Myths, fables, legends, and tall tales—these stories fill our lives, serving as cultural touchstones, entertaining us, and allowing us to reflect on broader concepts and ideas, like love, death, and grief.
Take a favourite myth or fable (I like Ancient Greek and Roman myths, but you may be drawn to different stories, for example those passed down by your ancestors), and re-write one important scene. In your re-telling, alter at least one key detail—maybe you change the story’s ending, or you voice the story through a minor character, or you re-cast the myth or fable in the present day. Once you have a draft, ask yourself what emotions and thoughts you have explored. See where this exercise takes you.