#developing mythologies

Do your research. If you’re going to base your mythology on a real one, make sure you make an effort to purchase/borrow some material on the subject.

You can be as subtle as you want. Once you’ve done the above point you can use your newly gained knowledge to create something based on your research. The most entertaining part is making your work just obvious enough to see if any of your readers will catch on.

Mythology is weird. If you’ve ever read any stories or tales of a given culture, there is almost always taboo subject matter like incest, bestiality, dismemberment, zombies, etc, that will arise. Most of it is impossible, some of it not so much.

Use your imagination. I’m sure you’ve encountered silly or strange tales your parents told you as a kid about some things. I heard a particularly disgusting version of the story of the Sandman that didn’t involve sand. My mom told me that thunder was created by clouds colliding like bumper cars.

Mythology is meant to be told, so try to design it to be spoken aloud or event to music and dance.

Also something to make note of is how differing culture’s mythologies parallel or overlap with each other. I know this isn’t a mythology or religion class, but for the sake of your writing, look at everything objectively. Note reoccurring themes that some mythologies tend to have like elemental creatures, fire demons from the depths, light gods from the sky, giants that protect certain areas. Understanding why people believe what they believe makes faith all that much stronger.