What do the people in your fictional world believe? What traditions do they celebrate? And what happens when someone challenges society’s expectations? Today, we’re exploring how to create believable societies and cultures that bring our novels to life!
Welcome back to Day 14 of Preptober 2026! 🎃✍️
You guys, we’re officially TWO WEEKS into our 31-day novel-planning challenge!
Can you believe it?!
We’ve already spent so much time getting to know our stories, developing our characters, and building the worlds they’ll inhabit.
And over the past couple of days, we’ve been diving into worldbuilding.
We started by establishing our settings, climates, terrain, and natural resources.
Yesterday, we explored the magic and technology available in our fictional worlds.
And today?
We’re figuring out how the people in those worlds actually LIVE! 💕
Because creating a believable world involves more than knowing where the mountains are or how the magic system works.
We also need to understand the people who live there.
What do they believe?
What do they value?
What traditions do they follow?
And what happens when someone decides they don’t want to follow those traditions anymore?
That’s where things get interesting! 👀
Today, we’re exploring society and culture, and how these elements can influence our characters, relationships, and conflicts.
What Is Society & Culture in Worldbuilding?
Let’s start with the basics.
When we’re talking about society, we’re looking at how people organize themselves and interact within a community.
Think about families, education, social classes, institutions, and the expectations that influence people’s lives.
Culture, on the other hand, includes the shared customs, traditions, values, beliefs, and practices that shape how people experience the world.
And these two things are closely connected!
For example, a community might place enormous importance on family loyalty.
That value could influence how people approach marriage, careers, and personal responsibilities.
Or perhaps a society strongly values independence and individual achievement.
That might influence how people view success, failure, and personal relationships.
Now, here’s something I want you to remember.
Your fictional society doesn’t need to be completely different from our own.
If you’re writing contemporary fiction, you might be exploring the social expectations of a real-world community.
If you’re writing historical fiction, you’ll be researching the customs and beliefs of a particular time and place.
And if you’re writing fantasy or science fiction, you might be creating entirely new cultures!
But regardless of your genre, the goal is the same.
Understand how the society surrounding your characters influences their choices and experiences.
Step 1: Identify Your Society’s Core Values 💕
First things first, grab your free Preptober 2026 E-Guide and turn to the Society & Culture section.
We’re starting with one important question.
What does your society value?
Maybe your fictional community places enormous importance on family.
Or tradition.
Honor.
Wealth.
Education.
Freedom.
Community service.
Personal achievement.
Maybe several of these values exist at once!
Now, here’s where things become especially interesting.
What happens when those values conflict?
Imagine a fictional town where family loyalty is considered one of the most important virtues.
Now imagine your protagonist receives an incredible career opportunity that requires moving away.
Their family expects them to stay.
Their community expects them to stay.
But your protagonist wants to pursue their dream.
Suddenly, a cultural value has become a source of conflict.
And nobody necessarily has to be the villain!
The family might genuinely believe they’re protecting something important.
The protagonist might genuinely love their family.
But their values and desires are pulling them in different directions.
That’s how society and culture can create meaningful storytelling opportunities.
Step 2: Explore Traditions & Customs 🎉
Now let’s talk about something I absolutely LOVE when it comes to worldbuilding.
Traditions!
Because traditions can make a fictional community feel incredibly alive.
Think about holidays.
Festivals.
Weddings.
Funerals.
Coming-of-age celebrations.
Religious or spiritual observances.
Family gatherings.
Or even little everyday rituals that people follow without thinking much about them.
These customs can reveal a lot about what a community values.
For example, imagine a fictional coastal town that holds an annual lantern festival to honor generations of fishermen.
Maybe families gather along the shoreline.
Maybe children decorate lanterns.
Maybe local businesses close early so everyone can participate.
That one tradition tells us something about the community’s history, identity, and relationships.
And it might also create an interesting setting for an important scene!
Maybe two characters reunite during the festival.
Maybe someone refuses to participate because of a painful memory.
Or maybe the protagonist challenges a tradition that’s been followed for generations.
Suddenly, a cultural detail has become part of the story.
And that’s what we’re looking for!
Traditions shouldn’t exist only to make your world look interesting. They can also reveal character and create opportunities for conflict.
Step 3: Think About Social Expectations
Now we’re getting into something that can have an enormous impact on our protagonists.
Social expectations.
Every society has expectations about how people should behave.
Some are formal rules.
Others are unwritten customs.
And sometimes, those unwritten expectations can be just as powerful as actual laws.
Think about questions like:
- What does society consider respectable?
- What behaviors are encouraged or discouraged?
- What does success look like?
- What expectations surround marriage, family, or careers?
- How are people treated when they don’t conform?
Now, here’s where things get interesting.
What happens when your protagonist doesn’t fit those expectations?
Maybe they’re expected to take over the family business, but they want a completely different career.
Maybe they’re pressured to marry someone they don’t love.
Maybe they belong to a community where asking for help is considered weakness.
Or maybe they’re determined to pursue something that others believe is impossible.
Those expectations can create internal and external conflict.
And remember what we talked about on Day 11?
False beliefs!
Sometimes our protagonists develop limiting beliefs because of the expectations surrounding them.
Maybe they’ve been taught that success is the only thing that matters.
Maybe they believe disappointing their family makes them a failure.
Or maybe they’ve spent their entire lives trying to become someone society expects them to be.
Your world’s social expectations can influence your protagonist’s emotional journey.
And that’s why this part of worldbuilding is so important.
Step 4: Explore Social Classes & Community Structures
Next, let’s think about how people are organized within your fictional society.
Does your world have distinct social classes?
Are there wealthy and working-class communities?
Do certain professions carry more prestige than others?
Are opportunities influenced by family background, education, or connections?
And how do these differences affect people’s everyday lives?
Now, you don’t necessarily need to create a complicated social hierarchy.
But it helps to understand whether certain characters have advantages or limitations because of their position within society.
For example, imagine two characters who want to attend the same prestigious university.
One comes from a wealthy family with access to tutors, professional connections, and financial support.
The other has to work multiple jobs while preparing their application.
Both characters might be equally talented.
But their circumstances create very different challenges.
And those differences can influence their motivations, relationships, and decisions.
A believable society doesn’t require every character to have the same opportunities or experiences.
In fact, understanding those differences can help make your fictional world feel more realistic.
Step 5: Think About Everyday Life
Okay, you guys.
Here’s something that I think can make worldbuilding especially fun.
The little details of everyday life! 💕
Because while enormous political conflicts and elaborate cultural traditions are interesting, sometimes the smallest details make a fictional world feel real.
What do people eat?
What do they wear?
How do they greet one another?
What do they do for entertainment?
How do families spend time together?
What does an ordinary workday look like?
Where do people gather?
And what does a typical weekend involve?
Now, I want to be very clear about something.
You do NOT need to answer every single one of these questions. 😂
We’re not creating an encyclopedia!
But choosing a few meaningful details can help readers feel immersed in your setting.
For example, imagine a small town where everyone gathers at the same diner on Sunday mornings.
That one detail can establish a sense of community.
It can create opportunities for characters to interact.
And it might become the setting for an important conversation or conflict.
Sometimes, the simplest worldbuilding details are the most effective.
Step 6: Remember That People Within a Culture Are Different
Here’s something important to consider when developing your fictional society.
Not everyone within a culture will think, believe, or behave exactly the same way.
People have different personalities.
Different experiences.
Different values.
And different opinions about the traditions and expectations surrounding them.
Some characters might embrace their community’s customs.
Others might question them.
Some might feel deeply connected to their cultural identity.
Others might feel trapped by certain expectations.
And some might have complicated feelings about both.
Those differences can make your fictional society feel more believable.
Because real communities aren’t made up of people who all agree about everything.
And your fictional communities shouldn’t have to be, either!
If you’re drawing inspiration from real-world cultures, take time to research them thoughtfully rather than relying on stereotypes.
Consider the variety of experiences and perspectives that exist within those communities.
The goal is to create people who feel like individuals, not simply representatives of a cultural category.
And that applies to fantasy worlds just as much as contemporary fiction!
Let’s Look at an Example: Pride and Prejudice 💕
Since we’ve been using Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen throughout our Preptober E-Guide, let’s explore how society and culture influence the novel.
Because if there’s one thing Pride and Prejudice demonstrates beautifully, it’s how social expectations can create compelling conflict.
Marriage & Social Expectations
One of the most important cultural expectations in Pride and Prejudice surrounds marriage.
For women in Elizabeth Bennet’s social position, marriage could have enormous financial and social consequences.
And because the Bennet estate is entailed away from the daughters, their future financial security is uncertain.
This helps explain why Mrs. Bennet is so determined to see her daughters married.
But Elizabeth doesn’t want to marry simply for financial security.
She values genuine affection, mutual respect, and personal happiness.
And that creates conflict between her individual desires and the expectations surrounding her.
Social Class & Reputation
Social class also plays an important role throughout the novel.
Characters are constantly aware of wealth, family connections, manners, and social standing.
And those differences influence how they perceive one another.
Think about Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
She places enormous importance on social position and family connections.
And when Elizabeth challenges her expectations, their interaction becomes a powerful moment of conflict.
Elizabeth’s willingness to stand up for herself reveals her character while also challenging the society around her.
Balls, Visits & Social Gatherings
Now let’s talk about some of the traditions that shape the novel.
Balls!
Visits!
Dinner parties!
Social gatherings!
These events aren’t simply opportunities for characters to wear beautiful clothes and have interesting conversations.
They’re important parts of the social world.
They provide opportunities for introductions.
They influence courtship.
They create situations where characters are observed and judged by others.
And they become the settings for some of the novel’s most important moments.
Think about the Meryton assembly, where Elizabeth first encounters Mr. Darcy.
Their initial interaction influences Elizabeth’s opinion of him.
And that first impression becomes an important part of the story’s central conflict.
Different Perspectives Within the Same Society
Now, here’s one of my favorite things about Pride and Prejudice.
The characters don’t all approach their society’s expectations in the same way.
Elizabeth values independence and genuine affection.
Charlotte Lucas approaches marriage more pragmatically, recognizing the importance of financial security.
Mrs. Bennet is deeply concerned about her daughters’ marriage prospects.
And Lady Catherine strongly reinforces social hierarchy.
All of these characters exist within the same broader society.
But they have different perspectives on what matters most.
And those differences create conflict, reveal character, and help explore the novel’s themes.
That’s effective worldbuilding!
The society isn’t simply a backdrop.
It’s actively influencing the story.
Step 7: Don’t Overcomplicate Your Society & Culture
Okay, you guys.
Here’s your friendly reminder for today.
You do NOT need to invent an entire civilization before November 1st. 😂
I know.
It’s tempting.
Especially when you’re writing fantasy or science fiction.
Suddenly, you’re creating fictional holidays.
Designing elaborate wedding ceremonies.
Inventing traditional clothing.
Developing entire educational systems.
And spending three hours deciding what everyone eats for breakfast.
And listen…
If you genuinely enjoy that process, there’s nothing wrong with it!
But remember why we’re doing Preptober.
We’re preparing to WRITE our novels.
We’re not trying to create the most elaborate worldbuilding documents imaginable.
So focus on the cultural details that are most relevant to your story.
What does your society value?
What traditions matter?
What expectations influence your characters?
And how might those expectations create conflict?
You can always expand on the details as you draft.
Your worldbuilding should support your writing process, not become another reason to delay starting.
Today’s Preptober Assignment ✍️
Grab your free Preptober 2026 E-Guide and turn to the Society & Culture section.
Today, we’re exploring the people and communities that make our fictional worlds feel alive.
Spend about 10–15 minutes answering these questions:
1. Core Values: What does my society value most?
Think about family, freedom, tradition, education, wealth, honor, or community.
2. Traditions & Customs: What holidays, celebrations, rituals, or everyday traditions are important?
3. Social Expectations: What behaviors are encouraged or discouraged? What does society expect from its members?
4. Community Structure: Are there social classes, important institutions, or differences in opportunity?
5. Everyday Life: What does a typical day look like for someone living in this world?
6. Conflict: How might my society’s values or expectations create obstacles for my protagonist?
And here’s one bonus question I especially love:
What is one social expectation my protagonist agrees with—or desperately wants to challenge?
Because that answer might help you discover an important source of conflict.
And remember…
You don’t need to create an entire culture in one sitting.
We’re simply establishing the details that will help make our fictional worlds feel believable.
Follow Along With Preptober 2026! 🎃📖
If you’re just joining us, welcome!
Throughout October, I’m sharing 31 daily YouTube videos to help writers plan their novels and prepare for Novel November.
We’re working through my free Preptober 2026 E-Guide, one section at a time.
And whether you’re a dedicated plotter, a proud pantser, or somewhere in between, you’re welcome to join us!
You don’t need a fictional calendar.
You don’t need to invent twelve different holidays.
And you definitely don’t need to know the traditional breakfast foods of every community in your world. 😂
You just need to understand the cultural details that influence your characters and the story you’re trying to tell.
Coming Up Tomorrow: Who Lives in Your Story World? 🧚♀️🐉
Tomorrow, we’re moving on to Day 15 of Preptober 2026, and we’re exploring the different people, creatures, races, and communities that inhabit our fictional worlds.
For my fantasy writers, this might involve magical creatures or entirely fictional species.
For my contemporary and historical fiction writers, we’ll explore the different communities, social groups, and populations that make your settings feel alive.
Because understanding your society’s traditions and values is important.
But understanding WHO actually lives in that society?
That’s where our fictional worlds become even more interesting!
Before you go, I’d love to hear from you:
What’s one tradition or social expectation that plays an important role in your novel? 👀💕
Is it a family tradition?
A cultural celebration?
A social rule your protagonist wants to break?
Or an expectation that makes your protagonist’s life significantly more complicated? 😂
Tell me in the comments!
I’ll see you tomorrow!
We’ve got a novel to plan. 🎃✍️
