Ed Griffin’s Favorite Book-The Writer’s Journey By Christopher Vogler

Okay so here is post #2 of this week’s Blog Tour.  It features Ed Griffin sharing his favorite book

My favorite book is The Writer’s Journey by Christopher Vogler

The Writer’s Journey is a very practical translation of Joseph Campbell’s work, the Hero with a Thousand Faces. Campbell studied the literature of many cultures and found common elements, which appear in the stories, movies and classic myths of every culture. Vogler is a Hollywood story consultant who claims that every good story has twelve basic steps:

Heroes are introduced in the ORDINARY WORLD, where
they receive the CALL TO ADVENTURE.
They are RELUCTANT at first or REFUSE THE CALL, but
Are encouraged by a MENTOR to
CROSS THE FIRST THRESHOLD and enter the Special World, where
they encounter TESTS, ALLIES, AND ENEMIES.
They APPROACH THE INMOST CAVE, crossing a second threshold
where they endure the ORDEAL
They take possession of their REWARD and
are pursued on THE ROAD BACK to the Ordinary World.
They cross the third threshold, experience a DEATH & RESSURECTION and are transformed by the experience.

They RETURN WITH THE ELIXIR, a boon or treasure to benefit the Ordinary World.

Vogler tells us that the steps do not have to be in that order.

This book changed the way I developed a plot. I used to have a wall full of diagrams and outlines of plots and sub-plots. Now I have these twelve steps next to my computer. Late at night when I watch a movie, I see these steps in the film.

I see these steps in my own life and parts of my life. Take for example my writing career (or lack of career). I see the ordinary world, making money in business, but my mind atrophying. Then a call to adventure and so on.

I go back to this book to study elements of storytelling. Vogler has a great section on archetypes, for example a shapeshifter or a threshold guardian.

Perhaps the greatest benefit of the book is that Vogler introduced me to Joseph Campbell himself. Campbell was very learned, but I don’t think he ever took a writing course. He’s very hard to read, at least for me. But the little I can glean out of him has changed my approach to life and to religion. His sayings fill my mind, for example, the title of one of his books, Thou Art That. I am my neighbor, I am my wife, I am the water I pollute. I am the things around me. I am even my worst enemy.

Vogler and Campbell lead us to questions:
Can you find the hero’s journey in your story?
How about your favorite movie? Or book?
Can you see the steps of the journey in your writing life?

Where To Find Ed:

Personal FB https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1024992482

Fan page https://www.facebook.com/EdGriffinWriter

Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/EdGriffin2

Personal Blog http://edgriffin.net/

Writer’s Write Daily Blog http://writerswritedaily.wordpress.com/

Prison Uncensored Blog http://prisonuncensored.wordpress.com/