Fairy Tales
The Original Snow White Story: What the Brothers Grimm Really Wrote
The original Snow White story by the Brothers Grimm had a cannibal queen, three murder attempts and red-hot iron shoes. Here is the full tale, explained.
Welcome to Lovcover
The stories behind the stories.
Lovcover is for people who love what's between the covers. We dig into the original versions of fairy tales, retell the great legends of world folklore, from Japan to Punjab, and share practical guides to help you write stories of your own.
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World Folklore
Heer Ranjha: The Complete Story of Punjab's Greatest Love Legend
The full story of Heer Ranjha, Waris Shah's 1766 Punjabi epic of love, flute music, a jogi's disguise and tragic poison. Characters, history and meaning explained.
Writing Craft
Show, Don't Tell: What It Means, with 15 Before-and-After Examples
Show, don't tell explained clearly, with 15 before-and-after examples for emotions, characters and settings, plus when telling is actually better.
The original versions, hidden history and real meanings of the world's best-loved fairy tales, from the Brothers Grimm to Hans Christian Andersen.
Fairy Tales
The Original Snow White Story: What the Brothers Grimm Really Wrote
The original Snow White story by the Brothers Grimm had a cannibal queen, three murder attempts and red-hot iron shoes. Here is the full tale, explained.
Fairy Tales
The Original Cinderella Story: Grimm, Perrault and the 1,000-Year-Old Versions
The original Cinderella story is older than glass slippers. Compare the Grimm, Perrault, Basile and ancient Chinese versions, including the bloody ending.
Fairy Tales
Little Red Riding Hood Original Story: The Dark Version Before the Huntsman
In the original Little Red Riding Hood, the wolf wins. Read how Perrault, the Grimms and an older oral tale told the story, and what the moral really means.
Fairy Tales
The Little Mermaid Original Ending: What Hans Christian Andersen Wrote
In Andersen's original Little Mermaid, she does not marry the prince. Discover the true ending, the knife, the "daughters of the air" and what it means.
Fairy Tales
Hansel and Gretel: Original Story, Meaning and Dark History
Hansel and Gretel was first a story about famine and a mother who abandons her children. Learn the original Grimm plot, its history and its hidden meaning.
Fairy Tales
Sleeping Beauty Original Story: From "Sun, Moon, and Talia" to the Grimms
The original Sleeping Beauty story is far darker than the Disney film. Compare Basile's "Sun, Moon, and Talia," Perrault's ogress and the Grimms' Briar Rose.
Myths, legends and folktales from Japan, the Arab world, South Asia, West Africa, China and the Celtic lands, told clearly and respectfully.
World Folklore
Heer Ranjha: The Complete Story of Punjab's Greatest Love Legend
The full story of Heer Ranjha, Waris Shah's 1766 Punjabi epic of love, flute music, a jogi's disguise and tragic poison. Characters, history and meaning explained.
World Folklore
12 Famous Japanese Folktales Everyone Should Know
From Momotaro the Peach Boy to Urashima Taro and Princess Kaguya, discover 12 famous Japanese folktales, their stories, morals and cultural meaning.
World Folklore
The Legend of Lake Saiful Muluk: The Prince, the Fairy Princess and the Demon
The legend of Lake Saiful Muluk in Kaghan Valley tells of Prince Saif-ul-Malook, fairy princess Badi-ul-Jamal and a jealous demon. Full story, poem and visitor tips.
World Folklore
One Thousand and One Nights Explained: Scheherazade, Origins and Famous Stories
What is One Thousand and One Nights? Learn the Scheherazade frame story, its Persian, Indian and Arabic origins, the most famous tales and the Aladdin mystery.
World Folklore
Sohni Mahiwal: The Tragic Love Story of the Chenab River
The full story of Sohni Mahiwal, the potter's daughter who crossed the Chenab every night on a clay pot. History, versions, Sufi meaning and where it happened.
World Folklore
The Original Aladdin Story: China, Two Genies and a Mystery from Aleppo
The original Aladdin story is set in China, has two genies and first appeared in French, told by a Syrian storyteller. Here is the full tale and its true history.
Practical, example-packed guides to writing stories readers can't put down: structure, character, dialogue, point of view and more.
Writing Craft
Show, Don't Tell: What It Means, with 15 Before-and-After Examples
Show, don't tell explained clearly, with 15 before-and-after examples for emotions, characters and settings, plus when telling is actually better.
Writing Craft
How to Start Writing a Book: A Beginner's Step-by-Step Guide
A practical beginner's guide on how to start writing a book: find your idea, choose plotter or pantser, set a writing routine, write a messy first draft and finish.
Writing Craft
How to Write Dialogue: 12 Rules, Formatting Tips and Examples
Learn how to write dialogue that sounds natural and moves your story forward: formatting rules, dialogue tags, subtext, voice and common mistakes, with examples.
Writing Craft
The Three-Act Structure Explained: A Simple Guide with Examples
The three-act structure explained simply: setup, confrontation and resolution, key plot points, percentages, examples from Cinderella and how to use it in your story.
Writing Craft
The Hero's Journey: All 12 Stages Explained with Examples
The hero's journey explained: Joseph Campbell's monomyth, Christopher Vogler's 12 stages with examples from myths, fairy tales and films, and how to use it.
Writing Craft
How to Overcome Writer's Block: 15 Strategies That Actually Work
Stuck? Here are 15 practical strategies to overcome writer's block, based on its real causes: fear, perfectionism, burnout, unclear plot and lack of routine.
Reading lists and reading habits for people who love what's between the covers.
Books & Reading
15 Best Fairy Tale Retellings for Adults and Young Adults
The 15 best fairy tale retellings, from Uprooted and Spinning Silver to The Bloody Chamber and Ella Enchanted, with which fairy tale each one retells.
Books & Reading
How to Read More Books: 15 Simple Habits That Really Work
Want to read more books? These 15 simple, realistic habits help you build a reading routine, beat phone distraction, finish more books and enjoy reading again.