By Debbie Reeves
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Since this is a special day for sweethearts, I thought I’d share another writing technique with you that I happily stumbled upon on Deborah Hale’s Website.
A special writing technique called, The Hero’s Journey, created by Joseph Campbell and Christopher Vogler. You can find more information by searching on the Internet “Hero’s Journey.”
Deborah Hale has adapted the technique to romance writing, although the technique can be used in any genre. You’ll find on her Website three great romance movies, Runaway Bride, Return to Me, and While You Were Sleeping using this technique to map out the various elements.
Her elements, or journey steps, are:
1. The Ordinary World
2. The Call to Adventure
3. The Refusal of The Call
4. Meeting With The Mentor
5. Crossing the First Threshold
6. Test, Enemies and Allies
7. Approach to the Inmost Cave
8. The Supreme Ordeal
9. Seizing the Sword
10. The Road Back
11. Resurrection
12. Return with The Elixir
By using this technique, you can map out your story. I used the worksheet from Deborah’s Website to map out my book, Under a Lakota Moon. It was very interesting.
I hope you all will go check this great writing technique out. Because of the demand to learn this technique, lessons plans have been created so teachers can teach it all around the world.
Here are the two books on the subject:
The Writer’s Journey By Joseph Campbell
The Hero With a Thousand Faces By Christopher Vogler
P.S. Sorry, I posted a bit too early for the post to be on Feb 14th, but it is for the 14th. LOL~
I plowed through the Joseph Campbell book because George Lucas used it for the wildly popular Star Wars series. By the time I read the book, I felt like I could write a book that would be well received. His advice is crucial to anyone who wants to make serious inroads to highly popular series. I'm reminded of the Tennis Shoes Among the Nephi series I have read and then complimentary re read. Thanks for reminding me of Joseph Campbell and how he inspired me.
ReplyDeleteYou post such good stuff, Debbie. I learn so much for you. Too late for current book, but I do believe I'll use the roadmap for my next.
ReplyDeleteYou almost have me convinced to try writing fiction! thanks for the great information...I think I will do some more reading on the subject.
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