Write A Way: Journey to Creativity
Over the Rainbow, A New Tale is Waiting to be Told
By Sandra Lee Schubert
"Like the word wild, the word witch has come to be understood as a pejorative, but long
ago it was an appellation given to both old and young women healers, the word witch
deriving from the word wit, meaning wise."
~ Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Ph.D.,
Women Who Run With The Wolves
Behind every good tale is another one. Hearing the same story
over and over again we might think another perspective is not possible. We assume or
don't even want to know what else could be there. The
Broadway musical Wicked
features characters from the familiar story of the Wizard of Oz. I was expecting a fun musical
about a wicked green witch and a good one in a bubble. Certainly that was true. The two
leads have fabulous voices and Joel Grey plays the Wizard. But it is more than just a musical,
it also tells the back-story to the familiar one we have all seen replayed year after year on
television.
Wicked is a tale about friendship, loyalty, and prejudice. It is also a play
about following your dreams and the truth that resides in your heart. In surprising ways
it tells the story we had not known.
- How did the witch become wicked, or green?
- Why were those red shoes so important?
- Where did the Good Witch come from?
In the end, the story that I had known for all these years became a more intricate and
interesting one.
It also reminded me that there is more than one side to a story. Whether a journalist or
a fiction writer, it is our job and even our obligation to dig deeper, uncover more and see
what else there is to a story, real or not.
In the Australian film,
Strictly Ballroom,
Scott, the main character, is a young ballroom dancer who suffered an embarrassing
misstep when improvising new moves in a dance competition. His mother, dance friends
and heads of the competitions conspire to have him play it safe and just do the dances
everyone knows and understands. If he were to change they would need to change also.
Finally through a revelation from his father, a new love and a strong desire to follow his
heart, the final scenes of the movie are a wonderful demonstration of dance and the
passion it evokes. But it is the revelation from his father that is the most striking. He
learns the timid man was not always that way and the myth he was told about his own
family was just a story to keep him from straying to far from the norm. If it weren't for
that moment, Scott may have thrown it all away and we would not have the wonderful
ending to inspire us.
As a creative person, our senses become refined. Everything takes
on new and more complex aspects. A rose is no longer just a rose. It has layers of
scents and colors - the texture is soft its thorns sting.
If you were to revisit the familiar stories of your life what else might you see?
You know Uncle Joe as lazy only to discover he volunteers in a soup kitchen. Another
relative is teased for her weight and then you find photos of her as a beauty pageant
winner. I always thought my mother was a republican only to find out 20 years later
from my sister she had been a democrat. It was an assumption I had made and never
challenged.
Writing should challenge us.
Bravely facing the blank page we can explore the aspects of living others just skim over.
View things with new eyes and see what you might be missing. The Buddhists talk
about living mindfully so try that on for a bit. Wash the dishes with full intention and
write about it. Have the characters in your stories be more adventuresome. Characters
can take on the mantle of courageousness we may be afraid to delve into. Somewhere
over the rainbow is a new tale waiting to be told, don't be afraid to the leave the safety
of your home and discover a new story.
Creative Writing Exercises
This Week's
Creative Writing Prompts:
Take a familiar fairy tale and write it from different points of view.
As an example, what about Cinderella's step family? Why were her stepmother and
sisters so mean? Maybe they had a difficult life? Or were just misunderstood?
Consider the fairy godmothers point of view. Where did her gifts come from?
Then choose a favorite family story and see if you can discover something new. Like lazy
Uncle Joe, maybe there is another side of someone you haven't considered.
Next, try a popular plot line. A heroine and hero fall in love, they fight, break up and
eventually get back together. How can you write that scenario with another twist? Be
extra vigilant. Don't take every thing you see, hear, read or feel at face value. Consider
other possibilities. Look around you with new eyes and see what is revealed to you.
Suggested Resources
Theater
Wicked, The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz
- Based on the Novel by Gregory Maguire, the music and lyrics are by Stephen Schwartz
(Godspell) with a Book by Winnie Holzman. Gershwin Theater - 222 West 51st Street, NYC.
Book
Women Who Run With the Wolves
by Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Ph.D. Estes takes popular fairy tales and folklore and gives us
the rich detail we may not recognize in the first reading.
DVD/Video Rental
Strictly Ballroom
- 1992 - Baz Luhrmann, Director. Synopsis: Super-hunk Scott Hastings is an ambitious,
athletic dancer eager to break with the Australian Dance Federation's stodgy traditions
and choreograph his own steps for the upcoming Ballroom Dancing Championship. Scott's
mother Shirley, his prissy partner Liz and coach Les are up in arms over his brash attitude
towards ballroom conventions. Don't let this synopsis throw you off, it is a fun film and
makes you want to dance and maybe write.
Sandra Schubert is the creator and instructor for the Self-Healing Expressions
e-course
Writing for Life: Creating a Story of Your Own.
To learn more about Sandra and her course, click here:
Copyright © 2004–2007 Sandra Lee Schubert. All rights reserved. If you are interested
in publishing this article, please email
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