2024 - Stardust

This is an overview of my goals and articles for WorldEmber 2024 - the annual challenge to write at least 10,000 words of worldbuilding over the course of December. Like last year, these articles were on my sci-fi world, wow that's a lot of stars.

Summary

This WorldEmber was a great exercise in knowing when to stop striving for a goal. As the month went on, it became clear I didn't have 10k words of energy in me. I could have pushed myself for it, but that would only serve to exhaust me for a bunch of mediocre writing I'd want to delete or rewrite later on. Instead, I held true to the cozy cottage oath.
I took time to rest and spend time with family. I stopped stiving for 10k and instead focused on what brought me joy. I managed 8k words between a completed scavenger hunt and short story, all of which I'm happy with. More importantly, I'm starting 2025 feeling both accomplished and energized for more. At a reasonable pace, anyway.

Goals

Write 10k Words

I decided to stop pushing for 10k. I ended at 8k, proud of my accomplishments, and ready to keep writing.

Inter-Seller

This mini-campaign ended shortly before WorldEmber started. I covered key articles during WorldEmber, though I've many left to write.

Extras

More important to me than word count was finishing my scavenger hunt and short story. I submitted my story just before the closing stream, and at time of writing, six people have completed the hunt - a 50% increase from last year!

Article Overview

Stats

Here be numbers!

Category	Total Words (WA/Real)	Total Articles	Average (WA/Real)
Places & Things	2,007 / 1,550	1	2,007 / 1,550
People & Groups	1,130 / 1,354	1	1,130 / 1,354
Flora & Fauna	0 / 0	0	0 / 0
Culture & History	2,077 / 1,675	2	1,039 / 838
Prose	2,942 / 2,651	1	2,942 / 2,651
Totals	8,165 / 7,230	5	1,631 / 1,446

Superlatives

Longest

Stardust

Shortest

Devil in the Fog

Fan favorite

Devil in the Fog

Rin favorite

Stardust

Hardest to write

Gemini Station

Easiest to write

Little Tow

Progress

8,156 / 10,000

81%

Cozy Cottage

Cozy Cottage Enclave

Cozy Cottage Enclave badge by Rin Garnett

Cozy Cottage Oath:

• I will stop to stoke the fire when it dwindles. Rest when you are tired and for as long as you need.
• I won't force the fire to fit a different stove. Let your plans inspire you, not control you.
• I will follow sparks of joy, not chase dying embers. Write and read what you enjoy, not what's forced.
• My flame is beautiful and undying. Believe in yourself and your ability to create, including when it's a struggle.
• I will tend to all flames under my care. Working toward non-WorldEmber goals adds to your successes.

(Cozy Cottage oath is inspired by the Camp Chill guidelines from Annie Stein. Insert this badge into your own pledge with [img:5035416], or include the oath with [imgblock:5035416].)

Article List

Expand the table below for a full list of articles I wrote for this event and info on how I rank them in two areas:

• Impact is how large of an area the article topic affects.
• Relevancy is how much the article topic affects stories in this setting.

Use the Roll button to open a random article in a new tab.