Calendars, Holidays, and Worldbuilding: 50 Questions For Creatives: Way With Worlds, #16

By Steven Savage

We're used to calendars and holidays being part of our lives.  But what about our fictional settings?  How do our characters measure time, celebrate holidays, and why do they do these things?

 

This book is a helpful series of 50 questions, as well as follow-up exercises and more, to help you think about how people think about time in your setting - and why.  From calendars to holidays, timekeeping to professions, this book walks you through the important questions with helpful advice, suggested exercises, and more.

 

It's time to think about time in your world!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Steven Savage
• Release date: Oct 21, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393980100

Steven Savage

Steven Savage is a biologist, natural history writer, lecturer, and an associate member of the Institute of Biology in England. He teaches about ocean biology and has written more than thirty-seven natural history books for children.

Book preview

Table of Contents

Calendars, Holidays, and Worldbuilding

Other Books by Steven Savage

Keep Up With The Author

Introduction

How To Use This Book

The Questions

The World

Knowledge

Physical Influences

Physical Space

Practicality

Culture

History

Competition

Recognition

Professions

Adaption and Alteration

About The Author

Calendars, Holidays, and Worldbuilding:

50 Questions For Creatives

(The Way With Worlds Series)

(First Edition)

By Steven Savage

www.WayWithWorlds.com

Copyright © 2020 by Steven Savage

All Rights Reserved. The materials in this book are provided for the personal use of the purchaser of the book. No redesign, editing, reproductions, or creations of a derivative work from these materials is permitted without the permission of Steven Savage. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever, including but not limited to, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without written permission – except for the inclusion of quotations in a review or personal use.

The information in this book is offered with the understanding that it does not contain legal, financial, or other professional advice. Those interested in such advice should consult a competent, properly-certified professional.

While it is the sincere intent of this publication to provide accurate information in regard to the subject matter, the authors and all those affiliated with the publication of this book assume no responsibility for events occurring to any person or entity taking action or refraining from action as a result of the material in this publication.

This book is not completely comprehensive. Some readers may wish to consult additional forms of information, some of which are provided inside this book.

This book is provided as is without warranty of any kind.

AUTHOR: Steven Savage

www.StevenSavage.com

www.InformoTron.com

EDITOR: Bonnie Walling

Other Books by Steven Savage

A Bridge To The Quiet Planet: A Tale Of Dead Gods And Living Stories

Her Eternal Moonlight: Sailor Moon's Female Fans In North America, An Unauthorized Examination (with Bonnie Walling)

The Way With Worlds Series www.WayWithWorlds.com

Way With Worlds Book 1: Crafting Great Fictional Settings

Way With Worlds Book 2: Details And Discussion

Way With Worlds Minibook Series

The Creativity Series

The Power Of Creative Paths

Agile Creativity

The Art Of The Brainstorm Book

The Focused Fandom Series

Focused Fandom: Cosplay, Costuming, And Careers

Focused Fandom: Fanart, Fanartists, and Careers

Convention Career Connection

The Career Series

Fan To Pro: Leveling Up Your Career Through Your Hobbies

Epic Resume Go!

Resume Plus

Quest For Employment

Skill Portability

Keep Up With The Author

Keep up with all my books by subscribing to my newsletter. You'll get updates on my projects, free content, and more!

You can find out more about what I'm doing at www.StevenSavage.com

If you enjoy this series, please check out www.WayWithWorlds.com

You can find my books and more free resources at www.InformoTron.com

Introduction

Humans (and human-like people in stories) are creatures of time. From sunrise to sunsets, season to season, time is vital to our survival and well-being. We need to know when things happen and why, measure age, and understand what is to come. We also use it to mark important events with holidays and ceremonies.

Time is part of us.

But measuring calendars and holidays, thinking in months, years, and centuries is challenging. We are born into a world with calendars that have thousands of years of history, of holidays extending back into the unknown past. This book is a guide to making interesting and believable calendars and holidays for your settings.

I combine these into one subject because, again, time is linked to culture and perception. When you have people, you have time, you have culture – and calendars and holidays are where they come together.

How did this come about? Many years ago, I published a column series on worldbuilding called Way With Worlds, taking what I'd learned from writing, gaming, and coaching people. Years later, I revived and rewrote it, including knowledge I'd gained from various projects and experiences. It became a book series after that