Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Writerly Wednesday ~ The Fairy Tale Twist

I'll have to admit...I've been in a bit of a funk, lately.  (HI!  btw... :))  Maybe you've noticed?  This blogging thing is HARD sometimes!  The thing is ~ I wandered into this lovely blogging community and I've met some wonderful people and I don't want to lose contact with you.  So - I hope you'll forgive my "good-blogger" shortcomings and stop by to say "hello" from time to time.

BUT ~ on to the post!!  I admit it.  I watch FAR too much television.  I'm kind of a TV-junkie.  My poor dvr...  My husband is frequently exiled to the bedroom to watch his sports on the small screen, while I get the big TV in the living room ALL to myself!  (I know...mean...sorry sport-lovin' hubbies out there...)

A few new shows I'm trying out lately are twists on fairy tales.  These appeal to me, of course, because I happen to be writing a twisty fairy-tale based story.  Plus - who doesn't love a good fairy tale???  And I humbly maintain that watching copious amounts of TV is good research for writers.  I mean - a good show schools me on dialogue that works, humor, drama, character development, transitions from story to story - ALL sorts of stuff!  Here are the shows:

Once Upon a Time:


(source)
 and Grimm:

(source)

It's too early to decide which one I like better.  They both have their take on the Grimm fairy tales, but completely different approaches.  I do like the flashbacks to the fairy tales, themselves, in Once Upon a Time.  But - the cop angle of Grimm lends to more possible stories...I think.  Maybe.  :)  Plus, the reformed "Big Bad Wolf" in Grimm is pretty funny.  What I like the best, I think - is that they are taking stories that the whole world knows and putting a whole new twist on them.  Because - really...that's what writers do.

Have you seen these shows?  Have a favorite yet?  What's your favorite fairy-tale twist?  Please share!

And I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday!

21 comments:

Luna said...

I agree, watching TV is research! And I'm really enjoying both of these shows. I like that they have different twists so I'm not watching the same show on different nights.

Hope you're having a fantastic week!

Meredith said...

Haha, I watch WAY too much TV, too. And I like both of these shows, though I think Once Upon a Time is going to end up as my fave. :)

Donna K. Weaver said...

I'm so grateful I don't watch hardly any TV anymore. I think I spend more time viewing the boobtube while I'm in the bathroom getting ready for work or getting ready for bed. If a show doesn't fill that time slot, I'm clueless.

Sounds like some fun hows this season. But I'm doing NaNo, so I'm not even going to look.

Carol Riggs said...

I haven't seen these, because our TV doesn't get any channels (we don't pay for cable--just Netflix streaming for movies). But they sound good! I love fairy or folk tales, and their variations. :)

Lauri said...

I saw the first Once Upon a TIme, and think it has great potential. I missed recording Grimm though, and will see about watching it online though. I love fairy tales!

Caitlyn (Cait) said...

I've been watching them both and I think that I might like Grimm better. However, there has only been the on episode.

Golden Eagle said...

I've never heard of these before . . . the only channel we watch is PBS. :P I love fairy-tale adaptations, though.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

This is so funny. I'm catching up on TV while reading blogs and I just happen to be watching 'Once..." I've only seen one 'Grimm" but I like the concept.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I watched both and have to say I like Grimm better.

Lydia Kang said...

I want to watch both but I hardly watch TV so of course I missed the first episodes...I'll end up having to rent one on DVD if it turns out to be really good.

Trisha said...

I haven't seen either, but they both sound COOL. I love the Grimm fairytales. Actually I need to read them...they're on my TBR list...and on my TBR shelf for that matter. But man what a HUGE tome!

I don't watch TV, haven't for the past few years. My TV crapped out on me and I haven't replaced it. I do watch heaps of TV on DVD though, through my laptop. hehe

alexia said...

I haven't seen either, but I do love fairy tales! Grimm would be my pick based on the previews.

Deana said...

Hey we've all been in that funk before. Don't worry, we'll still be around when you get out of it:)

I am dying to watch Grimm. I have watched the other and love it!

Jess said...

The power of the tv in my house belongs to my husband. I tend to let him watch what he wants and we only have one tv. For the past couple of years, I've been spending any free time on writing stuff, anyway, so I haven't missed tv too much...but I keep hearing about all these cool shows. Frustrating :)

Anonymous said...

Oh I so love Stardust and of course the Twilight Series and also Babette Cole's twist on Cinderella (Prince Cinders) and Princess Smartypants. I also adore 10th Kingdom.

Amy Beals said...

You know I don't watch much TV. I will have to say that both those shows sound good and I would probably watch them both if I watched TV. HA! We'll see if they last. I hate getting all excited about a show and then they cancel them mid-season. I'll wait so I can avoid the disappointment. ;)

Lenny Lee said...

hi miss donea! i didnt ever see those tv shows. i like twisted fairy tales lots. mostly they get me laughing. i watch tv lots too but theres stuff im not allowed to watch. i love pbs and the history channel and animal planet. i been watching ancient aliens. scary!!!
...hugs from lenny

Anonymous said...

Hi there,
Sorry It's taken me a while to get here from Alex's blog hop. But I wouldn't worry too much about being in a bit of a funk, we all go there at times, I wouldn't let it bother you too much x

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Just wanted to say I miss you!

Michael Offutt, Phantom Reader said...

I like Grimm better than Once Upon A Time.

Beth said...

I like these!