Last week, we talked about setting goals, to make sure challenges like Summer Camp, NaNoWrimo, and Worldember are working for you! This week, we’re talking about ACHIEVING these goals! And one way of doing that is by writing towards specific worldbuilding prompts grouped together by themes.
Make writing with themes work for you
Last year, we introduced themes to our Summer Camp prompts. Your feedback was that you loved them! So we’ve worked to choose themes we feel are universal to all settings, and can help you create dynamic and exciting spaces in your worlds.
Remember, these themes are intended to give worldbuilding ideas and inspiration and help you create naturally connected spaces in your world. You can interpret them in any way you like! Not every prompt directly relates to a theme, but they can all be tied together, helping you create more natural, connected worldbuilding. And most importantly, remember YOUR goal! Consider how the themes might fit into what you’re planning and, if necessary, how you can twist them to fit YOUR purposes!
Writing Theme: Expanse
An expanse, by definition, is a wide continuous area of… something. If you’re writing an earth-like world, that might be a vast desert like the Sahara, rolling grasslands like the Savannah, jungle like the Amazon Rainforest, swamp like Louisiana, or Arctic tundra. It could be an expanse of water, like a sea or ocean, or of ice, like Antarctica. Or it could be the expansive sky above your world, or expansive tunnels and caverns beneath.
Fantasy worlds can delve even deeper here, into pocket dimensions, or another plane of existence, like fluid space in Star Trek, or the Plane of Fire in Forgotten Realms.
For more futuristic worlds, you might create an urban expanse like a cyberpunk mega-city, a vast sewer system, a Fallout wasteland, or a city-planet like Coruscant in Star Wars. Or if you’re in space, how about a nebula, asteroid field, or even an “empty” expanse of space.
Writing Theme: Leadership
Whether you’re writing fantasy, sci-fi or alt-historical, leadership guides the peoples of our world setting and forms their cultures. And leadership can take many forms – political and military, of course, but also consider religious, cultural, industrial, humanitarian, environmental and educational leadership. We’ll be asking you about people, places and traditions that typify leadership in your world setting, either from the past or the present.
The Leadership theme might relate to the expanse you’ve written about before, or it might not!
Writing Theme: Discovery
Settings thrive on change, and discovery – whether research, exploration, or investigation – is often the catalyst for that change! What wonders, mysteries, species, technologies and civilizations are lost in your world setting, awaiting discovery? Which parts of the world have already been discovered and which implications did this have over the setting?
The Discovery theme might relate to the expanse you wrote about before. Or perhaps the discovery was led by a great leader in your world.
Writing Theme: Monstrous
Almost all stories require conflict. And if your setting has no conflict, it’s often hard to get your stories, novels, or campaigns moving! In this band of worldbuilding prompts, we’ll be digging into things in your world considered villainous, cruel, unlucky, unnatural or just “wrong”.
Perhaps the monstrous things in your world are newly discovered, and tied to the discovery theme, or perhaps they crawled, hopped or few from the expanse you wrote about. Perhaps the leaders in your world are the monstrous and villainous ones (looking at you, Star Wars!). Remember, you don’t need to tie all the themes together, but there are myriad ways to do so!
Homework – Writing with Themes
Since last week, you should have a clear idea of what your goals are for your writing and worldbuilding! Now it’s time to figure out how these themes can help you focus your goals further.
- Re-read your writing and worldbuilding goals and motivations.
- Now it’s time to think about how the themes might fit into what you’re creating. This might expand on writing with themes in your world, and may even link to pre-existing articles in your world you can reference when you get to this point, to help you spawn new ideas!
- If you’re building in a preexisting setting, read through your meta and your previous work.
- If you’re building a new setting, I recommend filling out the meta to guide your worldbuilding!
- Now, add a short paragraph to your plan about how these themes might connect to your world setting and your goals.
- Post your articles in the comments to this blog!
Got it done in record time! Added it to my pledge doc.
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/world-of-wizard-s-peak-kitoypoy/a/summer-camp-2022-pledge-article
Here we go! https://www.worldanvil.com/w/yonderverse-mochimanoban/a/mochi-s-sc22-pledge-article
Boom! Can you tell how excited I am for Summer Camp by how quickly I do the homework?!
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/eccbooks/a/summer-camp-2022
Done! https://www.worldanvil.com/world/article/d7a61d95-e678-4ff6-ab15-5d780f72045a/edit
Oooops, wrong link https://www.worldanvil.com/w/hislariya-kros21/a/summer-camp-2022-pledge-and-plan-article?preview=true
Got some vague ideas going, but I think the actual prompts will tie this all together!
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/harmony-prippymontypoppycock/a/summer-camp-2022-pledge-article
Here it is, I’m really hyped about the themes of this year’s Summercamp!
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/idea-rumengol/a/summercamp-pledge—a-whole-reworked-world-article
I didst it! https://www.worldanvil.com/w/analecta-tybarbary/a/summer-camp-2022-article
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/the-rending-lands-darktidingspress/a/summer-camp-2022-pledge-article
Second home work done I getting more excited every day https://www.worldanvil.com/w/elema-valcin/a/summer-camp-2022-pledge-article
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/beourjen-mirescosmo/a/summer-camp-2022-pledge-article?preview=1
I may have made another article so I could keep everything well organized.
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/isekai/a/sc22-themes
My friend (WA: Elphaba Reign) is struggling to post her pledge and themes so here’s her pledge for her first ever Summer Camp!
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/cranberry2C-north-carolina-elphaba-reign/a/summer-camp-2022-pledge-article
Accidentally did some extra credit last week regarding the themes, but I went a little more in depth for this week.
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/leland-peninsula-mandyla/a/the-re-campening3A-a-2022-summer-camp-pledge-article
Loving the way the homework is rolling out! Can’t wait to tackle these themes during Summer Camp 😀 https://www.worldanvil.com/w/beckettville/a/summer-camp-2022-pre-planning-article
All done for both my worlds!
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/symbols-of-power-naelin/a/naelin-s-summercamp-2022-pledge-article
Woohoo- updated with themes (I am getting so excited!)
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/turien-tarafaebelle/a/summer-camp-2022-pledge-article
Updated! https://www.worldanvil.com/w/caerdonel-da476/a/summer-camp-2022-pledge-article
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/urskoga/a/sc2022-pledge-article
Updated, and getting really excited!
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/odezia-viewol/a/summer-camp-2022-worldbuilding-pledge-article?preview=true
updated :3
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/flat-earth-2F-new-world-tim-in-a-box/a/summer-camp-2022-pledge-article
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/magic-earth-kajetanwrites/a/pledge-for-summer-camp-2022-article?preview=true
It’s an update!
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/spirit-of-the-age-frogdrake/a/summer-camp-2022-pledge-document-article
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/wonders-isaac-thompson/a/summercamp-2022-pledge-article?preview=true
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/terraloga-adcheryl/a/summer-camp-2022-article
Now we’re getting into things- can’t wait for July!
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/chalamor-surgentkazoo/a/summer-camp-pledge-article?preview=true
Finally getting back into the worldbuilding mood! 🌞
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/the-kaleidoscope-system-kaleidechse/a/summer-camp-2022-article
Homework! Updated! Boom!
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/hallowed-legacy-ellysium/a/summer-camp-2022-pledge-article?preview=true
Second assignment is ready in the Known Universe!
This actually made me feel less worried about what’s coming 🙂
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/known-universe-escritora-novata/a/novata-s-summer-camp-2022-pledge-document-article
Updated: https://www.worldanvil.com/w/manifold-sky-bcgrwurth/a/summer-camp-2022-progress-report-article
Ready to go! https://www.worldanvil.com/w/valayo-hcraven/a/summer-camp-2022-article
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/aegimius-mandomc/a/summer-camp-pledge-article
Getting so excited for camp! https://www.worldanvil.com/w/spaceport-deleyna/a/summer-camp-pledge-2022-article
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/rome-and-the-sassanid-empire/a/pledge-summer-camp-2022-article
I’ve never done a Summer camp here before, but I’ll take anything that will hold me accountable to actually filling out the world encyclopedia!
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/the-mortal-lands-tinkertech/a/summer-camp-22-pledge-article?preview=true
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/world-anvil-challenges2Fevents-jerry247/a/2022-summer-camp-pledge-article
One paragraph per theme added! So much inspiration already! O_O
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/michael-chandra/a/summercamp-2022-pledge
Thanks for the Prep-Layout!
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/miria-eliora-yona/a/summer-camp-pledge-2022-article?preview=true
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/ardenia-asphodelknox/a/summer-camp-pledge-2022-article
Alright, I’m looking forward to the real thing already!
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/the-12-worlds-thearchmagos/a/camp-pledge2C-202221-article?preview=true
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/hesli-sh4d0wph03n1x/a/round-2—summercamp-pledge-2022-article
Finished Week 2!
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/araea-qurilion/a/summer-camp-2022-pledge-article
Summercamp Homework 2 complete! A new section added to the Pledge/Prep document, which can be found here: https://www.worldanvil.com/w/world-of-cartyrion/a/summercamp-2022-preparation-article
I’m excited for June! This summer camp is getting me very excited and motivated.
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/riftland-babybluebecca27/a/summer-camp-pledge-2022-article?preview=true
Done! https://www.worldanvil.com/w/nyckaneh-melu/a/julian-s-summer-camp-pledge-article
Updated: https://www.worldanvil.com/world/article/316ea0c8-4962-455b-bc89-40a886cc80cd/edit
A bit late, but here we go! All updated!
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/ravare/a/summer-camp-22
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/meta-world-catoblepon/a/summer-camp-2022-article-1 second part done!
Here’s my pledge. https://www.worldanvil.com/w/pond-springheeled-jack/a/summer-pledge-article
A bit strange, but done. I’m looking forward to the third part of homework 🙂 https://www.worldanvil.com/world/article/996c756f-3400-43f5-b69d-87967df104c5/edit
My pledge is here! insert eyes emojis… https://www.worldanvil.com/w/secret-agent-someone/a/summer-camp-2022
Updated my pledge with the new homework 🙂
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/niorath-kefkejaco/a/summer-camp-2022-pledge-article
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/visctheria-asthecrowcasts/a/summer-camp-pledge-2022-article
Homework 2!
Homework 1 and 2 done! Excited for this summer!
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/rysidor-daisychick/a/summer-camp-2022-pledge-article?preview=1
Heres my pledge, its a small one, but with a big goal! https://www.worldanvil.com/w/world-of-arsteria-kiyomo/a/summer-camp-pledge-2022-article
Just realized that I never submitted my homework from last week, so I won’t make that mistake again! Here you go: https://www.worldanvil.com/w/the-magic-multiverse-emperorcharlesii/a/summer-camp-2022-pledge-article
Week 2 Done!
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/yer-rhllorschosen/a/summer-camp-pledge-article?preview=true
Really excited for this July now, just finished the first 2 bits of homework after being very busy for the first couple of weeks of this month! https://www.worldanvil.com/w/tales-from-the-world-of-th-anda-selarahmorgan/a/summer-camp-pledge-2022-article
Here’s homework number two:
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/leanor-wwchen/a/summer-camp-pledge-article
Homework 2!
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/teruna-jaakisaur/a/summer-camp-pledge-2022-article?preview=true
Hello, how are you? This week’s homework gave me more work than the week before, but it was done. @My Summer Camp Pledge
Sorry, here is the article.
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/utopia-grace-roseas/a/my-summer-camp-pledge–article?preview=true
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/godsend-MAEK/a/summer-camp-pledge-2022-article?preview=true
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/kraetus-anwensylvaine/a/summer-camp-2022-pledge-article
I really really really love Summer Camp. Can’t wait to see everyone’s different interpretations of the prompts this year.
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/drakesdozen/a/summer-camp-2022?preview=true
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/lothrea/a/summercamp-2022
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/varitinera-stonebandit/a/summer-camp-pledge-2022-article
I tried to post this earlier, but I don’t see it, so sharing my pledge again just to be sure: https://www.worldanvil.com/world/901ccd8c-6984-4d7e-959e-f2ce7d7ee1e8/summary
@Summer Camp 2022 Pledge!
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/landra-generallapdragon/a/summer-camp-pledge-2022-article
Updated!
@My Summer Camp Pledge!
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/tarantellia-lnphysics/a/summer-camp-2022-pledge-document-article
Happy Summer Camp Prep, Everyone!
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/orniban-dougsarver/a/summer-camp-pledge-article
I think I got the link correct this time!
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/torika-guentherarer/a/summer-camp-pledge-article?preview=true
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/torika-guentherarer/a/summer-camp-pledge-article
updateded!
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/sundered-lands-scholarmage/a/summer-camp-2022-pledge-article
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/thenia-pyrrha/a/summer-camp-2022-pledge-article
Can’t wait!!
Almost forgot, did homework #2!
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/cathedris-stormbril/a/summercamp-2022-pledge-and-tracker-article
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/tenrashe3A-the-saerin-records-lenna-richards/a/2022-summer-camp-pledge-document-article?preview=true
Let’s gooo!!!!
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/kyre-cuttlesquish/a/cuttlesquish-s-summer-camp-2022-extravaganza-article
I’m trying to remember why I write. Hopefully this will help with the courage when I’m in the middle of it.
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/gandrain-starfyr/a/summer-camp-pledge-2022-article?preview=true
Updated my article with homework #2! And learned some tricks along the way
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/the-library-agirlnamedwinter/a/my-2022-summer-camp-pledge-article
Updated pledge! https://www.worldanvil.com/w/lukkein/a/summer-camp-pledge-article?preview=true
Pledge updated! https://www.worldanvil.com/w/treasure-box-tris/a/summer-camp-pledge-2022-article?preview=true
Pledge is updated! https://www.worldanvil.com/w/ruins-of-drakkenheim-many-angled-one/a/summer-camp-pledge-2022-article
Week 2 woop woop.https://www.worldanvil.com/w/warpunk-lil-roe/a/summer-camp-pledge-article?preview=true
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/the-ancient-plane-anwensylvaine/a/summer-camp-2022-pledge-article
Updated version 🙂 https://www.worldanvil.com/w/evera-liafelis/a/summer-camp-2022-article?preview=true
And updated:
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/yenort-secere-laetes/a/summer-camp-2022-pledge—sommercamp-2022-versprechen-article
Just updated.
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/jerde-lilliana-casper/a/summer-camp-pledge-article
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/nycos-game-master-guru/a/world-anvil-summer-camp-updates-plot
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/nyckaneh-melu/a/julian-s-summer-camp-pledge-article
Homework!
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/malkora-strixxline/a/summercamp-2022-pledge-article
Here it is, and much sooner than last year’s too!
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/pentham—merlin–/a/summer-camp-2022-pledge-article?preview=true
Great stuff! Should keep me on track and inspired, thanks.
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/drakesdozen/a/summer-camp-2022?preview=true
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/kroveris-maevelent/a/summer-camp-2022-pledge-article
Didn’t know there was homework for camp every week… LOL https://www.worldanvil.com/w/chellok-sointex/a/summer-camp-2022-pledge-article?preview=true
Added themes https://www.worldanvil.com/w/eleanor-s-west-coast-dreamre/a/summer-camp-pledge-article
here’s my update! there are some things in spanish, but they don’t bother the main text: https://www.worldanvil.com/w/las-islas-de-las-nueces-gortius-viii/a/summer-camp-pledge-article?preview=true
Still speed running homework since I joined World Anvil recently. https://www.worldanvil.com/w/bold-beetle-world-vandwriter/a/summer-camp-pledge-2022-article?preview=true
Sorry I’m late! Trying to catch up!
Here’s mine:
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/telluria-yelrafekim/a/2022-worldbuilding-summer-camp-article?preview=true
Here are the updates for homework assignment #2. Enjoy. https://www.worldanvil.com/w/divinity2C-texas-kdalberson/a/2022-summer-camp-pledge-article
Homework 2 complete! Playing catch-up right now!
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/talodain-desistdawdling/a/summer-camp-pledge-2022-article
Expanded for homework 2:
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/WBtV/a/sc-pledge-22?preview=true
Alright I think I got all my main ideas for the themes finalized!
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/thenecas-illumiinae/a/summer-camp-2022-pledge-article
Here’s my pledge for this year’s Summer Camp! Can’t wait to get started! 😀 https://www.worldanvil.com/w/black-light/a/summer-camp-2022-pledge-article
Here’s week 2. https://www.worldanvil.com/w/necumia-thedoctor292/a/doctorE28099s-pledge-article?preview=true?
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/kohtalo-drunkenpanda951/a/summer-camp-pledge-2022-article because HOORAY for procrastination
Assignment 2 complete! https://www.worldanvil.com/w/the-bennorian-chronicles-lethann/a/summer-camp-2022-pledge-article
Pledge: https://www.worldanvil.com/w/agia-pantherseye/a/summer-camp-pledge-article?preview=true
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/mirateia-cow2face/a/summer-camp-pledge-article
and here is my pledge again and updated <3
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/koria-crazyeddie/a/summercamp-2022-aka-chill-camp-article
Summer camp homework all done! https://www.worldanvil.com/w/shadowfire-ononomad/a/shadowfire-summer-camp-2022-article
Finished all the homeworks! https://www.worldanvil.com/w/istralar-hanhula/a/summer-camp-20223A-pledge-article
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/the-sagas-jester25/a/summer-camp-2022-pledge-of-glory-article?preview=true
Doing my best to catch up.
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/chronicles-of-unsu-nevarrblue/a/summer-camp-pledge-2022-article
Finally did it! https://www.worldanvil.com/w/overlord-lady-grayish/a/summer-camp-pledge-2022-article
Super duper late but it got done! https://www.worldanvil.com/w/sky-pirates-cytheron/a/summer-camp-pledge-2022-article?preview=true
I have updated my article! I even made of pledge of what not to do…. not to start a world I don’t have time to build right now, haha.
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/talitha-harbor-desdemonarose/a/summer-camp-2022-article
I stated my homework yesterday so im a bit behind but now i also got some meta to the world and a short paragraph of how this meta will effect the drama and the story.
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/landet-med-inget-namn-deathbyhug/a/summer-camp-pledge-article?preview=true
I am also a bit behind unfortunately, but just did the week 2 homework 🙂
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/everfields-dainou/a/summer-camp-pledge-article
I’m cutting it close to the deadline, but I’m still really pumped. Here’s this week’s homework: https://www.worldanvil.com/w/amalgama-holyflpncows/a/summer-camp-pledge-2022-article
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/the-great-shift-nated123/a/nated123-s-summer-camp-pledge-article
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/chalamor-surgentkazoo/a/summer-camp-pledge-article?preview=true
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/5Bitsaso5D-lilseasalt/a/summer-camp-pledge-article?preview=true? I completed this homework just now
Finally finished assignment two! Only two more to go…
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/nhaie-a-merriweather/a/summer-camp-pledge-2022-article?preview=true
Added my thoughts about the themes! https://www.worldanvil.com/w/etherea-anotherjoy/a/summer-camp-pledge-article?preview=true
Done 🙂
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/fantasy-novel-1-ppg/a/summer-camp-pledge-article?preview=true
Late! Oops.
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/imperia-triplica-esspii/a/summer-camp-2022-pledge-article