What’s in a Name? The Sound of Grobugs and the Art of Worldbuilding in Mockwing Mayhem

When building a fantasy world from scratch, even the names you give your characters shape the experience for your readers. In Mockwing Mayhem, I made some very specific choices about how Grobugs are named and how their society functions—and it all stems from one simple idea:

Sound matters.

Unlike more typical naming conventions drawn from nature—like River, Bark, or Twig—I gave my Grobug characters sound-based names. You'll meet Chirp, Quiver, Hum, and Kapow, among others. These names feel alive. They evoke action, presence, and personality. They make the Grobugs feel both relatable and otherworldly.

Why Sound Names?

While nature-based names can be beautiful, they often feel symbolic more than functional. I wanted my Grobugs to feel like they are what they do. A Grobug named "Kapow" doesn’t need a long backstory—you already know he hits hard and fast.

That ties into the deeper structure of Grobug society.

Ranks and Roles in Grobug Culture

Each Grobug belongs to a social class based on their life stage and function:

• Wigglers: Baby Grobugs. They wiggle. That’s about it.

• Grunts: Adolescents doing grunt work—unskilled, chaotic, and eager.

• Workers: Adults who’ve specialized in fields like:

  • Fighters – Battle monsters with physical force.

  • Seers – Offer guidance through mystical insight.

  • Tenders – Caregivers and builders who heal, grow, and protect.

This simple but layered system helps readers understand Grobug culture at a glance, while also creating space for deeper meaning and character growth.

Hidden in Plain Sight

Grobugs live in our world—but they don’t want humans to know it. They’re hidden, like toys in Toy Story, operating in the margins, protecting the world from threats we can’t see.

That secrecy is part of what makes Mockwing Mayhem magical. Their world overlaps with ours, but they don’t borrow our words or our myths.

Take Kapow, for instance.

Mockwing Mayhem Worldbuilding Challenges

Kapow is stealthy, agile, and wields multiple weapons with lightning-fast precision. He feels like a ninja—but I never use the word “ninja” in the book.

Why? Because Kapow doesn’t know that word. Neither does anyone else in his world.

That’s part of the illusion I work hard to maintain: the Grobugs live in their own reality, with their own terms, tools, and logic. Calling Kapow a “Grobug Ninja” would break the spell. Instead, readers get to feel the connection without ever being told. That’s worldbuilding.

Relatable, But Distinct

My goal with Mockwing Mayhem was to make something new. Something alien yet emotionally true. I didn’t want to rehash fairies or elves or talking animals from old tales. I wanted a world where characters like Kapow, Chirp, and Quiver live by rules all their own.

And I’m not alone in that effort. Other series like Redwall, The Spiderwick Chronicles, and Guardians of Ga’Hoole take similar yet distinct approaches—blending animal instincts with human emotion and mythic adventure.

Each method has its merits.

But the Grobugs? They're something different.

How Do You Like Your Creatures?

Do you prefer your fantasy creatures to reflect real-world behaviors? Or do you like when authors invent completely new rules, like I’ve done with the Grobugs?

What kinds of names work best for you—nature, sound, or something else entirely?

I’d love to hear what you think of Mockwing Mayhem and how its world compares to the books you love.

🐛 Want to Meet the Grobugs?

If you're curious about the magical guardians in Mockwing Mayhem, you're invited to step into the Grove. The Grobugs are waiting—small but brave, soft but fierce, hidden but ready to rise.

Mockwing Mayhem is available now.

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