Being a Better Writer: Retellings · 7:15pm April 1st

Click here! You probably don't need to ask why.

Hello again, writers! Welcome back to Being a Better Writer! It’s Monday once more and that means that it’s time for us to dive into our Topic List again and see what we’ve got to discuss!

Which today should be interesting, as it’s a reader requested topic that can sometimes be a hot topic of discussion among young writers and writing forums, even when it really shouldn’t be outside of a few specific key approaches we’ll get to in a moment.

But first, just so you’re aware, there is an active Beta Call going for Axtara – Magic and Mischief. No, that isn’t yet the final title, but it’s the best alternative I’ve found, and I’m trying it out to see how it rolls off the tongue. Anyway, if you’re interested in trying out being a Beta Reader, head over to last Friday’s post and take a look at what’s there.

Oh, and don’t forget that this coming Friday will be the posting of the first part of A Trial for a Dragon, a story set in Axtara universe starring non other than her own brother. It’s not a prequel, not quite, but it is a side story that will tie in to Magic and Mischief. And you’ll be able to read it right here, for free, each Friday until it’s complete.

Got it? Okay, good! Now let’s talk writing from the angle of creation, rather than consumption. Let’s get down to business with today’s topic. Which, as I already noted, can be somewhat of a contentious topic in some circles, oddly enough. Especially when some of those circles are fanfiction circles, which have a hefty plethora of stories dedicated to “Let’s retell my favorite show/game/book/comic but with one small tweak.” One would think retellings of other stories would see more slack given amid such surroundings, but …

Well, we’ll discuss it. Along with other aspects of storytelling to be aware of or consider … when you set out to create a story that’s a retelling. So hit that jump, and let’s talk writing.

Continue reading →