Fairy tales and folklore are the stories that all children grow up reading; all the legends, myths, and fantastical musings about woodland creatures, daring princes, and granted wishes.

I think everyone has a fairy tale story that has meaning to them – the one that was their favourite when they were growing up.

These stories also have so much value and potential for writers and other artists because they have a greater meaning. Fairy tales are great for creative writing in so many different ways.

They’re a way to ease ourselves into a writing practice when we struggle to find innately original ideas. And they’re a way to tell a great story while also relating key lessons, as most fairy tales do.

Today, I’m sharing 3 of my favourite childhood fairy tales that are sources of inspiration for characters, themes, and stories for creative writing, to use in a fresh, original way to inspire your writing.

The Ugly Duckling

It is a story about a cygnet, a young swan, who hatches amongst ducklings. He is called the ‘ugly duckling’ by all he encounters, because he looks different to the others in his family; grey and black while the rest are yellow. At the end of the story, the cygnet meets a group of swans at the pond. Thinking they will harm him, as others had in the past, he is distraught. Then he realizes he looks identical to them, that he has been a swan his whole life mistaken for a duck. I like this story the most because it is about the desire to be valued by others, instead of one valuing oneself. To me, this story carries some universal themes about prejudice and identity and judging people by appearances. A similar story and concept is also appears in the more popular “Beauty And The Beast” fairy tale.

Cinderella

It is a classic story that everyone knows. It is a story about a young girl who is mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters. And despite their poor treatment, she remains a moral, good, kind person. In the end, she is rewarded for her patience and endurance. She finds and marries a handsome prince, and her stepsisters who were unkind to her are punished for how they made her suffer. I like this story not because it states that someone can be mistreated and then receive rewards, but because it implies that one can be mistreated and become a better person because of it; despite it, and refuse to let their circumstances affect who they are.

Little Red Riding Hood

It is a story about a young girl in a red cap who is sent by her parents to visit her elderly grandmother who lives in the woods. She is visited by a wolf that persuades her to stray from the path, in search of pretty flowers to give to her grandmother. When she arrives at the house, the wolf tricks her again, by disguising himself as the grandmother. Near the story’s end, when the wolf is asleep after eating both the grandmother and the little girl, a woodsman comes along and chops the wolf into two, freeing them. I like this story because it is a cautionary tale about meeting strangers and trusting them to have good intentions. It is a story about coming-of-age, the loss of innocence. But it is also a story about making mistakes and learning from them. The story continues to show that the grandmother and the little girl are visited by a second wolf; and this time, both of them are not so easily tricked, and they use their wits to defend themselves against the second wolf.

These are three of my favourite childhood stories, many of which have appeared in countless other books, tv, and film adaptations. The richness of fairy tales and folklore has always been one of the greatest inspirations for literature and art in this way, full of timeless themes, characters, and stories that are relevant to a range of audiences and ages. I hope you found this post helpful and inspirational for your creative writing endeavours.

Happy writing!