I was reading on Saturday about the idea of stealing from other writers…..noooo, I don’t mean plagiarism I mean, stealing an idea, stealing a character.
Take Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys, which is most probably the most famous example.
The novel is a prequel to Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre. The story of Mrs Rochester, before she became the mad woman in the attic.
My favourite example though is Mary Reilly by Valerie Martin. It’s tells the Jekyll & Hyde story from the viewpoint of Dr Jekyll’s maid, Mary. A wonderful book (and film btw) that I found fascinating, after having read the original Stevensen book.
I would love to use a character that another writer created, and tell their story successfully. But who? Where do I start?
How about Miss Haversham, the story of her ending up in that big old house in her wedding dress. Or Mrs Dalloway’s wild teenage years? And what actually happened to Holly Golightly, now that would be fun! 🙂
What famous character would you like to steal?
How many times do you come across a minor character in a book who intrigues you? Who you’d like to know more about?
Today’s prompt about a diner turned into a story about a waitress who bumps into her male childhood playmate 😉 Tomorrow’s prompt is on the eve of the wedding which I kinda already did a few weeks ago….. Hmmm, will need to think about that one
I have always wanted to do a story from Miss Haversham’s POV. there is such a romantic story in there turned eerie.
Or Daisy’s story from The Great Gatsby. That would be interesting to write.
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Oh wow, yeah, Daisy…..good choice hon 🙂
xx
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I stole characters all the time during my fanfiction days! Yes, I admit I wrote fanfiction. Jim and Pam from The Office were irresistible and I just had to play with them!
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I’ve never explored fanfiction, perhaps it’s something I should try my hand at 🙂
xx
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I would like to explore the viewpoint of Smike from Dickens’ Nicholas Nickelby.
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Thanks for stopping by Elizabeth 🙂
Ahhhh, good one!
xx
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Georgiana Darcy from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice–that’s the story for me. Though it’s already been done, no one tells the same story the same way.
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Ooooo, good choice hon 🙂
xx
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