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behind the scenes of writing, Brothers Grimm, Camp NaNoWriMo, folklore, INK Skryf in Afrikaans, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, writing, writing competitions, writing update
Well, at least I’ve joined camp even if I hadn’t joined a cabin or done more than choose my stories and do one outline…
Let’s start at the beginning: on Monday I found out about a chance to do something good with my writing for the second half of 2017. Only, I have so many things on my plate I’m not even sure if I have the time to do it. (Let’s not talk about the remodelling and all the dust that’s driving me nuts.)
There’s a great opportunity for me to get an anthology of my work published (or a novella, either way there’s only 120 pages). It includes all publishing costs, except for proofreading and marketing. It’s a competition, of course. And in Afrikaans. Honestly, in the last couple of months I’ve only written one short story a month in my mother tongue. Sometimes it’s hard to switch languages.
I’ve decided to take on this challenge – it runs until the start of October – not just to win this publishing prize (or the writing course prize for second place), but also to test out my skills. I’m going to do a couple of fairy tale rewritings (Grimm fairy tales to be precise), dark fantasy, in Afrikaans. Though I usually use folklore in my writing, I haven’t done a fairy tale rewriting since my awesome retelling of Cinderella as Just Deserts.
I chose ten of my favourite Grimm folktales (including Cinderella) to rewrite with Faeries and the heavy price magic exacts. Signing up for camp means that there’s a way for me to be accountable (and get it done in a month). I think 20000 words will do it… Though, if the stories cannot fill 120 pages I’ll have to write more. *sigh*
Did I mention I also have to write a story from scratch for an anthology? (Yes, yes I can’t seem to say “no” to opportunities at the moment.) And I haven’t finished rewriting my novel, so when am I going to watch the last half of season 5 of “Arrow”? Oh, rewards thou art out of reach.
You’re probably curious about which stories I chose. Well, here they are:
Fitcher’s Bird
Briar Rose (The Sleeping Beauty)
Rapunzel
The Seven Ravens
The Bremen Town Musicians
The Twelve Dancing Princesses (The Shoes That Were Danced to Pieces)
The Blue Light
Rumpelstiltskin
Hans My Hedgehog
Cinderella
Okay, so I have other favourites too, but these ten stood out as just waiting for a retelling by moi.
I’m not even sure if there’s going to be a thematic link between them when I’m done, but I have three weeks to write them and figure that out. Thankfully I can write them in my pretty notebook and type them in the dark of night when all is quiet and the dust has settled…
What about you: do you have any crazy writing plans for July? Are you taking part in Camp NaNoWriMo? Do you use a reward system? Which Brothers Grimm folktale is your favourite?
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That sounds like fun! I’m doing Camp NaNoWriMo with a novel-length retelling of both Snow White and Sleeping Beauty. I’m taking elements from the older versions of the tales and also playing with the Disneyfied concept of true love’s kiss.
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That sounds awesome! The older versions have so much more gore and darkness in them 😉
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Good luck Ronel – sounds a great idea … and I love the Edison quote … all the best – cheers Hilary
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Thanks, Hilary 🙂
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If there is an opportunity, it’s always worth it to at least try, that’s how I feel about it.
I love retellings, so I’m curious to read yours (I will read the Cinderella one you’ve linked). There are a couple of my favourite fairy tales on that list!
Good luck with camp nano… and enjoy it!!!!
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Thanks, Sarah 🙂
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Good luck 🙂
Re-writing all those folktales sounds like such a fun idea. I’m going to write a Sleeping Beauty retelling at some point!
I’m doing Camp NaNo, but I’m taking it easy this month with a 30000 word target. I’m glad I set my target low, as this month hasn’t been productive so far!
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Thanks, Louise 🙂 Good luck!
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Good luck with this. I look forward to hearing how it goes.
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Thanks, Jacqui 🙂
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Oh! Ronel, you are sooo ambitious – a great role model for me. I’m excited for you that you’re doing this project with fairy tales, also the anthology piece, and the novel re-write. Congratulatlons! (If you don’t set goals you can’t meet them, haha!)
Thanks for asking about July plans. I’ve got some writing time blocked out in the next week at a writing conference/retreat, and I’d really like to finish at least one of my other two “little book” chapbook projects. Besides that, would love to write new things. Here’s hoping! 🙂
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Thanks, Theresa 🙂 A writing retreat sounds like fun. Happy writing 🙂
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Thank you!
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Ronel, I just thought of a question that I wanted to ask you! When you are revising a novel, is it really hard work? Sorry, that sounds a little trivial, but what I mean is, do you dread it? I find it such hard going, I’m working right now on revision for my little book chapbooks and, ugh, it’s very discouraging going. Thought I’d ask! 🙂
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Revising a novel is like plucking eyebrows: lots of pain but the results are worth it. Like I mentioned last Wednesday, rewards help to keep me encouraged 😉 https://ronelthemythmaker.wordpress.com/2017/07/05/the-great-pretender-iwsg/
Good luck with your revisions!
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Urgh! Thank you, it feels better to have company!
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