rustomuutto

Rustomuutto is a neologism used in speculative fiction, game design, and online collaborative storytelling to describe a modular approach to worldbuilding and narrative construction. In this framework, narrative components such as settings, characters, artifacts, and events are treated as independent units—storylets—that can be created, modified, and recombined without altering a centralized canon.

The term is contemporary and lacks a formal etymology. It arose within online communities in the early 2020s and is often treated as a playful blend of invented terms rather than a scholarly coinage. Its spelling and usage vary across communities, reflecting its hobbyist roots.

Practice and characteristics include modular units, non-linear arrangement, and an emphasis on collaborative authorship. It supports emergent storytelling in tabletop games, community zines, and interactive fiction, enabling contributors to add pieces that can be rearranged to form new narratives. Tools associated with rustomuutto often involve modular grids, component sheets, and versioned story catalogs that track relationships between units.

Variations and examples commonly describe projects that publish component inventories or storylets that readers or players can engage with in any order. The approach is used to test worldbuilding ideas quickly, encourage participation, and allow multiple creators to contribute without demanding a single authoritative voice.

Reception and related terms place rustomuutto within a broader tradition of distributed and participatory storytelling. Proponents view it as a flexible method for collaborative worldbuilding and design, while critics caution that excessive fragmentation can hinder coherence. Related concepts include worldbuilding, modular design, and participatory culture.