once upon a retelling

So, last week I promised I'd have something better to talk about this week. Of course, after  publishing that post I was wondering what that better thing would be. Low and behold, my need to fill a void in a different area has provided the answer.

I had been satiating my need for a good TV show with BBC's Call the Midwife series [which is awesome, by the way] but I finished the last episode a few weeks ago and last night I found myself itching for another binge-worthy undertaking and I found one: Once Upon a Time.

I know, I know, most of you are probably aghast at the idea that I haven't seen the show before. It's been out for ages, what, have I been living under a rock? Well, I suppose I have, of sorts, in relation to this show. When it first aired it became instantly popular with just about everyone at college and I have this somewhat juvenile reaction to things that garner cult followings in such a short period of time. I generally avoid them. How mature of me, I know. Anyway, I had heard enough about the show and I suppose I had become curious enough, and willing to give into that curiosity this time, to check the show out last night. The first season or two are instant-play on Netflix so why not?

I'm only eight episodes in right now [though that number will probably have increased by the time I publish this post] but I can say that I'm honestly surprised. In my experience, fairy tale retellings/spin-offs tend to get butchered more often than they are successful so I didn't have my hopes set to high for this series, but I'm impressed. Not only have they created an insanely convoluted and complex timeline that almost runs in two different directions at once but still somehow totally works [A feat worthy of praise from the Doctor, in my opinion. These people have a madman's grasp on that timey wimey business], but they've also managed to transform these fictional characters into real people who are still identifiable as the characters we know and love, but with more rounded out back stories and personalities. [Holy run-on sentence, Batman!]

But my favorite thing? Practically all of the central characters that you really get to know are women. I'm not the crazy feminist that thinks all TV shows should be completely overhauled so women always hold the limelight but guys, this is really kind of a unique thing here and I think it says something wonderful about the genre of fairy tales in general. A lot of people dismiss or deride fairy tales because they say they're sexist, casting women as the perpetually weaker sex and there is, therefor, no merit to them. What Once Upon a Time is proving here is that these princesses [and otherwise] that we know, aren't doomed to this fate. You don't even have to change that much about them to make them women that you'd be comfortable having your daughters look up to. Each character hits all the important plot points of their original stories, those tried and true mile markers aren't changed or removed. All this show is doing is filling in gaps that are already there, already teasing us with the well-rounded and humanly flawed reality of these ageless characters.

They don't have to radically change the story of Snow White - turn her into some sword-brandishing man-hater - in order to show her as a strong-willed, independent, selfless woman who falls in love, not because she isn't a complete person without a man, but because love is something everyone wants. It doesn't define her, it's just part of her story, like it is for all of us. The pasts of these characters are all just as complicated, if not more so, than those of their male counterparts and none of them are purely good.

That's probably the best twist overall, even over the timey wimey stuff, because to be flawed is to be human. To do some not-really-awesome stuff while on your quest to become the honorable person you want to be is something that happens to all of us so we can all relate and connect. It's an amazing thing to take a character that a lot of people love, just coming into it, give them some skeletons [we all have them] and then see those same people still loving that character, perhaps even more than they did before.

Now, letting our characters be flawed in their humanity means that they will make certain decisions you may not like [really, Mary-Margaret?] but mistakes are things we all have to be aloud to make. While I may not love some of the choices certain characters are making at the moment, as long as the reality of consequences plays out as well as the reality of the characters, I'll be okay.

I'm excited to see what happens. But I am on episode 12 now [having watched only mini series recently, this longer season is throwing me off] which has Belle's first appearance. Belle is my favorite fairy tale character. So who knows, I might feel differently after this episode ;P

what's in a name?

Giving characters names has always been a source of anxiety for me. I mean, a name almost says more about a fictional character than it does a real person. We can find ways to grow into our names, or find ways to make them suit us, but fictional characters already exist as a package deal, personality and behaviors and all. If their name doesn't feel like it fits them it can be a stumbling block for readers, not to mention you as the author if you're not satisfied with it.

As hard as naming a fictional person can be, there are numerous baby-naming sites that can be great resources for ideas. Naming places, though, can be a totally different animal.

Guys, naming places sucks. I am not good at this. There are name generators out there for places but most of them are super specific and the fantasy city namers I've found are a bit too fantasy for my needs. Sigh.

On the topic of character development, I had a moment yesterday where it occurred to me that one of my main characters has crossed the line into feeling like a real person. This is, of course, the goal with all the characters in this story and I'm always working on that but I've never had this solid of a realization before so it's kind of exciting to think I'm doing something right.  :]

I promise I'll have something more interesting to talk about next week, haha.

just a little blip

Guys, one of the best things you can do for your own writing is to learn how to give feedback on the work of others. Giving constructive feedback requires an understanding of literary basics. For me, a lot of that was learned by being part of various writing classes where we reviewed each others work. Listening to the feedback that more experienced writers give can help you key into the important aspects that need attention in initial and intermediate drafts of a story because the general question will usually go along the same lines no matter the story in review.

I have always loved writer's workshops because I love hearing the ideas that my fellow writers come up with and providing feedback is something that I genuinely enjoy doing. I've noticed that I often learn as much from these experiences as those I might be responding to. The author is worried that their characters lack real, deep characterization or they just feel flat when you read them - in brainstorming ways that issues like this, that every author struggles with at one time or another, the solutions are often ones that I can apply in my own work.

Workshops are amazing events that facilitate communal education and learning performed by each member in turn. I'm working with some friends now to try and set up our own now that we're no longer students with professors and classes to create that environment for us and I highly encourage anyone else to make their own as well. It can be any size you want [I'd probably recommend at least 3 people though] and the great thing about setting up your own is you don't have to include that one person who was always ragging on your stuff in class just because they were a jerk - we've all met that person.

On a side note, this game has stolen my life for the past few days. So while I recommend it, proceed with caution if you have anything that actually needs doing.

consider this

I read a wonderful post by EPBOT today about Rage-Quitting [which I highly recommend for reading, especially if you've been having a crappy week, like a lot of us] that made me more fully consider a thought I had last night while watching Restaurant Impossible. I know, deep thoughts from a Food Network makeover show? Who would have thought?

Okay, so, confession. I watch Restaurant Impossible a lot. The tension, the denial, the designing, Robert Irvine's surprisingly competent counseling skills, the cathartic and dynamic journey in just an hour. Wonderful.

Having watched the show extensively, I've picked up on the patterns that generally surface over the course of an episode. One of these, is the pit of guilt and depression that a lot of the owner/chefs fall into right after Robert tells them that the [poor] quality of their food is a big part of why their restaurant is failing. They get stuck in a rut of "I suck and I have always sucked and I am always going to suck." I frequently find myself getting frustrated along with Robert who's asking them to snap out of it, put the past in the past, and just move forward.

This happens a lot. Last night it happened again, but this time it occurred to me how hypocritical my attitude was because how many of us can honestly say we've never had the above thought about ourselves at some point? I know I can't. I have that thought a lot and I'm not any better about getting out of that pit than those chefs are.

We're so good  at striping ourselves of our innate  power to grow and attain amazing things. EPBOT talks about Rage-Quitting when things get too tough or complicated but sometimes we  get so good at quitting that we quit before we start. We never even try to tackle that stack of laundry or dishes, that chapter, or that project because  think we already know how that'll end, so why start?

I think  this is why songs like "Let it Go"  connect to so many people. So many of us what to be that fearless, self-accepting person who throws off the expectations others  have of us and that we then create for ourselves.

We need to stop getting in our own ways. We need to start learning  from the past and stop choosing to live in it,  especially the parts we don't like. I for one, want to work on moving forward with energy and excitement, seizing the power  that I already hold to make tomorrow  what I want it to be. And stop getting in my own way.

Thank you, Food Network :)