Building Fictional Organizations
Corporations, guilds, book clubs, cartels, unions, non-profits, religious sects… The world is full of organized groups, and your created world is probably already no exception (and if it is, I have questions). This post is all about how to take existing groups–and/or create new ones–and ensure that they are as purposeful, dynamic, and impactful on your characters and world as they should be. To help make things more concrete, I’ll be using the calligraphy guilds of Calligraphy Guild and Grantech from Lightning and Short Story Collection vol. 1 as examples throughout. Let’s get into it!
Core Purpose
In order for your fictional organization to hold together, justify its existence, and be distinguished from other groups, it needs to have a clear purpose. A Virilen calligraphy guild’s purpose, for example, is to safeguard dragon ink and faithfully record history in said dragon ink so that it cannot be altered, and (as a bonus) to provide a community around the craft of writing. This is something clear and specific that all the other elements of the group can be shaped to support and facilitate.
Some groups might even have two or three purposes: a public purpose, a private purpose, and/or your purpose for them as the author. Grantech’s public purpose is to push forward scientific advancement for the betterment of society; its private purpose is to harness magic into its technology for its own gain and the creation of a supersoldier army; and my purpose for it is to show the dangers of scientific advancement without moral limits. The Hairen calligraphy guild doesn’t really have a private purpose; its above purposes are public, and my purpose with it was to showcase community–and especially the writing community–in a tangible context. Though you might say that calligraphy guilds have a primary purpose (safeguarding dragon ink and history) and a secondary purpose (providing community and education around the craft of writing). Rather like having 2-3 values per culture instead of just one, these layers of purpose make for a more dynamic group overall–especially if these purposes can be put into conflict with one another.
Your purpose for a group will help shape its own internal purposes; it’s hard to show the dangers of science without morality through an organization that values science founded upon moral principles and has no ulterior motive! Likewise, it’s hard to convey a sense of community through an organization that rarely meets and encourages its members to pursue their own projects without much input from other members. Your organization might not exist to convey a particular theme, but instead to challenge a trait or belief in your character(s), showcase your world and its values, or provide additional tools toward furthering your plot, and different purposes carry different levels and kinds of limitations.
Your group’s internal purpose(s) should arise from the needs of your society–or the needs perceived by the group’s founders–and the motivations of the characters who founded it and/or who now keep it going. Groups might be formed to solve social issues, to further political causes, to assemble practitioners of a shared craft, to bring people of a certain demographic into community with one another, etc. Generally speaking, organizations are there to fill a vacuum–or perceived vacuum–and further a certain set of values, whether those values are very specific (“the current king is a tyrant and should be forcibly removed”) or more general (“we’re all teenagers facing the same teenage problems, so let’s get through it together”).
Calligraphy guilds were formed when the dragons entrusted humans with their ink; the small group of people entrusted with the ink had been charged with safeguarding the ink and using it to preserve time, but they knew that was too big a job for only a handful of people, so they began guilds across the island in order to train other writers in the skill of writing and the proper use of dragon ink. Grantech was formed after a total collapse of civilization and the wiping out of functional technology; it was begun to repair and rebuild the country’s technological infrastructure when no one else was around to do so.
Consider, also, whether your organization generates revenue. Whether it is a free organization, generates revenue from a membership fee, or operates as a business will affect the way that it operates as a whole. Money–as well as the lack thereof–can easily be another motivating factor for your organization. Unpaid organizations will be more concerned with acquiring the resources they need by other means, groups with a membership fee may see a smaller or more elite membership roster that feels the financial investment should mean more of a say over the organization’s operations, and businesses have to worry about money just as much as their underlying values.
Overarching Structure
Once you’ve defined your organization’s purpose(s), you can begin to think about how it might be structured. Think about who founded the organization, who might have succeeded them (and whether those successors were chosen by the founder or stepped into the role on their own), and what sort of leadership might be necessary to the group’s focus and scope. Some groups might have a leader merely because someone has to make the decisions, but a leadership role means very little. Some organizations might have a leader in place to ensure quality of work and approve new applicants. Some might have an entire hierarchy, with leaders and sub-leaders each serving different roles in the organization. Some groups might be purely democratic, some might be part of a network, some might be split into departments, etc.
Groups built around common interests rarely need a strong leader, though those intended for high volumes of discussion might have designated moderators to ask questions and ensure conversation doesn’t veer off topic or become hostile. Task-oriented groups may need more forceful and/or quality-aware leadership in order to accomplish the task(s) at hand and do so at an acceptable caliber. Organizations built around a cause need leaders who can inspire members and instill confidence in the purpose being pursued, as well as rally people to join them and take action in favor of the cause, and they need support members who can take that inspired action and turn it into something organized and practical.
Calligraphy guilds have guildmasters whose skill has been approved by the imperial calligrapher and the dragons themselves, whose purpose is to teach the writing craft to those within their guild and approve work that is completed or correct errors. All calligraphy guilds serve the same function, so in a sense they are part of a network, but their primary source of connection is in their subjection to the dragons, the imperial calligrapher, and the emperor himself. Calligraphers may transfer from one guild to another if they move to a new area, and other guild members or guildmasters may be called upon to assist with certain projects, but their affiliation is overall very loose.
Grantech has two primary departments–the department of science and the department of security–and each has a myriad of interconnected departments under them. The two also interact with one another, sometimes above board and sometimes under the table. Everything is interrelated and interdependent, and overseen by the same CEO at the very top.
Think about what roles your group may need to fulfill its purpose, as well as how its underlying values would affect its leadership structure, and try to map out its general hierarchy.
Membership Requirements
The first thing to consider in terms of membership requirements is the question of what is required for someone to be eligible for membership in the first place. Initiation warrants its own point, but think about the fundamental characteristics of those who make up this group’s membership. Is a certain skill, or set of skills, necessary? Are members chosen to fulfill certain roles (e.g. in a business that’s hiring)? Is the group limited to a certain gender, vocation, social class, age, geographical region, etc.? This, too, will affect the overall tone and direction of a group, as members of a particular demographic will bring certain cultural behaviors from that demographic into the group; the group’s culture will be greatly influenced by the cultural experience of its members–whether intentionally or not, and whether members appreciate the cultural context they’re coming from or are seeking to subvert it.
Beyond initial membership requirements, however, think about what might be required of members once they have joined the group. Does the organization require a tax or a pledge of its members? Are members instructed to keep a token of their membership around their house, on their person, or in their place of business to advertise their loyalty? A certain level of attendance or participation may also be expected. An organization may have a set of rules for the conduct of members, whether inside or outside of the group’s immediate context (or both). Certain behaviors might be expected of members in order to preserve the reputation of an organization–or keep its existence a secret.
It may help to think of these requirements in terms of categories: contribution of support/resources, shows of loyalty, and proper behavior. From there you can determine whether this organization would call for one, two, or all three of these categories, and what each might entail within the context of this particular organization’s purpose and character.
Initiation
With requirements met, think about how members might be initiated into this organization, starting with how they come to start the process in the first place. Start by asking how people might find this organization in the first place, to become members. Do existing members of the group keep an eye out for eligible non-members and invite them in? Do non-members find the organization on their own and apply for membership? (The secrecy or publicity of an organization will obviously play a big role here; high-paying, highly visible corporations will draw in a much higher volume of applications than secret assassin guilds or even little start-ups that aren’t hiding but are known only in their own small towns.)
Beyond visibility, consider what is required to join. Do characters have to pass tests, fulfill missions, and/or prove their skills? Do they have to be approved by an existing member of the organization? Must they have completed a certain level/type of education? Do they have to pay an entry fee? In the context of a business (or even other types of organizations, for that matter), this may look like an application, interview, and filling out of paperwork. In other contexts, maybe the aspiring member has to shadow a member on a supply run, pass a physical or mental test, go through specialized training, or build a reputation with existing members of the group.
Once your character has passed this level, think about whether there is any ceremony involved when they become a full-fledged member. Is there a party in their honor? Are they given a mark of membership (whether a literal mark like a tattoo or a symbol like a pin, badge, specialized piece of equipment, certificate, display item, etc.)? Are there any more negative traditions, like hazing rituals or unexpected final tests?
Virilen calligraphers must pass a writing test in order to become guild members, proving their skill at historical research, accuracy, and general writing prowess. Upon passing this test, they are entrusted with their own glass well of dragon ink–albeit one that remains under lock and key inside the guild building when not in use there.
Lastly, think about what it might take to leave the group. Are members required to give notice before they leave, whether to allow the organization to find someone else to take their role or to give the organization time to win them back? Are they even allowed to leave in the first place, or is the group so secret that no one can leave without jeopardizing the organization as a whole? Are there measures taken to ensure that secrets don’t get out–maybe a secrecy spell, a contract with dire consequences if broken, or blackmail? What benefits and marks of membership are revoked? Are there any permanent marks that must remain even after a member leaves the organization (e.g. tattoos)?
As a side note: These considerations can also apply to entire nations, as you think about how characters gain citizenship or leave a nation behind.
Meetings & Functions
Now it’s time to think about this group’s function, and I’m going to throw in here benefits of membership as well. When I talk about a group’s function, I’m thinking in terms of the practical application of the group’s purpose. If the group’s purposes are to preserve time and dragon ink, its functions are to write accurate historical accounts in dragon ink, select trustworthy members, and keep the ink under lock and/or guard when not in use. If its purpose is to remove a certain political leader from office, its functions might be to publish materials, host rallies and interviews, etc. to convince the general public–and/or whoever is in charge of deciding the country’s leadership–that that leader should be removed. Figuring out your fictional organization’s functions will help determine how it operates, what sorts of officers it needs, and whether/how often its members meet.
If your group is one that requires meetings (and most are, even if those meetings are infrequent), think about what those meetings involve. What is the purpose of meeting? To build relationships, angle for better positions within the organization, make decisions regarding the organization’s direction, celebrate accomplishments, revisit goals?
Who is involved in meetings? Are all members invited, or are meetings leadership-only? Are there ever exceptions to this rule? If so, what do those exceptions mean? If a character is invited to a leaders-only meeting despite being an ordinary member, does this mean that they’re being groomed to take on a new leadership role or succeed someone else?
What are standard meeting activities? Is there food and drink? Is there a good deal of discussion, or of small talk? Is there a set agenda, or are meetings fluid? Is there entertainment and, if so, what kind?
Lastly, what is the function of the group in an individual member’s life? What draws people in? Is it the promise of status, financial gain, a shared purpose, gained community, an opportunity to use one’s skills, some combination of things? Does an organization provide emotional/physical support–whether for its members or its members’ children or families? (For example, does being a member of this organization mean that your children have a guaranteed job once they’re old enough?) Organizations must have a means of drawing in new members–and drawing in the right members, for that matter–whether it is something tangible or not.
Promotion & Leadership
As almost a continuation of membership benefits, think about how members might advance within this organization. Are there even opportunities for advancement, the way this organization is constructed? If there are, how does one go about climbing the ladder? Do they need strong relationships, a particular reputation, specialized skills, or monetary influence? How long does it take to go from an entry-level role to something higher? How long does it take to get to the very top?
Once there, what are a leader’s responsibilities? Do they have to show up to every meeting and/or vote on decisions? Do they have a financial obligation to the organization? Are they directly responsible for keeping members in line and/or managing members coming and going? On the flip side, what are the privileges of leadership? A higher payout, a stronger reputation, greater influence elsewhere, greater influence over the direction of the group, better equipment or loot, better work or living space?
As mentioned earlier, calligraphers aspiring to be guildmasters must have their skills evaluated and approved by the imperial calligrapher and the guardian dragons in order to take the role. As the requirement is similarly rigorous to join the Emperor’s Academy, many calligraphers go that route for the prestige of a place at the Academy instead of remaining in guilds–even in a leadership position. (Being an Academy scholar also makes for less responsibility than mastering a guild, if not less pressure.) The responsibilities of a guildmaster are to teach the writing craft to those within their guild, correct errors, and approve completed work. They are also the lead investigators if a member of their guild misuses dragon ink, especially in Lower Virilen towns vs. the Upper Virilen towns that may have more guilds per city and are closer to the Academy and the seat of the imperial calligrapher. Guildmasters do get a special salary from the imperial calligrapher for maintaining the order of the craft, in addition to their even cut of the guild’s income (for copies of historical accounts and for fiction works written on the side, as well as dragon ink sold to other calligraphy guilds in some cases), and the satisfaction of watching younger calligraphers develop in their craft, plus the increased respect of their broader local community and (to differing degrees depending on their work and sometimes where they’re from) the calligraphy network. The role is set up to reward those who take on the important position, but to attract those who do it for the right reasons rather than those who prefer prestige–a necessary safeguard when dealing with such a powerful craft and resource.
Factions & Sub-Groups
To wrap up, I want to discuss the topic of factions and sub-groups. Organizations are rarely homogeneous, no matter how much they might like to be. There are going to be differing viewpoints even under the umbrella of a specific organizational purpose, and some of these viewpoints might be so prominent as to create factions and sub-groups within the organization. These groups may form over different views on the group’s methods, or even a desire to take the organization’s existing methods and apply them to a different purpose. Factions may be more or less in-sync with the existing structure and guidelines of the broader organization; they may play by the rules but secretly serve their own ends, or they might form their own code of conduct that is entirely different–whether one that is still subject to the broader guidelines and simply more specific or one that is drastically divergent from the group’s original code. Some sub-groups may be formed on purpose to serve more specific functions; some might have developed on their own; some might have developed and then been relegated to their own space/function by leaders seeking to contain disagreements in a way that serves the broader group.
Depending on how these factions and sub-groups got started and why, they may have more or less conflict with the broader group–or even additional factions and sub-groups within it. You might have a group trying to replace the current political leader, for example, with three different sub-groups each supporting different replacement candidates. If the organization’s members agree that two or even all of the candidates would be acceptable (or at least better than the current option), there might be only moderate or even minimal conflict between them. If, on the other hand, the proponents of Candidate A think that Candidate B would be just as bad or worse than the Current Politician… you’re going to have fights on your hands, and potentially even a full organizational split.
Some sub-groups have entirely benign distinctions from their larger group, though natural behavior is such that there may still be conflicts between them–simply over pettier things. For example, there are Virilen calligraphy guilds that don’t work with dragon ink at all and have formed around the writing of non-historical books in ordinary ink. They wanted a similar sense of community and respect for their craft, and some even began as dragon-ink calligraphy guilds, but they wanted to focus their writing skill toward a different purpose. Sometimes referred to as “book guilds” instead, for clarity’s sake, these guilds are technically still in an overlapping network with those guilds that protect history. Many calligraphers dabble in both historical work and non-historical work, anyway, so there’s not often a great deal of conflict between the two groups, but dragon-ink calligraphers can sometimes view “book guildsmen” as less important, imposters, or perfectly valid but entirely different from “calligraphers” and deserving of their own name and network.
I know I’ve given you a lot to think about in this post (and perhaps more Calligraphy Guild lore than you’d bargained for)! I’d love to hear your biggest takeaway from the post, what you’re excited to incorporate in your own fictional organizations, and anything else you’d like to comment!
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