Imitation is the highest form of flattery. -Oscar Wild
Do you agree or disagree? This quote is often used to justify copying. Perhaps someone says it as a form of comfort. Or perhaps it is said it to explain motives.
It’s a popular expression and to a certain extent very true. When studying drama in high school, the teacher showed us how stories as old as time were repeated throughout the ages. One of his example was Pygmalian by George Bernard Shaw which became My Fair Lady, a musical adaption by Alan Jay Lerner. The teacher went on to show stories that were hundreds and even thousands of years old that had a similar story-goal to ‘re-make’ a woman with no or little social graces into a woman who fit perfectly into high society.
Fairy tale re-tellings are super popular and they have been told and re-told for centuries. As mentioned in a recent post, fairy tale re-tellings are a new project in my publishing goals. The books will still stick to my brand of fantasy, urban/high, sweet/clean slow-burn romance, and strong female leads. The princesses represented in the books will either save the kingdom, or be a major part of saving the kingdom. The prince or male love interest will be more involved in the story as well.
So what part of my stories will hold to the original stories? In researching and in some cases (where possible) reading the original stories and then reading the stories throughout history, I hope to learn as much as possible about the original tales. In doing this, common elements rise to the surface. Even when the story has been gentled over the centuries, usually the key concept of the original story remains.
While holding to the key concepts and elements of the original stories, I am re-working the tale into something that is unique. My most recent work has been a Rapunzel retelling. I’m planning for this novella to come out this fall. (More details to come soon.) The main elements I held on to were the tower and the hair. There were other key ideas I played with, but those two are the strongest. I had a ton of fun writing the tale and the main character.
Are there fairy tales you love? What are the elements you connect with?
K. M. Wray 