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














