Last summer, I had an idea for a fairy story. Actually, my working title is older than that, but I wrote the first chapter last summer. In my ::ahem:: spare time over the past year, I've done a bit of plotting and a short outline. It's a fun, MG story about an nontraditional fairy.
"But," you say, "there a a million fairy stories out there."
I know. In fact, I've been asked to review an ARC of one coming out in the fall (more to come on that. I CAN'T wait, this is from an awesome blogger and friend). Is there room for mine? I think so. I think as long as there is a new twist, there is always room for more of anything.
So I've made a list of twenty fairy stories (from PB to YA) and I'm going to be reading some this summer. I just started ARTEMIS FOWL on my iPod, so I can "read" in the car. I want to find out what kind of worlds my writing colleagues have created--not to copy, but to inform my writing. I want to make sure I'm putting my gothish, combat boot-wearing fairy into a world of my own creation, not something that mimics or reminds people of another.
How do you research a new WIP?
12 comments:
I research the same way. Pick up some books and make sure my twist is the 'new thing'.
I like the sound of your fairy!
I think it's a must to read what is already out there - if anything to not spend a year writing something that has already been done. (but I'm pretty sure yours hasn't been. :))
Thanks Donna and Laura! I'm getting kind of excited about the project...
I love reading as research. I mean how much fun is it to hunt down, find, and enjoy books on a subject you already adore? :)
Enjoy AF!
So smart of you to research your idea this way, and make sure your fairy story is unique! I do searches on Amazon and Google, and also ask my writer friends if they've read anything similar to my Shiny New Ideas. I have one in my mind that I THINK is unique.
Yours sounds kinda like urban fantasy! But maybe just straight-up fantasy. :)
You're very smart for reading stories that are in the same genre as your WIP. That way you know what is already out there. Then you'll be able to put a new twist on a popular story idea. It doesn't matter how many other fairy stories are out there, so long as you make yours different and fresh (which I'm sure you will ;)
I've actually been asked by agents I've queried to describe how my work differs from some of that already out there with similar subject matter. I did Google searches and the like when I first had the idea for my genie story Heir to the Lamp and read what titles I could find to make sure my story hadn't already been told. I love your idea and can't wait to see what becomes of it.
Ansha, Carol, Rachel and Miclowery--thanks for stopping by! And, C, that's a great idea to google search the key words!
I think it's definitely smart to know what your competition is like--and fun as a reader to see all the great books out there. I want to make sure my story stands out--not blends in. :)
I usually watch a bunch of science fiction movies and TV shows on NetFlix. Yes, odd I know!
When I wrote 'FOSSEGRIM', I did some research into mermaid stories to make sure mine wasn't closely related. Being told from a boy's point of view definitetly made mine different though. I agree, as long as it has a twist, there's room.
Reading books is one of the best ways to research. I don't know of any books that are much like mine, so it's tough to find fiction to read for research, but I've read plenty of non-fiction that is related to specific topics that are in my story.
I write whatever I want. That's how I research. If mine is the same as someone else's, then I'd like to think I can sell the story with the writing, the characters, and the stuff that only I can bring to a story.
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