In the last newsletter I wrote, I talked mostly about monsters, but I wanted to switch over to fairy tales this time. After all, I do love me some fairytales. Like, a lot.
So far, I’ve written a bunch of fairytale retelling short stories, have four fairytale retellings published [link to midnight wings again], and have five more in the works (and plan on many after that). I also read retellings quite often, watch all of the terrible movie versions, have read many of the original tales, and studied various different ones from all over the world (though, let me be clear, I do not consider myself even close to an expert, lol).
So what is it about fairytales that I find so appealing? Especially since fairy tales and tales of monsters seem like two completely different things on the surface.
The first thing I like about fairytales is that they’re comfortable. I know that when selecting entertainment, a lot of people are looking for the next new thing, the next unique story, or something that is different and interesting. But the truth is, when I read books or watch TV, more often than not, I’m looking for something more comfortable than unique. It doesn’t have to be exactly the same as what I last watched or read, but I want it to at least feel similar enough that I’m not wandering off into some deep dark, magical forest of doom, death, and destruction (okay, that might be a bit of an exaggeration lol).
I’ve been exposed to fairytales from the time I was a small child—from fairytale themed dolls, to Disney movies, to reading YA novels based off of fairytale characters or set in fairytale worlds. My favorite book at a teenager was Gail Carson Levine’s Ella Enchanted, and I have probably read it at least twenty times at this point. So when I dive into a new fairy tale, I know exactly what I’m going to get.
(That said, the most disappointing fairy tale retelling I ever read turned out to be an allegory for domestic abuse. Which is probably much closer to the intent behind original fairy tales than the more modern “happily ever after” stories. So, when I say I enjoy the “comfortable” nature of fairy tales, I should clarify that I like the comfort of the modern retellings—the ones that take terrible stories of horror and fear and turn them into something happier.)
Another thing I love about fairy tales is how flexible and adaptable they are. Even now, writers are taking the fairy tale retellings from their own childhood, and trying to rewrite them to remove the parts that they find problematic, and include issues and concerns that are more relevant to modern issues. And the last generation of fairy tale tellers did the same thing, and the generation before that.
These stories have some key thematic elements—love, strength, courage, honesty, generosity—that are still relevant, but the way we communicate those ideas have changed. And so the way we tell the stories might change, the core ideas and concepts remain the same.
The last thing I’ll say about what makes fairy tales great, is that anything can happen. They are completely magical in nature, and literally anything can happen.
A person who can shapeshift into a bear? Sure.
A magical house made of gingerbread and candy? Done.
A half fish-person who wants legs? Easy.
Fairy tales have it all: dwarves and dragons, wizards and wilderness, and most of all, changing hearts and minds. The magic is endless.
Comfortable, flexible, and magical—interestingly enough, that’s also how I like my pants lol.
Below, enjoy this picture I drew when I was 16 of two knights trapped in a bubble by a wizard.
A Couple Quick Updates
This month is National Novel Writing Month, and this is a special year for me—it’s my 11th anniversary! If I had been thinking about it, I would have celebrated more last year on my 10th, lol, but palindrome dates are good too. Anyway, I have competed in Nano for over a decade. Out of those ten years, I have won 8 times, and I’m planning to make this year my 9th win. So hopefully, after Nano 2021, I’ll be able to say I’ve won ten times, which is also a cool marker.
Anyway, this month I’m working on book 5 in the Land of Szornyek series, tentatively titled “Voro’s Return.” I’ll also be posting monster sketches on my Instagram!
For more updates like these and access to my free short story, Ghost Below (a prequel to the Rove City series), sign up for my newsletter!