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Worldbuilding: Myths & Legends


Every society had an origin story and tales to explain how they came to be the way the evolved. They tried to explain things they had no explanation for. They noted oddities in their environment and the heavens. They had tales of warriors and monsters. If you are writing Historical fiction, providing details of the specific place and time enriches your story world. If you are writing Fantasy or Science Fiction, you get to create your own origin story, myths, and legends. Unique elements make your story memorable.



Whether human, alien, or paranormal, what is their origin story?

How did their group grow and spread?


What were the cultures represented in the area?

Did they have cults?


What were the main religions in the area? Were they in conflict or did they coexist peacefully?

What deities did they worship?

Did they have monsters or legendary creatures?

Did they have religious holidays?

How did they observe them?


Did they have special meeting places or sacred spaces?


Did they have pilgrimages or large gathering events related to their religions or superstitions (standing stones, temples, grottos, caves)?


When drawing from ancient myths and cultures, details matter. You can intentionally combine elements to make your story unique, but there should still be some logic to it. What parts of mythology applied to your story world?

Did they have superstitions?

Did they have urban legends?


Did they have traumatic events in their collective consciousness: floods, wars, miracles, tragedies, battles, wars, famine, or horrific acts?

Did they have special skills such as ESP, telekinesis, telepathy, mind control, intuition, lie detection etc.?


Did they believe in magic or have magic?

Has the magic/power always been around? Do the characters know the point of origin or is it shrouded in mystery?

Who can wield the power or talisman? Someone or everyone?

Who has the magic and why? There must be some logic to the process: it is either inherited, gifted or passed down, a genetic mutation, exposure to some element, etc. You have to decide what the limits are and let your audience know the specifics.

If psychic powers or super powers are involved, who can have them and why? What limits other people from having them or getting them?

Whether you have vampires, fairies, or elves, are they made or born?

What magical characters does your story world have?

Why is your paranormal or supernatural protagonist the only one who can solve the problem? What skill or talisman or position makes it possible?

Why is the antagonist capable of stopping the hero? Rules must govern the possibilities.


What are the magical beings’ weaknesses? What makes it possible for someone to overcome them?

What is the price for using magic?

Do they have magical or science fiction devices?


Who knows about them? Everyone everywhere? Certain groups? Are they hiding in plain sight? Be careful about pushing the boundaries of credibility. Think about your setting. How easy would it be to keep things a secret?

Suggested references:
1. The World's Religions, Revised and Updated: A Concise Introduction by Huston Smith
2. Mythology: The Ancient Secrets of the Greeks, Egyptians, Vikings, and the Norse by Martin R. Phillips
3. Myths of the World (The myths of Egyptian, Babylonian, Persian, Hebrew, Hellenic, Latin, Celtic, Nordic, Mesoamerican, and other traditions by Padraic Colum
4. Mesoamerican Myth: A Treasury of Central American Legends, Art, and History: A Treasury of Central American Legends, Art, and History by Anita Ganeri
5. Aztec Mythology by Stephen Currie
6. The Codex Borgia: A Full-Color Restoration of the Ancient Mexican Manuscript by Gisele Díaz & Alan Rodgers
7. Egyptian Mythology: A Guide to Ancient Egyptian Religion, Beliefs, and History by Dustin Yarc
8. A classical dictionary of India : illustrative of the mythology, philosophy, literature, antiquities, arts, manners, customs of the Hindus by John Garrett
9. Asian-Pacific Folktales and Legends by Jeannette Faurot
10. American Indian Myths and Legends by Richard Erdoes & Alfonso Ortiz
11. The Black Arts: A Concise History of Witchcraft, Demonology, Astrology, and Other Mystical Practices Throughout the Ages by Richard Cavendish
12. Alchemy & Mysticism by Alexander Roob

Next week, we tackle mapping your fictional world.


For advanced worldbuilding, 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.  


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