2023 Summer Camp Learnings

I started Summer Camp strong by creating the pledge and doing all the homework. For the first week, I took charge and kept up. After a week my own insecurities and resistance kicked in. I love to write. I really enjoy it. I wanted to keep up with this challenge and get back to writing but I told myself I didn't have the time, or that my writing wasn't going to be read, or... I was overwhelmed by my own insecurities. In the last week, I found my courage and strength again and started writing with the hopes of getting to silver...then gold...and then diamond. I had so much fun with the writing.
I loved that the prompts were unique even if they didn't always apply to my world. I also appreciated that they should be short articles that would help me to focus on aspects of my world that I might not otherwise have even looked at! I did have such a great time in that last week going out on wild tangents and finding ways to make it all make sense in my world. I appreciate the opportunity.
2023 Summer Camp Prompts and Links
The first prompt I read through was "a material or natural resource that comes from a dangerous location." I read the three articles and was impressed by the wide range of variety in the entries. When I was writing my entry for this prompt I found myself wondering if my article even met the prompt but by reading others' contributions I see that mine fit in as well as any other I also realized that I can use humor and that I need to do more work on my layout and some standardization. This was eye opening in a great way.
The second prompt I picked from was "a system to send messages between distant places. I read about a system where steam was used like pneumatic tubes, another where ducks delivered between towns and another where steam heating pipes were used to light message flames in order to send silent alarm signals. I tended to write my prompts in a more conversational manner so it was nice to see one entry that was like that, but I also appreciated the organization and breakdown of the other articles.
For my third prompt I picked "a letter sent in secret by a well-known person in your world." I read far more than three. I wrote an actual letter, and others did as well though most were truncated letters or quotes from letters rather than a full article that was a letter. I really appreciated the author who used a short letter to send the protagonist on their journey.
For the next six months, my goal will be to write at least 30 minutes each day and more on weekends.
I don't care if it's good, or if I publish it or leave it in a draft, what I do care about is writing. I tend to get overwhelmed when faced with a blank page, or a dearth of ideas. I start to doubt myself and flail about. This Summer Camp has really opened my eyes to what a good prompt can do. I am also considering turning this world into a campaign. It would expand the ideas for stories tremendously and I personally think it would be a fun world in which to create a character. Truly there are no limits to what one can be.
I would like to try out new styles and maybe keep dipping my toes into what others have written on similar topics. Reading how others interpreted a prompt really gives me ideas and motivates me to follow my own ideas. It reminds me that even when writing about the same thing, because we all have different experiences and backgrounds our works all come out completely different even when there are similarities.
I am working to think of myself as a writer. I obviously am one given all the words sprinkled throughout this world, and yet I struggle to think of myself that way. When I do manage to think I am a writer, I beat myself down again thinking that no one is even reading what I have written so what's the point? I want to write because it brings me joy but I also hope it brings others joy or a smile or a laugh as well. When I read my own past stories, I enjoy them, and yet every six months or so I give it up for a time. I know I am not alone in this. I know I am not even rare to feel these things. Heck, I once applied for, and got, a job just because it had writer in the title and I would no longer be able to deny that I was a writer! I am a writer. Of course I'm a writer.
I appreciate these challenges as they give me the impetus I need to write. They remind me that I can and should think outside the box and that there may, in fact, be no box except the one I create. I try to go on Discord but there are so many and they are so active it makes me feel as though I am obviously not doing enough. These challenges though, they are just enough to motivate me without me feeling overwhelmed. I even attended some of the Twitch sessions for the first time.
And so, once again, my goal for the next six months is to write regularly. To find a way to put words out into the world in a way that will keep me smiling and maybe, just maybe, others will find them and it will resonate with them as well. Even if that doesn't happen though, and it's only ever just me who reads it, I hope I can come back to my writing and say, "dang, I'm actually pretty good at this!"
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/game-of-tomes/a/substance-g-material https://www.worldanvil.com/w/vertinall-thedumbowl/a/anything-material https://www.worldanvil.com/w/kantostara-alexthecreatrix/a/tone-key-crystals-material
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/laminarum-smokingbat7906/a/elduri-fire-piping-technology https://www.worldanvil.com/w/anisoptera-jacob-w/a/maynard-stanway-mail-distributing-system-technology https://www.worldanvil.com/w/kohtalo-drunkenpanda951/a/the-lucky-ducky-letter-exchange-technology
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/abholos-sai/a/embla-s-love-letter-document https://www.worldanvil.com/w/ubrabis-sgtelyas/a/a-queenE28099s-love-letter-document https://www.worldanvil.com/w/the-epoch-of-black-glass-greentop/a/the-wolfsong-love-letter-document