Q&A for How to Write a Myth

Come up with a natural mystery, like how the planets were created, why snakes don't have legs, or why the grass is green and start there.

Yes, you can. The majority of myths are usually written in third person.

When you've finished your myth, ask people to read it and give you their honest opinions.

Think about what is odd or fantastical about the natural mystery. For example, why don't snakes have legs but other animals do? Then think of a story behind that: maybe the snake used to have legs but he lost them in a war, or he got them taken away because he misbehaved, or maybe he wanted to be unique and different from all the other animals. Go from there.

You could write about whatever you wanted, but maybe choose something about her that intrigues you. It's always best to write about something that interests you; usually the reader can tell whether you actually enjoyed writing the myth/story.

If it's well executed, then it can be a possible option. However, I wouldn't recommend this until you're more experienced with writing and structuring myths.

For a protagonist you can use any stereotypical person like a prince who thinks he's better than everyone. Or for an antagonist you can do maybe a mix between two things, like Medusa is a snake/human.

Yes, a myth explains how something happened or came to be. Creation myths are some of the most common myths.

Yes.

No, you do not.

I just searched for names with meanings related to my topic. For example, I needed to make up a name for a rain goddess, so I searched for names that mean rain and named her Reva.

Change the the myth to fit into your story.

Myths tell stories that can entertain and educate the listeners/readers on moral lessons.

Sure, I think that is a good thing to write about, but the most important thing is that you like the idea.

You can start it in whichever way you'd like, but you should make it catchy.

Think about the main point you are trying to prove in your myth and use that as the basis for the name.

Ask your most honest friends to read your work and tell you what they think, or post your work online on a website like Wattpad and see what random strangers think!

Think about things you might have wondered about as a child, such as how birds fly, and explore writing a myth around that.

You could search gods and goddesses online. there are gods and goddesses for almost everything.

That depends on what myth you are writing about. The myth in the example is about why vultures have bald heads, and their title is "Why Vultures have Bald Heads."

Try, "In the earliest of time," "Long, long ago," or, "Many years ago."

Simply do what interests you. Ask a question you can answer in a mythical fashion.

They are almost always just after the beginning of time, and explain some sort of natural mystery. Talking animals are popular in myths, but are not completely necessary.

Whatever makes sense as a story. Just think of it as a normal story but about different things.

Any length. Some myths are only 1-2 pages, some are 50, it's up to you. Just make sure your myth is enjoyable for the reader.

You do not need to skip lines between sentences when writing anything, unless it is an assignment for school and you've been specifically asked to do so by the teacher.

Generally third person is better, but you can write in first person if you have enough experience writing myths.

Yes, you can. You can create a myth about why mobile phones need to charge or why mechanical pens were created.

Filler text never works out well, and often times ends up really bogging down the momentum of the story, all in the name of quantity over quality. This is especially going to ring true if you end up with a myth that's comprised of two thirds filler text. Sometimes you don't need 1000 words to get your point across, and that's alright. Just hand in the 300 words if it's a good enough myth.

A legend has parts that are based on true facts, and myths are made up stories to teach people lessons.