Search This Blog

Worldbuilding Mores & Manners

Etiquette and behavioral guidelines have shifted vastly through the eras. When writing history, it helps to know what people would have frowned upon or indulged in. When creating Fantasy and SciFi worlds, you get to invent them.

Did they have special forms of greeting?


How did they show respect (bowing, curtseying, etc.)?

Were there procedures for leave-taking?


What behaviors were considered good manners?

What behaviors were considered bad manners?

Did they have stringent etiquette?

How did they feel about hospitality? Was it extended to strangers?

How did they feel about public displays of affection?

How did they feel about physical closeness and personal space?

How did they feel about people keeping pets?

How did they feel about romantic relationships in general?

Were people free to choose partners or were partnerships arranged?

Were marriages secular, religious, common law, or other?


Did they have hand-fasting, engagements, banns, or announcements?

Did they have simple or elaborate ceremonies?

Were the ceremonies public or private?

Where and/or when were the ceremonies held?

Did they allow the dissolution of partnerships or divorces?


Did they celebrate anniversaries?

How did they feel about having children?


How did they feel about "illegitimate" children or those born outside of partnerships?

Did they have rules regarding how many children you could have or who could have them?

Did they allow adoption?

What happened to orphans or abandoned children?

Did they have other reproductive measures: in vitro, surrogates, test tube babies, etc.?


How did they feel about adultery, wife-swapping, polygamy?

Were there any relationship taboos?


How did they feel about sexual or gender differences?

How did they feel about prostitution? 

How did they feel about other types of "vices?"? 


What were their commandments?


Did they shun or ostracize people?

Did they publicly humiliate people?

How did they express joy and happiness (body language, exclamations, in public and in private?

How did they express sadness and grief (body language, exclamations, in public and in private?

How did they express anger (body language, exclamations, in public and in private?


How did they express dislike (body language, exclamations, in public and in private?

How did they express love and affection (body language, exclamations, in public and in private?

How did they express friendship (body language, exclamations, in public and in private?


How did they express disgust or outrage (body language, exclamations, in public and in private?


Suggested references:
1. The History of Manners by Norbert Elias
2. The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness A Complete Hand Book for the Use of the Lady in Polite Society by Florence Hartley
3. Manners, Customs, and Dress During the Middle Ages and During the Renaissance Period by P. L. Jacob
4. The Japanese Mind by Roger J. Davies
5. History, Manners, and Customs of the North American Indians by Old Humphrey & Thomas Osmond Summers
6. Medieval Life: Manners, Customs & Dress During the Middle Ages by Paul Lacroix
7. The Court Society by Norbert Elias
8. Do's and Taboos Around The World by Roger E. Axtell
9. Gestures: The Do's and Taboos of Body Language Around the World by Roger E. Axtell
10. Love For Sale: A World History of Prostitution by Nils Johan Ringdal
11. What Is Marriage For?: The Strange Social History of Our Most Intimate Institution by E.J. Graff

Next week, we will explore myths and legends.

For advanced world-building, the SBB Build A World Workbook is available in print and e-book.


Other titles in the series:

Story Building Blocks: The Four Layers of Conflict available in print and e-book takes you from story seed to conflict outline. The fourteen companion Build A Plot Workbooks, in print and e-book, offer step by step development prompts: ComedyCon, Heist & Prison BreakFantasyGothicHistoricalHorrorLiterary
(Drama),  MysteryRoad TripRomanceScience FictionTeam VictoryThriller & SuspenseWestern.

SBB II Crafting Believable Conflict in print and e-book and the Build A Cast Workbook in print and e-book help you build a believable cast and add conflict based on the sixteen personality types.

SBB III The Revision Layers in print and e-book helps you self-edit your manuscript.

Free story building tools are available at www.dianahurwitz.com.  

No comments:

Post a Comment