5 Tips to Help Your Retelling Stand Out
By: Lindsay Fortin
From reimagined myths to twisted fairy tales, retellings are a hot ticket item these days. Taking a story you love and turning it into something that’s uniquely your own can be daunting, especially if you’re worried that it might be overused, or just not original enough. I guarantee you, first of all, that that’s not the case. You have a unique perspective to add to the story, and only you can tell it. Second of all, people love retellings! There’s just something about their appeal that’s hard to pinpoint, but it’s undeniable. I hope that with these tips, you’ll be able to face that retelling with confidence and know that you have the skills you need to create the retelling you dream of. So without further ado, let’s get into the tips!
1. Setting
This one might seem to be the most obvious, but it can help to instantly change elements of a story. How would the story change if you put it into a modern day or futuristic context? What about a second world/high fantasy context? Or on a spaceship? What if you put the story into the context of your own* cultural heritage? The little mermaid has been retold countless times within a western cultural context, but what about in an African setting? How would the retelling of the Hades and Persephone myth change if it was turned into an Indian fantasy story?
(*And note the emphasis on your own cultural heritage — don’t appropriate someone else’s culture in your writing!)
2. Twisting Characterization
Mythological figures tend to have a distinct character. How can you take elements of their character and twist them into something new? This includes gender, sexuality, culture, and personal motivation, among many others. What if Ariel wasn’t in love with the prince and instead wanted to get to the surface for a different reason? What if she hates the prince? How would Persephone’s story change if she had plans to take over the Underworld for herself? Maybe one aspect of her is sweet and innocent like it is in the myth, but in this version she’s cunning and calculated. How would that change the trajectory of the story? Experiment with different scenarios where characterization is twisted into something new, and see where the characters take you.
3. Filling in the Plot
If the source material goes from plot point A to plot point B (Ex: if Persephone being taken by Hades is plot point A and her eating the pomegranate seeds is plot point B), how would things change if you filled in the space between A and B with new plot points? What conflict could come between points A and B that would change the direction of the story? For example, if we use Persephone’s twisted characterization from before, maybe she, with her reasons for wanting to rule the Underworld, has to go on a journey through the Underworld before she even meets Hades, or meets him on her journey through the Underworld? Weave in conflict where you can to help fill out space, especially if the source material is short. This will also help distinguish your story from the original.
In this step, you might also find it helpful to break down the structure of the source material you’re using. Figure out its inciting incident, pinch point, climax, etc., and map them out. If you’re a discovery writer, this can also be done after you’ve written the first draft! Breaking down the story’s structure can help you plot it out for your retelling, as well as give you an idea of how you might want to approach the pacing.
4. Symbolism
All myths, folktales, and fairytales have symbols, motifs, and visuals that they’re associated with. Pomegranate seeds, voicelessness, red hoods, glass slippers, etc… How can you incorporate these things into the setting in a unique way? If we continue with the Hades and Persephone myth, how would the story change if pomegranates were rare and sacred, and Persephone needed them for some reason? How would the story change if other Greek gods wanted them for the same reason, and Persephone needed to get there first?
Pinpoint a few of these key symbols, motifs, and visuals within the source material and find ways to layer it into the story and the worldbuilding. And take full advantage of those visuals. They’ll help ground the reader in the story, and serve as a consistent reminder of the original while still providing a unique experience for the reader.
5. Research!
And finally, research, research, research. This one might be either completely natural for you and seem totally obvious, or it might be completely counterintuitive for you and something you want to actively avoid. Or maybe it’s something you just don’t enjoy doing! But I can’t emphasize enough how important research is. Figure out the history behind the story and find all the different ways that people have adapted this story before you. Research (if you have access) what scholars have to say about the symbolism in the original, what its meaning is, how the author’s life might have influenced the story. All of these things will help you gain a deeper understanding of the source material, which in turn allows you to exercise better control over your own retelling.
Keep in mind that this stage can come after you’ve completed the first draft, especially if you’re worried about inadvertently copying someone else’s adaptation of the story. But regardless of when you do the research, instead of worrying about how you might accidentally copy from other adaptations, use those adaptations as tools. What did they do with the characters, and which aspects of them did you like? Which didn’t you like? How did they change the plot of the story from the original? Was it effective? How did readers (or viewers, if it’s a movie) respond to it? You can learn from the lessons and mistakes that the author made in their adaptation. Take those lessons and apply them to your own retelling so that you can improve it based on what you’ve learned. I promise it’s not cheating! So long as you’re not blatantly plagiarizing someone’s work, you have every right to use all of the tools available to you in your arsenal. Read different adaptations as a writer, just as you would for any other book.
If you’re currently working on a retelling or have plans for a retelling in the future, drop a comment with which myth, fairy tale, folk tale, or literary classic you’re adapting! And as always, if you have thoughts or advice you’d like to add to the discussion, leave a comment down below.
Secret Writers Guild 