Variations on Archetypal Plots

A story can be sexy, but a good story has to have a plot, too.

There are only so many plots, but for each one there are unlimited stories to tell. Think about Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story--same plot, but very different approaches. More recently, Taming of the Shrew became 10 Things I Hate About You, and Jane Austen's Emma inspired Clueless.

Exercise:

Think about a fairy tale or classic story that means something to you. Just using the bare outline of the story, write a quick paragraph or two outlining a plot of your own. It doesn't have to contain every element; the original might be just an inspiration for yours.

Now write several more, based on that same original story. You may come up with something splendid for your eighth try. Keep a journal of your attempts, and when you feel stuck in your writing, come back to the journal and try again with a different story.

On my bookshelf:
Nancy Madore has written several collections of erotic short stories based on fairy tales. My favorites are her first two: The Twelve Dancing Princesses and Enchanted.

Movie to watch:
If you haven't already seen it, rent the video Shakespeare in Love, a very sexy, romantic comedy. It isn't a historically accurate account, but the references to Shakespeare and his plays are beautifully woven into the story in a clever and fresh way. Does it have a happy ending? "It's a mystery."