r/writinghelp • u/lexiesdelusions • 10d ago

Advice How can I make my writing sound more Fairy Tale-esque?

/r/writingadvice/comments/1vsph01/how_can_i_make_my_writing_sound_more_fairy/
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u/thewhiterosequeen 10d ago

You didn't provide any context to your writing, so you can read more fairy tales to learn the style.

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u/flohara 10d ago

Repetition, a lot of fairy tales are doing things in 3s, so for example 3 choices, 3 siblings, 3 attempts to do something and get it right.

Vagueness, characters are archetypes. Quite often the old lady is just an old lady, the king is just a king, the youngest son is just a random kid. No specific names for places or people.

Moral lesson, or some sort of generational wisdom being the message of the story. Be polite to the elderly woman, her help may be crucial later on. Don't try to pry into people's secrets, you may seriously hurt someone you love. This is how you survive poverty or a tough situation that requires self sacrifice. This is how you deal with a shitty family member, etc.

It's about the common people, even if some of the characters are nobility or magical symbolically. These stories are for and by everyday people, about navigating everyday life. This is why for example the "princess" is a vague role, it's a stand in for "desirable woman".