From Tolkien’s Dwarves to Star Trek’s Klingons, invented cultures have always been a major part of science fiction and fantasy. But how do writers create and write about these new cultures? We’ll take a look at the three main models for inventing cultures, from human cultures in disguise to the completely new and unfathomable, three ways to put culture on the page, from “if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen ‘em all” to intersectionality that puts a new spin on the fictional melting pot, and three common pitfalls that can hamstring your story and alienate readers.
