Fantasy: April 29, 2015 Issue [#6961] |
Fantasy
This week: The Same Story But Different Edited by: Dawn Embers More Newsletters By This Editor
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An Elf (written) Fantasy Newsletter
There are many stories and fairy tales that get told and in some ways there are limited types of stories in the world. However, we can still make our stories unique and this newsletter looks into that a little with thoughts on character, world and magic.
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I'm sure many of you have heard this before: there are no new story ideas. Or there are only "insert number here" plots out there and every story can be based on one of them. They are common lines of thought/phrases that can be found in the writing community and in some ways, they are understandable. However, even if a story has been told before that shouldn't stop you from writing your version. The trick is in how to make it unique and different in your own way.
I'm actually working on a novel that is based off Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. That and Cinderella are two very common stories that have been told in movie and book form countless numbers of times. Some might even say that using those specific stories has gotten to the point of being over done, especially when making the connection obvious. However, if you really want to write the story anyways, there are some aspects to look at in order to give yours its own unique aspect and to get readers interested.
1. Character
The first big factor is going to be the character, at least for me as I'm more of a character driven writer and reader. Sure, some of the characters are going to be similar or familiar but you can take your own spin to them as well. Consider the many renditions of Snow White, for example, and you will see there are some noticeable differences. Whether it's the Disney version, the one where we see the Huntsman more, or even the college one called Sydney White, there are some similar aspects but also things that make the characters different.
For mine? Snow is male and future heir to the throne. The dwarves include a few female ones who do not have beards. No evil queen or witch, but there is a Huntsman. Plus, the love interest is a male servant. Those are my characters and so far I'm having fun with them.
2. World
The world you set the story in can make a big difference as well. Whether it's a modern world or one that is like traditional fantasy with horse drawn carriages and such, that will help with how you make the story unique. Cinderalla is a good example as it has been set in different time periods and even had some fantasy elements added depending on the story. Ash was a good example because the author used some fantasy elements and her world helped the version stand out, along with the different take on characters.
I'm doing traditional fantasy for Snow White, which isn't that abnormal as it works but there are elements still that can make it different than some of the other fantasy approaches. One comes next, but how the characters get around, how the world is set up and the governing bodies all play factors in creating an interesting world for the story.
3. Magic
The magic system created and used within the fantasy story can also be a way to make the story seem more unique. Some have magic in them often times, like Snow White, and others are less common. Cinderella had the fairy godmother, but the magic system for that can be varied in order to make the story have a unique flair, for example. This ties very much into both world and character, also, making it a great creator of that unique factor.
For Snow, I'm going with a witch, a kingdom where the heir to the throne is usually the first born daughter because she inherits the mother's magic, along with some other surprise elements like the huntsman's skills. I'm hoping that everything combined will make for an interesting story.
Overall, while there are only so many types of plots or tales and some might be a little over done, there are still ways you can write the story you want. Whether it's Little Red Riding Hood, Snow White, or even Romeo and Juliet, there are ways to make your story stand out in its own way. Have fun and write.
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What story do you want to tell and how are you going to make it different?
Last month I did a newsletter on communication. Here was one of the comments from that one:
Comment by Joto-Kai
Body language can convey a lot, both gesture by gesture, and by looking at the overall repertoire. My urgan race, a race of - ahem - workers whose magical enhancements made them too wild to be useful as employees, have a particular bent to their gestures. Every time they talk with their hands, they hit something (and often break it.) For example, instead of waving at people, or shaking hands, they will slap a friend across the chest.
Kreesh, who has always studied our language but only recently married a human, is only now realizing that 'the beautiful races' actually have a body language and it's not that we're afraid to gesture, but that 'the strange things they do with their hands' actually have intelligible meanings.
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