Why Are Retellings So Darn Popular?
Plus TONS of writing links and resources!
*For writing news and resources, scroll down*
A twist on an old tale…
In the very first class of my MFA program, I wrote a story based on a professor’s prompt. (The prompt was “describe one of your favorite places. Now write about something terrible happening there.”) In hindsight, a sadistic assignment — way to ruin one of my favorite hiking trails!
When I workshopped the story, my professor (the wonderful Amanda Boyden) told me it had a fairy tale quality to it — something I totally was not intending. She suggested I amplify the fairy tale elements, which I did.
Over the next two years I wrote more fairy tale inspired stories. I also read The Complete Grimm’s Fairy Tales, Angela Carter’s fairy tale collection The Bloody Chamber, and some academic tomes on fairy tales (such as the Norton Critical Edition of The Classic Fairy Tales, edited by Maria Tatar.)
My MFA thesis ended up being a collection of modern fairy tales. An example of the power of a good teacher. (Or maybe just the power of suggestion!)
I had a lot of fun writing those fairy tales. Plot has never been, shall we say, my strong suit, and working with an existing story means you already have the scaffolding of a story. You can change the setting, use a different point of view, play with reader expectations. But you’re not starting from scratch, which can be really helpful.
Obviously, this is nothing new, and there are thousands of stories and books inspired by fairy tales and classic novels. Just a few recent examples:
Beauty and the Beast retelling Curses by Lish McBride (YA)
The Great Gatsby retelling The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo
Fairy tale mash-up Into the Bloodred Woods by Marth Brockenbrough (YA)
Pride & Prejudice retelling Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld
Alice in Wonderland retelling A Blade So Black by L.L. McKinney (YA)
Anna Karenina retelling Anna K: A Love Story by Jenny Lee (YA)
There’s a reason retellings continue to be popular. Readers enjoy coming into a story knowing a little something about the characters and plot. They like being surprised by how a familiar story has been twisted into something new.
This month I’m sharing with my paid subscribers one of the short stories from my MFA thesis: a modern retelling of Snow White. (Alas, I say modern, but I wrote this story in 2008!)
In this version, the story belongs to the step-mother, and she’s not evil… or is she? I hope readers enjoy the familiar elements (the mirror, the apple), and the twists on the original tale — especially the shocking conclusion.
Writing News & Resources
For All Writers:
Want to finally finish that novel? Need help staying accountable to your writing goals? I offer accountability coaching at a very reasonable price. Plus, paid subscribers can receive 50% off 3 months of coaching — ask me how!
Globe Soup if offering a historical fiction short story challenge. Sign up by October 28 and get randomly assigned a period of history to use as the setting for a story.
I loved this episode of the podcast Writer Mother Monster with poets Nancy Reddy and Emily Perez, co-editors of The Long Devotion: Poets Writing Motherhood. When they read their own poems at the end… I was completely blown away.
For all you poets, Winning Writers is hosting the Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest. Deadline Sept. 30 and $8,000 in prizes.
Looking for a way to do more writing and join a community of other writers? Join Jana Van der Veer for #ZoomWriteIn, every Monday through Friday from 8-9am Eastern. No cameras on. Just writing with other writers.
Hey Dr. Suess Fans, there’s a NEW NYC Midnight Story Challenge — The inaugural Rhyming Story Challenge kicks off on September 23rd, so sign up now! Writers will create rhyming stories based on three assigned prompts with a fast turnaround time. Judges give feedback on EVERY submission, writers keep all the rights to their stories, and there are thousands in cash prizes for the winners.
Not into rhymes and have limited time (see what I did there)? Check out the NYC Midnight 250-word Microfiction Challenge. Based on a randomly assigned prompt, write a super short story in 24 hours. There are multiple rounds, and everyone gets feedback from the judges. You’ll be amazed what you can produce when the pressure’s on and you’ve paid to compete. The challenge starts November 18, and there’s early-bird pricing from now until October 13.
Looking for a critique partner? Savvy Authors is now offering a free CritMatch Program to help match-make authors looking for feedback partners.
International Literary Seminars is launching a unique and intensive series of workshops, lectures, and cultural offerings. Apply for this year’s program, held in Kenya (application deadline Oct. 15), and check out the website for contests, fellowships, and other offerings.
For KidLit Writers:
The Voyage YA First Chapters Contest deadline is coming up on September 30!
Mark your calendars for YALL Fest, the YA Book Festival happening in Charleston, SC November 11-12.
Read about recent trends in Middle Grade from agents who represent it.
For Querying Writers:
Just recently I learned of the existence of this comprehensive spreadsheet of successful queries. Learn the details and read the actual query letters for books that got agent representation.
The Good Story Company is hosting another Story Snobs Pitch Contest and webinar for only $5 on September 21.
Every Friday, Operation Awesome offers one free query critique through their #QueryFriday contest.
Did you know you can nominate your query letter and/or your first page for a critique on Nathan Bransford’s blog? Also, read his critiques of other people’s queries and first pages!
The Pass or Pages Query Contest will be held October 3-7. Win feedback from agents about whether they would pass or request pages based on your query. Free!
The Savvy Authors Pitch Fest will be held October 26-28. Pitch in an online forum to agents and editors (for free)!
Submission is open from now until Nov. 4 for the Blue Pencil Agency Pitch Prize. I don’t know much about this, but might be worth looking into. Entry fee is £12.
The querying trenches are rough right now, and Twitter pitch parties can feel like shouting into the void with thousands of other screaming writers, but still, it’s a way to meet other writers and it certainly doesn’t hurt to try. (After all, I found my agent through a Twitter pitch party. I am now an official success story!) So mark your calendar for these upcoming Twitter pitch parties. And be sure to read my article 13 Things to Know About Twitter Pitch Events.
October 20: #PitDark — Twitter pitch for all unagented authors of horror, mystery, thriller, paranormal, and anything else with a “dark” vibe.
November 3: #MoodPitch — Twitter pitch for all genres… and you get to include a “mood board” that communicates the vibe/aesthetic of your book. This is the Twitter pitch contest that got me my agent!
Writing Conferences:
WOWCON, WriteMentor’s online conference for kidlit writers, is coming up September 24 - 26.
Mark your calendar for Daniel David Wallace’s online plot summit, Escape the Plot Forest, happening October 22-25. More info coming soon.
Mark your calendars for YALL Fest, the YA Book Festival happening in Charleston, SC November 11-12.
This year the Writing Day Workshop “How to Get Published” Conferences will be held virtually. I attended one of these conferences in person a few years ago in Philadelphia, and I thought it was fantastic. I can’t vouch for the virtual version, but there are some benefits: recorded classes, no travel expenses, attend in your comfy pants. Plus, you can sign up for Zoom pitch sessions with agents for $29 a piece. Check out the upcoming conferences (and remember, anyone can attend from anywhere; just keep the time zone in mind).
Registration is now open for the ginormous AWP Conference (Association of Writers and Writing Programs). It’s being held in March 2023 in Seattle, which is one of my favorite cities. Go as an excuse to visit Seattle. Go to check out the enormous book fair, filled with representatives from lit mags and small presses. Heck, go for the dance party because nothing is more awkwardly fun than a bunch of introverted and tipsy writers busting a move.
For more writing conferences, check out this list or this list of 19 Writing Conferences for Emerging and Established Writers.