Advice to help you embed folklore in storytelling
By Sheila Arellano
Hidden in the nooks and creases of societies lies a vast well of inspiration: the myths and legends of the world. The magical stories of the past have been a part of fiction since the beginning of time. Writers like Rick Riordan, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Roshani Chokshi, Julie Kagawa and Tomi Adeyemi, among many others, have been inspired by the myths and legends of diverse cultures. Due to their careful weaving of myths into their fiction, along with their incredible imagination, these writers can create vivid tales. As a Latinx fantasy writer, I have written three manuscripts based on Latinx mythology. Today, I hope to offer some guidance on how to weave myths and legends into your writing.
Be Respectful
When being inspired by myths and legends, it is essential to do it from a place of respect and consideration. As you decide where to draw inspiration from, be aware of your own heritage and history. For example, I am from Mexico, thus I choose to be inspired by Latinx myths and legends. This is because I experience Mexican culture and customs daily. This allows me to accurately represent this ethnic group from a place of respect.
Research Thoroughly
Research is one of the most crucial aspects of correctly incorporating myths and legends into your writing. Regardless of being Mexican, I dive deep into research. Every time I travel to Mérida, México, I stop by the local bookstore and buy as many Maya and Aztec mythology books as I can. I schedule a time to accommodate reading these promptly. I have travelled to Maya towns in the Mexican península to learn and accurately represent the Indigenous communities of Mexico and Latin America. Internet sources have been extremely helpful, too. But it is vital to verify where information comes from and check each source’s reference list.
Keep Your Notes and Sources Organized
When performing research, it is essential to keep the information you find organized. This can also let you compare and contrast information from various sources and see if the facts and tales match. Write down page numbers and the names of authors along with the titles of their books. Save screenshots of the information you find online and include all the links in your document. Make sure it is neatly organized, you’ll thank me later.
Free Your Imagination
Once you have respectfully chosen a source of inspiration, done your research and organized the information, it is time to gather your favourite myths and legends and let your imagination fly. If you are writing fantasy, here is when you insert mythological creatures into a scene or base a magic system on the Gods your character worships. Since you are writing fiction, you are free to thread and sprinkle myths and legends into your story. Personally, I am inspired by visual and auditive prompts, which I usually gather through Pinterest boards and movie or video game soundtracks. I recommend you listen to your favourite soundtrack and pick an image that inspires you. Let your imagination do the rest.
Embed Your Chosen Mythology Within the Logic of Your World
The myths and legends you chose must appear in your story organically. To do this, you must embed them in your world logically. For example, in fantasy stories, mythology often manifests in magic systems, which are made up of rules and regulations. Magic systems also affect the culture and history of your world. For example, try asking yourself these questions:
- How does this myth interact with other aspects of my world?
- Is this specific mythological creature native to a certain culture?
- In which ways do these legends affect the beliefs of my characters?
- Have these mythological Gods influenced the customs, culture, transportation systems or education curricula of my fictional world?
- Do legal systems play a role in regulating the magic or mythological creatures in my story? If so, what types of rules and regulations have emerged?
- Do these tales relate to the flora and fauna? How does the natural world influence the myths of my story?
The journey of weaving mythology and legends into your story is fun and exciting. For me, it is one of my favourite parts of creating a fantasy world. I hope these tips guide you on your writing journey. Please leave any other tips or comments below!
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