Browse through your local bookstore and you’ll notice fairytale retellings are quite popular across multiple genres. These tales have remained a staple within the world of storytelling for centuries because of a few key components: they have a solid storyline that’s easy to follow and they always have some sort of moral lesson to be passed along.
So, how can you join in on the fun of creating something new, from something old? Here are a few tips for coming up with your own fairytale retelling that will keep your readers wanting more.
Do your research. Many tales have been passed down by word of mouth, traveling across national borders. Learn how your specific fairytale might differ from one culture to another. Did it originate in another culture having been adopted into our own, with elements within the story changed to fit our own world view? Get to know the tale from every angle, every source. The more you know about it, the more ideas you will have to pull from when you create your own unique spin.
Give it a good twist. Readers want a fresh story. Make it familiar enough that the reader can see the original tale, but different enough to keep them wanting more. A retelling is different from a remake—a remake is simply the same story retold. A retelling allows you, as the author, to push the boundaries and make something completely different from what has been done before.
Think theme. What draws the reader to the original story? What is the deeper theme? Cinderella is more than just a “rags to riches” story of a pretty girl who got her Prince. It’s a moral lesson to teach children to be kind (even when they don’t feel like it) without allowing selfish desires to win. Think about the deeper theme you want to convey, one that speaks above the surface of the original tale.
Ask the “what if”? How can you make the story different? Change the time period; change the setting (here’s your chance to really world build!); or change the genre in which it would normally fall. (A steampunk retelling of Rapunzel could really shake things up!) Just as you would ask the “what if” when creating a fiction story from scratch, allow the same pattern of questions to guide you as you reform the familiar fairytale into something exceptional.
Change the viewpoint. Tell the story from the viewpoint of the villain. What is his motivation and how is it different from the original hero? Make the villain human. Make the reader empathize, so they are actually rooting for the villain in a way they normally wouldn’t. Giving the reader access to the villain’s private thoughts can create tension as the story progresses. They know they should be on the side of the familiar hero or heroine, but are realizing a new hero is emerging within the villain himself.
Another viewpoint to utilize would be a minor character from the original tale. Give the character a backstory, complete with flaws. What would the Beauty and the Beast story be like if narrated entirely from the viewpoint of a selfish Mrs. Potts who would do anything to provide for her son, Chip? How would the characters come across differently? How would the theme(s) change?
Do a Crossover. Allow characters from one fairytale to visit another. How would Ariel react if she found a Beast living in the castle next door? Would Maleficent and Evil Queen get along if they were ever introduced? What would Red Riding Hood do if she stumbled upon Hansel and Gretel as they searched for their way home? Allowing one or more characters to leave their own universe and enter another is one more way to make your story unique and exciting for the reader.
Change the ending of the story. Think you know how the story ends? Maybe not! With a fresh perspective on theme, character motivation, and a new setting, the door is wide open to allow for a varied ending that will not only surprise the reader, but might fit better with the new twist you’ve given to this old tale.
No matter how you choose to retell your fairytale, remember to take it deeper than the original. Readers know the Disney version of these tales. What they want is to be captivated—where they can actually see themselves in the characters and themes that have existed for hundreds of years.
Laura L. Zimmerman is a homeschooling mama to three daughters and a doting wife to one husband. Besides writing, she is passionate about loving Jesus, singing, drinking coffee and anything Star Wars. You can connect with her through Facebook, Instagram @lauralzimmauthor,