Road Trip Wednesday: Retelling Fables and Stories

Road Trip Wednesdays with YA HighwayRoad Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway’s contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody’s unique take on the topic.

This Week’s Topic

In honor of this month’s Bookmobile book, Marissa Meyer’s Cinder, name a fable or story you’d like to see a retelling of.  If you’re feeling creative, come up with a premise of your own!

My Answer

This is a timely question for me, as the story I’m considering writing for NaNoWriMo this year is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty.  I’m a bit nervous about it though, because re-writing  fairy tales seems to be very popular right now.  “They” tell you to never write to trends because by the time your book is ready for submission, the trend is over-saturated.  But, “they” also say that any well-written book with the right hook can be picked up regardless of the trends.

So all I can do is write the best story I can and cross my fingers.

What story would you retell? Check out everyone else’s answers at YA Highway.

11 thoughts on “Road Trip Wednesday: Retelling Fables and Stories

  • Posted on September 19, 2012 at 10:41 am

    I believe you have the talent and drive to write ANY book regardless of trends, saturation or marketability!

    Reply
  • Posted on September 19, 2012 at 12:14 pm

    Don’t write to trends, and don’t write according to what people say you should or shouldn’t write. Just write the story that’s on your mind and your heart. If it’s great, people will read it. 🙂

    Reply
    • Posted on September 20, 2012 at 8:27 pm

      Thanks. I read your Sleeping Beauty query and loved it. I hope you do write it!

      Reply
  • Posted on September 19, 2012 at 12:25 pm

    I think you’re right: If the story is good, trends don’t really matter. I don’t know that fairy tale retellings will ever really stop selling, especially if there’s a unique twist on it. And I think that’s what literary agents and publishers are looking for: unique. I say go for it! 🙂

    Reply
    • Posted on September 20, 2012 at 8:33 pm

      I hope so… and I hope I can put a unique enough twist on it…that is the key, I believe.

      Reply
  • Posted on September 19, 2012 at 4:49 pm

    I’ll echo the previous comments — if it’s a good story, what’s ‘on trend’ doesn’t matter nearly as much. I’d be interested to see what your take on ‘Sleeping Beauty’ is!

    Reply
    • Posted on September 20, 2012 at 8:30 pm

      Oh yeah, I forgot that part of the question, didn’t I? Well, it was a modern re-telling with a medical setting. But after reading some of the responses to the question, I feel like I need to go back and rework it. Give it more of a twist or make it more unique. Glad that NaNo doesn’t start for several more weeks. 😉

      Reply
  • Posted on September 19, 2012 at 5:07 pm

    Go for it, follow your heart and head and if the story is good, the trends won’t stand in your way!

    Reply

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