I'm planning on writing my NaNo story this year about some people who live in a world the very structure and history of which is based around our fairy tales and folk-lore.
Anyone got any favourite stories they'd like to see make an appearance? I've a fair few ideas already, but I'd love to know if there are any fascinating tales I've forgotten about. And don't limit yourself to the Brothers Grimm!
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Okt 2, 2007 - 01 26
I like The Little Mermaid (original version). It made an appearance in my novel last year, although somewhat adapted, and was great fun.
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:D I first encountered the original version when I was, oh, seven or so? And this after being brought up on Disney... I was not a very happy wee girl. Now, though, I rather like the story. And since you're the first to reply, I'll do my best to include the story in my NaNo!
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Okt 2, 2007 - 02 27
Beauty and the Beast --- Beauty made an appearance in my novel last year, and this year, the story's getting a makeover. What can I say? I find that a FASCINATING romance.
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Here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Manning-Sanders_tales_by_region
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Got to say that Hansel and Gretal and Little Red Riding Hood are my faves. Going to base my nano novel in the Faery Relam also.
----------Novel: Crawley
Genre: Fantasy
Subject: Changelings
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Okt 2, 2007 - 03 47
Oh, heck yes! I've been an avid fan of that story for longer than I can remember, and actually considered doing as my NaNo a retelling of it before I decided on my current topic. I'll have to see if I can fit it in somehow... it doesn't seem to go with the main storyline but that's what sub-plots are for, right?
...
Actually, hang on, I'm an idiot. It goes perfectly with the main storyline, it's just that the roles are reversed. Excellent! Must emphasise that aspect when I write it...
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Okt 2, 2007 - 03 53
That list is impressive, but unfortunately it doesn't look like an of them actually link to the story itself, just to a description of the books in which the story can be found, but which cannot in fact be found by me :( Thanks anyway, though!
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Okt 2, 2007 - 03 56
Yeah, they're both great classics. I love Angela Carter's treatment of Red Riding Hood in particular. If you're writing about Faery as well, mind if I add you to my buddy list and see how you go?
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Okt 2, 2007 - 04 46
yes, sure. It would be interesting to see our various takes on the subjects.
----------Novel: Crawley
Genre: Fantasy
Subject: Changelings
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Okt 2, 2007 - 05 03
The heads in the well from British folk lore and Carroll's Jabberwock would be great :)
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Okt 2, 2007 - 05 31
Angela Carter does a few good takes on Fairy (faerie, ouphre)/Folk tales. If you are writing fairy tales it is good to read people who have subverted the form:
Angela Carter: American Myths and Old World Wonders & The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories (Alice in Prague and Company of Wolves being standout stories), The Magic Toyshop, Heroes and Villans, Nights at the Circus, The Infernal Desire Machines of Dr Hoffman
Terry Pratchett: Witches Abroad and Lords and Ladies
Neil Gaimen: Stardust, Sandman: A Midsummer Nights Dreaming
Don't forget that you can reference classics such as:
Shakespeare: A Midsummer Nights Dream, The Tempest (lots of people forget that this has a stock of fairy elements in it, wild storms, servant spirits, deformed magical beasts, a romance between a young girl and a shipwrecked prince)
Also there's the films (too many to mention) but definately: Labyrinth, Stardust, A Company of Wolves, The Magic Toyshop, Jaberwocky, Time Bandits.
And then I'll wander off as I am probably preaching to the converted
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Puss in Boots, and all of the above. Angela Carter is brilliant!
The Happy Prince by Oscar Wilde
The Little Match Girl
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Finns and selkies are a lot of fun. I did a similar sort of thing last year. It was actually pretty useful as far as word count goes, because you can always drag in another story or character to pad it out. Sadly, I'm editing it now and my genius word count extending ideas are making me cry. Some of them are still genius though! ;) This year I've moved on to a psuedo Beauty and the Beast type thing. I have no idea whee it's going. I only hope it goes somewhere!
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http://www.frostintofire.blogspot.com
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Finns and selkies are a lot of fun. I did a similar sort of thing last year. It was actually pretty useful as far as word count goes, because you can always drag in another story or character to pad it out. Sadly, I'm editing it now and my genius word count extending ideas are making me cry. Some of them are still genius though! ;) This year I've moved on to a psuedo Beauty and the Beast type thing. I have no idea where it's going. I only hope it goes somewhere!
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2006: A Measure of Life - Won!
2007: The Scold's Bridle
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Okt 2, 2007 - 07 26
Check out some of Oscar Wildes... there was one really beautiful but sad one about the robin red breast bird who bled to death to create a red rose for the man who wished to woo the woman he desired with.... And then theres the statue of the little prince who got the birds to peck away all his gold to give to the poor only to suffer the indignation of being pulled down and replaced
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Okt 2, 2007 - 09 53
That plot definitely reminds me of 10th Kingdom.
My request? I guess if you could somehow work in an adaptation of the The Wise Little Girl, that would be pretty cool.
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Okt 2, 2007 - 09 56
That plot definitely reminds me of 10th Kingdom.
My request? I guess if you could somehow work in an adaptation of the The Wise Little Girl, that would be pretty cool.
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Okt 2, 2007 - 10 40
I've always been partial to The Steadfast Tin Soldier.
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I'm also reminded of The 10th Kingdom miniseries, which was an awesome piece of entertainment -- especially if you enjoy singing mushrooms, LOL.
Maybe I'm a little weird but I've always been fascinated with the Donkeyskin fairy tales, whichever version you prefer. It's such an odd story and the characters' actions beg for explanation and motivation!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donkeyskin
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Fairy tales I'm fond of. Hmmm...
The Boy Who Drew Cats (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boy_Who_Drew_Cats) and The Dolphin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dolphin_%28fairy_tale%29) are probably my favorites.
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Fairy tales I'm fond of. Hmmm...
The Boy Who Drew Cats (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boy_Who_Drew_Cats) and The Dolphin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dolphin_%28fairy_tale%29) are probably my favorites.
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Ooh, yes, The Little Match Girl would be great to see revised. Heartbreak would be awesome too -- it's the one about the girl who doesn't have a button for admission to see a dog's funeral.
Glad to see I'm not the only one writing fairy tales this time around! ^_^
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Yes, another Carter fan! Have you seen the movie adaptation of her retelling, Company Of Wolves? I believe she actually wrote the screenplay for it.
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... There's a movie? Oh, I have got to look that up.
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... There's a movie? Oh, I have got to look that up.
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oooh, i love The Boy Who Drew Cats! that is such a great story!
a couple of stories i've always liked are 'Big William and the Lop-Eared Creature', 'Barney O'Dowd's Dragon', and 'The House That Shawn Built' both of which can be found in 'Philip and the Pooka and Other Irish Fairy Tales' by Kathleen Green, if you'd care to read them. i love Irish stories, particularly ones with the Pooka in them. the Pooka has always been my favorite mythological creature, for some strange reason.
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The Company of Wolves is based on Angela Carter's work - sheeven helped script write it. The Magic Toyshop is also a movie now though this title is hard to track down.
----------Novel: Crawley
Genre: Fantasy
Subject: Changelings
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Okt 3, 2007 - 11 15
The Nine Dancing Princesses is one of my favorites.
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I always thought there were twelve. Though the book Wildwood Dancing, an adaptation of the story, cuts it down to five so they can actually have individual personalities.
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Baba Yaga!
Freaky Russians - she's got metal teeth, travels in a mortar and pestle, and lives in a house that stands on a chicken's leg. She could be a very effective baddy as she's creepy as hell when you're little. Really, really recommend the use of Baba Yaga, the evil witch who eats children. And has a hopping house. She sounds so funny now, but she scared me bad when I was younger.
So did the Basilisk. The Polish version was that a child died when it lived in the basement of a house in the middle of old Warsaw, and my gran loved to scare me with that story. Also a really effective villain, and having a mirror as a weakness is one of the best in fairy tale tradition.
Also, the Russian wizard whose name begins with K - he hid his death in the eye of a needle, in an egg, in a nest, in a tree or whatever. I can't remember his name or how he actually hid his death, but before Harry Potter I always thought it was the best fairy tale immortal villain trick ever.
Excellent idea, want to see what you come up with! *Fairy tale fangirl*