Let’s have some fun with a fairy tale! This is actually two writing exercises:
1. You are Sleeping Beauty (La Bella Durmiente). What are you feeling and thinking as you wake up? Stay in character. You are speaking and thinking AS Sleeping Beauty. If you’re a man, write as the Prince.
2. Rewrite the fairy tale so that it happens in the present.You are a modern-day woman who feels like Sleeping Beauty. Something odd has happened and you don’t quite understand. But you feel like you’ve fallen asleep and need help!
- What put you to sleep (made you lose consciousness/be unaware?) What got you to this place?
- Who/what has awakened you?
- What kind of power did it take to awaken you?
- What would’ve happened if you didn’t awaken? (i.e., remained unconscious?)
- What do you need to watch out for next time?
If you’re a man, you can write as the Prince who tries to help.
Note: This second exercise asks you to think in metaphors. You compare two things to see what you can learn. So the sleep might be unawareness, and your awakening can be realizing what went wrong. Play with this!
Here’s a link to the story if you haven’t heard it in awhile: