188+ stages of the Hero's Journey (Monomyth) - Romantic Challenge Polarization

Impressed but no more. At this stage, the Romantic Challenge is slightly less polarized from, but not committed to, the Hero. She is simply impressed that the Hero has chosen to embark on the Journey and the Transformation but he will not conquer her until he has progressed further. In The King of Comedy (1983), Rita is impressed that Pupkin has met Jerry.

188 Stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth) - Dharma and Destiny

It is worth making explicit that the Hero has a Dharma, that is, he (or she) has a destiny that he (or she) must follow.

Interview with Author David Keck, Part Two

I interviewed David Keck, author of In the Eye of Heaven. He gives wonderful advice on writing and a look at the publishing process. This is part 2 of 3, addressing his book.

Interview with Author David Keck, Part One

I interviewed David Keck, author of In the Eye of Heaven. He gives wonderful advice on writing and a look at the publishing process. This is part 1 of 3, addressing the writing process.

Casanova's Memoirs

The characters we create aren't necessarily likable, but they do have traits in common with Casanova.

188 Stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth) Hero's Journey - Refusal

The detective hero refuses to give the treasure up easily. In The Maltese Falcon (1939), Sam goes to the meeting without the Falcon.

188 Stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth)- Hero's Journey- Link To The Deceased

The detective hero will somehow be linked to the deceased, making him a potential suspect. It is not uncommon for the hero to be having an affair with the deceased's wife, for example. In The Maltese Falcon (1939), Spade is having an affair with Miles' wife.

188 Stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth)- Hero's Journey- Ordinary World

The detective hero is often found (lives in) his office where he survives on a diet of whiskey and cigarettes. His office is functional, a metaphor for his character (functional and cynical). He prefers this to his home environment, which is often desolate, the result of having nobody to go home to (he easily attracts women but his vast experience has led him to be cynical of them, hence relationships are short term; he has never had children). In The Maltese Falcon (1939), Spade is often found in his office.

Write Your Novel Step By Step (Part 6)

In writing my novel I learned a lot of things the hard way so I just wanted to put this series out there for would be writers to help them on their path to writing their own book.

188 Stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth): Outer Cave Events

The Outer Cave of the First Threshold is often a place where the Heroes, having established themselves as Fishes out of Water, begin their Changing. By the time they leave the First Threshold, they will be less Devolved. In Brokeback Mountain (2005), Jack and Ennis begin chopping wood, sawing, collecting water etc.

Writing - Use Obituaries for Developing Your Characters

Obituaries can be an endless source of inspiration and ideas for developing new fiction characters or putting a polish on the already developed ones. Besides, I always find it interesting to read the life stories of people I've never met; people who have led interesting lives and did their own thing.

Writers Block - Writer's Resources to End Writer's Block

Remember, every writer experiences some form of writers block from time to time but you do not have to make a mountain out of a molehill. Working out an effective strategy to circumvent writers block when it strikes is one of the most important skills a real writer can develop.

188 Stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth): First Threshold Magical Spells

The hero enters the first threshold a fish out of water. When he leaves it he is less a fish out of water. In between, he matures on some level. Often he learns new competencies and capabilities (magical spells) and demonstrates them at the exit of the first threshold, to show that he is no longer a fish out of water. In Spartacus (1960), Spartacus learns the gladatorial arts and demonstrates them in the battle for the senator. In The Godfather (1960), Michael sits in with Sonny and Tom, learns the going on in the Don's office, learns how to use a gun, kill a man and cook from Clemenza.

188 Stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth): Ordinary World and Self

We must meet the hero somewhere and it is often (if not always) in his ordinary world. Hero we learn about the hero, his place in the world, his status, special capabilities and so forth. The hero is often frustrated on some level (willing hero) or not (unwilling hero); the imbalance will force him out of his idyllic ordinary world (Lord of the Rings) or his inner challenges require that he is frustrated and must do something about it (Midnight Cowboy, 1968). The Hero's Ordinary World is representative of his psychology. If he is happy, so is his world (Lord of the Rings); if he is repressed, so is his world (Midnight Cowboy, 1969).

188 Stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth): Balance Lost

In every story, balance must be lost. Whether it is the antagonism stealing away the princess or the hero's inner challenge being expressed, there is imbalance that is initiated (and must ultimately be rectified). This is a very early, if not the first stage of the hero's journey and most often represents the Greater....