Tag Archives: 12 steps

If Only I Had…

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If only I had a pen with good smooth movement, I would write my novel faster.

If only I had a fancy notebook, I would create more novel ideas and scenes.

If only I have a one of those tiny laptops, I would carry it in my bag and work on my novel when ever the mood struck me.

If only I had a writing area, a creative space all my own , I would be inspired and the novel would just flow out with ease.

If only I had enough money to get rid of my day job, I would work on my novel non-stop and finish it at last.

If only I won the lottery…

Until then… I have a hotel pen, a half used notebook my kids didn’t need, a laptop that crashes, a kitchen table with sticky spots and a few minutes to write after the work day is done and the kids are in bed.

“If I only I had…”

But the truth is I already have everything I need, including the relentless drive to write.

Maybe tomorrow I’ll buy a lottery ticket…just for good measure.

Spousal Abuse

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Carolyn See wrote a book on writing called, “Making the literary life”.

Chapter one…”Keep it to yourself”. She goes on to explain, as much as your friends and family love you, they really don’t want to hear all about the great American novel you intend to write, the plot of this book, the fascinating characters you have created and the torments of being a writer.

I would just like to say, “Where were you 10 years ago Ms. See, when I had the great idea to write a novel?”  It’s too late now!

I have been torturing my friends, family and especially my poor spouse for years and years now. I have drug my family through the tortures of 5 incomplete novel, several unenthusiastic attempts at article writing and countless attempts at writing different genres that crashed and burned in the early stages.

I can see the wear and tear on all the people that are exposed to my writing dreams day in and day out.  When I swear this is the year, I get a smile, a pat on the shoulders and a, “Yes, I bet you will finish this year for sure.”  But behind the weak smile I see it, the thought of, “Yes good gracious finish a novel already, because I can’t take another year of talking about a book I’ll never get to read and hearing all about the lives of made up characters that have nothing to do with me.

So yes Ms. See, your book is  a little late to the party, where were you when I had this hair brain scheme to be a writer..hmmm?

12 Steps to a Hero’s Journey

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12 Steps of a Hero’s Journey – A basic formula for movies and novels, created by Joseph Campbell.

I re-worded it for my fun and enjoyment.

1. Our poor unsuspecting character is living his life, minding his own business, unaware that a writer is about to put him through some really awful crap.

2. This is where the fun begins, our poor unsuspecting character gets forced out of his boring little life and thrown out on to the street. (metaphorically speaking)

3. But our poor guy likes his life and he puts up fight to keep everything as it was.  Even if his life sucks, it’s still his life and he doesn’t like being messed with.

4. He meets someone smarter than him that convinces him that this new adventure is better than his boring crappy life.

5. Character now either agrees or gets shoved into the adventure anyway, because it’s going to happen whether he likes it or not. After all, no ones wants to read an entire novel about a guy who sits around and does nothing.

6. Things start to happen now and the character gets drug through the mud, getting hit with challenges left and right. He is getting beaten up but he starts to feel like he knows what he is doing. The character now see the “big test” in front of him and he prepares for it.

7. Character finds people to help him, as everyone needs a little help.

8. Now that we are about half way through the story, our character must face his greatest challenge. (Ha, like he will get off that easy.)

9. The character and his allies win the big battle!  (Yippee, let’s celebrate.)

10. Now he feels he has his happily ever after and he starts to head home.  (Not so fast my naïve character, you’re not getting off that easy.)

11. But just when he thinks he has won, he is hit the face with the real battle, facing his greatest fear.  He must face it and he will because the writer is going to make him.  This is where our character is truly changed as a person and will never be the same.

12. The hero has now survived all the horrible catastrophes that the writer could think of and heads home to bask in the glow of his “Happily Ever After”.

The End.