I just returned from the "Tell it in the Mountains" storytelling festival in Asheville, North Carolina. It was a lot of fun. As usual there were a mix of storytellers who each have their own personal storytelling styles and type of stories they tell. The telling styles ranged from purely verbal to highly animated and dramatic (verbally, physically or both) to those that include music. The type of stories ranged from classic country tales to fairy tales to native culture tales to family stories.

One of the last used a fairy tale to create her own story. This sparked the Challenge this week.

She chose Cinderella. She updated it a little and rewrote it keeping the primary story intact. One of the unique things was that she eliminated the negative mood from it. The step sisters were not nasty and angry and jealous they simply were lazy. Nancy (otherwise nicknamed Cinderella) didn't hate them she took on all the other work in a positive mood.

The Challenge this week is to stretch, play and have fun with your imagination.
 
Step One       Choose a classic fairly tale from anywhere in the world that is commonly known.
 
Step Two       Change the characters' names
 
Step Three       Change the time and scene (optional)
 
Step Four       Spend 15 to 20 minutes each day working on the story.

Start with the characters writing down details, traits, characteristics. Examine the plot and alter it to update it. Re-examine the place and give it a new or different one.

You might consider writing the story from a different character's perspective or a specific character's perspective....Instead of from Hanzel and Gretel's perspective, write it from the old woman's or from her next door neighbor's.

At the end of the week, Friday, share your story with the list.

Have fun stretching and using your imagination.

Alan