@colorblindcowboy

Well, let me think. In fairy tales there is usually normalized magic, meaning everyone knows they're in a world where magic exists (they don't know the rules of the magic--no one really does--they may be surprised at how it plays out--but they know magic is real). That's my question in some of these bible retellings. It's clearly a surprise that these miracles DO happen, but is it a surpise that they CAN?

@colorblindcowboy

Right. It's not that hard to imagine a world where, say, Sherlock Holmes never existed as a story (and so the new version can be sort of fresh). But it's truly wild to imagine a world in which nobody ever believed in that particular god.

@colorblindcowboy

That's amazing.

@colorblindcowboy

I think it can work either way, but I love when it feels like it has already existed. It adds this layer of "subtext I don't get" somehow that can make a thing feel both authentic and mysterious at the same time. Like it's known, just not known by me. Or something like that.

@colorblindcowboy

Frame stories are super useful in fairy tales and folktales and retellings. I think they do the same thing as anachronisms, as other "voicy" strategies (and there are lots) and it's to see up that layered story. There's the what's happening in the tale and then there's the teller who is sort of like another story happening at the same time.

I wrote about Amanda Lee Koe's phenomenal SISTER SNAKE, (and couldn't stop myself from a light musing on fairy tales because you know me).

https://loft.org/writers-block-blog/sister-snake-amanda-lee-koe-and-time-magic

#WritingCommunity #WritingConversations #SisterSnake #ReadingLikeAWriter #FairyTale #Folklore #FolkTale #TimeMagic #Anachronism #WritingCraft #Books

I interviewed Maria Reva about her (absolutely stunning) novel ENDLING. We talked about about structural play, narrative power, and how the violence and uncertainty of today’s world must reflect in the upheaval of the novel. Check it out here:

https://bit.ly/43W8uPN

#WritingCommunity #WritingConversations #Bookstodon #MariaReva #Endling #Ukraine

@kalikambo @theangler

Amazing--thank you!

@theangler

I don't know! I'm new to this, or more like newly returning, and would love to find out if something like that exists now. With ours we were definitely talking about how to give folks who find a way to respond, if they want to.

So, the folks in Lit!Commons made a zine and are making more and here's a write-up one did about the collaboration.

(I'm so pleased with this project and honored to be a very tiny part of it.)

https://loft.org/writers-block-blog/behind-zine-handmade-space-hope-kristy-wessel

#WritingCommunity #WritingConversations #Zines #LoftLiterary #LitCommons

CLASS IS FULL
(but there is a waitlist and the possibility to add a second section)

Flash Summer 2025!

Jun 16-Aug. 18, Mondays 12-1pm (CT), Online (Zoom), $160

-Close reading of newly published flash to discover exciting craft techniques
Generative writing prompts to create 10 new flash pieces
Supportive feedback to identify points of heat & reader connection

Three spots left!

#WritingCommunity #WritingClass #WritingConversations #FlashFiction

https://forms.gle/Yyz3YfNJQnVfLTd57