Create your own Creation Myth
1. Choose an object or event that you love, that you respect or that fascinates you. Even if you know all
about the science of how rain works, for example, you might draw your mythic explanation from how it
makes you feel.
2. Imagine how your object or event might be created on a mythic level. What makes that rain fall from
the sky, anyway? Is it a million birds crying? Is it the Cloud Mother wringing out her wet laundry? Is
the Star Farmer sweating after a hot day’s work? (You also get to invent people like the Cloud Mother
or Star Farmer. That’s part of the fun.)
3. Imagine why someone would want to create this object or event. Or, if it’s something that happens by
accident, imagine why someone would want to prevent it. Are the birds crying rain even though
someone is trying to make them happy? Does the Cloud Mother want to make sure all the water from
her laundry drains away? Will the Star Farmer dry up into the cold white moon if he sweats too much?
4. Now that you know how and why, build a story. Set your myth in a place that resembles the natural
world or human society, but where magic runs strong and consequences are vast. Consider an ethical
conflict between your characters, such as good or bad, generous or selfish. Maybe it could be the kind
of human drama we all understand: parent against child, wife against husband, people against
animals. The creation that results, even if it comes as a surprise, should seem inevitable by the end of
the story. Because there’s always been rain, right?
30 pts
TO GET AN A:
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Your
Your
Your
Your
creation
creation
creation
creation
myth
myth
myth
myth
must be over 1 page but less than 2 pages.
must be written in a formal, old fashioned voice.
must have been edited peer edited.
needs to be free from any major grammatical errors.
myth
myth
myth
myth
must be 1 page
must be written in a formal, old fashioned voice.
must have been peer edited.
has some major grammatical errors.
myth
myth
myth
myth
is less than 1 page.
IS NOT written in a formal, old fashioned voice.
must have been peer edited.
HAS MANY GRAMMATICAL ERRORS.
TO GET A B:
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
Your
Your
Your
Your
creation
creation
creation
creation
TO GET A C:
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
Your
Your
Your
Your
creation
creation
creation
creation
TO GET A D OR F
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You do less than the above criteria.