Something Old and Something New

I'd like to start off by wishing you all a very Happy New Year. There is nothing like a fresh beginning and we are fortunate that we get one with each year, but my topic for today's blog is really about bringing the old from past years into the New Year. Specifically, what we as writers and readers will bring.

A tradition in many weddings is to wear something old and something new, something borrowed and something blue.  In each day we make efforts to avoid pitfalls by learning from our old mistakes. And Julie Andrews sang it best when she mentioned a few of her favorite things—things she had previously experienced.

So what are the favorite, old things that we will bring into the New Year? As time goes by for us, so does it pass for our heroes and heroines. Not only do we read about our favorite Scottish Lairds or Scandalous Dukes but we also read about take-charge women and men with extraordinary powers (or vice versa). Time has changed but when referring to the "old" and "favorite" things, what we really mean to say are the timeless elements of writing.

I personally have always loved the underdog male protagonist. It doesn't matter if he was born during the beginnings of the Roman Empire or far into the future. As long as an author can spin in some sort of "come from nothing" storyline that type of hero will most likely be my favorite in any book. I also tend to prefer stronger heroines. I can't be bothered with criers (unless they have a reason to cry or they transition into a different type of person) or those who can't think for themselves.

So what is timeless to you? Are you a glutton for a damsel in distress? Or perhaps a hero in distress? Or maybe you can't resist stories set in the Midwest. What favorites of yours are you going to bring in with the New Year, either as a writer or a reader?

Happy Writing, All!

Filed under: Toni Kelly, Writer's Life, Writing Topics