NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS 2025

What is this even about?

I created this article as a reflection of my competitive spirit and my love for collecting virtual badges. The January challenge, 'NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS 2025,' encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and explore 10 articles from other worlds. To make it more interesting, I selected them entirely at random from the categories submitted during the September's World Ember event.
Below, I’ll delve into what this challenge taught me, what I discovered, and the value it added to my creative journey.

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The Winner

I should have saved the winners for the end, but I would be happy if everyone could see them right at the beginning of the article. So, I’ll place them at the start. I know this isn't a competition, but at the end of this article, I want to say that two of the above-mentioned articles have earned a special place in my heart. If I were forced to rank them, I would, but since I’m not, I’ll place both of them on the pedestal of first place, because they both left me with deep emotions, beautiful imagery, and inspiration.
I can already say with certainty that the 'Blood of Fallen Soldiers'—a material formed from absorbed blood—will appear in my world, because that idea is incredibly fascinating to me.

I would like to thank Colonel 101, the creator of The True Dark Ages, for the inspiration that will find its way into my world.
Colonel 101 Profile
The True Dark Ages

As a second note, I would also like to thank Nicemustang, the creator of ÛNDULEAH, for the incredibly beautiful magical phenomenon in her world, which I believe will also inspire my own.
Nicemustang profile
ÛNDULEAH

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Articles that I have read

Natural Laws

I truly appreciate the simplicity of the effect—it’s both subtle and wondrous. I can easily imagine it being a beautiful addition to a TTRPG session or a serene moment in a story, where two characters sit in the grass, captivated by the view of this phenomenon. Personally, I also enjoy shorter articles that are quick to read but leave a lasting impression.
From the world
ÛNDULEAH

I thoroughly enjoyed the mysteries surrounding the wheel—this is incredibly well written! The phenomenon carries a captivating touch of the unknown, sparking curiosity and leaving me with so many questions. While I generally prefer short articles, I feel this one could benefit from a bit more detail about the wheel itself, as it leaves the reader eager for more. Perhaps that’s the intended effect, but I can’t help it—I WANT MORE OF THE WHEEL! Fantastic job!
From the world
The Sagas

A quick and clear read! I really liked the magic system's simplicity—it reminds me of the familiar mana system in gaming, where you have 100 mana to use as you see fit. The concept is straightforward and well-written, and I appreciate shorter articles like this. That said, I’d love to read more about the idea of 'Life energy being transferable between people or stored in Skaosium.' That detail has so much potential to expand the intrigue!
Still, I enjoyed it. Keep building this amazing world!
From the world
Scars of her Blood - Universe

Military formation

I really like the Hit and Run tactic, though I’m curious how it would work against cities with developed defenses. I can only imagine it being effective in attacks on vulnerable coastal villages with little to no protection—though in that case, there wouldn’t be much need to run! Overall, I enjoyed the article. You managed to pack a lot of information into a short text, and I’m definitely a fan of shorter reads over long ones. Thank you for sharing!
From the world
The Million Islands

I enjoyed the concept of the central moving HQ, directing commands and overseeing the formation—it's like the battle diligence of an orchestra. Such a nice, concise article!
One suggestion I have is to focus a bit more on the visual appeal of the page. Not the page itself, but the formatting of the text. The headers and bold text are in a color that’s a bit hard to read and doesn’t highlight the important parts as well as it could. Try using a darker shade of the same color, and I believe both you and your readers will benefit from it! Also, whenever possible, consider adding something to the right panel. It really enhances the page’s appearance when there’s even a small pop-up with extra information.
From the world
Colossus

Material

I really enjoy short articles, but I feel like this one could benefit from a few more words. My initial impression while reading was that these stones took millions of years to form, so I pictured them as underground rocks created by immense pressure from the earth. But no... they're found between the roots of trees! I'm missing crucial information about the trees themselves and a bit more detail about these fascinating stones. It's incredibly interesting because it's rare to see such perfect geometry in nature, but I’m left wondering why they form this way. I also noticed you mentioned their use in magic and spellwork—how exactly does it make magic more potent? What is it about these stones that enhances magic? I’m left with so many more questions! I want to know more!
From the world
Helvara

An intriguing article, one that stirs the dark recesses of my imagination. As I read, I could not help but envision the desolate remnants of ancient battlefields, where the earth was stained with the blood of countless fallen souls. The crimson tide flowed freely, pooling and soaking deep into the soil, as though the ground itself was drinking from the carnage. Over time, this blood—a river of life and death—transformed into something darker. The blood, now solidified, became Blood Stone Veins, an eerie testament to the countless lives lost, the cries of the dead echoing in the very veins of the earth.
A thought crosses my mind: is there dark magic woven into these stones, crafted by the souls whose blood gave them life? Are the dead still bound to the very earth they once bled upon, their essence forever sealed within the veins of stone?
This article, though simple in its words, left a profound and unsettling feeling within me, a sense of the macabre that lingers long after the reading has ended. And for that, I truly appreciate it.
From the world
The True Dark Ages

I started reading the article, but soon my gaze drifted to the entire page. It's truly well done. You've done an excellent job with the CSS, creating a visually striking layout. The creative use of color palettes, displayed in those square sections, adds a unique and cohesive touch to the page. The way you've organized the content with two to three-row layouts for each section allows the reader to easily navigate and absorb the information. I absolutely love the visual aesthetics of your world—it's both captivating and immersive.
From the world
E L A Q I T A N

Really nicely written—simple, clear, and quick to read. However, I'm not sure if it's because of the wide monitor I’m using, but I did find the text a little on the small side. Perhaps increasing the font size by 1 or 2px might make it more comfortable for others as well, if anyone else feels the same.
From the world
ARGENTII

Vehicle

A simple yet clear and well-crafted article that effectively conveys its message. While I did notice the absence of an accompanying image, the vivid descriptions made it easy to visualize. Well done!
From the world
Chronicles of Hysal

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What did this challenge give me?

I believe this challenge gave me more than I expected. Honestly, I didn’t expect anything—just boredom, annoyance, and I didn’t want to dive into it at all. But in reality, it gave me so much more. It brought me inspiration and joy, for which I am very grateful. I can’t wait to start incorporating the inspiration I've gathered into my own world.

My resolutions for 2025

On WorldAnvil I am going to be focused on consistent and sustainable progress. I plan to create at least one article every day, even if it’s just a small one. This will help me steadily expand my worldbuilding without feeling overwhelmed. Additionally, I’ve committed to writing at least 500 words daily for the book I’m working on in this world. This manageable goal allows me to maintain momentum while avoiding burnout. I believe this balance of productivity and pacing will help me achieve significant milestones without overloading myself.

The book

The main characters of my book are going to be Korin, Oja and Mellisa Silktorn.

"I hate this. I have so many articles I need... no, that I want to write for my own world, and this challenge expects me to read others?"

— My thoughts exactly.

"Then I dove into exploring the surface of other articles, and I thoroughly enjoyed it."

— Thoughts that followed.

"Not everything is as dark as it may seem at first glance. Just as I was reluctant to take on this challenge, many people, including myself, hesitate with many tasks, decisions, or obligations. Everything deserves a chance because, in the end, it might not be as bad as it initially appeared."

— My thoughts after completing the challenge.

The Year 2024

And last but not least, I would like to thank myself for the work I put into my dream and world. I started writing this world on December 1st, 2024, and within just one month, I have written over 110,000 words. I closed the #WORLDEMBER challenge with a word count of 110,305, which is incredibly amazing.
Below, I will mention a few articles that I’m truly proud of and that earned top spots in my personal ranking.

Recap of December 2024

"There is nothing more challenging in creating a fantasy world than crafting the primordial myth of its origin."

— Creator of Thalas
Jaroslav Hrabkovský