Crafting Bold Retellings: The Art of Telling Old Stories in New Ways (guest post)

There’s something about story retellings that keeps pulling me back.

Author Betsy Ellor

Maybe it’s the familiarity, the sense that I'm stepping into a story I already know. Or maybe it’s the thrill of watching a writer tilt that story just slightly and suddenly everything feels new again.

As someone currently deep in my own retelling project, I’m always curious how other writers approach the challenge of reshaping myth.

That’s why I’m especially excited to welcome Betsy Ellor to the blog today. Betsy writes fiction centered on layered, powerful women, and her latest novel, Hera: Kingdom of Lies, reimagines one of mythology’s most misunderstood figures.

(You can read more about Betsy and her latest novel here!)

Instead of accepting the version of Hera we’ve inherited, she asks harder questions — about power, marriage, motherhood, politics, and identity — and builds something new from there. (If you’ve ever wondered what it means to tell a story from the so-called villain’s side, you’ll want to pay attention.)

In today’s guest post, Betsy shares practical and thoughtful guidance on how to approach writing a retelling that feels grounded and original at the same time. She talks about honoring the core of a myth while still daring to question it... which, to me, is the real heart of this kind of work.

If you’ve ever been tempted to revisit a classic story, or if you’re already tinkering with one, I think you’ll find her perspective both grounding and energizing.

Read on!

—CC

---

Myths Remixed: How to Write Bold Retellings of Classic Tales

by Betsy Ellor

For as long as humans have sat around campfires, they’ve told myths. Greek epics, Arthurian legends, fairy tales, or modern cultural icons like Sherlock Holmes or Marvel - writers never stop finding new ways to give old stories plenty of fresh things to say.

So if you want to write a myth retelling, you’re joining a long tradition. Here are some tips on how to make your retelling a success.

1) Know Your Myth

A myth retelling draws on a story that already has cultural buy-in, that means readers will have expectations. Readers need to recognize the key elements in the original story or they’ll be disappointed. So before you start writing, ask: 

• What are the core plot elements? 

• What are the core themes?

• What elements of the characters are essential to the myth?

• What would readers feel betrayed by if you removed it?

If you’re retelling Cinderella, you need a ball. If you’re retelling Godzilla, you need a rampage. My latest novel, Hera: Kingdom of Lies, is the origin story of the Greek gods as told by its chief villain, Hera.

Since it’s set against the backdrop of Olympus being built, there are certain things I had to include, such as a pantheon for 12 Olympians. But I could weave into the story conflicts over how many seats should be in the pantheon - why not 2? Why not 32? And I could look at the series of events that determined which 12 were chosen. Just because certain things had to remain, didn’t limit my storytelling ability. 

It’s a bit like doing a dot-to-do where you’re given the dots, but the fun comes from connecting them in a different, unexpected order. .

2) Find a Fresh Angle

A strong retelling needs to offer a new take on an old tale.

Telling the story from the witch’s point-of-view worked for Maleficent and Wicked. Using a minor character, Patroclus, to narrate the Trojan War transformed it from a warrior’s tale to a love story in The Song of Achilles.

You might also find a fresh angle by setting the story in a different time or place, like in Hadestown. Or use it to look at a modern theme the way West Side Story uses Romeo & Juliet to look at immigration and gang turf wars in a way Shakespeare never could have imagined. 

One of the things that drew me to Hera was that she is the Goddess of Marriage with a philandering husband, she is the Goddess of Motherhood raising the literal God of War, and she is a queen trying to do what’s best for her realm with little praise or appreciation. She seemed like every woman I know  - frantically trying to balance countless roles and impossible expectations, all while the world watches. Seeing her stories through that modern lens made her story fresh. 

3) Do Research

Even if you know the myth or legend well, research can help you find details that might help spark your imagination. Research the time and place the story originated and what inspired it. Do historical research on the setting, clothing, food, etc. Research alternative versions of the myth.

All the things you find will help you create a more layered story.  

During my research I discovered that in ancient times, Hera was worshiped as the supreme goddess before Zeus existed. That discovery gave the narrative a richer political tension.

You never know what great discoveries you might find, so take the time to do the research. 

4) Ask Why This Myth is Yours

You know your myth, you’ve found a fresh angle, and you’ve done the research. Now there’s one last question to answer before diving into writing your own retelling: 

What does this story mean to you?

Sit a while and think about why this story caught your attention. What about it resonates with you personally? Why do you feel the need to tell it in your own way? If you can answer those questions, you’ll be well on your way to delivering a wholly original retelling.

The ways your heart connects to the story will breathe soul into the retelling, ensuring it won’t feel gimmicky.  

Hera’s stories resonated with me both as a person living in a time of political upheaval and as a woman seeking identity under tremendous pressures. I looked at Hera’s stories and saw myself and my world reflected. I knew I needed to capture that on the page.  

Myths aren’t museum pieces; they are conversations across centuries. Now it’s your turn to add your voice.

—Betsy

---

About the Guest Blogger & Her Book

Betsy Ellor lives in a house filled with color and chaos. When not at her desk, she’s hiking, gardening, or annoying her teenage son. She's the editor of the anthology Heroic Care, author of the picture book, My Dog is NOT A Scientist (Yeehoo Press), and scribbler of articles and stories for various outlets including Spine Magazine, 5 Minute Lit, and The Creative Collective.

Betsy's most recent book, Hera: Kingdom of Lies, was released on January 20 and is for sale at Amazon. You can also add this title to your GoodReads reading list. Here's a little about the book:

Before Olympus, Hera ruled - until Zeus claimed the

throne and trapped Hera in a marriage designed to silence her power. Instead, she built a new order, raised a son, and refused to break.

This origin story of Greek mythology told from the perspective of its chief ‘villain,’ weaves gods, nymphs, dragons, sex, lies, and strategy into a fierce new legend. Hera: Kingdom of Lies combines the social and political maneuvers of Scandal with the mythic, villain-redemption of Circe.

Connect with Betsy:

• Websites:  https://www.wordsunboundstudio.com

• Linktr.ee: linktr.ee/betsyellor

• Instagram: betsyellor

• Facebook: betsy.ellor

• Substack: betsyellor.substack.com

• Threads: Betsyellor

---

What are you thoughts on retellings? Does Betsy's advice resonate? Let us know by commenting on the post or sending a message through the site!

Peace & Plenty,