We writers are often paranoid about being original. Many of us will scrap an idea (or even a WIP) that seems too close to something we happen to find in a Google search.
While striving for originality is commendable, there is something to be said about “everything has been done before.” There are common themes, plots, creatures, and motifs across completely unrelated mythologies, for example. And I’ve personally been trapped in the maze that is TV Tropes for hours on end, jumping from page to page.
Especially in recent times, much of the media we consume falls into the category of retellings and adaptations. The Marvel and DC live action film franchises have doing this quite successfully. And, of course, the cinematic giant Walt Disney Pictures has been adapting fairy tails and retelling older stories for decades. Even Kratos of God of War fame adapts the story of Haracles to some extent.
Yes, there are writers that have done this as well. Rick Riordan has created a successful franchise with his Percy Jackson and Kane Chronicles books, essentially adapting ancient Greek and Egyptian mythology respectively to in an urban fantasy setting.
There are pros and cons to doing this, though:
Pros:
- You’re provided with a skeleton to flesh out and make slight (or significant) changes to
- You can capitalise on the success of a previous work of art
- It’s fun!
For young and beginning writers, I think this is a good tactic. You can focus on storytelling mechanics without doing world-building from nothing. Though this is a controversial opinion among readers and writers alike, I will share it with you: This is why I support fanfiction and other fan art.* Especially as you are trying to find your own voice and develop your craft, adapting your favourite book, show, film, etc, into your own work is practice. After all, “No writing is wasted.”**
There’s a lot of fun you can have with this. You can change the setting, gender- or racebend characters, etc, and see how it impacts how the story unfolds. I imagine that is how a lot of these retellings begin; with artists asking a simple question: What if?
Cons:
- There is the risk of being compared with the original
- People will criticise you for lack of creativity
The thing is, there is a balance here that is hard to attain. Some consumers want the adaptation to be exactly like their beloved book/show/etc. Surely, you have heard the criticisms: “That’s not how [insert character here] is supposed to be!” “The books were much better!” Others, though, welcome a new experience, one that deviates from what they are familiar with.
I see retellings and adaptations as legitimate artistic expressions; not ‘lazy’ or ‘unimaginative’. In fact, that can be just the opposite: opportunities to subvert older tropes and make changes to the those old stories to make them better suited to a modern age.
Writing a retelling of the myth of Ra? Why not play with the relationship he has with Apep? Writing a retelling of a fairy tail? Why not give the titular princess magical abilities instead of just the antagonist so she can do battle alongside (or even instead of) the prince? There are so many ways you could make these stories your own?
What are your experiences with writing a retelling/making an adaptation? I’d love to hear them!
KR
*Here is where I share a fan project I found today. Avatar: Next Wave is based on the Avatar: The Last Airbender franchise, and I love the idea!
**I recommend author Jenna Moreci’s “Advice for Teen Writers”, which contains guidance that any beginning author can appreciate.
Kevaughn Ryder 