A writerly what’s your story meme, taken from this discussion of
My fairy tale? Beauty and the Beast. My story? Redemption.
A few days ago I read an article that said ‘The Last Samauri, like all Tom Cruise movies, is a story of redemption’, and I went, “Oh, well, no wonder I like Tom Cruise movies so much.” I’m a sucker for a good redemption story, whether it’s individual, familial, societal, whatever. I love the heartbreak that comes with a good redemption story, and looking at the half dozen novels I’ve written, yep. Big ol’ theme there. Flashing, and stuff. (I’d use the blink tag, but as a web designer by trade, I’d have to go kill myself afterwards.) I’ve known that for a while, and knowing it doesn’t seem to change my inclination to write stories that are on some level redemption stories, nor my ability to do so.
Neither does my awareness of BatB as ‘my’ fairy tale. I often see threads of it in my writing (sometimes much more deliberately than others!), and I’m pretty content with that. There are other stories that I know about that I like, thematically (I think I won’t go into them too deeply right now, no point in showing all my cards!), and other stories I like to tell, but on a flat level? Redemption. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it. :)
Hmmmmm.
Interesting. I need to think about that some. It strikes a chord but I can’t think of a fairy tale but the one word summary…
I can feel it in my head but I can’t pinpoint it.
I think mine HAS to be either “Coming of Age” or “Heroine Finds Herself But Tries Not To Be Annoying About It.”
I feel like a self-help book. Agggh! This explains all those Mercedes Lackey novels in my youth! I am tainted!
*cough* Okay, I feel better now.
If I have a fairy tale, for some odd reason, I think it’s “Bluebeard.” Which is pretty weird, and not at all reflected in my life, but I am endlessly fascinated by it.
My first instinct is to say that my story would be the ‘Rags to Riches’ theme, but I’ll have to stew on it further.
(And neither redemption nor Beauty and the Beast surprises me in the least for you. :P)
I have no idea what ‘my’ story is. I’m hoping to find out as I write more stories.
I did want to comment, if only to tell you that you’re not the only one who would kill you for using the blink tag. I’ve hated that thing since it first showed its ugly self. Blech, phooey, ick! I hate blinkin’ lights.
I think J’s favorite is “Guy meets girl, guy gets girl. Guy loses girl, guy gets girl back.”
Reading the commentary on the link in your entry, I think mine, more and more, is about Inner Strength. Overcoming tragedy, overcoming obstacles, and surviving on one’s emotional strength and wits to get through the hard times to the end reward. I loved those Inner Warrior stories as a kid; it’s just bizarre that my life has followed that trend.
I’m a big fan of those tales where the deserving guy, who pursues a romantic interest yet is stymied either by not being cool enough or because the romantic interest has another suitor, ultimately realizes that the romantic interest is a waste of space and the love of his life has been there all along.
Of course, that could just be my life experience talking. :)
Fairy tale? I like Puss in Boots. Puss is a damn fine cat.
I think my kind of story is “Boy Meets World. Boy Grows Up in World” The young hero discovers the world is more beautiful, grand yet deadlier than he could ever have thought and then he grows up as he saves the world.