Inside the Wonder World, Lesson 21

Traditional Beliefs

Welcome to my Friday edition of Substack, which features my paid posts: Inside the Wonder World.

Those paid subscribers who stick with me for a year will get a free copy of the book as soon as it’s out.

Inside the Wonder World is the working title of my developing craft book on writing and publishing for young readers. I’m bringing it to you in pieces, both to help you learn something more deeply (lessons and exercises included) and to push me to finish this lofty goal.

Here’s the next lesson!

Traditional Belief Systems

Your characters need all sorts of belief systems in order to feel truly real.

Quite apart from moral codes and platforms are traditions. These are habitual things we do, either as a group or singly, that are rooted in history. They have no value that can be attached as either positive or negative; they just are.

Examples are things like bringing out holiday ornaments, or practicing regular rituals like blessings, or performing actions - even those based in superstition. Eating certain things at certain times is a tradition. Dressing in certain ways at certain times is a tradition – think, Easter bonnets. We all have traditions, and they are based on our culture and family. They can be big or quite small.

I once got into a rideshare and the driver immediately asked me if I’d had a good flight. Even before I could answer he made the sign of the cross. He then asked if I was having a good day, and, ditto. His asking after the welfare of another, and hoping for a good outcome, was to then use a traditional gesture of prayer. Warding away evil, as I thought of it. For him it was completely habitual, maybe even unconscious. And to me, fascinating.