[Writing Prompt] Your Voice Is Unique

One of the things newer writers worry about most is originality: how can I have an original idea when all the stories have been told.

Today we’re going to do a little exercise to prove that originality is not about the characters, the even the events of the story. Originality comes from you, writing in your voice, as only you can.

The Prompt

Write A Cinderella Story. Share (At Least An Excerpt) In The Comments 

Tips

You are the sum of all your experiences in your life to this point. If you’ve only ever lived in one place, you probably don’t realize what a gift that is, because you may think everyone knows the stuff you know. But I don’t know what it was like to grow up in Akron, Ohio. Or Aberdeen, Scotland. Or Brisbane, Australia. I don’t know what it was like to be a Boy Scout. I don’t know what it was like to have a dad who worked a regular 9-5 job. I can only find these things out by reading your words. Your voice is unique. The ideas you have developed through a lifetime of learning and making-connections and being-influenced-by-your-upbringing are ideas only you could have. Your story cannot help but be unique, even if you’re using the framework of the Cinderella story.
The Cinderalla story has been told and retold and retold and retold. Rags to riches. Unfulfilled to fulfilled. It has been told seriously, comically, as a musical…Tell your version of the story however you want: gender swap poor Cinders; Make the step-mother figure sympathetic; go to town on the ugly-sister antagonist. Whatever works for you today.
Don’t try to write anything other than a story that delights you. Don’t try to sound like Walt Disney. Don’t worry if your story comes out more grim than Grimm. Write this story your way.
The reason I’m asking for everyone to share an excerpt in the comments is so that we can all see how very different our stories are, how original they are. Who is going to be brave enough to share first?

GO!

How did you write your Cinderella Story? Share part of it in the comments or join the discussion in the community!