Weekly Plot Help - Week of November 3rd

[alison-sky.livejournal.com]

Got a problem in your NaNo? Who doesn't?! But we've got a way to help!

Post here with your plot problems, and all through the week members of the community will scan through and see if they can help.

AKA - The best way to procrastinate is to help others!

So post your problem. Then take a moment to look at everyone else's and see if you can help them.

People helping people. That's what makes this community great :)

So have at it!

Comments

Penelope who?

[situationgirl.livejournal.com]

Hiya everybody. I posted this on last week's plot help thread as the very last entry -- I don't think anyone saw it.

My MC is named Penelope, and I wanted to incorporate some elements of the Grimm Brothers' fairytale about a Penelope, but I have only a vague memory about her being devoted to a lover that she could only talk to through a small hole in a stone wall. Does this sound familiar to anyone?

I've done some internet searches and all I can come up with is Penelope the wife of Odysseus, Penelope the Christina Ricci movie (which is probably the closest, but I want the original), and the Penelopiad which is a Margaret Atwood retelling of the Odyssey. These are not what I want.

Does anybody know where to look? Does anybody have a compendium of Grimm's fairytales they're willing to peruse for me? I used to have one, but it's about 1100 miles away now.

Any help is wonderfully appreciated.

Re: Penelope who?

[fiveredsnakes.livejournal.com]

Are you sure you're not thinking of the tale of Pyramis and Thisbe? They are lovers who can only talk through a wall. It turns up in Midsummer's Night Dream, but it may have been incorporated into a Grimm faiy tale too. Otherwise, I have no idea, sorry. I assume you've done the obvious stuff like check the wikipedia article on Grimm's fairy tales? It's pretty comprehensive

Re: Penelope who?

[situationgirl.livejournal.com]

It's possible that I got them confused, or dreamt it. They myth of Pyramus and Thisbe sounds close, but I thought I remembered a happier ending. Anyhow, thanks!

Re: Penelope who?

[aislingthebard.livejournal.com]

How about "Penelope Jane", the tiny french fairy in the story by Rosanne Cash? She lived in the dresser drawer before she went to school with her human friend...Is that what you're thinking of?

Re: Penelope who?

[situationgirl.livejournal.com]

I don't think so, but it sounds just so darn cute that I'll have to check it out.

Re: Penelope who?

[night-sky99.livejournal.com]

I have (or my sister does, but she's not home right now so it's mine for now) Grimm's Complete Fairy Tales. There are over 211 stories in it so if you happen to remember any part of the name of the story you are looking for, I can look it up.
I don't have school tomorrow and was actually planning on reading some of the stories from the book so if I run into any character named Penelope, I'll be sure to tell you.

Re: Penelope who?

[situationgirl.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Unfortunately, I can't think of the name at all. I was browsing a list of Grimm's Fairy Tales titles, and one title (The Hazel Branch) rang a bell, but it could simply be because I read them all many years ago. I really appreciate your trying to find it, even if you don't come up with anything at all. Warning: I advise that you keep track of your time -- that book can suck you in, like evil sleep demons in a sofa!