Five Strategies for Retelling a Fairy Tale
I just listened to a Smithsonian Associates Webinar that talked about the structure of fairy tales and the key building blocks of fairy tales. The lecturers were from https://www.carterhaughschool.com. They have probably inspired a lot of fairy tale writers and retellers. I know that I want to try to retell a few fairy tales of my own.
1. Strategy #1 - Write the Fairy Tale from a Different Point of View
Find a minor character or a character that you assume needed to be there to help drive the story, but doesn't come on stage.
2. Strategy #2 - Beyond Happily Ever After
Write the continuation of your favorite fairy tale.
3. Strategy #3 - Moving the Setting
Move Red Riding Hood to Space or Cinderella to a Universe that is warped by the story like Kalynn Bayron does in Cinderella is Dead (a good book).
4. Strategy #4 - The Mashup
Put two or more stories together. What favorite FT character would have something to say about another fairy tale?
5. Strategy #5 - Filling in the Gaps
Fairy Tales tend to leave out a lot of detail. Fill the detail in and give a different spin on the story.
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