Tell me if this sounds familiar, Reader?

“I can’t write this. It’s too similar to [insert popular retelling some author already did]. Whatever will I do? Everything’s already been written.” 🙀

The thing is, Reader, this imaginary storyteller—or not-so-imaginary one—is focusing on the wrong thing. They shouldn’t focus on how their retelling is the same as everything that already exists, but instead on how it’s different.

So when you sit down to create a new story—or fret over one you’ve already written…

Here are 3 Creative ways to make a retelling truly yours:

1) Genre Quick-Change

The simplest and yet most drastic way to make any retelling your own is by swapping out the setting for a brand new locale. Instead of a medieval Venetian city, whisk your reader away to the moon in the year 5432.

Or reforge Alexandre Dumas’s The Count of Monte Cristo into a post-pandemic neo-fascist totalitarian Britain like in V for Vendetta.

You could transform Alice in Wonderland into a Transfeminine SciFi Mystery like Elaine Gallagher’s Unexploded Remnants.

Or reimagine a classic like Herman Melville's Moby-Dick. Where dragon hunters prowl the frozen land in armored battle engines, like in Age of Dragons. (Starring Danny Glover!)

2) Changing Perspective

You could shift the story’s perspective to a side character or even someone entirely fabricated, like in Rosaline.

The movie is Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” but from the perspective of a character that never actually appears in the play itself. She’s mentioned, sure, but Rosaline never actually sets foot on stage during the course of the tragedy, and the movie Rosaline is a comedy.

You could turn the original story completely on its head, like in Moriarty the Patriot, where the Legendary Character once cast as the arch-villain is now a hero fighting to bring down the corrupt nobility and an unfair class system.

You could choose a sibling like in The Other Bennet Sister, which follows the events of Pride and Prejudice from Mary Bennet’s perspective. Or a traveling companion like in James, which retells the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the enslaved Jim’s POV.

3) New Representation

Does your story take a classic and infuse it with underrepresented peoples? Are your Legendary Characters neurodivergent, queer, people of color, disabled, or those living with a chronic illness?

There have been several fantastic recastings, retellings, and reimaginings of older stories recently that showcase a greater diversity of persons. From the dystopian Sapphic Fantasy Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron, to Persuasion (2022), to Mojito’s Boys Love reimagining of the ENNEAD, more publishers and directors are expanding the inclusive representation they offer in their creative works, and you can too.

Now, more than ever, is the time to expand the range of perspectives available in the world. Especially if you’re from an underrepresented group.

The important thing to remember, Reader, is that we as storytellers aren’t required to create entirely new ideas. All we truly need to do is express familiar themes in uniquely creative ways. Just like the works I mentioned here today.

Well, until next time, this is your friendly neighborhood storytelling Kat wishing you a wonderfully creative weekend.

Your cohort in storytelling,

Kat Vancil

🐱

PS 👉 Do you have a favorite retelling of an old tale? Hit reply and share!

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Creative Writing Mastery I'm a coach, educator, and writer who loves to talk about writing & storytelling, publishing, and fiction. Subscribe and join over 20,000+ newsletter readers every week! Subscribe​

Hello there, this is your friendly neighborhood storytelling Kat, letting you know that I earn a small affiliate commission from purchases of books and other products mentioned in these emails. If I received a free or promotional item for review, it will be noted in the email per regulations.

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