Read a Sample
Table of Contents
Introduction
Section One: Find Your Fairy Tale Voice
Genre
Character
Setting
Plot
Magic
Theme
Section Two: Brainstorm Your Fairy Tale
Genre
Character
Setting
Plot
Magic
Theme
Section Three: Brainstorm a Second Fairy Tale
Genre
Character
Setting
Plot
Magic
Theme
Section Four: Brainstorm a Third Fairy Tale
Genre
Character
Setting
Plot
Magic
Theme
Chapter 1
THE PATTERN
When Grimms’ fairy tales are boiled down to their simplest components, we have a pattern. This workbook uses that pattern to walk you through writing a fairy tale:
Once upon a time
there was a character
who lived in a setting
and had a problem (plot).
Fairy tale magic intervened/interfered
and everyone learned a lesson (theme).
HOW TO USE THIS WORKBOOK
This workbook is a companion workbook to Lessons from Grimm: How to Write a Fairy Tale. While that text is not required to use this workbook, it is highly recommended.
Section 1: Build Your Fairy Tale Voice.
We’re going to start building your fairy tale voice by pinpointing all the components you enjoy the most about fairy tales. In this first section, you’ll analyze your favorite sub-genres, characters, settings, plots, and themes.
Here, you’ll compile your personal lists of archetypes and tropes. Highlight what catches your attention in the samples and add your own favorites into the spaces provided. You can find the complete lists in the Appendix section of Lessons from Grimm.
Section 2: Brainstorm Your Fairy Tale.
Find out more about the tale you want to tell.
You’ll be using this space to make notes about your fairy tale. You’ll be given space to work out your chosen sub-genre, characters, settings, plots, themes, and fairy tale magic.
Exercise questions pulled from Lessons from Grimm: How to Write a Fairy Tale will help you think more deeply about each component.
Section 3 and 4: Brainstorm More Fairy Tales.
These sections are a repeat of Section 2. In total, you could brainstorm three separate tales, or you could use the space to create a trilogy.