a couple of questions about children's stories and reality

[BeccaPrice]

I'm thinking of something along the lines of "the price of dreams" or something like that. This is a far more serious story than I'm used to writing, and even though it will be in fable format, it's more of an adult fable, or maybe something to help a child deal with death. It's based on a story my daughter's psychiatrist told her.

[VydorScope]

I would say do not put "pussy willow" in your search terms or key words.

[crich70]

Originally Posted by VydorScope

I would say do not put "pussy willow" in your search terms or key words.

Yeah, you would probably become a red hot author if you did. Though not for those looking for a children's book.

[BeccaPrice]

well, the story will be part of a collection, so I doubt just the title of the story would be used as a keyword. But yeah, it could lead to some interesting "also looked at" entries.

[bucsie]

As a parent, I don't know about Pussy Willow. It would catch my eye instantly, but not how you probably meant it to . I think the moment I'd see the title I would be... "wtf? is this for real?" - but that's just because my mind is dirty

for a firefly story, I would think of something along the lines of them gathering together to make sort of a beacon for something, whereas just one firefly wouldn't give enough light. Sort of a story of how if people come together they can do great stuff. Applied to fireflies.

[BeccaPrice]

oh, I like that idea.

did you know that there are some places where the fireflies blink in unison? apparently it's quite something to see.

[crich70]

What did you think of my firefly story idea BeccaPrice? (post # 2) Just curious.

[BeccaPrice]

see the note just above yours - I like the idea, and am thinking about how to work with it. Thank you.

[crich70]

Just wondered because I know it is easy to miss posts and wasn't sure who you were replying to in post 6 since a few of us had posted between. It's sometimes easy to be clear in our own minds who we are replying to and yet not be clear in postings.

[BeccaPrice]

no problem. I'm just trying to come up with a scenario for it that doesn't sound like an advertisement for collectivism or some such (I'm reading books on fairy tale commentary and critique, and apparently there was a move in the 1960s Germany to write fairy tales that carried political morals.)

[crich70]

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

no problem. I'm just trying to come up with a scenario for it that doesn't sound like an advertisement for collectivism or some such (I'm reading books on fairy tale commentary and critique, and apparently there was a move in the 1960s Germany to write fairy tales that carried political morals.)

There is always someone trying to put their own spin on things isn't there. Back in the 30's Germany had the idea of the pure Aryan race and how there was a lost golden age etc. that was used to excuse their politics. I'm sure they aren't alone though. Every culture uses the printed word somehow to promote or excuse itself in some way or other. Of course the old fairy tales did have morals in them I think. Little Red Riding Hood could be a warning to not to talk to strangers for example.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by crich70

There is always someone trying to put their own spin on things isn't there.

Umm...why else would any one be writing anything?

You might as well say there is always someone trying to breathe the air, and make that sound like a negative.

[BeccaPrice]

According to the book I'm reading right now (Fairy Tales and the Art of Subversion), the Grimm Brothers re-wrote a lot of their fairy tales to support patriarchal norms and meek, submissive females - in earlier forms of some of the fairy tales, women were stronger and more pro-active than in later versions. They also bowdlerized an awful lot of the stories, too.

This is making me way too self-conscious about messages that may creep into some of my stories, and I'm having to re-think my approach to some of the ones I'm working on. This new collection is going to be not as light-hearted as Dragons and Dreams is, I think, but the stories will be more classical fairy-tales-ish.

[crich70]

Originally Posted by ApK

Umm...why else would any one be writing anything?

You might as well say there is always someone trying to breathe the air, and make that sound like a negative.

Granted, but you also have to consider why they are putting their own spin on things. Is it to entertain? Is it to promote a political agenda? etc. The reason for putting a given spin on things is at least as important as the nature of the spin itself I think.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

According to the book I'm reading right now (Fairy Tales and the Art of Subversion), the Grimm Brothers re-wrote a lot of their fairy tales to support patriarchal norms and meek, submissive females - in earlier forms of some of the fairy tales, women were stronger and more pro-active than in later versions. They also bowdlerized an awful lot of the stories, too.

This is making me way too self-conscious about messages that may creep into some of my stories, and I'm having to re-think my approach to some of the ones I'm working on. This new collection is going to be not as light-hearted as Dragons and Dreams is, I think, but the stories will be more classical fairy-tales-ish.

Were the Grimms pressured to make the change, or did they choose to, because that's that what they wanted to communicate (and if so, why did they write it any other way to begin with.)

Writers send messages. It's more or less the definition of the role.

There's only two things you need to consider regarding messages in your stories:
1. What message do you want to send.

2. How will you apply your art and craft to the message? Will you highlight it so no one can possibly miss it, or intentionally subdue it.