What are my favourite fairytales and why?
I've always had a soft spot for Cinderella. My first published story, A Helping Hand, is based on the younger ugly sister's viewpoint. This story appeared in Bridge House Publishing's Alternative Renditions, where all the contributors had to tell the well known fairytales from the viewpoint of a lesser character. It was fun to do. And I was so thrilled when mine was accepted. So even more reason to like Cinders! I also like the obvious social justice ones like The Little Match Girl and Oscar Wilde's The Happy Prince. It is the only story of Wilde's I've ever read but it is a wonderful tale. I guess I like these because the morals are clear and the underdog is rooted for every time.
Writing Fairytales - the best bits?
I always feel a sense of relief when I get the first draft down on paper as I know I've then got something to work into shape (and boy does it need it!). I've always loved writing dialogue so I love getting decent conversations going between my characters. Of course I then to need make sure that all of my dialogue is relevant to the story and moves it on, else out it comes because I could write dialogue to the proverbial cows come home, which would not make the story a nice, crisp read. It could make it a very lengthy and long winded one!
I also like it once I've got the story down I can read it through and see yes, this is a proper fairytale. The characters are right, the situation is right. It's then just a matter of editing. I love slipping in humour when I can (where it's right for the story basically) as fairytales are very adaptable. Humour is a wonderful way of getting a message across without being preachy.
I've always had a soft spot for Cinderella. My first published story, A Helping Hand, is based on the younger ugly sister's viewpoint. This story appeared in Bridge House Publishing's Alternative Renditions, where all the contributors had to tell the well known fairytales from the viewpoint of a lesser character. It was fun to do. And I was so thrilled when mine was accepted. So even more reason to like Cinders! I also like the obvious social justice ones like The Little Match Girl and Oscar Wilde's The Happy Prince. It is the only story of Wilde's I've ever read but it is a wonderful tale. I guess I like these because the morals are clear and the underdog is rooted for every time.
Writing Fairytales - the best bits?
I always feel a sense of relief when I get the first draft down on paper as I know I've then got something to work into shape (and boy does it need it!). I've always loved writing dialogue so I love getting decent conversations going between my characters. Of course I then to need make sure that all of my dialogue is relevant to the story and moves it on, else out it comes because I could write dialogue to the proverbial cows come home, which would not make the story a nice, crisp read. It could make it a very lengthy and long winded one!
I also like it once I've got the story down I can read it through and see yes, this is a proper fairytale. The characters are right, the situation is right. It's then just a matter of editing. I love slipping in humour when I can (where it's right for the story basically) as fairytales are very adaptable. Humour is a wonderful way of getting a message across without being preachy.
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