Self-Esteem Boost and the 17 Stages (Pt. 1)

So I'm doing a little fist pump in my little neck of the woods because I just got some news from a couple contests my teacher put my work in. The story got best of my level in one and first in state in another. Now I'm convinced that I'm not completely wasting my time! Oh, and my birthday just passed. Think I'm going through an early mid-life crisis...

Onto what I said I would do almost two months ago. Joseph Campbell wrote this incredibly brilliant layout of how our favorite hero stories go. It's called "The 17 Stages of the Monomyth" or "The Hero's Journey." And no matter how much you're against step-by-step plot diagrams that seem like taking the easy way out, you'll see that many novels follow this process, whether the author of them realizes this or not.

Today, I'll explain the first of three sections The Hero's Journey is split into. So, without further ado, let's get started.

Departure

1. The Call to Adventure - This is where the hero is first introduced. He/she is living their normal life (they aren't exactly a hero yet) when something extraordinary happens that changes their life. 
2. Refusal of the Call - The hero is reluctant to believe that the extraordinary thing is for real or just doesn't want to take action.
3. Supernatural Aid - The hero is given a weapon of some sort to help him/her on their journey by a mentor. The mentor is, in Campbell's words, "often a little old crone or old man."
4. The Crossing of the First Threshold - At this point, the hero passes through the gate and into the unknown. Most of the time, they mean this literally.
5. Belly of the Whale - Now the hero realizes that they are forever in the unknown. They are "in a sphere of rebirth."

These few steps should sound extremely familiar to how most books and movies begin. I can think of about 5 previews I've heard today that include the first ones.

Well, I'm too lazy so I'll leave off here today, but I promise to post the rest soon or you can just Bing it or whatever you kids do these days (My gosh I'm so old!).

Write on!
~Dusky

I am NOT a Computer Whiz

Lately I've been noticing that I have an extremely limited knowledge (<--this being generous) of web design and things of the sort. I thought I was doing good just setting up the template pattern for this blog! I admit it isn't all that grand or original, but I'll be darned if it doesn't work  for now!

Back to my point, I'm either going to have add a thorough Wikipedia research/translation expedition to my growing "To Do" list or find someone who's more capable with this sort of thing.... I see many headdesks in my future. If anyone has any info they'd like to share, I'd be eternally grateful.

Despite my downfalls in the technology field, I am so excited to finally be writing again! Sadly, I'm having to take a break from my current WIP to work on my English project. The project is surprisingly fun, though. After learning the aspects of Joseph Campbell's "17 Stages of the Monomyth" theory (more to come on this in the next post), everyone in my class is creating their own short story based on his outline of a hero's journey. It works surprisingly well! Mine is about a murder and...er, I'll tell you when I get past the first few plotholes (due Monday!). This is one of my first shots at realistic fiction, so wish me luck!

Anywho, happy Friday everyone, and lay off the Girl Scout cookies!

Writing on,
~Dusky

Hiatus Status: Nearing the End

Thank you, thank you. Hold the applause, please, you're embarrassing me!

So I realize I've been away for a couple of months, but now I'm back from my dark cave/sanctuary where I retreated after realizing that I had a huge, Superman-approved case of mental breakdown. And after that lovely vacation of nonstop anime marathons (mainly Hetalia), I am pleased to announce my return to the literary world!

With some new tips, of course!

In the spirit of my rebirth and the survival of Single's Awareness Day, here are some things that will help you find your muse if you are currently lost:

• All right. Sit down and go to your happy place (It sounds cheesy now, but you'll see).
• Now think about that little something, or somethings, that inspires you to write. This could be anything. It may be something physical like a loved one or an object, or maybe it's just some feeling inside you that keeps you writing away aimlessly every day.
• Whatever it is, write down exactly what it is that comes to mind and how you feel when you are thinking about it.
• Keep this little bit of information close to you at all times when you are writing. It will remind you what all this work is for and perhaps inspire that oh-so-crucial plot twist!

Sorry if this begins to make your skin crawl with all this touchy-feely stuff, but don't knock it till you try it, eh?

Oh, and just to let you know, I am now officially a member of Fan Fiction! My username is Bex.of.Sealand if you're actually interested, though I currently have nothing worth mentioning posted there yet.

Bye for now,
~Dusky