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

The detective hero reveals that, in order to protect his own soul, the female client must pay the price for her crime. In The Maltese Falcon (1939), Sam reveals his reasons to O'Shaugnessey.

188 Stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth) Hero's Journey - Back to the Good Side

The detective hero relays his knowledge to the good cop, showing us whose side he's really on. In The Maltese Falcon (1939), Sam calls the cops in the presence of O'Shaugnessey.

188 Stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth) Hero's Journey - Magic Flight

The detective hero is pulled toward the final confrontation. In The Maltese Falcon (1939), Sam receives the phone call.

188 Stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth)- Femme Fatale

One day a very attractive, moneyed female client walks into the detective hero's office. She is every man's dream and knows it; she leaves all competitors in her wake, including the secretary, who may (later on in the story) ask the hero whether he will marry her. She and the secretary may bond or not. In The Maltese Falcon (1939), Precious tells Sam she's a knockout.

Write Your Novel Step By Step (Part 4)

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.

Write Your Novel Step By Step (Part 1)

In writing my novel I learnt 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.

Intelligence vs. The Writer

This article inspires one to have confidence in their ability to write. Writing is not determined by one's level of intelligence.

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): Conscious Decision Required

Post the meeting with the supernatural aid, the hero still isn't very sure about following the call to adventure. Something is needed to push him into it and give him a little determination. A death will do it. You killed my aunt and uncle, right I'm gonna kick your head in (Star Wars, 1977).

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).

What Is A Romance Novel

A romance novel can be filled with hot and steamy scenes or gentle persuasions that cause readers to fall in love with heroes while the heroine stumbles around, blind as a bat, to all his good qualities. On the other hand, many a novel heroine waits impatiently for the hero to get it through his thick, stubborn head that she loves him.

188 Stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth): Period of Magic Spells

The Fish out of Water is a benchmark phase that occurs in, amongst other places, the First Threshold. There are two stages - The before and the after. The before-stage demonstrates the hero in his (or her) devolved state. This is where the hero is out of his (or her) depth. The after-stage demonstrates evolution. In between, a period of training or changing must be undergone (metaphorically known as the Period of Magical Spells).

188 Stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth): Book of Law

It is upon entry into the first threshold that the hero is taught the book of law. These are the rules that the hero must live by to survive in this world. In Scarface (1983), Frank tells Tony what to do to survive as a doper long term.

188 Stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth): Major and Minor Threshold Guardians

Major and Minor Threshold Guardians

Have You Got a Book In You?

You'd be amazed at the number of people who want to be writers. Are you one of them? What's holding you back? Come with me to learn how to make the book in you a reality!