It's a ton of fun to create your own myth if you use the great legends that have come before as a guide and source of inspiration. But where to start…

The most important element of a myth to consider is which kind you want to write. Do you want to write a creation myth that describes how the Earth came to be like The Legend of Turtle Island, or do you want to explain why we need to honor a value or belief? We saw an example of why the Tewa tribe believes it is important to uphold their spiritual way of life in Deer Hunter and White Corn Maiden.

Next, and probably the most exciting part is picking your supernatural characters! Myths are packed with gods and goddesses that interfere with the fate of the living like the buckskin-robed spirit in Deer Hunter and White Corn Maiden. They even have animals that talk like the loon in Sedna, and elements such as the wind or water personified. Your choices are limitless. Take a look around your home or go outside and just sit quietly to observe your surroundings. Maybe the pigeons have a message for human beings about being wasteful? Maybe the gods turned a tribe of humans into pigeons because they wasted the food they hunted, so now they must forever scavenge the cities for the castoffs of others? See how fun this can be?

Heroes, Helpers, and Villains
The supernatural characters you create are only the tip of the iceberg. Just think of all the other important characters needed to tell a story of mythical proportion. Sometimes myths have heroes or heroines that must overcome a difficult challenge. Whether they fail or succeed is up to you. It's also up to you who they are. American Indian heroines were often humans like Sedna, but they don't always have to be. Maybe your heroine is your dog? Or the rabbit in your backyard that always outsmarts your dog? Maybe your hero is you?

Similar to other stories, characters in myths have sidekicks or helpers that enable them to succeed, and evil characters that contribute to their downfall. Sedna's legion of sea creatures certainly help condemn her father to the depths of the sea!

Finally, what ever gods, animals or force of nature you choose as your characters, keep in mind that their actions must be symbolic. They must represent more than the ordinary. Ideally, your character's actions will allow your readers to understand the lesson or moral you or trying to impart. Or, if you are writing a creation myth, your characters will shed light on how something came to be. So dig deep into that creative mind of yours and think about what's important to you. Then, unleash your inner mythmaker and send your myth to us to share!