Using fairy tales references in novels...

Well, those are not technically fairy tale characters. However, Alice in Wonderland has been in the public domain for so long, there is probably no problem with using the characters.

Oh and welcome to AW.

LindaRD said:

Well either, or...I plan to write some fairy tale spin offs as well, but also from stories like Alice in Wonderland... basically stories I enjoyed when I was a kid.

Thank you so much!

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As long as they are public domain, it's fine. There are many fairy tale re-tellings and mashups - written for various markets.

I think you are free to use them, but do you really want to? If I'm understanding this correctly, you're going to write your own fairy tale(s), then I ask why don't you write them with your own characters?

mlazzer said:

I think you are free to use them, but do you really want to? If I'm understanding this correctly, you're going to write your own fairy tale(s), then I ask why don't you write them with your own characters?

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I understand the appeal of taking something and twisting it. I love American McGee's Alice, for example.

Try some of Angela Carter's work - they are really twisted. Also Alice was recently reworked by Kate Atkinson (Behind The Scenes at the Museum.)

On one hand, I'm sort of with mlazzer, why use another writer's fairy tale names? For some, it will sound derivative.

On the other hand: a) some of the best writers throughout history have borrowed from others, Shakespeare included, b) some very well thought of stories in contemporary fantasy are reworked fairy tales from the public domain, and c) many very successful novels have been written using characters from the public domain, (Dracula and Sherlock Holmes anyone?).

It really depends on how you use the name, what you want to do with it. If you can add something fresh to it, and you aren't infringing on copyright, then why not? If you're just retelling the same fairytale with the same names in the same manner, it's probably not going to be seen as very exciting.

Sin e the discussion seems to have changed to justifying the small nuances of using public domain stories I might aswell add my two cents (.02$).

I think my favorite books are based after redone creeping and crawling horror stories from the public domain. Where would I be if Dracula always staid a Austro-Hungarian immigrant living in the UK? Or if van Helsing always was a slightly eccentric professor? I'd be much reduced, that's for sure - I like some additions to established mantra. Long as it's written correctly, 'course.

As long as they're in public domains and you're not using other companies properties (such as Disney's Cinderella), you're fine. Look at the success of Gregory Maguire's series of retold fairy tales including Wicked. Not to mention the hit Broadway show Into the Woods.

Do know, however, that if you use fair tale characters and stories, you carry certain baggage. These characters and stories are so well-known, so you'll have to do something different, or have a whole new twist.