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Re-working an old story
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Athene
 11 Aug 2011, 11:13 #126674 Reply To Post
A recent reviewer of the opening chapters of my re-working of the Beowulf legend has raised an interesting point, and I wonder what others think? S/he says:

"I feel I must tell you right away that what you are doing is very risky. Retelling an old tale, especially one as famous as Beowulf, is something that tends to evoke a very judgmental eye from editors and agents. Many of them explicitly say that they will not consider such works. The reason for this is that the invention of the world and characters is half the effort of writing a book. Retelling an old tale which is one of the most revered works in literature is a risk most would consider not worth taking."

Has anyone ever had that response from an agent or publisher about a book based on an old story?


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panurge
 11 Aug 2011, 12:17 #126687 Reply To Post
I would think it depends on your approach. If you're simply re-telling the story then you're in direct competition with the original, which is surely unwise.

If you're re-imagining the story or telling it from a different perspective, however (and I'm certain this is what you're doing), then this won't apply. There are many examples of books of this nature being written and doing very well indeed. You have only to think of the number of retreads of Arthurian legend which continue to be published.

Lee

PS - Nice to see you're still around, Athene! Hope I get assigned Heorot sometime soon (I remember speculating ages ago that the big B was going to make an appearance).
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sulcus
 11 Aug 2011, 13:00 #126692 Reply To Post
Quote: Athene, Thursday, 11 Aug 2011 11:13
A recent reviewer of the opening chapters of my re-working of the Beowulf legend has raised an interesting point, and I wonder what others think? S/he says:

"I feel I must tell you right away that what you are doing is very risky. Retelling an old tale, especially one as famous as Beowulf, is something that tends to evoke a very judgmental eye from editors and agents. Many of them explicitly say that they will not consider such works. The reason for this is that the invention of the world and characters is half the effort of writing a book. Retelling an old tale which is one of the most revered works in literature is a risk most would consider not worth taking."

Has anyone ever had that response from an agent or publisher about a book based on an old story?


I agree with the critic. It doesn't mean publishers will see it that way however.

Ask yourself the question of the point of rewriting it? What are you bringing new to the table by doing so? Why do you deduce that such a way of telling it is called for? What is the relationship of the original to your new version, ie by doing so, are you drawing out new/obscure threads from the original or are you doing a sort of speculative history version of it, or are you even implicitly criticising the orginal by saying this is how it could eb improved
"A,B&E", "Not In My Name" and "52FF" (flash fiction anthology) all available on Amazon Kindle

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CaroleH
 11 Aug 2011, 14:09 #126699 Reply To Post
Just think of the X Factor, and imagine Simon Cowell telling a contestant 'you have to make it your own'

NB: amazing how you can express everything via reality TV, isn't it?
sulcus
 11 Aug 2011, 16:13 #126716 Reply To Post
Quote: CaroleH, Thursday, 11 Aug 2011 14:09
Just think of the X Factor, and imagine Simon Cowell telling a contestant 'you have to make it your own'

NB: amazing how you can express everything via reality TV, isn't it?


I wouldn't know, I don't watch it. Apart from rioting live that is. I'm hooked on that for hours on end
"A,B&E", "Not In My Name" and "52FF" (flash fiction anthology) all available on Amazon Kindle

"How a psychopath makes sweet love. I can get you ringside. Royal box even."
annierab2
 11 Aug 2011, 21:15 #126768 Reply To Post
I think the Monty Python troop rewrote classics all the time. Worked for them, works for me.
sulcus
 11 Aug 2011, 21:54 #126771 Reply To Post
Quote: annierab2, Thursday, 11 Aug 2011 21:15
I think the Monty Python troop rewrote classics all the time. Worked for them, works for me.


as literature?
"A,B&E", "Not In My Name" and "52FF" (flash fiction anthology) all available on Amazon Kindle

"How a psychopath makes sweet love. I can get you ringside. Royal box even."
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