Topic Brainstorm: Stories that Interest Me

One of the first topics that caught my eye was "changelings." I have always been fascinated by changeling stories because I feel that everyone, at some point in their life, feels like they don't belong. I think these types of stories have the potential to be told in a very heartbreaking way, which is my favorite kind of telling. I don't have much prior knowledge about changeling stories but they have come up in some of the fiction I read. I would like to learn more about how the creatures that do switch out their children decide which human to switch with, if there's a specific reason for it, and how the human children are treated in the other world. In order to keep things interesting so you're not reading another recycled version of the I-don't-belong-here sob story, I could tell the story from the point of view of the parents; particularly a mother whom knows that her child isn't really her child but everyone thinks she's crazy.  While researching, I read The Stolen Princess, there are elements in this story that would play well into my own but I would like to tell it from an entirely different viewpoint.

(Changeling Eyes: Google Images)

Another topic I found interesting was "Ghost Stories." Ever since I was little I've been intrigued if not slightly terrified by the mystical world of ghosts. As I've gotten older, I've learned to appreciate a good scary story or movie even more. I remember reading a book on about ghost stories for kids that sticks with me still. I love how realistic authors can get when weaving the supernatural into everyday life.  I would like to learn more about the different forms of ghosts specifically (like how they appear and are seen by people). I would want to tell stories about ghosts that seem helpful at first and then turn out to be terrifying or manipulative. I was going to say that the other way around but... I think this way would be more fun. I could finally create a story where the main character does everything right and still ends up in a bad situation! Stories like San Antonio Ghost Children on Snopes are interesting to me because of the child element. If I were to retell a story like this, I would have the kids be tricky and vengeful.

(Ghosts: Google Images)

Creation stories have recently begun to peak my interest. I took an Indigenous Rhetoric's class last semester and the most intriguing story for me was the one about the turtle. If you aren't familiar with it, it's a pretty common story in which the world rests on the back of a giant turtle. I like learning about different culture's creation theories and stories and would like to continue reading more. I found the story about the Spider's Creation in the UnTextbook and found it really interesting. If I were to re-write it, I would flesh it out, give more details and probably lengthen the story because it seems unfinished to me.

(Spider's Creation: Google Images)

Finally, the last project to peak my interest was a surprise to me. I'm choosing Fairy Tale Prince's, mostly because I love hearing mainstream stories from different perspectives (my favorite example is Wicked!). Everyone knows of all the major princes out there, but do they really know the real them? I would love to learn more about the major stereotypes that come with being a prince and then more about their lives so I could, potentially, give them more depth in a story.  I would like to find a more obscure Disney prince's story and make it tragic and deep! My inspiration for telling this type of story is from a past project labeled Happily Ever After? A Prince's Perspective.

(Crown: Google Images)