Fairy Tales (How to Write)

F is for Fairy Tales (How to Write)

1.    Snatch a Burning Spark

Of course you’ll need an idea. That much is a given. Maybe you want to write about a princess of dirt or a princess from New Zealand. Well, guess what? You can!

2.    Create the hero/heroines.

This could be a princess or a little boy/girl who gets into mischief. Describe their personality, clothes, appearance (eye/hair color, etc.).

Tip: Although this is a fairy tale, they still need to be relatable. 

 See: Characters Make a Book

3.    Create the villain.

This could be a wicked witch, an evil king/queen, a mean relative, or a bully.

TIP: Give the villain nasty traits and let them do bad things. They aren’t supposed to be liked. 

See: Protagonist VS. Antagonist 

4.    Choose a setting.

The setting can be anywhere in the world. Or even in your mind (Alice in Wonderland).

These countries currently have kings, queens, princes and princesses:

Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, Denmark, Grenada, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, Tonga, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and Vatican City.

Could you create a princess from one of these countries? Sure you could!

5.    Pick a lesson for your hero/heroine to learn.

In fairy tales, the hero/heroine always learns a lesson. This can be as simple as never going inside a stranger’s house (Hansel and Gretel) to girls can do anything boys can, even be a warrior in battle (Mulan). 

6.    Add a magical element.

This can be done with magical creatures (fairies, talking animals, etc.), powers (good and bad), objects (a genie lamp: Aladdin), spells/curses, or myths (If you kiss a frog, it’ll turn into a prince: The Princess and the Frog). 

7.    Plot

Answer these questions:

·         How does your fairy tale begin?

·         What obstacles does your hero/heroine have to overcome?

·         Who/what gets in his/her way? 
(This will heighten the action leading to the climax.)

·         How does your hero/heroine win?

8.    Write!

Use your imagination and creativity now more than ever. Think outside the box; think the impossible because the impossible becomes possible in fairy tales.

Don’t neglect romance! For fairy tales, you’ll have to dial down the romance (this is for children after all), but please let your heroine fall in love. Fairy tales are known not just for their magical elements and princesses but for their love stories. We may know things like this don’t happen in real-life, but that doesn’t mean we can’t indulge in these fantasies. 

9.    Happily-Ever-After

A happily-ever-after is a MUST for a fairy tale, even if you don’t believe in them. The hero and heroine have to prevail over the villain and succeed in their conquest (whether it’s saving the world or gaining freedom from an evil stepmother). On top of all that, your hero and heroine should be in love, so your story could possibly end with a first kiss (true love’s first kiss, of course) or a wedding.

See: Writing About: A Happily Ever After

10.    Edit

Always!

See: How to Edit a Book

 THE END

QUESTION: What is your favorite fairy tale?

Mine has, and always will be, Sleeping Beauty. But I do love Mulan, Pocahontas, and The Little Mermaid, too. :)

A to Z Blogging Challenge:

A: Author Photo Tips

B: Boost Your Writing Brain Power

C: Children’s Books (How to Write)

D: Dangers Writers Face

E: Eating and Writing