Fish Out of Water

BITB welcomes Elisabeth Rose, our lovely guest blogger!

Photo credit: Elisabeth Rose

 

 

One of the things that always makes me laugh in movies is someone inadvertently wandering on stage during a dance routine who doesn't know the steps but tries valiantly to keep up and fit in. That's probably why the fish out of water trope appeals to me in a story, it lends itself so well to comedy.

I couldn't find a sample of exactly what I wanted, but here's the fabulous Cyd Charisse in Meet Me in Las Vegas. The relevant part starts at about 1.30 if you don't want to watch the whole scene:

 

Video clip credit: https://www.youtube.com

 

Of course Cyd Charisse is a wonderful dancer, but you get the idea.

In this trope we put our character in a situation where everyone else knows the routine and after a bit of a struggle to fit in, hidden strengths and talents can emerge. It's tailor- made for a heroine to grow which is another reason I like it. Often it's a city to country shift, but remember The Beverley Hillbillies? A whole shoal of fish out of water there!

In my book Trouble in Nirvana Primrose retreats from her stressful city life to find inner peace on her estranged brother's commune, in the beautiful Araluen Valley area of NSW. Contrary to her expectations, Nirvana doesn't embody its name and the inhabitants are more screwed up than she is. Undaunted, Primrose sets about fixing what she sees as the problems, but of course her arrival causes all sorts of trouble for everyone. Tom, the handsome farmer next door is a man she is desperate to impress but unfortunately he finds her attempts at embracing rural life highly amusing.

I laughed most of the way through this story and was able to use a pile of anecdotes and characters from my own childhood growing up on a farm.

Photo credit: Elisabeth Rose

Trouble in Nirvana is available in ebook or paperback through the Wild Rose Press here or through Amazon here.

Tell me, what's your favourite fish out of water story?

Elisabeth Rose

I love to love:

Music! I'm in a community orchestra and loving it after many years away from orchestral playing.

I love to laugh:

...that's it!

I love to learn:

...as much as I can about everything.