Newbie ?'s about my Fairytale

Sweetlebee · Jan 3, 2007

In my enthusiasm of being an AW newbie, I dragged out a fairytale I wrote 10 years ago, and it's pretty good. I had to write it for a Children's Lit class to prove that I understood fairytale conventions, like the use of magic, trickery, triumph of the underdog, etc. It's about 1600 words, all my own fresh ideas. My professor at CSU Sacramento, who is highly esteemed and published himself, said it was one of the best fairytales he'd seen in his days of teaching.

Soooo...should I entertain the idea of seeing if there's a market for it? Is there a market for fairytales today? Maybe Disney would want it!

It would have a children's audience, but where? A picture book, a short story in a magazine, as part of a compilation of fairytales in someone else's book? Where would I start?

Also, if I wanted to post some of it here for critique, a friend mentioned that I should copywrite it. True? I'd love some feedback!

Meerkat · Jan 3, 2007

Hi Sweetlebee and congratulations on your work! Sounds like you need an agent who specializes in the genre. The publishers usually copyright the work. I say that, having usually gotten the copyright myself anyway (paranoia). But you're definitely in the right place here--welcome!

Jamesaritchie · Jan 3, 2007

Work

At that length, you might try it first at one of teh children's magazines.

As for copyright, you already own the copyright. It's impossible to actually copyright anything because it's already copyrighted the moment you write it. This is a common misunderstanding. But simply put, neither you, nor anyone else, can copyright anything.

All the U. S. Copyright Office does is put a time stamp on the copyright you already own. It's no more than registering when you wrote it. Unless you plan oon self-publishing, there's never a reason to do this yourself.

moondance · Jan 4, 2007

Fairytales are always welsome, provided they are well-written and fresh. If you want to go the picture book route, however, you'll have to cut it down to well under 1000 words. It's also worth checking it for style of language - many people when they first write for children don't realise how complex their language use is - not necessarily in vocab but in use of metaphorical imagery (eg 'his words dripped authority' - the reader will assume he was wet! Sarcasm and irony also don't work well).

Have you read any children's books recently? Don't try to get yours published without knowing what's in the market at the moment.

Best of luck though - I love fairytales!

Melissa_Marr · Jan 4, 2007

You might check out the Carus magazines (Cricket, Cicada, Spider). They have a higher wordcount, & they like fairy & folk tales. (If you google them, you can find their GLs online.)

M.

Sweetlebee · Jan 4, 2007

moondance said:
Fairytales are always welsome, provided they are well-written and fresh. If you want to go the picture book route, however, you'll have to cut it down to well under 1000 words. It's also worth checking it for style of language - many people when they first write for children don't realise how complex their language use is - not necessarily in vocab but in use of metaphorical imagery (eg 'his words dripped authority' - the reader will assume he was wet! Sarcasm and irony also don't work well).

Have you read any children's books recently? Don't try to get yours published without knowing what's in the market at the moment.

Best of luck though - I love fairytales!

I have read many children's books as my background is in elementary education. I remember that I really had to simplify my language as I wrote this. I also tried to keep a sense of a "long ago and far away" dialogue.
I know today there's quite a bit of "modernism" in fairytales written for movies--thinking of Shrek and the like--and wonder if there is an interest in traditional tales. When I wrote this for a class, I had to follow the traditional guidelines. One of my questions is whether it "reads" awkwardly or stilted as a result. Here is an excerpt:

Crystalina prepared to leap into the water, but the Great Fish spoke again. “Then what becomes of your father? I know another way, but it will take courage and cunning. In the deep, dark wood lives a Giant. He keeps as a pet a beautiful Fishwife. Bring her to me, and as your reward, we will restore the lake with such abundance that you and your father shall have fish for all of your days. I have often wished to claim my bride, but alas, if I were to undertake such a journey, I would surely be a fish out of water.”

“I would travel to the ends of the earth to save my father, but I do not know my way in the wood. Father forbade me to enter.”

“In that I can help,” replied the Fish. Dipping his head beneath the water, he blew a great iridescent bubble. It rose slowly and drifted toward the shore, and he shouted, “Leap, my child! Leap into the bubble and let it carry you on your journey!” Crystalina hesitated only a moment before springing into the bubble, her father’s fishing net held fast in her hand.

Comment to your heart's desire!

moondance · Jan 5, 2007

It's got a lovely old-fashioned feel to it. I have to confess that it wouldn't sell in the UK at the moment. Publishers want modern, original and quirky (so your instinct about Shrek is correct) and they are rejecting lyrical texts right, left and centre. I should know

and many well-established pb writers are really struggling right now becuase of the narrow-minded attitude of the publishers.

However, the US market may be more receptive, you never know. Two words to consider removing/altering though are 'abundance' and 'alas' -I think the first is too complex for picture books and the second too 'twee' these days. I would also consider rewriting 'forbade' as 'has forbidden' - easier to pronounce.

If you go down the pb market route, you also have to consider the page restrictions - you get 24 sides for text (you can double up as a double-page spread, which reduces your page count to 12) and you need to think carefully about how your story fits into the format.

I don't know anything about magazines - here in the UK we don't have the same kind of magazine market that you do - so someone else may be able to comment on your story regarding them.

Sweetlebee · Jan 5, 2007

I know zilch about publishing at this point, so thank you all for the info!

And thank you for your helpful comments, moondance. "Forbade" is outa here! You'd think something in this style would do better in the UK than here. There is a more lyrical quality to your speech in general. I suppose I could keep the story but change the tone. I'll continue to play with it and maybe post it in Share your Work.

What's a "twee"?

TnTexas · Jan 5, 2007

moondance said:
If you want to go the picture book route, however, you'll have to cut it down to well under 1000 words.

This isn't necessarily true. I have seen books published within the last 2 or 3 years that have 1000 words or more. They may be in the minority right now, but they do still exist.

moondance · Jan 7, 2007

TnTexas, I guarantee that 99% of those books are by authors who are already well-established. It's almost impossible to get a pb of that length published by a first-timer these days. Of course there are always exceptions, but I speak of the majority.

Sweetlebee, if something is 'twee' it could also be called 'quaint' or 'kitsch'. See http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/twee

RainbowDragon · Jan 7, 2007

Melissa's suggestion is right-on -- Carus/Cricket's submissions page is at http://www.cricketmag.com/pages_content.asp?page_id=6

They even sometimes serialize works longer than their typical story size.

Does anyone know if serializing a novel is good/bad for its prospects of future publication as a novel?

Sweetlebee · Jan 7, 2007

Thank you, RainbowDragon! Their Spider magazine publishes fairytales. I might give it a go!

Sylvia, I might post it on here for general critique, or at least some of it. Maybe leave off the ending for suspense!

Which leads to the next question......what's the interest here on AW for critiquing children's lit? I'd like to see the children's threads get more active, so I have done some critiques. I'll try to do a few a week...I am really critiquing as a reader for content. I am not an author, so I can't critique according to what publishers want. But my goal is to practice critiquing, learn more about children's lit by reading other people's work, and to spark some interest in this category.

Anybody want to join me?

Sweetlebee · Jan 7, 2007

Oh...and to hopefully give something of value to the writer. That's the No. 1 reason. I must be out of order today...better check to see if I'm dressed right......

Sweetlebee · Jan 7, 2007

Me too. Wanna critique the little bit I posted up above?

RainbowDragon · Jan 7, 2007

Cricket says on their site they will consider submissions for all their magazines, regardless of which you address it to, so that gives you a great chance since you don't have to try to ferret out which would be the most appropriate.

TnTexas · Jan 7, 2007

moondance said:
TnTexas, I guarantee that 99% of those books are by authors who are already well-established. It's almost impossible to get a pb of that length published by a first-timer these days. Of course there are always exceptions, but I speak of the majority.

I don't doubt that in the least.

Soccer Mom · Jan 8, 2007

There are some links in the toolkit above for children's magazines. I think it would make a lovely magazine story (based on the bit I read). If you would like more feedback, you could post it on the SYW thread.

Sweetlebee · Jan 8, 2007

Naw. I'm disilllusioned with AW now, to be honest. I'm seeing too much bullying.

moondance · Jan 9, 2007

Sweetlebee said:
Naw. I'm disilllusioned with AW now, to be honest. I'm seeing too much bullying.

Really? I don't spend much time on here and I don't frequent the SYW board so maybe I just haven't come across it.
Try http://www.verlakay.com/boards/index.php

Sweetlebee · Jan 9, 2007

No, the SYW boards are fine. I didn't expect to open a thread and see grown men gang up on a mentally-disabled woman who is probably young enough to be their daughter. Makes my stomach hurt...

But thank you for the link, moondance! Looks like a good place to check out.

writerterri · Jan 9, 2007

I had a story that length and decided to turn in into a novel length story. You may want to consider that if you'd like Disney to consider it. They may make an animated movie out of it.

Think bigger! Go for it!

Terri

Jamesaritchie · Jan 9, 2007

writerterri said:
I had a story that length and decided to turn in into a novel length story. You may want to consider that if you'd like Disney to consider it. They may make an animated movie out of it.

Think bigger! Go for it!

Terri

Movies often work much better when made from short stories. Thinking bigger where length is concerned often means getting smaller. But there's no real reason not to do both. Many a novel out there was first a published short story.

writerterri · Jan 9, 2007

Jamesaritchie said:
Movies often work much better when made from short stories. Thinking bigger where length is concerned often means getting smaller. But there's no real reason not to do both. Many a novel out there was first a published short story.

Well, then, think short!

4rum · Jan 17, 2007

Much better...

... than what I saw in OSN in the GG thread. Where's the rest, I'd love to read it!

Hey SB... 4rum here.

Sweetlebee said:
I have read many children's books as my background is in elementary education. I remember that I really had to simplify my language as I wrote this. I also tried to keep a sense of a "long ago and far away" dialogue.
I know today there's quite a bit of "modernism" in fairytales written for movies--thinking of Shrek and the like--and wonder if there is an interest in traditional tales. When I wrote this for a class, I had to follow the traditional guidelines. One of my questions is whether it "reads" awkwardly or stilted as a result. Here is an excerpt:

Crystalina prepared to leap into the water, but the Great Fish spoke again. “Then what becomes of your father? I know another way, but it will take courage and cunning. In the deep, dark wood lives a Giant. He keeps as a pet a beautiful Fishwife. Bring her to me, and as your reward, we will restore the lake with such abundance that you and your father shall have fish for all of your days. I have often wished to claim my bride, but alas, if I were to undertake such a journey, I would surely be a fish out of water.”

“I would travel to the ends of the earth to save my father, but I do not know my way in the wood. Father forbade me to enter.”

“In that I can help,” replied the Fish. Dipping his head beneath the water, he blew a great iridescent bubble. It rose slowly and drifted toward the shore, and he shouted, “Leap, my child! Leap into the bubble and let it carry you on your journey!” Crystalina hesitated only a moment before springing into the bubble, her father’s fishing net held fast in her hand.

Comment to your heart's desire!

Ripley · Feb 13, 2007

Hi all,

I'm new to the boards so I hope you don't mind me adding my 2 cents' worth. Publishers in Australia generally want picture book stories of no more than 600 words.

I enjoyed reading your story excerpt, Sweet Bee. Good luck with it.

Newbie ?'s about my Fairytale

Sweetlebee

Meerkat

Claims the loan was a gift

Jamesaritchie

moondance

Melissa_Marr

New kid, be gentle!

Sweetlebee

moondance

Sweetlebee

TnTexas

moondance

RainbowDragon

Perpetuous Revisasaurus

Sweetlebee

Sweetlebee

Sweetlebee

RainbowDragon

Perpetuous Revisasaurus

TnTexas

Soccer Mom

Crypto-fascist

Sweetlebee

moondance

Sweetlebee

writerterri

It's a dorky day!

Jamesaritchie

writerterri

It's a dorky day!

4rum

Ripley