The Pen of a Ready Writer

    On this last day of February, I'm finishing up our discussion on some of Snow White's powerful themes.  This final post in that series is about the family, friendships, and true love in the Snow White story.      Think about it.      Snow White had a fairly dysfunctional family.  Maybe her real mother and father had a good relationship with her.  But what about her step-mother?  Yeah, no.  But we all have an idea of what family SHOULD be like.  That's how we know to define Snow White's as dysfunctional.  So what should family be?      Think about the dwarves.  They were like a family.  Maybe they were family.  How did that family dynamic work out in your story?  Do you think they welcomed Snow White into their family?  Do you think she was happy there?      What about friendships?  If the dwarves weren't family, at least they wer...

     There were so many consequences in the Snow White story.  Snow White faced consequences for taking the poisons, although it all worked out well in the end for her.  In the original story, the queen faced some pretty horrifying consequences for her actions in the end.       What do you think about judgments and consequences?       Did Snow White deserve her consequences?  Do you agree that, at least in stories, things should still work out in the end for good guys?      What about the queen?  Would you have been able to pass judgment on her?  Do you think harsh punishments are sometimes right?  If you were writing the story, does it make it easier to have someone other than your Snow White character pass the judgment?  Why or why not?

    The next day, Ilona stepped onto the castle walls, shading her eyes against the bright sun.  A breeze gusted around her, lifting tendrils of her hair to flash gold in the light.  Feeling a spring in her step, she strolled along the wall until she overlooked the tournament fields.   In the distance, she could see men assembling rings for the fencing competition, but, in the garden below her, she could see Detlef playing a game of Blindman’s Bluff with a group of children.      How they talked Detlef into it, she didn’t know; but he appeared to be having as much fun as they were.   She laughed as she saw the game dissolve into some type of wrestling that involved shrieks of laughter.   Detlef looked up and waved to her.   Ilona waved back.     “Who is this queen of the coming autumn, surveying her domain?”  Emil appeared at her elbow.  “May I escort so noble a personage to...

    I skipped Sunday, but I'm still thinking about Snow White themes.  And I'm curious what you guys have to say about them.      Snow White has the potential to hold some pretty powerful themes.  We've talked about: There is the ideology of beauty and what defines it. There are opportunities to explore jealousy, pain, betrayal, grasps for control, and the way people react to trauma in their lives. There are reflections of truth and honesty, if you explore the role of the mirror.      Today I want to talk about kindness, mercy, and forgiveness.  How do you see these things in the dwarves?  In Snow White?  What does it mean to be kind?  Or have mercy?  Is forgiveness a good thing?  What's the difference between forgiveness and just being gullible?

      I am still thinking about some of the powerful themes of Snow White. This story packs a big punch! There is the ideology of beauty and what defines it. There are opportunities to explore jealousy, pain, betrayal, grasps for control, and the way people react to trauma in their lives. There are reflections of truth and honesty, if you explore the role of the mirror. There are people who will show kindness, mercy, and forgiveness. There will also be judgements and consequences. There is family, friendship, true love.          The mirror in the Snow White story was the voice of honesty.  To me, it was a machine of facts.  It had no feelings.  It never considered anyone else's feelings.  It merely stated what it saw to be true.      In my story, it was a trusted source for a character surrounded by court intrigue and people who tried to manipulate you.  This is something that ...

     I decided to take the next few days to talk about some of the themes in Snow White.      Snow White has the potential to hold some pretty powerful themes.  There is the ideology of beauty and what defines it. There are opportunities to explore jealousy, pain, betrayal, grasps for control, and the way people react to trauma in their lives. There are reflections of truth and honesty, if you explore the role of the mirror. There are people who will show kindness, mercy, and forgiveness. There will also be judgements and consequences. There is family, friendship, true love.      When you think about the original Snow White story, you have an evil step-mother who is pretty messed up.  She is insanely jealous and power-hungry.  Why do you think she is like that?      You also have poor Snow White.  Her mother dies.  Her father possibly dies (depending on the versio...

     Snow White has the potential to hold some pretty powerful themes.  There is the ideology of beauty and what defines it. There are opportunities to explore jealousy, pain, betrayal, grasps for control, and the way people react to trauma in their lives. There are reflections of truth and honesty, if you explore the role of the mirror. There are people who will show kindness, mercy, and forgiveness. There will also be judgements and consequences. There is family, friendship, true love.      So today I want to ask you about beauty, based on your Snow White retelling or on your knowledge of a Snow White story.  What is beauty?  How would you define it in your story?  How have you seen it defined in Snow White stories?  What is good or bad about these definitions?

Hi, Gang!      The story pieces have been submitted in the 2018 Speculative Faith Winter Writing Challenge. Which means it's time for you to read them and vote. All you have to do is hit the "+" button on all the stories you think should win. You can click on as many different stories you like.  First round voting lasts until midnight on Sunday, the 25th.  So go to the link below and help someone out! http://speculativefaith.lorehaven.com/2018-spec-faith-winter-writing-challenge/#comment-38387      I counted up the votes so far. The three writers with the most "likes" will be sent to Round Two of the voting process. Right now, I'm tied for 4th place.  One more "like" will move me into tying with 3rd place.  That is so exciting for me!  Just think!!!  At this moment, I'm only a vote or two away from qualifying as a finalist!  I didn't think I would get this close, so this is pretty thrilling.      Min...

    When the third night of the ball began, Detlef was the first to claim a dance.  Ilona swirled through the sea of dancers, her rich wine-red gown contrasting with the paler colors around her.     “Congratulations are in order, Prince Detlef.”  She nodded politely to a passing couple before continuing her conversation.  “The servants tell me that, on closer inspection, your arrow was a hair’s breadth more centered than your brother’s.”     “All three of us brother are well-trained in archery.  I fear I may not fair so well tomorrow in fencing.” Detlef tipped his head and guided Ilona through a spin.  “Although my brother, Matthias, might.”     “Tell me about the time we were childhood friends and about the swing in the garden.”     He smiled – a little half-smile that look almost wistful.  “I spent some of my happiest times here.  A...

Hi, guys! Looking for something to do? Head over to speculativefaith.lorehaven.com/2018-spec-faith-winter-writing-challenge/ They are hosting a little contest. You can write or vote or both. Have fun! I'm posting my entry below, if you want to read it.

     One of the wonderful things about the Rooglewood contest is that we are all in this together.  How many people do you know who have entered this year?      I don't know any of my regular acquaintances who have entered this year -- and by regular acquaintances, I mean people that I see face to face on a regular basis.       I do have some long-time blog-world friends who I know have entered.       And I've made some new blogging and Facebook friends who entered this year.       Plus, I know that Elisabeth Brown (a winner from the first Rooglewood anthology) entered again this year.  And even if she doesn't know me, I'm still super-excited that she is entering.       How about you?  Who do you know?

    The afternoon sun shone lazily on the arena.  Flies buzzed annoyingly close to Ilona’s ear as she mounted the steps to the shaded platform where her papa sat.  In the field beyond him, she could see the band of competitors, standing in groups on the drying grass.  Emil and Detlef were among them…as were the silent, red-faced man and the bald ambassador.  And farther beyond them were the archery targets.     “Come, my dear, and sit beside me.” Her papa spread his fingers toward a chair.  “You should watch the games, as they will help us decide which man is right for you.”     Ilona took her seat.  “You wish me to marry an archery champion?”     “Ilona, the man who marries you may very well one day become king in my stead.  The council reminds me of the importance of this daily.  Therefore, it is our hope that you will fall in love with a capable war...

     Only 7 1/2 weeks to go! Thank you for joining me today.  Waiting is always better with company.       What shall we talk about today?  Oh, I know!  Let's talk about our characters.  Who was your favorite character to write in your Snow White retelling?  Why were they fun for you?      Or, if you didn't enter the contest, who is your Favorite Character in a Snow White movie (and tell us which movie they are from)?

Jack (at However Improbable ) sort of tagged me in this.  By which I mean, she said anyone who glanced at her post was tagged.  And I did. 1. Your car breaks down in the middle of nowhere and the last fantasy cast you read comes to help. Are they useful or no?       Lord of the Rings was the last book I was reading.  Yes.  Stryder on my side?  We're definitely getting somewhere. 2. You go to bed one evening and wake up in the lair of the villain of the last fairy tale you read, where are you and how do you plan to get out? The last fairy tale I read was the Snow White retelling (not yet published) by Heather Fitzgerald.  So I'm in a Persian "demoted palace" of sorts.  I've got to make myself look ugly and unimportant.  Maybe I can disguise myself as a worthless servant girl and sneak out. 3. You are transported into a fantasy realm and given a mythical creature as a companion and best friend… which myt...

    “Your dress is as pink as the roses.” Emil fingered a thorny stem.  “And your cheeks are just as bright.”     Ilona blushed.  “My papa sometimes calls me his little briar-rose.”     “The perfect beauty surrounded by an army of prickles.”  He grasped a red rose, breaking the stem, and presented it to Ilona with a flourish.  “My gift to you, my queen!”     Ilona took the offered blossom and buried her nose in its rich scent.     “And now I have a favor to ask of you.”  His hand found hers, and he clasped her fingers in his own.     Ilona waved the red rose.  “Was this a gift or a bargaining piece?”     He ignored her question.  “Let me dance two dances with you tonight!”     Ilona hid her face in the rose.  “I take it, then, that you are fond of dancing.” ...

    I'm just hanging out with you on this lovely February morning.  Out of curiosity, have any of you entered any contests before?  What contest did you enter?  Were you glad you did?  Why or why not?