20 TIPS FOR CREATING LORE
These are my top 20 key Story Writing questions one should ask when writing about specific persons or events that may be included as part of the Druwayu specific collections.
The more original the content, the better it will be, and obviously, the more aligned and relatable with all the previous information as the essential foundations of Druwayu, it will make it all that much better. It does not need to be purged of any humor either.
Every culture should have some sense of humor especially about itself, as it helps keep things more respectful and less prone to paranoid exaggerations, fears and excuses. This will focus a lot more on the aspects of characters, though also consider real world history, even the present, because even though factors can have subtle and dramatic influences on the mindset of characters and the feel of the times in which they exist (something often lacking in most lore or stories).
The Top 20
Who or what is it about and what lessons is it to convey?
Where do they or does it come from?
What shaped their personality or the situation?
How does that personality or situation affect other personalities or situations?
What do they want or what is the point?
What are their habits, what are the current conditions?
How their habits and or habitats influence their personalities and align?
What is their sense of self and what is the influence of the environment on them?
How do you avoid imposing your own views on the characters?
How much of yourself do you want reflected in any of the characters?
Can you separate yourself from the characters?
How much of other character personalities are based on your perception of others?
How do they react or not act in a given situation?
Are they consistent with their choices of action or inaction or are they unpredictable?
How can they gain or not gain something, or why can't they get what they seek, or if they can, why d they avoid it?
What did they do about it or did others do about them?
Why one thing or another doesn’t work and why they have the avoided something that might?
How does it start and all end and does the end actually make sense?
Is the ending consistent with the overall story from its premise to its conclusion?
Is the ending meant to be the conclusion of the story or left open for its expansion?
Bonus Tip:
Review how some stories set the plot from the start, or start from a present point of recalling the past, or perhaps some foresight. Research real world histories, even the more archaic when possible, and do not be afraid to challenge conventional assumptions often pawned off as true, yet factually never proven conclusively and simply "accepted." This is more common than most care to admit.
Things to also remember are:
It does not have to be historical to convey some wisdom or important lesson.
It should not be based upon or intended to be the mockery of something outside of Druwayu, though this does not mean it should lack humor and sarcasm.
If it is historically based, it must be the discipline of the author to not insert their interpretations of such events, impose the fallacy of presentism, and simply record them as they occurred, regardless one’s feelings or opinions about such matters.
If it is a myth or fable, it must be clearly indicated as such, and in addition to all the above, it does not have to be a long story, and can be rather short ones as part of the growing and dynamic lore of Druwayu.
Note: You can take inspiration from any source so long as it does not seek to displace or "shoe horn in" those sources. Focus more on consistency which is all the more reason it is important to review all the essentials of Druwayu as shared.