Welcome to another day in the A to Z BloggingChallenge. Find the entire list here. My theme this year is world-building.
Mostly I’m asking questions that I believe need to be considered whether you
creating a medieval fantasy world, a science fiction story or even a
contemporary novel. The ideas I present aren’t in a particular order as I had
to fit them into the alphabetical order needed. And don’t forget to visit the
other blog I’m part of during the A to Z Challenge over at the IWSG. Now onto
your world.
Superstitions are part of life. You see them still in the contemporary world and they were numerous in a medieval setting. Will your characters have lucky charms, lucky weapons or unlucky days of the week? Will there be odd beliefs about old women living alone with multiple cats? With there be rituals to ward off evil? Are your characters going to be divided among different social classes? Will there be servants and lords and ladies? Will there be a merchant class, the unskilled laborers and perhaps the old money rich? Is there every marriage or friendship between social classes?
What are the accepted social ethics and moralities of your chosen world? Are people faithful to one person in relationships? Is it acceptable to steal from a neighboring tribe? How are children and servants treated? Is slavery accepted? Do merchants cheat customers?
Do you have a lucky charm? Anything that you feel is unlucky? Do you think our contemporary world still suffers from social class divisions?
People have to stay faithful in my world - they are mentally bonded.
ReplyDeleteAnyone who writes contemporary needs to think about Social Media. It is taking over more and more of our every day lives.
ReplyDeleteSuperstitions are fun to play with but they are nothing but a bunch of hocus pocus really
ReplyDeleteFunny how superstitions can really lead people astray. Even today.
ReplyDeleteI think we all believe in some forms of luck. Being at the right place at the right time is lucky. But it's also fate.
As for social classes. I do believe we have them today although they are not obvious.
With everyone striving to be "politically correct" we mask over these issues. But are they sincere? or just "Correct"?
I believe they mask the real issues. There is still prejudice, which leads to social class divisions.
I'm glad I included a lucky charm in my last fantasy novel now. :)
ReplyDeleteI definitely used a few superstitions in my future projects as there's magic in my world. :)
ReplyDeleteSocial ethics is a big one--lots of room for tension there.
ReplyDeleteI read another post about Amish superstitions today and it was quite fascinating. Can you imagine what incredible world building just adding a few unique superstitions would accomplish?
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superstitions can say a lot about different cultures. We can see the similarities and differences between countries and regions so I would definitely consider them important for world building.
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Tim has different classes in his gaming world stuff that he writes and plays.
ReplyDeleteYes to social classes!! I'm currently trying to decode the enormously complex caste structure of Hindu society. Yikes.
ReplyDeleteSay one thing, writing an entire believable world isn't easy task...which may be why my fantasy trilogy is languishing.
ReplyDeleteI think I'm going to leave those three alone for my epic/heroic fantasy WIP. Those can stay at the bottom of the Triangle of the Familiar and the Strange.
ReplyDeleteOh do Iever believe that social class divisions or status. How many, even where I work, call and talk rudely to whom they think is a receptionist when she was a credit counsellor for years. As soon as they talk to someone whom they think is "higher up" they change the way they speak and talk as if the person is more equal-sad isn't it. Class structure exists still but one may not see it as openly in our prt of the world as in some others. I am trying to think of something I consider lucky-like arabbit's foot but can't think of one
ReplyDeleteExcellent things to ponder. I think I enjoy inserting superstitions a lot. Fun to play with those. :)
ReplyDeleteI don't have a lucky charm, but I wish I did. :D
ReplyDeleteMy books are all set in middle school, so the social classes are generally within the confines of the school itself...and often aren't necessarily based on anything real. Mostly perceptions of wealth/superiority for whatever reasons tweens and teens come up with!
ReplyDeleteThe way people treat each other in stories is critical to understanding what their world is like. We'd like to think we've moved beyond class divisions, but no way has that happened. We just pretend and perhaps over compensate with "political correctness."
ReplyDeleteI think everyone has some form of superstition, even if its very mild---I like the idea of making it a character trait, even in contemporary.
ReplyDeleteno lucky charms for this girl...(hides rabbit foot)
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