Hey all!You know, once you get better at writing, doesn't it seem like somebody hands you a pair of Plot-Hole-Seeking-X-Ray glasses?
I love fairy tales, but once in a while, they bug me. Like, imagine if Snow White was written like this:
Once upon a time, there was a vain Queen who wanted to be the most beautiful woman in the land. Her magic mirror told her, "There is another who is the fairest than thee, O Queen. Her name is Snow White."
So the Queen goes to her dungeon and brews a powerful liquid, TOPF (Tincture of Pizza Face). And thus, beautiful Snow White was afflicted with the worst case of incurable acne even seen in Fairytale land.
The End.
Have your writing abilities ruined a few stories for you?
58 comments:
Oh yes! Haha...especially when I first began. I agree with you about wearing clearer glasses now. I've recently pondered some popular fairy tales and kid's movies, and how some of them are just far-fetched. I'll have to post about it.
Have a great weekend!
Sometimes, but it's also helped my appreciate a well told story. I've learned to let go and just enjoy a story.
That would just be too cruel, even for a fairy tale. Better to have a nice little murder or two.
Lol, yeah there are plenty of stories that would be over rather quickly if people used some common sense. But then we wouldn't have wolves dressing up as grandmas, and who doesn't want to see some of that?
mood
Moody Writing
@mooderino
The Funnily Enough
Oh yes, stories I loved a a kid tend to be hard to come back to as an adult with better developed writing abilities! The worst is listening to my husband read fairy tales to our kids, because just hearing them somehow shows all the glaring holes even clearer than reading them myself.
But, like Laura said, it does help me to appreciate the well-told ones all the more!
More than a few.
It was like when I learned to sew. I had time when it was hard to buy things that were so cheaply/poorly made.I got over that one quickly.
More than a few.
It was like when I learned to sew. I had time when it was hard to buy things that were so cheaply/poorly made.I got over that one quickly.
More than a few.
It was like when I learned to sew. I had time when it was hard to buy things that were so cheaply/poorly made.I got over that one quickly.
I must have really wanted to make a point. SORRY about that.
Nah, I'm still a sucker for a fairytale. It's my 7 yo who questions all the things that aren't believable. :D
Plot holes are so apparent now! Drives me nuts.
I remember reading one of the original versions of Cinderella where one step sister cuts off a toe to fit into the slipper and the other one cuts off part of her heel. And yet it was the BIRDS calling to the prince that alerted him to the imposters...not the pool of blood at his feet.
I'm thinking I don't want to be with such a dullard!
Awww but where would the dwarves come into this story!??! Awwww! Take care
x
Why didn't Tinkerbell just smack the bottle out of Peter's hand?
Again - not that any of this matters to the kiddie-set. I was reading Alice in Wonderland to my 5 yo, and his biggest concern is why they were hitting "porcupines" with flamingos.
I blame Disney.
My writing abilities haven't ruined me...scary fairy tales with evil people and learning happy endings usually come only after suffering has. Maybe that's why I like making up my own stories and my own happy endings.
LOL. Actually, I'm just dense and things sometimes fly over my head. But that's a good thing...sometimes. =)
Wow, so there is a perk to being an average writer--no story is spoiled when I read it.
Actually, I'm pretty go at letting go and just getting absorbed, thank goodness.
I was just thinking about this the other day - how when I used to read a book, and think it was okay, but couldn't put my finger on why I wasn't more excited about it. It occurred to me that it might have been because the writing was not that great.
Now it depends a lot on the story. I don't profess to be an expert, but I can spot plot mishaps and other things that bug me. I've even quit reading a few b/c it just bugged me too much.
Have a great weekend! :)
LOL! Too funny. There are some pretty big holes out there. :)
I think I was WAY MORE forgiving of plot holes before I became a writer, but now they irritate the heck out of me. :)
Hey! That's what I looked like a couple weeks ago. Minus the dress. And the bow in her hair.
I'll just stop right there. :)
As a kid I used to love fairytales. I always wanted to write my own. Love the picture :)
In a strange sense-- not in a plot sense but more in an expression sense. When I see a writer constructing sentences in a tired way, I don't have enough interest to keep moving forward. There's too much out there to feast on!
No, only lack of faith in my writing skills.
I love reading stories even today. And when I found out what people were doing with them, analyzing them to deaths end, I was disappointed because they spoil the magic.
Why not leave Snow White, Goldilocks, Alice in Wonderland etc.. alone. The message they send is for kids and meant to be kept simple.
Haha, that would definitely solve the problem! Happy Friday, Lydia!
When I read a story my imagination goes wild. I feel and everything the characters see. If I don't, I make up my own description. So I guess...yes, I could ruin stories for myself.
Oh, Snow White...
There are so many things about that particular story that bother me. :/ Mostly the fact that White=Beautiful=Good. Bleh.
I refer to it as the Debbie Downer syndrome--sure to ruin a story faster than you can say, "Wah wah."
:)
HILARIOUS. Yeah, why didn't the Wicked Queen just give Snow White something to make her break out? No need to go to so much trouble to kill her. Me thinks the Wicked Queen was really a Drama Queen.
LOL. I think fairy tales are probably the most plot-hole filled things you can find. Know what you mean though.
Luckily, I'm extremely good at compartmentalizing certain things. For example, I never got overly stressed about school/work at home because I push that into its own box once I'm off work. OR like when I'm reading, my writing brain is generally turned off or at least, put on standby (which is why I'm waaaay less critical than Alz).
Oh, all the time. Whether it's a new book I'm reading or a movie, I always catch the big plot holes and say, "UGH!! That would never happen that way!"
I can't just sit down and enjoy a good story for what it is any more. It's an avocational hazard, I suppose.
I like your version of Snow White better.:)
I like your version of Snow White better.:)
I like you version of SW. The evil queen could have given her a nasty case of chicken pox too. (Sorry, I have chicken pox on the brain since the second and third child have come down with it.)
But being a writer does spoil some things--most of the time, I know the murderer is in the movie/TV program. I wish I didn't.
Yes! The problem with those Plot-Hole-Seeking-X-Ray glasses is they're clued to your face. You can't take them off, even if you try. ;) Great post, Lydia. Have a fantastic weekend!
Oh yeah. Not just stories but movies as well. I have a hard time removing that "critic" part of me and just sit down and enjoy the darn read or the fun movie.
hahahahahaha! You're hilarious. :D
And, yes, I hate when I think, 'but why don't they just (fill in blank)'. Although, most fairy tales are lean and mean, not very fleshed out at all.
Hey. What's wrong with that Snow White version? ;o) And yup, I think I have a pair of those x-ray glasses myself...
Most definitely. Fun post!
Yes, I've gotten very picky about books and movies, too. But it makes it better when you find a really great one!
That's brilliant! And why didn't Little Red Riding Hood's mum just go with her already?
hey, lydia! i like the idea of snow white having acne, like every one of us once had in our teenage years. i don't want my girl growing up thinking all princesses are perfect and flawless... :) you're brilliant!
I find it hard to read a book without pulling it apart--same with movies.
Very true, all she had to do was make Snow White ugly. interesting post!
LOL! That's awesome. And yes, I'm afraid they have ruined a few stories for me. As an author plot holes stand out more to us, which makes us harder to impress.
Short and Sweet. I like it. ;)
This is so true. And entirely awesome!
Sometimes, writers tend to miss the most obvious of solutions.
Great post and interesting comments. So where was the show vs tell then?
Pretty funny...great blog and posts.
NEW FOLLOWER
Elizabeth
http://silversolara.blogspot.com
I totally agree! Great post! New follower! I look forward to getting to know your blog
I love the analogy. Of course the told story is much more entertaining than the possible perceived avenue. The latter part being the meat and potatoes of the parody-type films. It does nag at all of us though: why didn't they just do the easy thing?
Julius
Wow.
Good point.
I mean, the evil queen wouldn't really even have to resort of black magic or anything to manage that one.
That would be like the villian killing the hero without making a long, explanatory speech that gives the hero a chance to escape this predicament....it just won't happen :)
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