A lot has been said and written about the drawbacks to revisiting the same stories over and over again. As a person who has written novels based on nursery rhymes and fairy tales, I prefer to look at story re-imaginings as a way to write myself and people like me into stories we've told for … Continue reading Fairy Representation
On Writing
Posts about writing
Writing while…
As a writer in the 21st century, you’re often asked to share more of yourself than you’re comfortable with in order to gain readership of your intended work, be it blog posts or novels. The field is so crowded with talent that something has to help you stand out. When I started my writing journey, … Continue reading Writing while…
Less Fairy, More Tale
It's been far too long, dear reader, since I've written. Not that I'm not writing--I've been working on editing the third book in my four-book series. But I have been woefully negligent with my social media. It's an offshoot of my mixed feelings about marketing. Therefore, I'm going to write one of my rare writing … Continue reading Less Fairy, More Tale
Author Anniversary: Special Edition
As Fairytale Feminista readers know, I don’t usually post on Fridays, but today I’m making an exception. Happy Valentine’s Day! I don’t celebrate, but last year I found a new reason to mark the occasion. Last year I published my first novella, The Cemetery Circle. It seemed appropriate to release it on Valentine’s Day because … Continue reading Author Anniversary: Special Edition
Believing your own hype–like a tailor
Being a writer is hard. I know everyone says that, but it's like parenting--you don't know how hard it's going to be until you're in the trenches, slogging through it all. It turns out writing and rewriting (and rewriting, and rewriting...) is actually the easy part. Especially if you hold to the rule that you … Continue reading Believing your own hype–like a tailor
Formula: The Sequel or Comfort Mind Food
Last week I wrote about Hallmark Movies and their tendency to be formulaic. And I don’t think formula's are always a bad thing. But there was a time when my literary snobbery got in the way of a good time. As a teenager I flirted with a certain author’s romance stories that would be considered … Continue reading Formula: The Sequel or Comfort Mind Food
The Elusive Ooh
Writers are some of the best readers. Many of the same traits that make a good writer are cultivated by good readers. Attention to detail. Love of a good story. Ability to suspend disbelief. But there's a fourth thing that I've only ever experienced as a writer. I've been working on my second novel and … Continue reading The Elusive Ooh
Deadlines in the World of Make Believe
Fairy tales love deadlines. Midnight curfews. Seasonal mandates. Royal decrees with an expiration date. It ramps up the drama to know that not only does a protag have an obstacle to overcome, but there’s also a clock on when it must be completed. Readers love that. You know who doesn’t love it? Writers. We put … Continue reading Deadlines in the World of Make Believe
A Brief Return
First things first: I'm not done with the manuscript of A Noble's Path: Book 2 in my Enchanted Path series. I am about 2/3 of the way done and would likely move faster if it wasn't turning into some Choose Your Own Adventure, where I write a chapter followed by two versions of what would … Continue reading A Brief Return
Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Rip Van Winkle and Me
Fairy tales and folklore have a tradition of putting protagonists in comas. Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Rip Van Winkle are only a few examples of letting things cool down while the main character takes a prolonged nap. Evil queens are dispatched. Curses are lifted and generally life goes on. It changes the trajectory of … Continue reading Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Rip Van Winkle and Me