Allison Symes's Blog - Posts Tagged "alternative-renditions"
Alternative Character Viewpoints
I have a very soft spot for stories told from alternative viewpoints, especially fairy tales. My first published story was A Helping Hand in Bridge House Publishing's Alternative Renditions anthology (many moons ago now) and tells the Cinderella tale from the viewpoint of the youngest stepsister. It was great fun to write and, due it being the first thing I'd written that was accepted for publication (thank you, Bridge House!), it will always have a special place in my heart.
In my flash fiction collection, From Light to Dark and Back Again, I take Goldilocks' viewpoint as my angle in the tale, Health and Safety, (though between you and me, I still think she comes across as the kind of character you wouldn't want to take into a posh giftware shop given the chaos she caused with one chair and one bed in the Three Bears' house!).
One great thing about using alternative viewpoints like this is you can explore why that character has behaved the way they have. You can explore their justifications for their actions.
The great thing is they don't have to be right! (It can be even more fun when they're not but they really think they are. You really get to know what they are made of exploring this kind of avenue).
You can also prove the truth of the old saying "there are two sides to every story" by exploring what the other characters think! They just have to be strong enough to carry their own story.
In my flash fiction collection, From Light to Dark and Back Again, I take Goldilocks' viewpoint as my angle in the tale, Health and Safety, (though between you and me, I still think she comes across as the kind of character you wouldn't want to take into a posh giftware shop given the chaos she caused with one chair and one bed in the Three Bears' house!).
One great thing about using alternative viewpoints like this is you can explore why that character has behaved the way they have. You can explore their justifications for their actions.
The great thing is they don't have to be right! (It can be even more fun when they're not but they really think they are. You really get to know what they are made of exploring this kind of avenue).
You can also prove the truth of the old saying "there are two sides to every story" by exploring what the other characters think! They just have to be strong enough to carry their own story.
Writing and Reading - The Inseparable Joys
I have long felt writers have two joys in life - writing and reading.
Most writers are inspired to write because of the books they have loved reading. Ideas for stories have sparked from what we have read and you develop this urge to write your own.
Sometimes that urge can come from reading a “duff” book and wanting to do better. Better though is when an inspried story encourages you to write.
My first venture into print was with a reworked fairytale told from the viewpoint of Cinderella’s youngest step-sister. That came out in Alternative Renditions (Bridge House Publishing) in 2009 - my story in there is A Helping Hand.
But without the original faurytale I loved (and still do), I couldn’t have written my tale. We do stand on the shoulders of giants here. We build on what has gone before. And that means we have to read more. Don’t have a problem with that!
What I have found in recent years is that inspiration for stories can come from something I’ve read in non-fiction too. I have welcomed that development as I love reading fiction and non-fiction.
Most writers are inspired to write because of the books they have loved reading. Ideas for stories have sparked from what we have read and you develop this urge to write your own.
Sometimes that urge can come from reading a “duff” book and wanting to do better. Better though is when an inspried story encourages you to write.
My first venture into print was with a reworked fairytale told from the viewpoint of Cinderella’s youngest step-sister. That came out in Alternative Renditions (Bridge House Publishing) in 2009 - my story in there is A Helping Hand.
But without the original faurytale I loved (and still do), I couldn’t have written my tale. We do stand on the shoulders of giants here. We build on what has gone before. And that means we have to read more. Don’t have a problem with that!
What I have found in recent years is that inspiration for stories can come from something I’ve read in non-fiction too. I have welcomed that development as I love reading fiction and non-fiction.
