Ancient civilizations created myths unique to their own beliefs and tradition so that they can vary greatly from culture to culture. Nevertheless, there is one similarity in ancient lives. All feature non-humans as their main characters, be it from Greek, Norse, Egyptian, Chinese, or Hindu mythology.
What Is A Myth?
Myth is an ancient story, and people often made it up at that time to explain some of the happenings of natural lightning, volcanoes, thunderstorms, and all kinds of things they didn’t understand. They didn’t have science there to explain it. So they made up stories. Often these stories involve supernatural beings, gods, witches, warlocks, dragons, and all creatures as part of the story.
A myth can be that of creation or a heroic one. A creation myth is an imaginary story that explains the world’s existence. On the other hand, a heroic myth instead is based on the quest of a hero to defeat a monster. Myths often include animals that talk to gods, goddesses, monsters, and other supernatural characters who have the power to make extraordinary things happen.
How To Write A Myth? (Create A Myth Ideas)
Myths are stories that explain some natural phenomenon or human behavior. Our ancestors found an explanation for incomprehensible things or events in these stories. To start writing your myth, try using the following warm-up tips. They could help you begin to plan your story.
1. Decide on writing either creation or a heroic myth
If you decide on a creation myth, decide what your myth explains. Answer why or how of something. For example, the creation of the sun. Why does the moon appear at night? Why does it rain, etc.? It can be a lesson with a simple explanation.
If you decide on a heroic myth, decide what behavior your hero will teach. For example, be brave, be strong, never give up, etc. It can be a lesson with a moral at the end.
2. Turn your ideas into something unreal, fantastical
Your myth can be ridiculous and funny, and it should involve something that cannot happen in the real world. For examples:
- A mountain is created by ants hoarding food for a long time.
- A volcano erupts because underground beings have left the barbecue on for a long.
- Or a hero fights a giant with two heads to save people from eating them and being extinguished.
3. Create a hero
If you are writing a heroic myth, create a hero. The story’s hero can be someone impressive and unmeasurable or an ordinary person. Instead, think about these questions as you write down ideas for your hero.
- Is the hero super-strong, super-intelligent, or incredibly talented in one area?
- Why does your hero have these special talents?
- If any did the God did the gods bless the hero.
- Did the hero train hard?
It would be better if you added some flaws to your hero to seem more realistic.
4. Set various characters and settings/prompts
Brainstorm magical characters, witches, gods, monsters, magical items, and imaginary places to make a myth entertaining and larger than life.
Think about it when you write a myth. Setting your myth can be said in ancient Greece and China. Italy. Myths are mainly set in the past since they tell stories about the beginning of time.
5. Write in simple direct language
Use the past, simple, past, continuous, progressive, and past perfect tenses.
- Indent the first sentence and double-space your work.
- Avoid long sentences.
- Don’t include your personal opinion.
6. Write a mythological style
Imitate the style of real myths. Use iconic symbols such as numbers, animals, characters, etc.
- Use the same structure for several sentences in a row.
For example, for five days, he went up into the sky and walked down to the to go to Gulag for five days. Five days he was transformed into a snake. - Give people a short, descriptive epithet.
For example, Dionysius, the Wolf Repeller or Apollo carrier of the Bay branches.
7. Introduce the setting and protagonist that will be your main character
Set the myth in the distant past or a distant land.
- Use expressions such as Once upon a time, long, long time ago, far away in the scribe, the protagonist, age, body, height.
8. Clear the motive
Creates a reason for the protagonist to do something. For example, Beowulf decides to kill Grendel after seeing all the people dying. Before writing a myth, set your final motive and make it twisty.
9. Continue the story
This is done by introducing a new character or a new situation, or a challenge to create interest in the story.
- Don’t add something unnecessary to make a long story.
- Add some plot twists with proper storytelling.
10. Finish the myth
Often a myth ends with a sentence explaining why the story is related to the present day.
- Edit your myth. Do not forget to edit your story, go through it, and correct spelling and grammar mistakes as well.
-Give it a final revision before handing it in. Hand in your work to your editor to give you a final verification.
Then have a friend take a second look in case you missed something. Add your literary devices such as personification, onomatopoeia, metaphors, and similes to make the story more captivating.
Different types of Gods/Goddess and their roles
Most writers need to consider writing a constructed mythology for a story because of background information, or as most people call it these days, ‘the lore.’ It can be thought of as a potent spice sprinkled onto the story to add flavor.
Much like cayenne pepper, lore should be heaped on, overpowering the whole thing until it is unpalatable to all but the most die-hard lore junkies. The best way to start this process is by front-loading the creation myth at the story’s start!
There is no reason to have a creation myth told by an in-universe character, allowing that character’s unique perspective to color the story. Nor should an author consider compacting that myth into a short poem or phrase that can be used as a reoccurring motif. Before writing mythology, you must know about the god/goddess and their roles. Here they are:
The God of War
Dominions: Battle and mention honor every other word.
Notably absent dominions: Strategy tactics, logistics, and deception.
Personality: Absent as it was replaced by honor.
Strong role: Antagonist (50% higher if no god of evil is in the setting), background extra (50%).
The fertility Goddess
Dominions: Fertility, birth, cultivation, and healing.
Notably absent dominions: Screen time.
Personality: Missing her screen time.
Story role: She is stuck in the kitchen and not with the army using her powers to grow crops for sustained field operations instantly. Nor is she back home increasing birth rates and agriculture yields, allowing for higher populations and greatly speeding technological innovation.
God of the forge
Dominions: Making cool magical weapons, using his influence over government structure to create mutually beneficial self-sustaining relationships.
Notably absent dominions: Ethics and morality.
Personality: Making stuff.
Story role: Arms merchant.
The God of evil
Dominions: Death, decay, evil, demons, black with red highlights.
Notably absent dominions: Common sense, workman’s propaganda.
Personality: Hates goodness, has an evil laugh, thinks it is over-rated.
Story role: Antagonist (40%), Sealed away antagonist (40%), everyone is afraid to say his name (20%).
The Goddess of corruption
Dominions: Drugs, Abuse, Rock and roll.
Notably absent dominions: Winning the love triangle.
Personality: More than the love interest.
Story role: Seductress (50%), Side antagonist (25%), Forgotten after the love triangle is resolved (90%).
The God of Deception
Dominions: Triggering people for the lulz, advancing the plot.
Notably absent dominions: Taking responsibility for his actions.
Personality: YOLO!
Story role: Plot grenade, prime, then toss into the story and watch all of the characters scatter.
The God/Goddess of nature
Dominions: Flora, fauna, fair climates.
Notably absent dominions: Parasites, predators, short, logically consistent speeches about how great nature is.
Personality: Tree hugging of self hugging.
Story role: Soapbox the author can stand on.
The God of Justice
Dominions: Justice, honor, the Dungeon master’s wrath.
Notably absent dominions: The Dungeon master’s mercy.
Personality: Player characters.
Story role: Prepare to be nerfed!
Last Words
Your world has a creation myth. Unless you’re deliberately trying to create an allegory between your fantasy culture and a real-world culture, resist copying any one particular myth. If you do copy, then what’s going to happen? Is anyone joining your roleplay?
Looking at your world or reading your book to see your world will potentially recognize where you pulled it from. Then they will bring in their baggage and stereotypes of what they think about that particular culture into your story.
You don’t get any control over what stereotypes and baggage they might bring. So to make sure, we’re going to use this for inspiration, not to copy. Those are my tips for writing creation myths. Have you guys done this before? If so, have you done something like this process? I’m curious! Let me know down below for that.
Learn More:
5 Tips To Start Reading Mythology For Beginner
10 Tips To Write Your Own Greek Myth Like Pro
Read These Books For Getting Your Myth Ideas
15 Books About Greek Mythology For Beginners
15 Greek Mythology Retelling Novels
For Norse Mythology Readers:
For Greek Myth Readers:
5 Greek Hero Books On Achilles
5 Greek Goddess Books About Medusa
3 Books On Hercules Retellings
5 Historical Fiction Books On Atlantis
5 Homer Retelling Novels About Helen Of Troy
5 Olympian Warriors Novels On Poseidon
Top 3 Greek Goddess Novels On Aphrodite
3 Greek Myth Novels On Dionysos
For Egyptian Mythology Readers:
5 Egyptian Queen Books On Cleopatra
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