A2Z 2020 Accomplished

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Using the 2Z Blog Challenge and NaNoWriCAMP,  to write twenty-two folktales and legends about maidens and matrons, I framed the stories into a sequence to answer the question,  'Why I like the story?' 

I corrected that question to 'DO I LIKE THIS TALE?'  after realizing my chosen folktales preached a code, a norm --> that 'women are servants', and sadly, she went along - norms, horrors. 

I titled my selection of tales to Damsels in Distress. Revisiting these tales from the 14th to 20th centuries, I recognized the narratives are from the male point of view that upheld the notion that woman, female, her, she are to act as a server. The male carrying the sword and pen, he owned the norms. And worst, I thought only men were professional authors. 

 My girl child and youth smothered by this norm; males wrote the narratives.

After twelve years as a storyteller, telling at the Asian Art Museum, and the hundred-plus books of folktales, legends, and myths I studied from across the world ---> I shaped another vision and opinion.

Value, worth, and hope do exist in these tales; women survived by the various powers she possessed. After re-imaged the stories into a female point of view and narrative,  I realized the males did not understand the norms set upon themselves. The freer the female, the freer the male, and powers exist to establish this balance within each.

#11 - Naga Princes, KINDLE

kill vs know —> keep.
K is for the emotional feeling - KINDLE!

The Snake Princess, NAGA
  Do I like this story? NO! Maybe, yes. I understand why this story sang to me. A young girl child gets to go to college, the University of Colorado, to learn the morays of the educated male world. I took classes to understand the way of social structure; the male and I was a female allowed to be a teacher, nurse, or wife. Feminists were not outspoken in the Rocky Mountains, which was about 100 years behind time, even if Colorado was one of the first stated to allow women to vote. I figured voting rights were to have women come and live in the state.

The Princess Naga does get prestige after schooled by conversations with BoShin: notice the male has a name because humans are the supreme beings. The snakes, Nagas, in the Eastern part of our globe, are a symbol of emotions, although honored must be kept in hand, under control.

The man again is the teacher, the honor supremed being. I'm getting a bit disturbed by all the honor and how much service he receives from women in these old tales. I read these as a child, what did this do to my enthusiasm for life.

Well, I could not be a writer because I was and girl. Worst writing was not taught in public schools, only filling the blanks. Even with my first story published in the Colorado Springs newspaper in 8th grade. Fifty years I am secure with write. Now, I fiddling with folktales, I read as a girl child and know why I liked them; the girl had hope.

I have changed the title of the series to 'Damsels in Distress.' These women knew or went along with the norms of society.