January 2022 Reading Challenge

Introduction

Despite my paltry efforts during WorldEmber of 2021, I did manage to log about 4,500 words. Granted, that probably doesn't count considering that I've since deleted the world and all associated with it in order to get a fresh start. I realized my approach to the notion of worldbuilding was a bit too fragmented and relied on too many vague references to older versions that were no longer relevant or helpful. So. A fresh start.   The 2022 January Reading Challenge asks us to read ten different articles from WorldEmber, reading through them both critically and earnestly. We're asked to leave a comment with something kind in it and to reflect on it ourselves, to consider how we're inspired to further our own worlds.
Honestly, it's a pretty clever way of generating activity on the site while also helping worldbuilders improve on their writing and on their worlds. Definitely a win-win proposal.
Having said that, I've poked through several other already completed Reading Challenge responses because I, quite frankly, am terrible at navigation and have no idea what the best way to get to all of the WorldEmber articles is.
So I'm basically finding articles via the tried and true method of wikipedia-clicking my way through articles about other articles. Haha... Maybe I'm a bit pathetic? Ah, well.

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Ye Musical Doom

This article is short and sweet and to the point. I really like that it explains a contemporary behavior - tales and myths that explain behaviors or habits that have carried over to the current cultures are always a win because it gives you further insight into the culture as well as the characters associated with it.

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The Balance

This article tackles the question of what it is that keeps the world going. What's holding things together? Why does the world hold stable? Or unstably? Although the article has the occasional grammatical error or hiccup in flow, I think it poses reasonable ideas that can be further evolved and touched up to become something dramatic and great.

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Furry Societarian

I was a bit impressed by how detailed the article was. It referenced other articles well and noted the distinctions between them, retaining its identity as an article while justifying the existence of the other referenced articles. In addition, there was geological data and the species' referenced history that helped to further complete the article.

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The Common Calendar

I was very surprised and impressed by the flow of this page. Not only was there a calendar which is vital to keeping everyone involved with the world on the same page, but there was a design for the calendar. Rather than another take on the standard twelve month Gregorian calendar, this article presents a calendar based off of the moon phases, with five distinct seasons, each containing two "moonths". In total, a year is ten moonths, accounting for 280 days. Not only am I impressed by the detailed information, but I was especially blown away by the included graphic and the details on it - which wouldn't actually be out of place as an everyday item from the world itself.
Also, it references an alternative calendar which is also used by another group, but in a different format to serve a different purpose. Mind. Blown.

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Dear Niwokael

A very sweet letter. I'm especially impressed by the lessons it imparts to its recipient, but I mostly applaud how appropriate it is for, you know, anyone that's reading it. This was well and truly done, an article that I can see resonating with any and all of its readers.

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The Seven Day War

The CSS work on this page is next level. I sincerely doubt I could ever imitate it (because it's amazing and also there's just so much of it) and it's just... amazing. The story that's revealed here sets the stage of the rest of the world and I'm completely in awe of how very detailed and thorough the story is. It's practically a complete novel in and of itself. I applaud everything about it!

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The Eyes of Samara

A beautiful story loaded down with so many details that I sincerely thought I'd become a student of the world itself, learning about Samara the Enchantress to broaden my mind. This myth easily rivals those of the pantheons in our world. I could definitely taste a bit of Persephone here, of Amaterasu, of all the young and mischievous goddesses that have to learn their true strengths.

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Periwinkle's Token Dispenser

A novel item! I'd love to find something akin to this in the real world. Its existence is fascinating and I adore that the lack of explanation for just how it works is included in the article. I find this to be creative - I can't say for sure whether it is or isn't, but I like it, so that's going to have to be good enough!

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Lithmark

A very detailed and artistic article. I appreciate all of the details here and I want to know more about what's happened in the history of this place and where it will go in the future. That the location is so very contested leaves loads and loads of room for story. I liked the maps a lot, but also the idea of "protectors" for a place - it makes me think of the older European histories, which, I assume, this may have been referencing. 

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Pilgrimage of the Covenant

I found this to be interesting because it's a ritual that's evolved over time. It struck me as noteworthy that the author pointed out how monarchs only walked the last mile or so on foot in a symbolic act because it indicates that the purpose of the pilgrimage itself has changed, too. Just, there's a lot to unpack in this, especially when you think about how it went from being annual to once every five years and then once every twenty-five years. Additionally, this is what they're doing to honor the founding of the kingdom. Will this eventually be taken for granted? Will this pilgrimage eventually disappear altogether? 

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Closing Thoughts and Resolutions

Well, that was... super informative, actually. There was a lot to unpack in these articles, even in only brief glances at the material. Sitting down to read it all in further detail unveiled a lot about just how much depth people consider in their writing and worldbuilding. It's inspirational and a bit scary, to be honest. 
Considering that WorldEmber went so poorly for me and I've deleted my original works here, I feel a bit like an imposter when I see what these other authors have created. Still, one can only endure and aspire, right?
In 2022, I resolve to try my hand at writing a world with forethought and intent. I resolve to try my hand at creating a world and articles that I can actually use, for better or worse, for writing of gameplay. Most importantly, I resolve to write more.