TECH: Yet Another Writing Structure (YAWS!) aka The Writer's Journey

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

Original Posting: Jan. 30, 1995

The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Storytellers and Screenwriters by Christopher Vogler (ISBN 0-941188-13-2) 1992

paperback $22.95 (try The Write Stuff Catalog--$20.20! phone 1-800-989-8833 for details)

Chris Vogler has abstracted and organized an approach to storytelling based on Joseph Campbell's "The Hero with A Thousand Faces." Here is the worksheet he includes as Appendix 3 of his book:

The Hero's Journey

1. Ordinary World
2. Call to Adventure
3. Refusal of the Call
4. Mentor
5. First Threshold
6. Tests, Allies, Enemies
7. Approach to the Inmost Cave
8. Supreme Ordeal
9. Reward (Seizing the Sword)
10. The Road Back
11. Resurrection
12. Return with the Elixir

Archetypes

1. Hero
2. Mentor
3. Shapeshifter
4. Trickster
5. Herald
6. Allies
7. Shadow
8. Threshold Guardians

Another version of the steps is given in the first chapter of the book titled "A Practical Guide." (p. 13 to 31--the core of the book)

1. Heroes are introduced in the ORDINARY WORLD, where
2. they receive the CALL TO ADVENTURE.
3. They are reluctant at first or REFUSE THE CALL, but
4. are encouraged by their MENTOR to
5. CROSS THE FIRST THRESHOLD and enter the Special World.
6. Here they encounter TESTS, ALLIES, AND ENEMIES.
7. They APPROACH THE INMOST CAVE, crossing a second threshold
8. where they endure the SUPREME ORDEAL.
9. They take possession of the REWARD (Seizing the Sword)
10. and are pursued on THE ROAD BACK to the Ordinary World.
11. They cross the third threshold, experience a RESURRECTION, and are transformed.
12. They then RETURN WITH THE ELIXIR, a boon or treasure to benefit the Ordinary World.

Frankly, I'm still reading the book, but thought it was interesting enough to summarize at this point. One of the critical parts of the book is that even though he has this skeletal plot and set of characters, he also provides discussion and consideration of alternative ways of dealing with each step and archetype.

I'm also planning on using it for critiques, and thought it only fair to mention which background theory I'll be referring to.

Keep Writing!