Three years ago, I never would have guessed I’d be writing a blog post on this topic.
Back then, I was focused on pure fantasy stories. My first novel was an epic fantasy, while my second and third were paranormal fantasy.
I thought I had “found my voice” in paranormal fantasy, but then a friend of mine asked me a question:
“Would you like to write a book about the King Midas myth?”
That question, and my answer to it—“Sure, I could give it a try”—opened up a whole new world for me in terms of fantasy writing.
Why?
Because when I started researching the King Midas myth, I discovered something very interesting: King Midas was a real person.
It’s Fun to Find History in Myth
King Midas, according to the latest research by the University of Pennsylvania, ruled the kingdom of Phrygia back in the later 600s and early 700s BC.
As far as the records show, this is the same Midas the Greeks were talking about when they created the King Midas myth—you know, the one about him asking the god Dionysus for the touch of gold. When I found this in my research, I was super excited. Not only did I have the myth to play with in my story, now I had the real life of King Midas, too. Combining them both in a new narrative opened up creative avenues I would have never explored before.
Writing the story was a lot of fun, and though I didn’t plan it that way, “The Curse of King Midas” has now spawned a series called The Midas Legacy. I’m knee-deep in book two at the time of this writing.
What I’d like to share with other writers is the fun that can be had when you try this type of setup for your story. If you’d like to explore something new or get out of a rut, I urge you to give it a try!
It’s Up to You How Much You Use of Either One
The main question I had getting into the story—and the one I still find myself asking as I look ahead to books two and three—is how much to pull from the real history and how much to use of the myth.
With this story, it made the most sense to rely heavily on the myth. This is what most people are familiar with when it comes to Midas. I’ve read other authors like Gregory Maguire (Wicked) and Madeline Miller (Circe) and I could recognize the main story (The Wizard of Oz and The Odyssey, respectively) within their novels. It was important to me to have the same recognition in my book about Midas, as readers attracted to the title will be looking for that.
I did change some things, though. The main one was Midas’ motivation. In the myth, he’s motivated strictly by greed. I couldn’t relate to that. Nor could I imagine a father as devoted to his daughter as Midas was risking it all for gold coins. So I shifted his motivation to something I felt was more relatable and greatly increased the stakes of the story: revenge.
I also played with some of the main characters, and here is where the real history helped me a lot. I needed a rival for Midas, and history gave it to me. According to the records that survived that time, King Sargon II—who ruled Assyria—found King Midas to be a pain in his behind. He often had to face him in battles and didn’t like that he was trying to squelch his expansion plans.
My research on King Sargon II helped me form his character in the story, and he turned out to be the perfect antagonist. He added a lot more drama and action to the story, which was just what the myth needed.
History Can Supply the Time and Setting
The other thing that I pulled from the history of King Midas was the time and setting. Whereas the myth is set in a general time in the past, the real King Midas’ life spanned a limited number of years in a very specific time. This helped create guardrails for my novel in terms of how people lived then and what sort of tools they had.
I was also delighted to discover that archaeologists were in the process of excavating the city of Gordion as I was writing! This is the capital city from where King Midas ruled. It was an amazing coincidence, and I’ve stayed as true as I could to the location of the city at that time.
The geography and the climate were already decided for me—I didn’t have to make them up. It also made creating the map that sits at the front of the book a lot easier!
A Basis for a Series
The last thing history gave me was a way to carry on with the story past the original myth. I didn’t expect that Midas would spawn a series, initially. Book one has a satisfying ending, but it does leave some questions unanswered, particularly concerning a couple of key characters. When my beta readers started asking me if there was going to be a sequel, I knew I had more in this world to explore.
I’ve returned to what really happened during that time as the basis for the second book. It’s presented some challenges for me, in terms of how it has to end. But I like a challenge and have enjoyed tackling a type of story I might not have tried otherwise. And I think it will naturally lead into the third and final book, though what will happen then I don’t know yet!
Might You Like to Combine Myth with History?
If you’re considering this type of approach to a story, here are some advantages I’ve found:
- The myth and the history together will present a ready-made plot, or at least the foundation of it. That can give you a jumpstart on plotting, making it a little easier.
- The history can give you time and place—making the setting simpler to create. (The research is fun too.)
- The myth can provide fun fantasy elements to include. (I used the gods and their magic to plant the story firmly in fantasy territory.)
Overall, this was a fun story to write. As a writing exercise, you may want to try combining one of your favorite myths or fairy tales with a certain time in history, just to see what you might come up with.
Note: To get a glimpse of Colleen’s new book, The Curse of King Midas, click here!
Colleen M. Story is a novelist, freelance writer, writing coach, and speaker with over 20 years in the creative writing industry. In addition to writing several award-winning novels, Colleen’s series of popular success guides, Your Writing Matters, Writer Get Noticed! and Overwhelmed Writer Rescue, have all been recognized for their distinction.
Colleen offers personalized coaching plans tailored to meet your needs, and frequently serves as a workshop leader and motivational speaker, where she helps attendees remove mental and emotional blocks and tap into their unique creative powers. Find out more about our RWC team here and connect with Colleen below. Free chapters | Writing and Wellness
Noelle A. Granger says
Learn something new every day, Colleen. Thanks for the post! I am finishing a historical novella that tries to dispel a myth!
V.M. Sang says
I’m currently exploring fairy tales and relocating them. I’ve completed two. Goldilocks and the Three Bears, in Victorian England, and Snow White in modern times. I’m partway through Beauty and the Beast in the 1950s.
I love the idea of using Greek myths. Your series about King Midas sounds great.
Colleen says
Wow, three already! That’s obviously a combination that’s working for you. Sounds fun! Thank you. :O)
K.M. Carroll says
Oooh, this was fascinating! I am heavily tempted to grab your book now, just to see how you handled it. I did something kind of similar with my book Blade and Staff For Hire, where a Mongolian-inspired warrior comes hiking into fantasy Medieval Spain in search of a wife he saw in a vision, and winds up helping Ferdinand get elected king. (Did you know Ferdinand of Spain had to win an election?? Reading about it was a hoot!) I had so much fun with it, and I can’t wait to play with that time period some more and see what other fantastic elements I can draw out of it.
Colleen says
That sounds like a lot of fun, K.M.! I’m wondering where you got the idea for that one? “Fun” is the word when it comes to fleshing those types of stories out. I sure have enjoyed it. Thanks for reading!
Raymond Walker says
Looks and sounds good. I may well order it. Lol- I remember finding out that Theseus, he of the labyrinth, married an amazon etc. was a real person not a myth. Greek mythos is always combined with humanity and reality I found over the years. Best of luck with the book. It sounds wonderful.
Colleen says
Oh very interesting, Raymond! Yes it does seem that is the way they created those myths. Thank you!
ANGELA ACKERMAN says
I love how stories come about. To me, this is such a fascinating window into the imagination. Blending fantasy and reality is also, to me, like getting the best of both worlds. You get the authenticity by adding elements of the real world and real story players, but you also get to pick and choose what elements to use and can be as imaginative as you like for the rest. 🙂
Colleen says
Yes! It is like that, Angela. As a die-hard pantser, having the real history to pull from helped the story flow a little more easily. I finished the initial draft for both the first and second books faster than usual. Which of course for me, means “a little less slowly!”
BECCA PUGLISI says
I love that a simple question from a friend led to multiple books and a whole new path for you. Good for you, for not dismissing it outright. We do too much of that as writers: It’s not my genre/process/passion.
Colleen says
Oh good point, Becca. I might have done that too, but the timing was perfect–I was ready to embark on my next book. Plus the friend is a fellow creative–a music composer whom I respect. Somehow it all came together to make the idea seem intriguing to me. I’m really glad now!
Judy Kentrus says
What a great, thought-provoking article. Adding a “myth” to your historical storyline has given me a little more “food” for the plot of my next historical, romantic suspense. Thanks so much.
Colleen says
Oh that sounds intriguing, Judy! :O)