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Worldbuilding: Hygiene

From bathing in streams and hot springs, to lavish Roman baths, to modern tiled showers the size of a log cabin, humans at some point started caring about cleanliness.

Historical time periods had different rituals associated with the resources they had available. In space, these mundane matters still matter. In a magical realm, they too must at some point evacuate waste and bathe.



We don't need an endless replay of mundane personal hygiene activities, but the realities of your story world will intrude at some point. In invented worlds, these details can add interest. You won't spend paragraphs talking about them. A passing mention will do.

When and how often did they bathe?

Did they associate bathing with health? Were they aware of germs and bacteria?

Where did they bathe: mineral springs, bodies of water, public baths, bathrooms, wooden tubs, sinks, bowls and ewers, showers, claw foot or porcelain tubs, or saunas?

Did they have a form of plumbing for water carrying: viaducts, cisterns, rain barrels, catchments, wells, or bodies of water?

How did they get rid of bodily waste: chamber pots, outhouses, flushing toilets, or trenches?


At another point in time, humans started removing and sculpting body hair.

How did they feel about body hair for men and did they have a method for removal? Where on the body and how?

How did they feel about facial hair for men? Did they prefer clean-shaven, bearded, mustaches, goatees, sideburns? Did they have a method of removal?

How did they feel about facial hair for women? Did they have a method of removal?

How did they feel about body hair for women and did they have a method for removal? Where on the body and how?

Did they have a form of odor control or perfumes?

How did women handle feminine hygiene? What did they use? Were there special routines or rituals associated with it?

Next week, we tackle forms of communication.

For advanced world-building, the SBB Build A World Workbook is available in print and e-book.


Other titles in the series:

Story Building Blocks: The Four Layers of Conflict available in print and e-book takes you from story seed to conflict outline. The fourteen companion Build A Plot Workbooks, in print and e-book, offer step by step development prompts: ComedyCon, Heist & Prison BreakFantasyGothicHistoricalHorrorLiterary
(Drama),  MysteryRoad TripRomanceScience FictionTeam VictoryThriller & SuspenseWestern.

SBB II Crafting Believable Conflict in print and e-book and the Build A Cast Workbook in print and e-book help you build a believable cast and add conflict based on the sixteen personality types.

SBB III The Revision Layers in print and e-book helps you self-edit your manuscript.

Free story building tools are available at www.dianahurwitz.com.  

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