Monday, May 23, 2011

The Hero - er - WRITER's Journey


I assume you are all aware of Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey? It's the foundation on which much fantasy is built. Think LORD OF THE RINGS. Well it occurs to me that our own journey is much like that of the heroes in our books. Now if you research this, you will see deviations in the steps involved, and it's widely accepted that each journey is going to be slightly different - not all the steps will be used. So I've taken the liberty of exploring how this archetype might apply to us as writers...

  1. CALL TO ADVENTURE: The writer lives in the ordinary world, but something is missing. Then one day she is challenged to write a story. Who sends out the call? Perhaps the story itself. The MC whispers to her subconscious and won't let her go..
  2. MAGICAL HELPER/GUIDE: Once committed to the quest - um, I mean book - the writer is going to need guidance. So she turns to the magical and wise mentors from places such as SCBWI, or other conferences, or even the Blogosphere.
  3. THE FIRST THRESHOLD: No turning back. The writer crosses into the magical world opened by releasing those words to paper (or computer). Suddenly she's not in Kansas anymore, but why would she ever go back?
  4. TESTS AND TASKS: Typically they come in threes. Perhaps this refers to the writer facing critique partners, agents, and publishers. Battling her way through revision and rejection.
  5. SUPREME ORDEAL: We, at some point, hit that low. That I'm-never-going-to-succeed-and-I-should-just-quit phase. But like the beaten and broken hero, we get up and keep going. (We're so swoon worthy)
  6. SEIZING THE SWORD: Despite everything, the writer uses her newfound powers to revise the manuscript, or start on a fresh one, and gets THE CALL.
So looking at this I have to say it's no wonder writers gravitate to this formula... What do you think?
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26 comments:

  1. SarahMay 23, 2011 at 3:32 AM

    I think this is applicable--but it's not a linear process. I think I've gone through these stages several times since I started writing--there's always another task, test, or even supreme ordeal around every corner! I've gone back and forth and around and around; sometimes I wish it was just a neat story arc instead of ... life.

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  2. PK HREZOMay 23, 2011 at 3:44 AM

    Yes! I love it! This is so very true.... and it's a great way of looking at it when we feel like it's not worth it.
    Writers unite!

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  3. Laura PaulingMay 23, 2011 at 4:18 AM

    Ha ha! That's awesome. I love it.

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  4. S.A. LarsenッMay 23, 2011 at 4:32 AM

    I agree. But in all things, there are detours and curves changing the course (in both story and our lives.) This is a very interesting way to examine our journeys as writers. I'll have to try this with motherhood, too. lol

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  5. StinaMay 23, 2011 at 6:06 AM

    Man, Lisa, did you ever nail this one. :D

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  6. Kristen WixtedMay 23, 2011 at 6:13 AM

    I see it. I spend a lot of time comparing myself to Frodo and the like. But isn't this true with a good hero from any type of (kids') story--even a good picture book? In a general sense. Like Snowflake Bentley or the guy in Rocks in His Head.

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  7. Meredith McCardle May 23, 2011 at 7:06 AM

    Ha! I love this!

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  8. Lisa Gail GreenMay 23, 2011 at 7:44 AM

    Okay, okay, I know we have twists and turns and even repeat the process sometimes - but consider each victory a complete win. The rest are part of the series! ;D

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  9. Julie MusilMay 23, 2011 at 7:47 AM

    Lisa, this is brilliant! And I'm so glad I'm on this journey with my magical helpers, you and Leslie.

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  10. MelodyMay 23, 2011 at 7:54 AM

    :D Love it!

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  11. Susan Kaye QuinnMay 23, 2011 at 8:13 AM

    I wish I could be guaranteed only ONE low! LOL. But yes, sometimes I find myself thinking, Well, if I were my MC facing this crisis, what would I do? Transformation to lunacy, complete.

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  12. Juliana L. BrandtMay 23, 2011 at 8:48 AM

    I love this and I totally agree with Sarah. I filter through these steps multiple times and at different points.

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  13. nutschellMay 23, 2011 at 9:50 AM

    I totally love this process. It's a great way to begin a new story, and also a good tool for writing synopses.
    nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

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  14. S.P. SipalMay 23, 2011 at 9:52 AM

    Love this, Lisa. Especially the memories it brings up. My own personal call to (writing) adventure came as an e-mail from my best friend. We'd talked for years about writing a book together, and never did anything about it. Then one day, out of the blue, she sent me an e-mail with the first couple of sentences of a story, and said, "Now, you write the next bit." We went back and forth like that until there was no turning back. Thanks to your post, I can now think of her as my Herald!

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  15. Lydia KangMay 23, 2011 at 10:51 AM

    Excellent metaphor! I knew I loved Frodo and the LOTR for a reason. ;)

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  16. AnonymousMay 23, 2011 at 10:56 AM

    I think you nailed it! Never thought of my own journey that way...

    -Vicki

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  17. cleemckenzieMay 23, 2011 at 11:23 AM

    It's worked for centuries. I'm all for being on the side of winners, and I'm definitely not into re-inventing the wheel.

    Glad you posted this. It's always good to be reminded of what great company we writers have.

    p.s. I awarded you a little something over at the Write Game.

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  18. HeatherMay 23, 2011 at 11:23 AM

    We're swoon worthy, I love that! LOL! And I am so seizing that sword!

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  19. Leslie S. RoseMay 23, 2011 at 5:46 PM

    I am in awe of Joseph Campbell. I teach his hero journey as a structure in my classroom, and dedicate myself to it in my own writing.

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  20. AnonymousMay 23, 2011 at 9:04 PM

    When I first considered seriously becoming a writer someone said to do that, I absolute had to read the Writer's Journey by Christopher Vogler. It's an excellent book based on The Hero's Journey by Joseph Campbell. I read it last year.

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  21. Lisa Gail GreenMay 23, 2011 at 9:27 PM

    Lighting - LOL!! So funny. I didn't even know, and here I thought I was being all original. :P That's very cool, and I should definitely pick up that book!

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  22. C AnnisonMay 23, 2011 at 10:35 PM

    As i always enjoy reading your blog i have awarded you THE IRRESISTIBLY SWEET BLOG AWARD.Stop by my blog and pick up your award.Don't forget to pass it on! Congratulations:)

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  23. Margo BerendsenMay 24, 2011 at 1:04 PM

    Does it count that you've read about so many other people's dark moments, that you can avoid your own? No? Well, shoot.

    But I guess it's worth it if I can be swoon-worthy in the end!!!

    The hero's journey was a revelation for me when I discovered it. So fun to see it used on the writer's own journey.

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  24. UnknownMay 24, 2011 at 4:43 PM

    They 'come in threes' indeed, lol. Thanks for that! Love the book btw, it's one of the best when it comes to writing speculative fiction. Though why not any fiction! :)

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  25. AnonymousMay 24, 2011 at 4:46 PM

    Love this post! Next time I start a novel, I'm going to imagine myself as a heroine starting out on a quest. :)

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  26. Angela AckermanMay 25, 2011 at 3:10 PM

    Oh I love this! I'm totally jacked up now. I'm not just a writer, I'm a freaking HERO!

    LOL


    Angela @ The Bookshelf Muse

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