Spirited Away – A Refresher on the Fairy Tale Story Pattern

Having recently seen Hayao Miyazaki’s fantastic Spirited Away* again, I was struck by something I had not noticed before. It is a minor detail, one the story takes for granted, and so it is easy to miss. This is especially the case in a day and age where the fairy tale has largely been either …

Does the Location or the Subject Make the Photo?

On this occasion, I would argue the subjects make these pictures worthwhile. Follow the link to see these cute children pose in their fantastic fur coats, readers! Photographer Captures Toddlers in Adorable Fur Coats Who Look Like Little Russian Dolls BY Anna Mason February 6, 2022 Photographed in the snow with baskets of fruit, the …

“The Power of the Father”

One of the nicest – not the best, but the nicest – Disney films of the modern era was The Game Plan*. Starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, the movie follows arrogant quarterback Joe Kingman through the adventure of discovering that he has a daughter whom he never met and never knew existed. In a series …

Heroism and Vulnerability – A Reflection in the Garden

Independent author C. Chancy*, who also goes by Crossover Queen due to her penchant for blending two or more franchises together in her fan fiction stories, had an interesting post up on her site not too long ago. The main topic was threat perception. It explains that what the hero considers a threat differs from …

Writerly Sound Bites, Number 8: Character Progression – How Characters Broken by Trauma Recover and Rebuild, Part 2

Part one of this mini-series within the Writerly Sound Bites series focused on characters who suffered abuse in childhood that affected them in a variety of ways. But that meant the topic was limited to the most vulnerable among us: children. Children are incapable of defending themselves and are thus dependent almost entirely on adults …

“Rover, Red Rover, Let Tolkien Come Over!”

I have actually read this sweet little story, so I can vouch that it’s good. If you are searching for a Christmas gift for your own child, the neighbor’s son, a niece or a nephew, you could do worse than Roverandom*. The article below, which is a ringing endorsement of the same tale, should more …

Review: Marymae and the Nightmare Man by A.M. Freeman (with Illustrations by Jesalyn Kate)

This is a first, readers: I have not reviewed a book strictly meant for children before. I was expecting it to be a picture book before I picked it up, but it happens to be a Grade 1-2 story. That is, it has illustrations and is simple to read for children in those grades, but …

A Truly Special Day

Check it out, readers! Groom Plans Epic Surprise by Inviting Bride’s Down Syndrome Students as Ring Bearers BY LOUISE BEVAN November 12, 2020 Updated: July 13, 2021 This story was last updated in November 2020. A thoughtful groom found the perfect way to pay tribute to his bride’s great passion, her work as a speech therapist, by inviting …

Fairy Tales and Memories….

Forgive the Jim Croce* reference, readers, but it was the first thing that sprang to mind. If you have not heard any of his songs yet, I highly recommend checking them out after you read this article. That man could sing! Enjoy the piece, readers: Once Upon a Time: The Importance of Fairy Tales for …

Too Few….

Remember that first post on children in fiction which appeared here at Song, readers? Well, here is an unfortunate real life example authors everywhere can use as a reference point: Japan’s soldier shortage Fewer babies eventually results in fewer bayonets by Marcus Roberts Jul 2, 2020 Japan is in an interesting geostrategic position. It has a …