THE Group for Authors! discussion

Hey guys!

Who is familiar with James Campbell's Monomyth? Stories built around it make for amazing books/movies and readers/audiences really see themselves in the characters... has anyone attempted to write with that in mind?

HaHA - I just finished The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Campbell and I then read The Soul's Code. Both in prep/research for my WIP. I read The Death of Ivan Ilyich (authentic life theme) and The Fall by Camus and The Rime of the Ancient Mariner -- these are all related themes about choice, and authenticity. Tolstoy is great for this and I read Anna Karenina as the inspiration for my published novel The Sleeping Serpent. I am writing again with this in mind now. Theme of affliction and redemption - contemporary story (not fantasy or speculative) but yes, a spiritual journey.

oh, and it is Joseph Campbell not James...

Hi Luna!

Yes, it is Joseph. Sorry, was thinking of my new character when I was typing and my fingers have a life of their own at times!! Hehe decided on Justin instead ;)

So you like the Hero's Journey arc? How do you find writing with that 'journey' in mind?

I've used it (and related film script writing theory, which is based upon it) and swear by it. I'd actually go further and say that you can't write a story that doesn't follow it.

Anything particular you want to ask?

I think the arc is essential. In epics like Lord of the Rings and Star Wars, which are classic hero journeys - it is what makes for these timeless mythic stories. There are some powerful stories that do not have that specific arc. For example one that I just read comes to mind. A Little Life, by Hanya Yanagihara. In Anna Karenina, which inspired my novel, The Sleeping Serpent, there wasn't a redemption in the classic sense- no hero's journey of returning home changed, or enlightened. Anna's death was a culmination of events that were more of a reckoning. Whereas in the Goldfinch there was classic redemption. I still like the basis for the arc and allow it to be flexible.

Luna wrote: "There are some powerful stories that do not have that specific arc..."

I would very much argue that every story does, even those. But to make the point, I'd have to have read one of your examples.

David wrote: "Luna wrote: "There are some powerful stories that do not have that specific arc..."

I would very much argue that every story does, even those. But to make the point, I'd have to have read one of y..."

David, I do agree with you! I am just saying it is not always so obvious as the Star Wars and Lord of the Rings mythic epics! So not every tale is a "hero's journey" coming to enlightenment -- some end in death! Those epics wouldn't be the same without the transformation of Frodo (and Bilboa's journey as well) and that of Luke and the redemption of Darth Vadar/Anaken Skywalker --- Anna ends up throwing herself under a train (spoiler alert but everyone knows that).

The example I use is the epic quest adventure of Pride and Prejudice'.

A train! (Drops to knees.)NNOooooooooo!!!

Haha! I adore P&P -- An HEA never-the-less. Jane Eyre... a bit darker and Rebecca darker still. All three are top of my list!

Luna wrote: "HaHA - I just finished The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Campbell and I then read The Soul's Code. Both in prep/research for my WIP. I read The Death of Ivan Ilyich (authentic life theme) and The F..."

Thx! I added to my TBR list. My daughter and I will read it together since she's writing fantasy/sci-if now.