Writing Legends

Don't see what's wrong with it. You could call it magical realism

Actually, I think the jury is still out on whether or not Robin was real. Okay, the legend isn't 100% factual, but that's not to say it wasn't based on a real person. But regardless of whether he's "real" or not, there's a strong and gorgeous tradition of MCs meeting legendary figures. The Kipling collections, "Puck of Pook's Hill" and "Rewards and Fairies" leapt to my mind immeditely, because I used to read them to my babes, but there are very recent, successful examples as well - just ask your librarian!

The main thing I wanted to say though, was this: You're going to meet so many people during the course of your life as a writer who are going to tell you your ideas are lame or have already been written or aren't worth trying, and you'll have to find a way eventually to stop hearing them - so start now . Really. You have an imagination, and you're a writer - they don't get to shut that down, however much they might feel bothered by it.

Most importantly, you'll have to learn to differentiate between that kind of ignorant, unhelpful criticism, and the proper, useful kind. Mostly, if they're talkling about a book they haven't read because you haven't written it yet, you can just ignore them. If they're talking about grammar or plot or characters in a book you have written - well, that's a whole other story.

Good luck to you - keep imagining, and keep writing!

It was while reading the story of Robyn Hood - I loved him, that I decided to be a writer.

And if some day I should like to take a new take on that old story I wouldn't hesitate, real or not.

T.H. White - The Once and Future King is based on the Arthurian legends and has been made into at least two films.

There is nothing wrong with writing about a legend. What can be a stinker though is creating a convincing world for your legend to inhabit which you can do with good research.

There is an interesting and well-informed discussion of Robin Hood here http://www.sffchronicles.co.uk/forum/49620-putting-the-robin-in-robbing.html

There was a recent treatment of the Robin Hood story published in the UK by Angus Donald
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0751542083/?tag=absolutewrite-21

I have to agree with everyone else. It's likely Robin Hood (or someone kind of like him) was a real person, so you can go with it. Besides, stories are written all the time about people who don't actually exist, whether those stories are set in our time or another.

I actually think "legendary" figures might be the most interesting to write about. You can come up with a new angle on an old story, take the details of the legend and fit them into your plot in unique ways. That being said, you'll want to have a new take, because Robin Hood has been written about a lot.

Forestqueen808 said:

Alright, so I started a novel about Robin Hood, which is one of my favorite stories. But, my friend told me, "Why write about it? He's only a legend." I believe nearly everything, so, I kinda believe that Robin Hood was real. Even if he wasn't, its interesting to think about. I let her read some of it, and she said that it was pointless. No way could my MC have met Robin Hood and join him and his Merry Men in Sherwood Forest, because he's not real. This really frustrated me, is it REALLY pointless to write about a legend?

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My first thought is: "There's as much proof that there was a Robin Hood as there was a Jesus. There's lots of people who think he's nothing but a legend. Are you telling me I shouldn't take Jesus seriously?"

But, then, I'm a rabble rouser.

Write the story that sings to you and ignore everyone else who doesn't hear the song. That's what writing fiction is all about, after all--sharing the song only you can hear.

All fictional characters aren't real. I don't see anything wrong with writing about a legendary figure. Writing about imaginary people is pretty much what fiction is all about.

I think the scholarly consensus nowadays is that the character of Robin Hood grew out of a composite of several real outlaws plus some imaginative storytelling. If you want to do some historical research on the subject, there are lots of resources available.

In 1964 John Bellamy published a nifty paper about a real criminal gang that operated in Sherwood Forest in the fourteenth century. They were apparently a kind of mafia who set up their own shadow government in the region. There was also a collection of articles on the subject of English outlaws that came out just last year.

In addition, there's lots of inspiration to be drawn from some of the other medieval outlaw tales that have been conflated with Robin Hood over the years. Check out the stories of Fulk Fitzwarin, Gamelyn and Eustace the Monk over at the University of Rochester's Robin Hood Project.

The Robyn of fiction is not real. However there were a band of merry men so to say that made Richard's reign a living nightmare. Doing some of the shenanigans. In the UK the forest is open to all who want to visit where Robyn roam.

Wow. Your friend is a regular killjoy.

It's a novel, right? Ergo it's fiction. Then write it any way you want. Not sure why Robin Hood needs to exist if you're writing fiction.

A legend is someone who already has a cycle of stories told about them. Clearly, plenty of storytellers have considered Robin Hood et al worthwhile. Go for it!

Go ahead and write your story. There's no reason why you shouldn't include a legend. Besides, there's research that the Robin Hood legends may have been based on one or more real people. (Same thing with King Arthur and Merlin.)

You might want to look up a DVD called "The Tale of Robin Hood". Interesting stuff and a great starting point for more research.

I'm with Shadow_Ferret on this one.

Shadow_Ferret said:

Wow. Your friend is a regular killjoy.

It's a novel, right? Ergo it's fiction. Then write it any way you want. Not sure why Robin Hood needs to exist if you're writing fiction.

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There's two issues here: Firstly, whether the story's worth writing (and that answer's got to be in your gut, a place where inhibitions and other people's opinions have no home, no bearing, no nothing).

And secondly, whom you share your writing with. This one experience would guide me not to discuss it with her again. She clearly doesn't get it. Not everything is meant for everyone. That's all.

Rock on with your writing!