Wednesday, February 17, 2010

THIS AIN'T THE LITTLE MERMAID

I was raised on Disney. I love Ariel and Prince Eric. However, my WIP involving merfolk and other various sea creatures requires a disclaimer: THIS AIN’T THE LITTLE MERMAID.

In the words of one of my beloved betas, “This is definitely older YA,” and “Wow, this is pretty dark.”

I nod and agree. If my story ever gets published it is NOT a bedtime tale mothers will read to their children. It’s the kind of book mothers will hide or put on a very high shelf with hopes their children never find it. Then they’ll secretly wish their significant other was a blue-haired merman who…well, never-mind. You’ll have to wait and read the story.


I don’t know how or why my story is turning out so taboo, sultry, and menacing. The singing characters and happy endings of Disney stories are my usual ideal world, but I’m swimming outside of my comfort zone with this one. I’m way out past the breakers. The lifeguards tried blowing their whistles and waving me in but I didn’t listen. Sharks are swarming around me but I just smile—rather seductively—and keep paddling. (I have to use ocean analogies for obvious reasons.)


Many days I read through my pages and wonder, “What will people think? What will MY MOTHER say when she reads this!” Then I remind myself that The Kindrily was my happy, magical, light-filled, feel-good novel. My sea creature story is, well, different. And I’m okay with that.


As I said in my Libba Bray post, I’m breaking a lot of rules with this story. Taking a risk with multiple POVs, straddling the line between YA and adult, and rewriting mythology with new--and sometimes complicated--rules may put the nail in my hope-to-get-published coffin. But in the words of one of my favorite singers, Ani Difranco (with one line altered to fit the writing world—and be less raunchy)

I'm going to do my best swan dive

into shark-infested waters

I'm gonna slice open my writer vein

and just start splashing around.

'Cuz I don't care if they eat me alive

I've got better things to do than survive.

See, kinda dark. I wasn’t kidding about that disclaimer.


So, what do you think? Would you be open to reading a new-twist-on-mermaids story? If you knew there were no talking fish and singing lobsters? If you were forewarned that you might cringe between the smiling and blushing moments, would it still interest you?


More importantly, if this was your story, would you care what others thought, or would you write the story anyway--darkness, craziness, rule-breaking and all?

51 comments:

  1. What a gorgoues picture! I can't wait to read this novel. I'm breaking away from the Disney ideals myself. I think it shows how much we grow as authors.

    ReplyDelete
  2. The truth of it is that if it's dark, it will sell. :0) Ok, seriously...if it's dark, you have something to say, to tell with your story. I would definitely keep it up. I am writing something right now that doesn't seem too marketable to me, but I love it and I'm going to finish anyway. Maybe it will be found when I'm dead and be the next big thing. :0)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh, come now, Karen. I think you know what I'm going to say, right? Push the envelope. Push it hard, fast, and farther than you think it should go. Get waaay outside your comfort zone and write stuff that makes you wince to read it (in a good way). That's where the real stories are at anyway, in my opinion. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. ooohhh. I am a Disney fanatic but that does not mean I don't appreciate all facets of life. The dark, the light, the translucent purples & pinks of the in between.

    When I was young all I ever wanted to be was a mermaid. I LOVE the water. My mind never created that Disney-esque story as I swam in creeks, rivers, oceans & pools. There was always a significant danger & edge about life under the surface...so yeah...I would definitely want to read yours...
    Bring it on.... ;o)

    ReplyDelete
  5. If I didn't want to read your novels now, (which I definitely did) then I'm dying to read them now. It sounds really intriguing to me and a great read that's different from the norm. I think that's a good thing. I'd keep working on it regardless of rules and guidelines, they're helpful but they have their place. Some stories are meant to break rules and have loads of fun doing it :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Personally I feel you should never write for anyone other than yourself and your characters. My whole post today is about trusting your characters, so if they're leading you into dark and murky waters I say follow. If it's a good enough story and well written, it'll get published. Shoot, the Hunger Games--while COMPLETELY different from how your book sounds--is pretty dark. I mean...she's put in a battle to the death, and it's kinda a blood bath. And yet, it's one of the best books out there and it's selling huge--so just tell your story and the audience will follow!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I think you said it best in response to one of my posts: be true to your story. Go where you need to go, as dark as you want. After all, we're constantly hearing about how agents want NEW voices. Make yours one of them.
    ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love The Little Mermaid and Ani Difranco! And yes... I'd be open to reading it.... in fact, now I'm a little intrigued! And, write for you.

    ReplyDelete
  9. This sounds so exciting, Karen. It's important that you follow your heart and creative instincts. This can often mean pushing those boundaries. So, bring it on, girl! I think you're on to something brilliant. xx

    ReplyDelete
  10. I would read it! I love things that are out of the ordinary, that break convention. Who knows? Someday you may be applauded for it.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love the quote. Dark can be good.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Yes! Blogger is finally letting me comment on your blog again!!! So here's my VERY LATE thank you for the contest win! You made my day!

    And yes, I would love to read something like your WIP. I'm a sucker for dark stories anyway (huge Hunger Game fan here), so your story sounds like something I would adore:) Also, I've read a lot of agent blogs where they want something original, so it sounds like you're doing just that. Can't wait until you get yours published!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Write it how you want to write it. That's all I've got to say.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I'm intrigued. I want to read this because you feel as though you are breaking some rules. You go! My story is YA and I'm scared of what people will think (specifically family/friends) and my WIP isn't dark/scary, etc.
    I think dark can be great as long as you have a least a little bit of light to balance it.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I would absolutely read this - can't wait to hear more!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I love YA books that are edgy, dark, and hot. I say keep at it and follow your gut.

    Isn't it amazing the places these books take us?

    ReplyDelete
  17. I think if you are as excited and absorbed in your story as you sound then nothing should stop you from writing it.

    If you can actually find a twist on an old tale, fantastic. If you can find something slightly controversial, even better because that will draw in the curious eye.

    As for The Little Mermaid. The original bed time story isn't anything like the Disney recreation so no fuss there.

    Your book sounds interesting to me and I'm not even clued into the finer details of what the plot entails.

    Just keep writing. Your passions speaks more than anything else.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I'm thrilled to hear you are swimming past the breakers and writing dangerously. And, yeah, you bet I'd read it!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Sounds very interesting to me. But then I grew up reading the original Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Anderson. It is not a happy ending story. Not only does she not get the prince she dies.

    ReplyDelete
  20. You know I love it, even if it is dark. And yes, I will probably have to hide it from my kids when it comes out, but that's okay! It's going to be big Karen. I know it.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I would probably be more likely to pick it up if it isn't a cheerful YA. I find there are too many of them, and often it is easy to see how it's going to end. Besides, there has to be some sort of connection between YA and adult =)

    ReplyDelete
  22. I think it sounds fascinating, and I'm convinced mermaids are going to be a huge thing over the next few years (if only I had a sea creature story of my own so I could join in the mayhem). I think first off, be true to your story and what you want to say. Then, upon reviewing, if it's "too much" for others to handle, maybe comb it a couple of times, but most likely, we can handle it!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Dude I would totally read it! Also, I think knowing the rules is important--because then you know how to break them when you do it!!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Darkness and crazy rule-breaking have created many a bestseller! Write it the way you see it. I would absolutely read it - it sounds awesome! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  25. I would so definitely read this book. The way you're describing it sounds just brilliant! Disney-esque happy endings can get boring, we've seen so many of them.

    It's great that you're pushing your own boundaries. I'm sure only good can come out of this, not bad. Good luck, and have fun. x

    ReplyDelete
  26. I think if I was a woman I would be her for Halloween. But I could totally be her male twin!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Okay, you definitely have me intrigued. A mermaid book? That's awesome. And I totally want to hug the book man on your blog. (I usually try to avoid words like "awesome" and "totally" but I guess I'm just that immature.)

    ReplyDelete
  28. I used to turn to YA when I wanted something lighter and fluffier than my usual fare of classics and murder mysteries and high fantasy, but I've noticed a trend towards the darker side of fiction in YA recently. These days I turn to MG for light and fluffy, because picking up a YA novel lately is like spear fishing in murky water. You never know for sure what kind of fish you'll get until you pull your spear up! And there! I threw in a fishy ocean-ish reference for you. :)

    What I'm trying to say is dark is acceptable and even marketable, so if your instincts and characters are telling you to go there, go there. But if they're telling you to go hurt people or small animals, go to a psych ward instead. ;)

    And if this posts multiple times I apologise. Blogger is mad at me for some reason. :(

    ReplyDelete
  29. Yes. I would read it.

    You have to write the story that wants to be written in the way it wants to be written.

    Be brave.

    Shelley

    ReplyDelete
  30. Thats the only way I would read about mermaids...if it was dark.

    ReplyDelete
  31. If it was my story, yes, I'd tell it how it needed to be told.
    I also am willing to bet you'll sell this. Dark and edgy for YA is sometimes great. What's the age for YA anyway? Like 15-25?
    I've been worried about my WIP being too serious.
    Oh well. We write our stories the best way we can, right? :-)

    ReplyDelete
  32. I'm in. Take us to a world that hasn't been done. Cuz, babe, there's enough Disney in this world. I think you're on the right track. You're letting the story go where it wants to go. Besides, this sounds pretty dang fantastic to me. So yes, I would read. Definitely.

    ReplyDelete
  33. OK, I love Disney...but I find my stories are across the board. And that's okay--I love it that way. Be true to you, and you'll be great! :)

    ReplyDelete
  34. Although the singing lobster was my favorite part of The Little Mermaid, I would gladly ditch him to read the dark and twisted tale about the creatures of the deep. Go for it! My own WIP is turning into something much more sinister than I anticipated… and I love it.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Be brave and let the words flow, whatever shade they may be!
    And I'd love to read your book! A blue-haired merman? Swoon! Also, I grew up reading the original Brothers Grimm and Anderson's fairy tales, and there are plenty disturbing stories, like the Rose Elf and (very sad) The Angel.

    ReplyDelete
  36. I want to read about dark mermaids now. So thanks for that. Publish it soon or I'll forever be reduced to hearing about how another pretty blonde mermaid saved a sailor's life. Pah.

    ReplyDelete
  37. I would SO read your story - it sounds absolutely amazing. I was raised on Disney myself and I still love fairy tales. There's just something timeless about them that you can twist them any way you want and they can still be interesting and original. The Little Mermaid is one of my favorite stories - not the Disney version, but the original (I think it was Hans Christian Andersen? could be wrong) with the sad ending. You know, you could start a new trend with this. From brooding vampire boys to blue-haired merman... I'm down with that!!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Write the story you want and worry about the rest later. That's advice I need to follow. Great post to remind us that we have to love what we write and don't worry about the other stuff.

    ReplyDelete
  39. I want to read about dark mer-folk. :) The original Little Mermaid was fairly dark... don't sugar-coat mermaids... they don't deserve it.

    ReplyDelete
  40. When you trust your characters, your readers will connect to the story. Besides, it's always good to push your comfort zone.

    If that's where the piece is heading, go for it. Dive in with both feet, and don't hold back.

    Your readers will trust you to take them on the journey.

    ReplyDelete
  41. That sounds interesting and totally new, which people love!
    Hey, I emailed you a couple days ago about something cool, will you check your inbox for me? :)

    ReplyDelete
  42. You know, I had a professor at Hollins who told me that you know it's good when you're afraid to let your mother read it! Keep it up and I can't wait to hear all about it!

    ReplyDelete
  43. I think with mermaids and vampires, most people are open to just about anything. Go for it! :O)

    www.dianeestrella.com

    ReplyDelete
  44. It sounds amazing! Go for it, push yourself. It always seems to be that book that gets you where you want to go.

    Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  45. Do it! Pushing the envelope is better than never taking the risk at all.

    I used to worry about what people would think when they read certain scenes of my book. What in heavens name will my father think of the (rather tame) sex scene? Eek! Then I realized I had to stop that and just write the scenes they way they were meant to be.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Your blog is a new discovery for me but I am always so excited to read your next post. They are so full of life and personality. It is my honour to pass onto you The Sugar Doll Award. I hope to read so much more from you in future.♥

    ReplyDelete
  47. This story sounds delicious! I think you'll do Libba Bray proud!

    ReplyDelete
  48. The dark mermaid story sounds fascinating to me... I'd read it. In fact, I want to just from your rather teasing post here. So, I think it has the possibility to be very publishable.

    ReplyDelete
  49. You better believe I'd be interested! I've always loved the creepier side of mermaids - Ariel doesn't count. LOL.

    I kept on seeing you as a blog everyone visited on the Market My Words competition. Thought I'd check you out. I can see why you're popular!

    ReplyDelete
  50. Good for you for breaking the rules! Can't wait to see the result.

    ReplyDelete
  51. Write what you feel the story is meant to be. If that's dark, scary, and sultry, go with it. Don't try to make it what it isn't.

    Also, if you've read the original Little Mermaid, before Disney got their saccharine fingers on it, that tale wasn't exactly kittens and moonbeams either. Don't Disneyify your story just because that's what people think merpeople are.

    ReplyDelete

Popular Posts

GRASPING AT ETERNITY SOUNDTRACK


Get a playlist! Standalone player Get Ringtones

Blog Archive

Write. Read. Imagine. Create. Learn. Love. Live. Repeat.