Skip to main content

Three?!?!?

"Three?  What would I do with three?"
"The same as you do with one!"
          ~A variation of the argument between Tevye and Lazar Wolf [Fiddler on the Roof]

I have three barebones stories in my head for Sleeping Beauty.  One is set long, long ago and far, far away.  One is set in modern times.  And one -- well -- I can't even measure in earth years because...yep...it's on another planet.  How's that for variety?

So my plan is to work on these three for a little while and see what happens.  Maybe one will automatically take the lead.  Or maybe I'll polish up all three.

Once I get them settled into story form, I'll probably try to ask some friends what they think of the stories.  Friends can say "this is perfect" or "this needs more work," but if they say "regardless of how fabulous this story is I don't think it sounds enough like Sleeping Beauty" then it will probably be scratched from the running.

And if none take a clear lead and none get knocked out of the running by friends...hmmm...I guess I can enter all three.  Providing I have enough time to polish them up.  Because three stories "with potential" are not as good as one story that is "great."

And why I am writing this...or if it makes sense, I am not sure.  It is two hours past my bedtime, and I didn't get to sleep but 2 hours last night.  Sooooo...I'm a little sleep deprived.

But happy.  Of course.  Because I have story ideas finding their way onto paper.  And that is always a good day.

Goodnight for now.

Comments

  1. I suppose I have a bit of a similar problem. When I first learned what the fairytale was going to be, one main idea popped into my head. However, just the other day, I came up with another idea. I'm forcing myself to stick the first idea, though, because I work best when I focus on one thing. I really want to make this story shine instead of writing multiple stories that are just okay, like you said. However, if doing multiple stories works for you, that's awesome. Good luck, and they all sound fantabulous!

    ReplyDelete
  2. That's smart -- usually other ideas are just plot bunnies (distracting you from your main story) anyway. Like I said, ideally one of my three will take the lead and I can shelve the other two.
    It's just that, at the moment, none of them seem willing to give way. And they are all so DIFFERENT! I have to approach them with three completely separate mindsets.
    I think my other problem comes from my own nagging doubts that they are potential winners. It's one of those "maybe the next idea will be better" things. And I'm giving myself the whole month to brainstorm new ideas.
    Speaking of new ideas, have you heard anyone else's premises? I heard a little from Rachel Heffington and from Kendra Ardnek. Both of them blew me away with their fabulous stories that they have going. This is going to be a fun year.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh, that's tough when you can't seem to choose between projects. Luckily for me it was pretty easy because my first idea had more potential than the other. I've only heard of Kendra's premise in a blog post she wrote, but it sounds very interesting, especially since she's melding several fairytales together. I'm sure that we'll see more premises as time progresses. Personally, my plotting is still not as fully fleshed out as I would like, but once my story is more fleshed out, I definitely want to write a blog post talking a bit about my story. I agree that it's definitely going to be a fun year!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

More Snippets from Snow White Rose Red

    One of the shadows moved.   “Were you just going to chuck it in there with no thought for the poor folks on the other side?”   Flip’s voice drawled out.   It was a deep voice and it made my heart skip a beat.      He moved away from the trees and came to stand in front of me.   “Some hard-working fellow is plowing his field and then – whop!   Out of nowhere, a poisoned apple flies out and hits him upside the head.”   He clucked his tongue reproachfully.

A Short Story Break

via Pinterest     It has been a while since I penned a short story.  Usually it takes something like a "short story contest" to inspire me.  But I have noticed my writing skills improve with each contest so there is something to be said for writing short stories.      I say all this to lead into the fact that I am going to try another short story.  There is no contest looming on the horizon, but it has been so long that I think I am due to write a short piece.  Life cannot be entirely devoted to novel-length plots...      I am rolling around different ideas in my head.  There is no one to give me the first three words or a picture to base my story on.  There are no restrictions, no props, and no judges.      Methinks I will try something that is both epic and ordinary...something I have seen before.  After all, personal experience, great things, and the expression of the ordinary are part of what makes a story. 

The Countdown: Eight Days

Eight days.  Do you know what that means?  Barely over a week.  Tomorrow will be one week from the announcement date. Are you excited? I am. So, today, I want to talk to those who wrote something for the contest, whether or not you entered it in the end. What made you start writing your story?  What was the first inkling of an idea that tickled your brain?  What was it that you liked about your premise?  As you wrote, did you have a favorite character or a favorite scene?  And are you glad you wrote it down?  Do you feel like you learned and grew in your ability as a writer as you tried out things for this contest? And, if your story isn't included in this year's Rooglewood anthology (either because you didn't submit it or because it didn't fit with the other four stories selected), what will you do with it?  Will you market it elsewhere?  Or will you lock it away in a drawer?