The Match Game: Finding the Right Editor

Setting out to find the right editor for your manuscript puts you on the road to feeling confident you’ve got a good match. To help in your search for find the right editor, get ready for a checklist of questions that a potential editor could ask you.

Writing Online Articles is a Feather in Your Cap in Becoming a Professional Writer

Some professional writers and authors will tell online article writers that these articles are substandard and will not help them break into the print world or help them develop a solid resume as a writer. As an online article author of some 11,000 articles I take exception with this theory and believe it to be incorrect.

188 Stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth): Final Conflict: Developing The Antagonism

Post the Crossing of the Return Threshold and before the Master of Two Worlds and Selves, a hell of a lot happens that is rarely given mention. The Final Conflict (a metaphor for this stage) follows a distinct process. One aspect of this process is the buildup of the antagonism's threat. In Straw Dogs (1971), the Major arrives (a mentor and supernatural aid) and is quickly defeated by the Demon King (Tom) [the Major confronts Tom; Tom shoots the Major].

188 Stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth): Every Hero Passes Through Unbearbale Antagonism

Every hero undergoes an unbearable antagonism. This is a force that pushes the hero to draw out inner strength and persuades the hero to finally vanquish the antagonism. Even antiheroes experience this. In Scarface (1983), Tony refuses to kill children.

188 Stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth): Magical Spells

This is a metaphor for an expansion of consciousness or competencies that the hero will require on his longer journey. Often, it involves training. In The Matrix (1999), Neo learns martial arts through the simulator. In Spartacus (1983), Spartacus learns to battle as a gladiator. In Gladiator (2000), Maximus learns to be a gladiator.

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

A preliminary stage of the Road of Trials is the Period of Indecision. The crux is that this is a period where the hero's old self dissolves away and the hero in as yet uncertain whether this is the correct path for him. Often, it is the elixir or some reward further down the line that motivates him. In The Godfather (1972), it is the sword that motivates Michael (his bride, the meeting of Appollonia).

188 Stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth): Bull in a China Shop

The hero is a bull in a china shop during the preliminary stages of the Road of Trials. Wherever he is, his old self has not dissolved away and he is unaccustomed to the ways of this new world, which require the realisation of his much newer self.

188 Stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth): Significance of the Sword

Once attained, the hero experiences a number of things. First, the Joy of Infancy Regained. Second, an enlightenment (expansion of consciousness) often demonstrated by new knowledge etc. Third the bride (conquest of the romantic challenge). Fourth, a new capability (demonstrating the New Self).

188 Stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth): Boon

The ultimate boon is simply the prize that comes with the conquest of the inner challenge. It is the tangible symbol of the conquest of the inner challenge.

188 Stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth)- Hero's Journey- Push to the First Threshold

the hero and the deceased, confront him with it. The good cop realises the link is spurious while bad cop promises to pursue it until it leads to the hero's jailing. This motivates the hero to solve the crime. In The Maltese Falcon (1939), Tom and Dundy visit Spade.

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

The detective hero is pulled into a meeting with the femme fatale. It is made explicit that the femme fatale has been spinning a deceit and that the hero was aware of it. The femme fatale uses love and emotion as a manipulation tool. The detective hero is aware of this tool and is also an expert; he may play along, if only to slowly expose the femme fatale. In The Maltese Falcon (1939), Sam visits O'Shaugnessey.

188 Stage Hero's Journey - Monomyth - The Hero Is A Natural

A Natural. The Hero tackles obstacles with ease, encounters no delaying obstacles and makes no mistake. The hero finds an inner resolve.

188 Stage Hero's Journey - Monomyth - Context

This is another word for context. Successful stories start strong by communicating context and salient information from the get-go.