governments hoping to expand their borders as far as possible. Metaphorically speaking, any sort of scientific study, but especially that which is related to biology, is considered a frontier. Scientists, especially those in Melzi, had an obsession with improving the human body.
Maps
I've been trying to get into quilting my maps, so I decided I would try my hand at a few of the locations mentioned here:
Igbi and Lowani
Igbi and Lowani by Molly Marjorie
Driveguard Crags
Diveguard Crags by Molly Marjorie
Jadinth/Dhadiz
Autumn Sea by Molly Marjorie
I've definitely learned a few things about this process, so hopefully they'll improve in the future!
Organization
I have several tasks to improve my organization in my worlds. All three worlds need an introductory article to help direct new visitors. The Overlap needs a new category system (I think WA has changed a lot since I first organized that world) and Milon needs well... something in it to read. It was earlier created as a setting for a game I intended to run with my students, but I am no longer running said game, and don't really need any of those elements for the stories I am currently telling, so it's currently an empty husk.
Homework #3
Relics
Nideon
I've actually covered a lot of ancient relics in Nideon, from Virginia Blake's binoculars, to Pine Hill and The Rings of Auras. Relics in Nideon typically center around forgotten origins of one form or another. Perhaps that's obvious, but these are often central to Nideon folklore, which fuels the mysteries of the world. So it's likely other relics would center on Calistian myths, Astromythology, or other stories about local origins.
The Overlap
Relics in the Overlap are similar to relics in Nideon. They are remnants from a past that has been forgotten, though in this case, not entirely. Relics here are usually associated with the world of magic, which was fractured, as if gathering all of these could allow someone to piece the world back together. They are often, but not always, texts, and more often than not, eventually make their way into the hands of Scavengers.
Milon
While there might be relics in Milon which are connected to its origins, unlike Nideon, these are mostly remembered. Relics of the world's origins, however, would be mostly feared, as they might prove evident of ancient magic. Less frightening, more revered relics would be associated with the colonies on other planets. These are memories of better times. And of course, individual locations have relics of brighter or simpler times as well. Relics in Melzi might reflect a time before the Voiceless were separated from everyone else, and relics in Jadinth would be pieces of Dhadiz culture that people managed to smuggle to safety or otherwise keep alive.
Chronicles
Chronicles is a part of World Anvil I haven't used much. At best, I've just mucked about with it. Since I've been working on cleaning up old articles lately and fleshing out histories of peoples and nations, this might be a good opportunity to add some of the dates from those articles to it, which could also give a better idea of how the different histories intertwine with one another.
Images
I usually Unsplash for my images, though I sometimes take my own photos. I have a collection on Unsplash of possible pictures that may be useful.
Homework #4
Communication
Nideon
The level at which different organizations and cultures interact varies greatly by organization, culture, and location. For example, in Antarand, different cultures and temples regularly communicate, with religious lines blurring across neighborhoods. This is especially clear during events like The Day of Refuge. In contrast, the Huxoth remain relatively isolated from everyone. I think the key idea around communication for my current project is propaganda and news. National and international conflicts make up a lot of the background setting for my novel, which means politicians are going to be trying to control who receives what information. There is a lot of anti-Pelan propaganda coming out of Ethion, and likely they are trying to make it reach other countries who are allies, like Suxad, whereas countries like Atlinthaia will be trying to cut through the noise. Similar information battles will envelop the conflicts in Antarand and Alaj.
The Overlap
The Overlap is a very different situation because people communicate secretly on a regular basis. All of the cultures revolve, to some degree, around relaying information to people who are in the know without letting outsiders know what they are talking about. Furthermore, from Werewolf masks to Scavenger code, each group does this differently. Some groups will also be concerned with how to communicate information to people who are outsiders, but whom they want to induct, such as Illusionists recruiting new members. (And speaking of illusionists--their armbands are another form of communication.) There is also conflict over who is allowed access to information, such as gender norms among Foxes keeping women out of libraries and Scavengers routinely stealing books and scraps from everyone, most of whom have no interest in sharing. This all plays against the tension of the need to share information to bring the fractured pieces of magic back together, but ironically, there is a very small number of people engaged in this, and they are led by the Head Mistwalker, who is one of the most secretive people on the planet.
Milon
Like Nideon, national and international conflicts lead to governments trying to control who has what information. Jadinth is trying to destroy information about its occupied peoples and Melzi's meritocracy requires you to earn your way to any information. There is also an element of lost communication, what with the broken connections to colonies on other planets. Countries that can still make contact will often find themselves with both increased power and a target on their backs. Interpersonal communication happens at a rapid rate, given the sci-fi setting. People have screens and computers and communicators, making it relatively easy to reach anyone or learn about anything, though at times it also makes it easy for those in power to filter information. The Bronzewalker rebellion has probably resorted to more low-tech methods of communication, in the hope of bypassing the governments they are trying to overthrow.
Dictionaries
As I mentioned before, I love conlanging, and I have used the dictionaries on some of my language articles, but not on others. One thing I can do to prepare in this regard is to go through my novel and add any missing words to those dictionaries.
Reviewing Articles
Fortunately, I've been doing a lot of this the last few weeks, as part of my writing challenge to myself!
Summer Camp is a Goooo!!
Only a few days left! In the meantime, I'm going to clean up what I can, work on polishing the last few chapters of Natural Magic, dust off my idiom dictionary, and replace the needle on my sewing machine! SQUEE!
Frontier
Nideon
The obvious frontier in Nideon are the planets around it (though this is kind of a reverse frontier, considering the Astromythological theory is that the people of Nideon once came from those planets. Therefore, metaphorical frontiers include both the continued study of astronomy and astromythology, as well as the study of magic. Other frontiers might include places like Igbi and Lowoni, which is both a literal and a metaphorical frontier in that scientists are still mapping the island and the waters around it, as well as studying the array of species and natural phenomenon found there.
The Overlap
The Overlap, in contrast, has an obvious metaphorical frontier--the exploration of the different magical systems, particularly by the scavengers. Though there are also literal frontiers that few people have explored, such as the Tradebird Foothills, where the Shadowcasters perform their annual ritual of balance, and the supposedly haunted Diveguard Crags. In a way, the land of the dead is a frontier in this world, as it plays a significant role, though it's not a place people typically want to visit.
Milon
On Milon, like Nideon, the frontier is the other planets in the solar system, as they always have been. Several countries also have a tendency to look at other countries as frontiers these days, with some governments hoping to expand their borders as far as possible. Metaphorically speaking, any sort of scientific study, but especially that which is related to biology, is considered a frontier. Scientists, especially those in Melzi, had an obsession with improving the human body.
Maps
I've been trying to get into quilting my maps, so I decided I would try my hand at a few of the locations mentioned here:
Igbi and Lowani
Igbi and Lowani by Molly Marjorie
Driveguard Crags
Diveguard Crags by Molly Marjorie
Jadinth/Dhadiz
Autumn Sea by Molly Marjorie
I've definitely learned a few things about this process, so hopefully they'll improve in the future!
Organization
I have several tasks to improve my organization in my worlds. All three worlds need an introductory article to help direct new visitors. The Overlap needs a new category system (I think WA has changed a lot since I first organized that world) and Milon needs well... something in it to read. It was earlier created as a setting for a game I intended to run with my students, but I am no longer running said game, and don't really need any of those elements for the stories I am currently telling, so it's currently an empty husk.
Homework #3
Relics
Nideon
I've actually covered a lot of ancient relics in Nideon, from Virginia Blake's binoculars, to Pine Hill and The Rings of Auras. Relics in Nideon typically center around forgotten origins of one form or another. Perhaps that's obvious, but these are often central to Nideon folklore, which fuels the mysteries of the world. So it's likely other relics would center on Calistian myths, Astromythology, or other stories about local origins.
The Overlap
Relics in the Overlap are similar to relics in Nideon. They are remnants from a past that has been forgotten, though in this case, not entirely. Relics here are usually associated with the world of magic, which was fractured, as if gathering all of these could allow someone to piece the world back together. They are often, but not always, texts, and more often than not, eventually make their way into the hands of Scavengers.
Milon
While there might be relics in Milon which are connected to its origins, unlike Nideon, these are mostly remembered. Relics of the world's origins, however, would be mostly feared, as they might prove evident of ancient magic. Less frightening, more revered relics would be associated with the colonies on other planets. These are memories of better times. And of course, individual locations have relics of brighter or simpler times as well. Relics in Melzi might reflect a time before the Voiceless were separated from everyone else, and relics in Jadinth would be pieces of Dhadiz culture that people managed to smuggle to safety or otherwise keep alive.
Chronicles
Chronicles is a part of World Anvil I haven't used much. At best, I've just mucked about with it. Since I've been working on cleaning up old articles lately and fleshing out histories of peoples and nations, this might be a good opportunity to add some of the dates from those articles to it, which could also give a better idea of how the different histories intertwine with one another.
Images
I usually Unsplash for my images, though I sometimes take my own photos. I have a collection on Unsplash of possible pictures that may be useful.
Homework #4
Communication
Nideon
The level at which different organizations and cultures interact varies greatly by organization, culture, and location. For example, in Antarand, different cultures and temples regularly communicate, with religious lines blurring across neighborhoods. This is especially clear during events like The Day of Refuge. In contrast, the Huxoth remain relatively isolated from everyone. I think the key idea around communication for my current project is propaganda and news. National and international conflicts make up a lot of the background setting for my novel, which means politicians are going to be trying to control who receives what information. There is a lot of anti-Pelan propaganda coming out of Ethion, and likely they are trying to make it reach other countries who are allies, like Suxad, whereas countries like Atlinthaia will be trying to cut through the noise. Similar information battles will envelop the conflicts in Antarand and Alaj.
The Overlap
The Overlap is a very different situation because people communicate secretly on a regular basis. All of the cultures revolve, to some degree, around relaying information to people who are in the know without letting outsiders know what they are talking about. Furthermore, from Werewolf masks to Scavenger code, each group does this differently. Some groups will also be concerned with how to communicate information to people who are outsiders, but whom they want to induct, such as Illusionists recruiting new members. (And speaking of illusionists--their armbands are another form of communication.) There is also conflict over who is allowed access to information, such as gender norms among Foxes keeping women out of libraries and Scavengers routinely stealing books and scraps from everyone, most of whom have no interest in sharing. This all plays against the tension of the need to share information to bring the fractured pieces of magic back together, but ironically, there is a very small number of people engaged in this, and they are led by the Head Mistwalker, who is one of the most secretive people on the planet.
Milon
Like Nideon, national and international conflicts lead to governments trying to control who has what information. Jadinth is trying to destroy information about its occupied peoples and Melzi's meritocracy requires you to earn your way to any information. There is also an element of lost communication, what with the broken connections to colonies on other planets. Countries that can still make contact will often find themselves with both increased power and a target on their backs. Interpersonal communication happens at a rapid rate, given the sci-fi setting. People have screens and computers and communicators, making it relatively easy to reach anyone or learn about anything, though at times it also makes it easy for those in power to filter information. The Bronzewalker rebellion has probably resorted to more low-tech methods of communication, in the hope of bypassing the governments they are trying to overthrow.
Dictionaries
As I mentioned before, I love conlanging, and I have used the dictionaries on some of my language articles, but not on others. One thing I can do to prepare in this regard is to go through my novel and add any missing words to those dictionaries.
Reviewing Articles
Fortunately, I've been doing a lot of this the last few weeks, as part of my writing challenge to myself!
Summer Camp is a Goooo!!
Only a few days left! In the meantime, I'm going to clean up what I can, work on polishing the last few chapters of Natural Magic, dust off my idiom dictionary, and replace the needle on my sewing machine! SQUEE!
The Overlap
The Overlap, in contrast, has an obvious metaphorical frontier--the exploration of the different magical systems, particularly by the scavengers. Though there are also literal frontiers that few people have explored, such as the Tradebird Foothills, where the Shadowcasters perform their annual ritual of balance, and the supposedly haunted Diveguard Crags. In a way, the land of the dead is a frontier in this world, as it plays a significant role, though it's not a place people typically want to visit.
Milon
On Milon, like Nideon, the frontier is the other planets in the solar system, as they always have been. Several countries also have a tendency to look at other countries as frontiers these days, with some governments hoping to expand their borders as far as possible. Metaphorically speaking, any sort of scientific study, but especially that which is related to biology, is considered a frontier. Scientists, especially those in Melzi, had an obsession with improving the human body.
Maps
I've been trying to get into quilting my maps, so I decided I would try my hand at a few of the locations mentioned here:
Igbi and Lowani
Igbi and Lowani by Molly Marjorie
Driveguard Crags
Diveguard Crags by Molly Marjorie
Jadinth/Dhadiz
Autumn Sea by Molly Marjorie
I've definitely learned a few things about this process, so hopefully they'll improve in the future!
Organization
I have several tasks to improve my organization in my worlds. All three worlds need an introductory article to help direct new visitors. The Overlap needs a new category system (I think WA has changed a lot since I first organized that world) and Milon needs well... something in it to read. It was earlier created as a setting for a game I intended to run with my students, but I am no longer running said game, and don't really need any of those elements for the stories I am currently telling, so it's currently an empty husk.
Homework #3
Relics
Nideon
I've actually covered a lot of ancient relics in Nideon, from Virginia Blake's binoculars, to Pine Hill and The Rings of Auras. Relics in Nideon typically center around forgotten origins of one form or another. Perhaps that's obvious, but these are often central to Nideon folklore, which fuels the mysteries of the world. So it's likely other relics would center on Calistian myths, Astromythology, or other stories about local origins.
The Overlap
Relics in the Overlap are similar to relics in Nideon. They are remnants from a past that has been forgotten, though in this case, not entirely. Relics here are usually associated with the world of magic, which was fractured, as if gathering all of these could allow someone to piece the world back together. They are often, but not always, texts, and more often than not, eventually make their way into the hands of Scavengers.
Milon
While there might be relics in Milon which are connected to its origins, unlike Nideon, these are mostly remembered. Relics of the world's origins, however, would be mostly feared, as they might prove evident of ancient magic. Less frightening, more revered relics would be associated with the colonies on other planets. These are memories of better times. And of course, individual locations have relics of brighter or simpler times as well. Relics in Melzi might reflect a time before the Voiceless were separated from everyone else, and relics in Jadinth would be pieces of Dhadiz culture that people managed to smuggle to safety or otherwise keep alive.
Chronicles
Chronicles is a part of World Anvil I haven't used much. At best, I've just mucked about with it. Since I've been working on cleaning up old articles lately and fleshing out histories of peoples and nations, this might be a good opportunity to add some of the dates from those articles to it, which could also give a better idea of how the different histories intertwine with one another.
Images
I usually Unsplash for my images, though I sometimes take my own photos. I have a collection on Unsplash of possible pictures that may be useful.
Homework #4
Communication
Nideon
The level at which different organizations and cultures interact varies greatly by organization, culture, and location. For example, in Antarand, different cultures and temples regularly communicate, with religious lines blurring across neighborhoods. This is especially clear during events like The Day of Refuge. In contrast, the Huxoth remain relatively isolated from everyone. I think the key idea around communication for my current project is propaganda and news. National and international conflicts make up a lot of the background setting for my novel, which means politicians are going to be trying to control who receives what information. There is a lot of anti-Pelan propaganda coming out of Ethion, and likely they are trying to make it reach other countries who are allies, like Suxad, whereas countries like Atlinthaia will be trying to cut through the noise. Similar information battles will envelop the conflicts in Antarand and Alaj.
The Overlap
The Overlap is a very different situation because people communicate secretly on a regular basis. All of the cultures revolve, to some degree, around relaying information to people who are in the know without letting outsiders know what they are talking about. Furthermore, from Werewolf masks to Scavenger code, each group does this differently. Some groups will also be concerned with how to communicate information to people who are outsiders, but whom they want to induct, such as Illusionists recruiting new members. (And speaking of illusionists--their armbands are another form of communication.) There is also conflict over who is allowed access to information, such as gender norms among Foxes keeping women out of libraries and Scavengers routinely stealing books and scraps from everyone, most of whom have no interest in sharing. This all plays against the tension of the need to share information to bring the fractured pieces of magic back together, but ironically, there is a very small number of people engaged in this, and they are led by the Head Mistwalker, who is one of the most secretive people on the planet.
Milon
Like Nideon, national and international conflicts lead to governments trying to control who has what information. Jadinth is trying to destroy information about its occupied peoples and Melzi's meritocracy requires you to earn your way to any information. There is also an element of lost communication, what with the broken connections to colonies on other planets. Countries that can still make contact will often find themselves with both increased power and a target on their backs. Interpersonal communication happens at a rapid rate, given the sci-fi setting. People have screens and computers and communicators, making it relatively easy to reach anyone or learn about anything, though at times it also makes it easy for those in power to filter information. The Bronzewalker rebellion has probably resorted to more low-tech methods of communication, in the hope of bypassing the governments they are trying to overthrow.
Dictionaries
As I mentioned before, I love conlanging, and I have used the dictionaries on some of my language articles, but not on others. One thing I can do to prepare in this regard is to go through my novel and add any missing words to those dictionaries.
Reviewing Articles
Fortunately, I've been doing a lot of this the last few weeks, as part of my writing challenge to myself!
Summer Camp is a Goooo!!
Only a few days left! In the meantime, I'm going to clean up what I can, work on polishing the last few chapters of Natural Magic, dust off my idiom dictionary, and replace the needle on my sewing machine! SQUEE!
Maps
I've been trying to get into quilting my maps, so I decided I would try my hand at a few of the locations mentioned here:
Igbi and Lowani
Igbi and Lowani by Molly Marjorie
Driveguard Crags
Diveguard Crags by Molly Marjorie
Jadinth/Dhadiz
Autumn Sea by Molly Marjorie
I've definitely learned a few things about this process, so hopefully they'll improve in the future!
Organization
I have several tasks to improve my organization in my worlds. All three worlds need an introductory article to help direct new visitors. The Overlap needs a new category system (I think WA has changed a lot since I first organized that world) and Milon needs well... something in it to read. It was earlier created as a setting for a game I intended to run with my students, but I am no longer running said game, and don't really need any of those elements for the stories I am currently telling, so it's currently an empty husk.
Homework #3
Relics
Nideon
I've actually covered a lot of ancient relics in Nideon, from Virginia Blake's binoculars, to Pine Hill and The Rings of Auras. Relics in Nideon typically center around forgotten origins of one form or another. Perhaps that's obvious, but these are often central to Nideon folklore, which fuels the mysteries of the world. So it's likely other relics would center on Calistian myths, Astromythology, or other stories about local origins.
The Overlap
Relics in the Overlap are similar to relics in Nideon. They are remnants from a past that has been forgotten, though in this case, not entirely. Relics here are usually associated with the world of magic, which was fractured, as if gathering all of these could allow someone to piece the world back together. They are often, but not always, texts, and more often than not, eventually make their way into the hands of Scavengers.
Milon
While there might be relics in Milon which are connected to its origins, unlike Nideon, these are mostly remembered. Relics of the world's origins, however, would be mostly feared, as they might prove evident of ancient magic. Less frightening, more revered relics would be associated with the colonies on other planets. These are memories of better times. And of course, individual locations have relics of brighter or simpler times as well. Relics in Melzi might reflect a time before the Voiceless were separated from everyone else, and relics in Jadinth would be pieces of Dhadiz culture that people managed to smuggle to safety or otherwise keep alive.
Chronicles
Chronicles is a part of World Anvil I haven't used much. At best, I've just mucked about with it. Since I've been working on cleaning up old articles lately and fleshing out histories of peoples and nations, this might be a good opportunity to add some of the dates from those articles to it, which could also give a better idea of how the different histories intertwine with one another.
Images
I usually Unsplash for my images, though I sometimes take my own photos. I have a collection on Unsplash of possible pictures that may be useful.
Homework #4
Communication
Nideon
The level at which different organizations and cultures interact varies greatly by organization, culture, and location. For example, in Antarand, different cultures and temples regularly communicate, with religious lines blurring across neighborhoods. This is especially clear during events like The Day of Refuge. In contrast, the Huxoth remain relatively isolated from everyone. I think the key idea around communication for my current project is propaganda and news. National and international conflicts make up a lot of the background setting for my novel, which means politicians are going to be trying to control who receives what information. There is a lot of anti-Pelan propaganda coming out of Ethion, and likely they are trying to make it reach other countries who are allies, like Suxad, whereas countries like Atlinthaia will be trying to cut through the noise. Similar information battles will envelop the conflicts in Antarand and Alaj.
The Overlap
The Overlap is a very different situation because people communicate secretly on a regular basis. All of the cultures revolve, to some degree, around relaying information to people who are in the know without letting outsiders know what they are talking about. Furthermore, from Werewolf masks to Scavenger code, each group does this differently. Some groups will also be concerned with how to communicate information to people who are outsiders, but whom they want to induct, such as Illusionists recruiting new members. (And speaking of illusionists--their armbands are another form of communication.) There is also conflict over who is allowed access to information, such as gender norms among Foxes keeping women out of libraries and Scavengers routinely stealing books and scraps from everyone, most of whom have no interest in sharing. This all plays against the tension of the need to share information to bring the fractured pieces of magic back together, but ironically, there is a very small number of people engaged in this, and they are led by the Head Mistwalker, who is one of the most secretive people on the planet.
Milon
Like Nideon, national and international conflicts lead to governments trying to control who has what information. Jadinth is trying to destroy information about its occupied peoples and Melzi's meritocracy requires you to earn your way to any information. There is also an element of lost communication, what with the broken connections to colonies on other planets. Countries that can still make contact will often find themselves with both increased power and a target on their backs. Interpersonal communication happens at a rapid rate, given the sci-fi setting. People have screens and computers and communicators, making it relatively easy to reach anyone or learn about anything, though at times it also makes it easy for those in power to filter information. The Bronzewalker rebellion has probably resorted to more low-tech methods of communication, in the hope of bypassing the governments they are trying to overthrow.
Dictionaries
As I mentioned before, I love conlanging, and I have used the dictionaries on some of my language articles, but not on others. One thing I can do to prepare in this regard is to go through my novel and add any missing words to those dictionaries.
Reviewing Articles
Fortunately, I've been doing a lot of this the last few weeks, as part of my writing challenge to myself!
Summer Camp is a Goooo!!
Only a few days left! In the meantime, I'm going to clean up what I can, work on polishing the last few chapters of Natural Magic, dust off my idiom dictionary, and replace the needle on my sewing machine! SQUEE!
Igbi and Lowani by Molly Marjorie
Driveguard Crags
Diveguard Crags by Molly Marjorie
Jadinth/Dhadiz
Autumn Sea by Molly Marjorie
I've definitely learned a few things about this process, so hopefully they'll improve in the future!
Organization
I have several tasks to improve my organization in my worlds. All three worlds need an introductory article to help direct new visitors. The Overlap needs a new category system (I think WA has changed a lot since I first organized that world) and Milon needs well... something in it to read. It was earlier created as a setting for a game I intended to run with my students, but I am no longer running said game, and don't really need any of those elements for the stories I am currently telling, so it's currently an empty husk.
Homework #3
Relics
Nideon
I've actually covered a lot of ancient relics in Nideon, from Virginia Blake's binoculars, to Pine Hill and The Rings of Auras. Relics in Nideon typically center around forgotten origins of one form or another. Perhaps that's obvious, but these are often central to Nideon folklore, which fuels the mysteries of the world. So it's likely other relics would center on Calistian myths, Astromythology, or other stories about local origins.
The Overlap
Relics in the Overlap are similar to relics in Nideon. They are remnants from a past that has been forgotten, though in this case, not entirely. Relics here are usually associated with the world of magic, which was fractured, as if gathering all of these could allow someone to piece the world back together. They are often, but not always, texts, and more often than not, eventually make their way into the hands of Scavengers.
Milon
While there might be relics in Milon which are connected to its origins, unlike Nideon, these are mostly remembered. Relics of the world's origins, however, would be mostly feared, as they might prove evident of ancient magic. Less frightening, more revered relics would be associated with the colonies on other planets. These are memories of better times. And of course, individual locations have relics of brighter or simpler times as well. Relics in Melzi might reflect a time before the Voiceless were separated from everyone else, and relics in Jadinth would be pieces of Dhadiz culture that people managed to smuggle to safety or otherwise keep alive.
Chronicles
Chronicles is a part of World Anvil I haven't used much. At best, I've just mucked about with it. Since I've been working on cleaning up old articles lately and fleshing out histories of peoples and nations, this might be a good opportunity to add some of the dates from those articles to it, which could also give a better idea of how the different histories intertwine with one another.
Images
I usually Unsplash for my images, though I sometimes take my own photos. I have a collection on Unsplash of possible pictures that may be useful.
Homework #4
Communication
Nideon
The level at which different organizations and cultures interact varies greatly by organization, culture, and location. For example, in Antarand, different cultures and temples regularly communicate, with religious lines blurring across neighborhoods. This is especially clear during events like The Day of Refuge. In contrast, the Huxoth remain relatively isolated from everyone. I think the key idea around communication for my current project is propaganda and news. National and international conflicts make up a lot of the background setting for my novel, which means politicians are going to be trying to control who receives what information. There is a lot of anti-Pelan propaganda coming out of Ethion, and likely they are trying to make it reach other countries who are allies, like Suxad, whereas countries like Atlinthaia will be trying to cut through the noise. Similar information battles will envelop the conflicts in Antarand and Alaj.
The Overlap
The Overlap is a very different situation because people communicate secretly on a regular basis. All of the cultures revolve, to some degree, around relaying information to people who are in the know without letting outsiders know what they are talking about. Furthermore, from Werewolf masks to Scavenger code, each group does this differently. Some groups will also be concerned with how to communicate information to people who are outsiders, but whom they want to induct, such as Illusionists recruiting new members. (And speaking of illusionists--their armbands are another form of communication.) There is also conflict over who is allowed access to information, such as gender norms among Foxes keeping women out of libraries and Scavengers routinely stealing books and scraps from everyone, most of whom have no interest in sharing. This all plays against the tension of the need to share information to bring the fractured pieces of magic back together, but ironically, there is a very small number of people engaged in this, and they are led by the Head Mistwalker, who is one of the most secretive people on the planet.
Milon
Like Nideon, national and international conflicts lead to governments trying to control who has what information. Jadinth is trying to destroy information about its occupied peoples and Melzi's meritocracy requires you to earn your way to any information. There is also an element of lost communication, what with the broken connections to colonies on other planets. Countries that can still make contact will often find themselves with both increased power and a target on their backs. Interpersonal communication happens at a rapid rate, given the sci-fi setting. People have screens and computers and communicators, making it relatively easy to reach anyone or learn about anything, though at times it also makes it easy for those in power to filter information. The Bronzewalker rebellion has probably resorted to more low-tech methods of communication, in the hope of bypassing the governments they are trying to overthrow.
Dictionaries
As I mentioned before, I love conlanging, and I have used the dictionaries on some of my language articles, but not on others. One thing I can do to prepare in this regard is to go through my novel and add any missing words to those dictionaries.
Reviewing Articles
Fortunately, I've been doing a lot of this the last few weeks, as part of my writing challenge to myself!
Summer Camp is a Goooo!!
Only a few days left! In the meantime, I'm going to clean up what I can, work on polishing the last few chapters of Natural Magic, dust off my idiom dictionary, and replace the needle on my sewing machine! SQUEE!
Diveguard Crags by Molly Marjorie
Autumn Sea by Molly Marjorie
Oooo good luck on your quest for the diamond badge!! You've got this :D What do you think some of the upcoming prompt themes might be?
Ooh, good question. In past years, they tended to connect, so considering the second prompt is Frontier, later prompts might be... Travel (unless we already had that one), or Innovation? Or maybe something like Unknown or Mysterious. I'm seeing the potential here for descriptions of cultural conflicts between those in power who are venturing to the "frontier" and those who already live in said frontier. Colony? Tradition? idk, but I'm excited to find out!