Reconnecting to Our Roots as Storytellers Through World Myth

Tidbit
Aug 5
2 min read

Updated: Aug 12

Reconnecting to Our Roots as Storytellers Through World Myth post cover

Hey there, fellow Storytellers. Tidbit here with a special look at mythology. Over these last few months, we've gotten to know some wonderful and unique divine beings from lesser-known mythological stories. We want to continue to celebrate them this month by deep diving into what it means to reconnect to our writing roots from an ancient perspective.

Mythology Unites

People of the past have used stories to help shape our world and make sense of the bigger questions of our universe. Some are led down the path of science to study the world atom by atom. Others turn into storytellers who study every detail of the living world and reimagine it. Both must dig deeper into the remnants of the ancient past to unlock deeper discoveries.

If you study mythology long enough, you notice the overlaps in ancient stories all around the world. Themes and events that captured millions and united the world. More now than ever, we need stories that take a chance. Stories about flying cars and dystopian sci-fi are fantastic. But it needs to be rooted in meaningful truth, not cinematic action shots. Wouldn't it be cooler if we tied real ancient myths to dystopian stories and made some unique content?

There are so many unsung myths out there in the world, we just have to pick one and write about it. The power of myth is something we all share, so why not embrace it and tell some awesome stories with it?

Where to Start with World Mythology

The biggest advice I can give you on this subject is to start with what interests you and branch out organically. Start small with one or two references and take copious notes on the details that stand out to you. These are the breadcrumbs that may evolve into your next story. Come up with an organization system that works best for you and doesn't take long to set up. Simplicity is key in any endeavor into the unknown.

Here are some ways that you can approach world mythology:

By Continent/Island/Land Mass
By Country/Group of People
By Belief System (Example: Greek Mythology was believed by the Greeks)
By Period in History

Or, again, whichever you find most interesting. I recommend starting with something you're unfamiliar with before becoming best friends with something you already know a lot about. I stayed away from Greek Mythology when I did this exercise because I learned about it in school more than Native American Mythology. We live in the digital age, so do your research with your wits about you. Check and recheck sources and writer bias.

Here are some keywords to plug in and play around with in the search engine:

Japanese Folklore
Myth of the Caribbean Islands
Egyptian Myth
Myth from Mesopotamia
World Mother Goddesses
Myth from Austalasia
World Myth of Kingdoms of Gold
The Story of Amistad

There's an infinite number of ways to approach world mythology. Be sure to respect and acknowledge the culture from which the myths you learn about originate. Let the power of myth reunite the people of Earth through a new age of storytelling.