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NOTE: If you run a blog or website — about children's books, writing, parenting or something related — and you feel that your readers might enjoy any of these articles, you have my permission to post them. Please do credit DON BOSCO/SUPER COOL BOOKS and include a link back here.
HOW TO TURN A SIMPLE FOLK TALE INTO A STORY THAT SPARKLES
Every successful writer has a unique voice. A writing style that you can recognise. A creative and artistic signature. It’s made up of many things — vocabulary, the rhythm of the words, the types of descriptions, the way the setting is created, the way the characters are introduced and developed, even the way you add the funny parts.
Once you find your voice, once you figure out your own unique way of writing about all these things, that’s when your best work comes out of you. You no longer spend your time struggling to string together generic phrases and stock sentences. Instead, you just allow your storytelling voice to take over. The result is that your stories sparkle. Your books are special. What a joy that is.
But how do you find your voice? Here’s a simple tip.
Take a legend or folk tale, something you’re familiar with, something that you’re sure others will also know well. See how you might rewrite this in your own style.
Ask yourself: how would you make the characters in the legend more interesting, and also more fascinating? How would you tweak the story events to make them more gripping? To create a greater sense of drama?
How would you bring out the sparkle and mystery and adventure, so that readers get lost in your telling, and they start to realise that perhaps they might even enjoy your version the best?
This is what I did with the legends of Singapore for the third Lion City Adventures book. You might have already heard about Badang the hero, perhaps the strongest man in Singapore’s history. Well, if you read ISLAND OF LEGENDS you’ll get to enjoy my very own version of this. And also my own version of how the coast of Singapore was once attacked by killer swordfish. And also my version of how some enemies from up north came to attack Singapore many hundreds of years ago but we were saved by a great wall that protected the city.
As a writer, I believe that the heroes in folk tales and legends are here to inspire us. They make sure that we rise to the challenge and bring out the most exceptional and emotionally resonant ideas that lie within us. When we create from the best of our ability, like this, that’s when we truly discover our creative potential, and that’s how memorable stories are written.
Enjoy these legends and pass on the experience to others if you can, the way these stories have been shared with you. Stories come to life when they bring us together like this.
Write your own legends. Or draw them. Or create songs about them. The Lion City Adventuring Club would be so proud of you.
NOTE: If you run a blog or website — about children's books, writing, parenting or something related — and you feel that your readers might enjoy any of these articles, you have my permission to post them. Please do credit DON BOSCO/SUPER COOL BOOKS and include a link back here.
Making Singapore Fun And Fascinating For Young Readers And Their Parents
10 Things You Almost Never Knew About The Author Don Bosco
A Short But Still Thrilling History Of The Lion City Adventuring Club
How To Impress Your Children With Stories
Why Some Children’s Books Can Really Make You Smile
How We Created Story Puzzles To Help Children Read More
A Story Kingdom For The Young Fans
Hooray For A Happy Childhood
Why Children Need Books Filled With Love And Dreams
The Art Of Legendary Parenting
How To Turn A Simple Folk Tale Into A Story That Sparkles
Superheroes Of The Lion City
Story Puzzle: Ethan And The Clocks
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SECRETS OF THE HEARTLANDS (Lion City Adventures, Book 2) has been nominated for this year's award. Please take some time to vote for your favourite books, and you might win a $50 voucher plus 1 year Popular card membership. For readers in Singapore only.
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