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Writing Notes: Fictional Culture

Fictional culture - an essential piece of worldbuilding in certain genres of fiction—particularly in science fiction and fantasy.

Storytellers develop fictional cultures in a variety of mediums, including film, television, short stories, novels, and video games.

A fictional culture is defined by the customs, languages, values, and symbols of an imaginary world.

How to Create a Fictional Culture

Although there are nearly endless possibilities, consider some of these general writing tips for creating a fictional culture.

Pull inspiration from the real world. Pay attention to the cultural behaviors within your society. Broaden your own cultural perspective by researching the ideas and values of different cultures throughout history. Use real-life cultural examples to inform your fictional world, but be wary of repurposing existing cultures or perpetuating stereotypes.

Build off your main character. Develop the setting of your story based on how it serves the character development of your protagonist. Build a culture that highlights or contradicts your main character’s goals, needs, and fears.

Develop a belief system. Consider the core values, social norms, and taboos of your fictional culture. A central belief system can guide how you create rituals, symbols, and artifacts within your story.

Create a social structure. Develop how the family structures and social hierarchies work within your fictional culture. Decide where your main character falls within the social structure. Monetary systems can change your social structure depending on whether you use a bartering economy or something more complex.

Construct a technological system. Determine how advanced the technology is in your fictional culture. The technology of your story will impact the entertainment, communication, and modes of transportation within your fictional world.

Write a brief history. Expand your culture by writing a brief mythology of your fictional society. Avoid overwriting, and keep your history contained to important information that can impact your story.

Examples of Fictional Cultures

To learn more about how fictional cultures work in fiction, explore the following examples.

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien (1954): Tolkien created a wide variety of fictional cultures to inhabit Middle-earth. Each culture has its own language, value system, and history.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (1932): In his dystopian novel, Aldous Huxley developed a complex and technologically advanced culture with distinct social classes.

Dune by Frank Herbert (1965): Dune is an influential sci-fi novel with several detailed fictional cultures. One of them is the Fremen culture, which revolves around ancient superstitions and a rare commodity known as the Spice Melange.

The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin (2015): In this award-winning novel, Jemisin created a complex social structure with many "use-castes” that all have a place on an earthquake-ridden planet with one supercontinent.

Source ⚜ More: Notes & References ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

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Religious Questions in your fantasy story

Let’s return to the questionnaire format. Here are some thoughts I consider when creating a religion.

1. What are the fundamental tenets of your religion?

These are essential. I’ve read many fantasy religions with detailed descriptions of temples, holy days, and rituals, but they often lack depth. What does this religion stand for? If a typical follower were asked to summarize their faith, would it be about sacred days and ornaments? Probably not, unless the faith is more respected during times of crisis than in daily life.

Often, fantasy religions default to models based on Christianity or Wicca—either focusing on forgiveness and love or on nature and agriculture. This doesn’t always make sense. For instance, a desert-dwelling people likely wouldn’t revere nature in the same way as a rural community would. Think about logical principles for your world. How do the inhabitants survive? Which gods do they believe are responsible for their well-being? What practical tasks could become religious rituals?

2. What are the relationships between the gods?

Many fantasy gods feel flat because they are created in isolation with stereotypical personalities. A goddess of fertility, for example, is often portrayed as calm and nurturing. What relationships do these gods have? Study mythologies to see how gods interacted. For instance, why was Apollo associated with poetry, medicine, and prophecy? These connections are complex and can enrich your narrative.

Even in a monotheistic setting, people will create stories about their gods. Explore how divine legends accumulate around a central figure.

3. How do gods interact with mortals?

In too many fantasy novels, gods interact in ways that bore the reader. The classic notion is that gods are so powerful they can solve everything with a wave of their hand, which leads authors to keep them distant. This is based on flawed assumptions about their power and influence.

Gods can be portrayed in various ways—distant, intrusive, or even indifferent. The key is consistency. If gods are distant, rituals and prayers should not yield visible results.

4. How does your religion handle apostasy, heresy, and non-believers?

Unless a religion is truly global, there will be issues with heresy. Historical conflicts show that religious wars can be brutal. Often, fantasy authors depict one religion as "good" and another as "evil," leading to cardboard characters and simplistic narratives. And where are the atheists and agnostics? Characters who don’t believe are rare in fantasy, yet many worlds should have them, raising questions about their silence or indifference.

Religion can be a deep source of conflict in fantasy if handled thoughtfully. Unfortunately, many authors simplify these complexities.

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5 MINOR DETAILS TO MAKE YOUR FANTASY STORY MORE REALISTIC :

Hofball in Wien, Wilhelm Gause (1900)

• 1. Titles Matter:

While terms like "My Lord" and "My Lady" are generic, they may not always be suitable depending on the relationship between the speaker and the royal figure. Understanding the hierarchy is crucial; a servant might call a prince "My Lord" if they are familiar, but "Your Highness" is typically preferred, especially in formal contexts.

Different titles serve specific roles:

- "Your Majesty" for kings and queens,

- "Your Highness" for princes and princesses,

- "Your Grace" for dukes,

- "Sir" for knights.

Consistency in these titles is vital to maintain the integrity of the narrative.

• 2. Clothing Restrictions:

Heavy gowns make movement difficult for women, impacting their ability to act swiftly in emergencies. If an author chooses to describe a character's elaborate dress, they should also depict the practical consequences of wearing such attire, perhaps showing the character struggling to navigate challenges. Also, Characters wearing long, flowing sleeves while attempting complex tasks, like slipping poison into a drink, are impractical. Similarly, those in soft slippers planning a hasty escape should realistically face consequences for their poor choice of footwear. Characters should either change into suitable boots or face the challenges of their attire, as impractical clothing can lead to failure in critical moments.

•3. Consider the Atmosphere in Your Court Setting

Authors often describe court settings as smoky due to candles, fires, or incense, yet characters can see clearly across the room, even recognizing distant expressions. This inconsistency raises questions about visibility in such conditions. Reflect on experiences in smoky environments and how they affect sight. If the air is filled with smoke, characters should struggle to see, rather than having clear visibility when it’s convenient for the plot. Consistency in environmental details is crucial for believable storytelling.

• 4. Luxury Items and Trade Routes:

When describing luxury goods, authors should align these items with their world’s geography and trade routes. For example, a remote kingdom should not possess abundant glass windows if transportation is difficult. The narrative must consider logistics to avoid unrealistic portrayals.

• 5. Hierarchies of Politeness and Impoliteness:

Understanding who can be armed in the presence of a king is essential. Characters should not carry weapons without reason, respecting the established rules of the court. Challenges to these rules must be justified within the story.

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Dante and Virgil in Hell, William Adolphe Bouguereau (1850)

Excerpt from prologue :

Death does not knock. She comes unannounced, barging in brutally and leaving behind an inert body. Adanna never expected death to leave behind her father’s corpse, sprawling in the middle of their great chamber, letting his putrid scent spread through their little household. No blood and no disease — just gone. This is what alcohol did to a man — or so the old lady living on the street used to say. How could Adanna have known she was right ? No one ever listens to the blather of the seniles.

A deceased man could not speak anymore, could not lie, nor drink, nor hit. The only thing her father could do was lie there on the ground with vacant eyes, facing the ceiling, his mouth partially open, emanating a breath that held no warmth. The overwhelming smell lingered in every corner, clinging to her hair and the dying plants. There was only one reason why she hadn’t gotten rid of the body sooner : a need, sharp and gnawing, was driving her mad.

Rotting flesh is bitter, Adanna realised— far too late, after a few days.

Kneeling in the mud, retching the sour tang of decay still clinging to her tongue, she cursed the moment her teeth had sunk into cold flesh, driven by an odd curiosity, urging and impossible to justify. Patience always made for finer meat— or so she thought. But, Death was imminent and thus it demanded immediate consumption.

Thought ?

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What is a Character's Psychology?

A character's psychology is shaped by their background, motivations, and traits. It is destined to evolve throughout your story as the character faces challenges that will impact them.

• The Starting Point

At the beginning of your narrative, a character's psychology largely reflects the past events that have shaped them. These experiences determine their motivations and personality.

• The Disruptive Element

Beyond the main plot, a disruptive element will significantly alter the character's psychology. They will need to confront their fears, traumas, and internal barriers to resolve the conflict.

• The Turning Points

During the various turning points in the story, the character's psychology should evolve the most. These challenges will help them grow, enabling them to face the final trial during the climax.

• Don’t Rush the Development!

To maintain coherence, each evolution must be justified by specific events. A turning point can serve as a crucial element in this development. If your character changes too quickly, the story may reach its climax prematurely, reducing the overall tension.

To assist in this process, establish a starting point and an endpoint for your characters’ psychology, along with the events that will facilitate their growth.

• In-Depth Psychology

How to Achieve It? The key to deep psychology is justification. Every action of your hero should be backed by some aspect of their psychology to create a coherent whole. While this justification doesn't need to be explicitly stated in the narrative, it should be clear to you to ensure the credibility of the character's actions.

A character's psychology encompasses many crucial aspects, such as their moods, emotions, and motivations. To create a well-rounded and believable character, it is essential that their psychology is as rich and thorough as possible. However, keep in mind that "deep" doesn't necessarily mean "complex," though complex characters can be more engaging to read about.

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HOW TO CREATE A GOOD CHARACTER FOR YOUR STORY?

Max Slevogt, Memento Mori (1884)

When embarking on writing, it is essential to create memorable and engaging characters to capture the audience's interest and bring the story to life. A good character is one who evolves throughout the plot and helps make the narrative believable and compelling.

Here are some tips to help you create realistic characters:

• Give Them a Life

Your characters should feel alive. They need to have a backstory, a history, and a present life. Even if not everything is revealed in the narrative, you should have a detailed understanding of their past, like friends or foes you interact with. They should have a childhood, a birthplace, friendships, doubts, and experiences. In short, make them multidimensional.

• Emotions Matter

Your characters experience various emotions. Clearly define their temperament, desires, and uncertainties. Whether they are shy, ambitious, or hot-tempered, these traits should be evident in their actions and gestures. Don’t just describe their feelings; show them through their behavior and reactions.

• Establish Clear Goals

Each character must serve a purpose in the story. What role do they play? Why are they in this book? Are they the hero? What do they contribute to the protagonist? Characters can have goals, aspirations, and dreams. It’s up to you to give them a direction. They should drive the plot rather than exist without a clear purpose.

• Develop Distinct Personalities

This is a crucial yet challenging aspect. Each character should be easily identifiable through their actions, reactions, and dialogues, even without naming them. Their unique traits should shine through, particularly in dialogue. Each character should have their own way of speaking, which takes practice and experience to master.

• Make Them Imperfect

Your characters should not be flawless or one-dimensional. They need vulnerabilities, doubts, moments of anger or failure. They should experience pain and emotion. In essence, make them feel real, just like people are not perfect.

• Avoid Clichés

Clichés are predictable and bland. While some can be acceptable, especially in certain genres like romance, it’s often better to break the mold and create fresh situations. Given the vast number of published stories, strive for originality and inject your unique perspective into each narrative.

• Introduce Characters Gradually

Don’t reveal all aspects of a character at the beginning. Introduce elements gradually through situations and chapters. Unfold their likes, physical traits, and desires over time, rather than presenting a complete profile in the first chapter.

• Explore Their Psychology

Understanding psychology can enhance character development. While some may find it intuitive, others might need to research to analyze their characters’ minds. There are books and resources available to assist you in this process.

• Visualize Their Appearance

While it’s not always necessary to describe your characters' looks in detail, having a clear vision helps. Consider their hair length, skin tone, ethnicity, tattoos, and physical build. Whether you imagine them vividly or use reference images, having a precise idea aids in their portrayal.

• Character Arc

Every character has their own arc, indicating their evolution throughout the story. Consider the challenges they face, where they start, and where they end up. A character shouldn’t undergo sudden changes; their development should be logical and gradual, maintaining coherence.

• Identify Their Flaw

Characters should have a flaw—a personal struggle or internal conflict. This flaw can be psychological (self-destructive behavior) or moral (causing harm to others). They may also be haunted by an internal ghost, such as a trauma affecting their relationships or self-perception.

• Distinguish Between Author and Character

As writers, we often infuse our own experiences and emotions into our characters. However, it’s important to remember that you are not the protagonist (unless writing a biography). Create characters with their own flaws, traits, and reactions that set them apart from you.

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