Character Types: The Crone

Every story needs a villain.

Villains can take many forms: a tyrant, an oppressor, a terrible storm, or a character’s own nature. The best villains, the ones we love to hate, are purely evil for evil’s sake.

Fairy tales are no different. They sport a wide array of baddies for us to boo and provide heroes with suitable obstacles to overcome. And one of the most popular villains in fairy tales is the wicked old woman, often called a crone.

Some great examples of crones include the witch from Hansel and Gretel and the witch who tricks Rapunzel’s parents into giving her up.

But what makes a crone so compelling a villainess? And how can you spot one in a story?

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Fairy Tale Facts: Puss in Boots

Animal helpers have always been popular in fairy tales. Cinderella had some helpful birds (or mice, depending on the version). Many heroes encounter animals in peril and are rewarded for helping them. But perhaps the most famous animal helper is Puss in Boots.

There are numerous versions of the Puss in Boots fairy tale. The first version was written by Giovanni Straparola sometime in the early 1500s. In 1634, Giambattista Basile published his version. Charles Perrault contributed to the evolution of the tale (also called The Master Cat) in at the end of the 17th century. Perrault’s is the version that I and many other are familiar with.

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One Lovely Blog Award

I’ve often said that writing is as much a social business as it is a personal one. One of my favorite things about the writing community is how people connect and encourage each other. A new example of that has come to my attention today.

It’s a blogging trend called One Lovely Blog Award. No one seems to know where it came from but it’s taking the blogging community by storm. A friend of mine, Becca Schriner, was recently awarded the honor. She, in turn, nominated me and a few fellow bloggers.

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Congratulations to us!

What exactly does that mean? Well, it means that someone liked and recommended her blog. And that she did the same for mine. The One Lovely Blog Award is a way to encourage other writers and help readers discover new writers. I think it’s pretty fantastic.

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What Happens Next: Submission Series

Once you’ve polished your manuscript, put together a brilliant cover letter, and made sure to mind your manners, there’s only one thing left to do: wait.

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Waiting is the absolute worst. There’s nothing you can do but twiddle your thumbs and wonder until you hear back. It could be days, weeks, or even months. And if you’re anything like me, you immediately start thinking of how to improve the story or things that need changing.

And then you finally hear back. But, good news or bad news, what exactly are you supposed to do next?

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Etiquette Lesson: Submission Series

Happy New Year, word nerds!

I thought we’d start 2017 off with an etiquette lesson. After all, you want to make the best possible impression this year, don’t you?

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Unfortunately, my knowledge of manners is rather specialized, so I don’t know what good it will do those of you who aren’t sending in articles to magazines. That being said, if you are planning to send articles to magazines (or even book proposals to publishers) this is the list for you!

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I Guess I’m a Real Adult Now?

I graduated from college a year ago. So I’ve been reflecting on the last year and all that’s been going on in my life. And I’ve come to a conclusion.

I’m a real adult now.

And, yes, that should be a fairly obvious conclusion. I’m now 23 years old, so I’m legally an adult. I’ve gotten a degree, moved out of my parents’ house, bought a car, started paying bills, and generally take care of my self.

So I’ve considered myself an adult for a while.

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