Archetypes

Patterns

I’ve been taking an online class about Joseph Campbell’s monomyth and archetypal journey.  It’s the idea that most or all stories follow the same basic pattern.

It’s worth looking up.  Read the book (click to go to Amazon).

Basically, the hero is in an ordinary world, then is given a “call to adventure.”  Usually, there’s a mentor figure (think Gandal, Obi-Wan Kenobi, etc.).  There are steps in their journey, including tests and trials, an ordeal, and the returning home with an “elixir” (usually some kind of prize which can be used to help their home).

So, what does it mean?

The idea is to use this pattern to improve your own writing.  Chapter you’re working on seem dull?  Look back at that pattern and see if anything major is missing.

When you think about it, a lot of stories fit this pattern.  And it can’t be a coincidence.  Even Disney movies, like Moana fit the myth, which I think is crazy.

Recent Work…

I’ve been slowly trying to put together a grand sci-fi epic, currently code-named Rasa.  I have a setting, some backstory, and a good idea on a few main characters.  All that’s missing is the story!  So I’m using the pattern of the archetypal journey, plus plain old “thinking” to come up with something unique while still being familiar and easy to relate to.

So, the moral is – look for the patterns in what happens in stories.  It’s not enough to have a “good idea” if nothing actually changes.  The character(s) have to go on a journey, either physical or emotional/mental, and come out having been changed and having fixed some sort of problem.

The rest is just details.