Monday, July 30, 2007

188+ Stages of the Hero's Journey (Monomyth, Screenwriting) - Value of the Sword

FORWARD

The 188 phase Hero's Journey (Monomyth) is the templet upon which the huge bulk of successful narratives and Film Industry blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of the 100s of Film Industry movies we have got deconstructed (see uniform resource locator below) are based on this 188+ phase template.

Understanding this templet is a precedence for narrative or screenwriters. This is the templet you must get the hang if you are to win in the craft.

[The nomenclature is most often metaphorical and uses to all successful narratives and screenplays, from The Godfather (1972) to Brokeback Mountain (2006) to Annie Hallway (1977) to Godhead of the Rings (2003) to Drugstore Cowboy (1989) to Thelma and Louise (1991) to Apocaplyse Now (1979)].

THERE IS ONLY ONE STORY

THE 188 phase HERO'S journey affects a figure of major phases, including:

a) The reaching from Another World into an Ordinary World.

b) The Ordinary Self, that have come up about as a consequence of being in the Ordinary World.

c) The encouragement from the Ordinary World into a New World.

d) The gradual dissolving of the Old Self.

e) The becoming of the New Self.

f) The thrusting away from the New Self and New World.

g) The confrontation with challenges.

h) The mastering of the Old and New Worlds and Selves.

more...

(simply travel to http://www.heros-journey.info/ for full details)

ABRIDGED TIPS, excerpts AND EXAMPLES:

THE value OF seizing THE SWORD

The Seizing of the Sword is a critical phase of the Hero's Journey. The Sword is a tangible mental representation of a figure of intangible assetss and it is not seized without reason; there is intent in doing so.

One of the intangible assetss is that it stands for is Delaware jure credence into the New World and as a New Self.

In Dances with Wolves (1990), it is only after Toilet have partaken in the American bison Hunt and tasted the buffalo's bosom that he goes a fully accepted member of the village.

In Capone (1983), it is only when Tony takes over Frank's district that he goes a legitimate doper.

In The Godfather (1972), it is only after Michael marries Apollonia that he goes a de jure Sicilian.

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

188+ Stages of the Hero's Journey (Monomyth, Screenwriting)- Hero vs Antihero

FORWARD

The 188 phase Hero's Journey (Monomyth) is the templet upon which the huge bulk of successful narratives and Film Industry blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of the 100s of Film Industry movies we have got deconstructed (see uniform resource locator below) are based on this 188+ phase template.

Understanding this templet is a precedence for narrative or screenwriters. This is the templet you must get the hang if you are to win in the craft.

[The nomenclature is most often metaphorical and uses to all successful narratives and screenplays, from The Godfather (1972) to Brokeback Mountain (2006) to Annie Hallway (1977) to Godhead of the Rings (2003) to Drugstore Cowboy (1989) to Thelma and Louise (1991) to Apocaplyse Now (1979)].

THERE IS ONLY ONE STORY

THE 188 phase HERO'S journey affects a figure of major phases, including:

a) The reaching from Another World into an Ordinary World.

b) The Ordinary Self, that have come up about as a consequence of being in the Ordinary World.

c) The encouragement from the Ordinary World into a New World.

d) The gradual dissolving of the Old Self.

e) The becoming of the New Self.

f) The thrusting away from the New Self and New World.

g) The confrontation with challenges.

h) The mastering of the Old and New Worlds and Selves.

more...

(simply travel to http://www.heros-journey.info/ for full details)

ABRIDGED TIPS, excerpts AND EXAMPLES:

HERO VERSUS ANTIHERO

The difference between hero, anti-hero and other fluctuations simply lies in situation, motive and result. In fact, the antihero is simply an archetype. Some generalisations:

Where the hero's Ordinary World is idyllic (Lord of the Rings, 2003), the anti-hero's human race is uncomfortable and riddled with struggle (Raging Bull, 1980).

Where the hero embarks on escapade for selfless grounds (Willow, 1988), the anti-hero embarks for selfish reasons.

Where the hero have good wise men (Lord of the Rings, 2003), the anti-hero have dark wise men (Raging Bull, 1980).

Where the hero defies dark temptations, the anti-hero gives in to them (Scarface, 1983).

Where the hero may give himself to forestall injury to others (Superman, 1978), the anti-hero volition consciously put out to make injury (Goodfellas, 1990).

Where the hero volition germinate (during the Transformation or Road of Trials), the anti-hero volition regress.

Where the hero will accomplish synergy, the anti-hero will accomplish alienation.

Where the hero's allies will come up to his aid, the anti-hero's allies will betray.

Where the hero's addition is tangible and prized, the anti-hero's addition is doubtful (Scarface, 1983).

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

To Self-Publish or Not? That is the Question

To self-publish or not? That is the question

Should you self-publish or acquire a publisher?

That inquiry used to be easier to answer. Having person else print you book gave you credibleness and prestige. There was person else who had vetted your book thought and the quality of the authorship and decided it was deserving publishing. Self-published books typically looked inexpensive or were badly edited or laid out. In addition, creating, distributing, merchandising and selling your book was a full-time job, with small likeliness of earning back the investing you made in clip or money. (The norm self-published book sells about 100 copies, according to the Print-on-Demand publishers).

All that changed with the coming of the Internet. Suddenly, statistical distribution and gross sales became a batch easier (can you state Amazon.com?). Selling was still a challenge, but again email, websites and the Internet made it easier and more than doable. And outsourcing editing, screen design, book layout and promotion is much easier because you can easily happen competent, low-cost aid for each of these functions.

Still, unless you are the sort of individual who would be a good full general contractor if you were edifice a house or remodeling your existent home, self-publishing (at least the black and white variety) may not be for you. It still takes a batch of work (and a significant investing of money) to do it go on and the likelihood of success are not good. Having said that, some people do all in the likelihood and make a self-published book that is of good quality and sells well adequate to make back their investment. Having a book out mightiness also assist addition your speech production calling and fees or convey in more than clients to purchase your services. So it may be deserving it even if you dn't interrupt even on your initial investing with book sales.

Much easier to make is to print an e-book. I self-published somes few black and white books some old age ago and, to acquire a good price, I had to purchase about 4,000 copies. Even though I can sell my books at workshops and online, it took me a twelvemonth or two to sell all those books. Meanwhile, they sat in my garage. Some got damaged in transportation and distribution. I did do money on them (more money than I would have got if person else had published them). All in all though, it was a hassle.

But in recent years, I have got e-published. This is much easier. You still have got got to have a quality merchandise and make marketing, but you salvage the fuss of printing tons of books and putting out tons of money up front. You don't have got the physical harm of black and white books. Customers can acquire your merchandise instantly and you don't have got to pack or ship a thing. If you put it up right, the whole thing is automated. I do good money with my e-books. Not as good as some of my black and white books, but better than some.

Creating and merchandising e-books is not that hard. It's especially easy on a Mackintosh computer, which have a built-in ability to make PDFs (the most common word form e-books come up in) from an option in the Print menu. Selling is easy with online shopping carts and land sites that specialise in merchandising digital products.

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Writer Block- Fiction Writing Pitfalls and Successful Strategies

Every book author falls into these head traps from clip to time. I cognize I have. You happen yourself staring blankly at the monitor, waiting for the magic to hit, only to recognize you've killed the better part of the twenty-four hours not able to compose the first thing. For anyone who basks fiction writing, these minutes are the bombilation killers.

Writer's block come ups at different modern times and in different stages, some minutes more hard than others. The cardinal is to acknowledge what's causing the job and implementing the right method to acquire the keyboard moving again. I like to believe of writer's block in 4 different stages: secret plan direction, fictional character development, filler minutes and just getting started!

Plot way problems-- This haps when you are unsure of exactly how you desire the secret plan to flow. Moving fictional characters from point A to point Degree Centigrade can go a existent head bender if point Type B eludes you. When developing your fiction narrative idea, compose out a basic roadmap for the way of the narrative to flow. A batch of writers do the error of starting their narrative with no thought of where to travel in hopes of determination their manner as they go. This very seldom haps with any success. If you begin out with a flexible roadmap for your narrative to follow, secret plan way jobs will never be a concern.

Character development problems-- Just as of import as the secret plan direction, fictional character development is indispensable to the success of your story. Writer block can impede your fictional characters easier than anything else without you even knowing it sometimes. Your fictional characters must have got some way rooted in the plot. By incorporating your basic roadmap for the plot, lineation a unsmooth roadmap for each fictional character you mean to convey into the story. Ask yourself what motivates your fictional characters based on the secret plan way and how each 1 will stop up at the stopping point of the story. This lineation will be flexible as well, but it maintains your fictional characters moving to where you desire them to move. Don't be surprised when they begin making their ain determinations as you type!

Filler problems--This block can be a existent nuisance. You've got maps for the secret plan and your characters, but filling in the spreads or the little minutes for the remainder of the narrative can be frustrating at times. These little minutes are important to the success of your story, though. They will be the elements that lock in your readers, so you have got to demo this job particular care. If the filler job happens concerning one of your characters, interruption out that character's lineation and analyse his/her overbearing traits and their motivation. Make little states of affairs outside of the secret plan that imparts credibility to the fictional character and their nature. Integrate mundane states of affairs from your ain personal experiences to heighten the little minutes and give your readers something to easily place with. Jotting down a listing of seemingly everyday things you did the twenty-four hours before and drama with the 1s that volition not only congratulate the forward motion of the plot, but impart credibility to your character's nature. If the filler job dwells of scene details, I always lodge to two strong beliefs-- compose what you cognize and compose about
what involvements you as a reader. If you've never been to Vegas and you could care less about it, it's probably not a good thought to compose about it. If Vegas is somewhere that involvements you, you won't have got any job researching and reading about it to include in your story.

Just getting started-- Getting started on a narrative can be hard as well. Let's say you have got a great secret plan thought and you've outlined the secret plan direction, but you're just not certain where to begin. How make you acquire the keyboard keys to begin popping? Whenever I happen myself in this situation, I jotting down the things that involvement me the most about my idea. This not only assists you remain focused on the thought you have, you'll soon happen yourself brainstorming over different attacks to the start. By doing this, you might even happen a more than interesting turn to your basic secret plan direction. Remember to maintain things interesting to yourself. After all, you'll be disbursement more clip with your narrative than anyone else! If it helps, you might see head mapping. Mind correspondence is a encephalon violent storm technique that starts with a basic thought or component in the centre of the page, then subdivisions outward as more than than and more things are linked to it. Start with your basic thought in the center, then pull a line outward and compose down an thought or verbal description that is linked to that cardinal idea. The great thing about head correspondence is that it can maintain growing with thoughts as far outward as you desire it to. This just assists to acquire those originative juices flowing and is an first-class manner to happen a originative starting point for your story. This technique can be used for your characters, too!

By incorporating these assorted elements of fiction, you'll happen that overcoming author block is a batch easier. Remember that the best manner to mover past times a author block is to simply maintain writing!

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Hero's Journey, Monomyth (188 Stages) Screenwriting Tools

FORWARD

The 188 stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth) is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of the hundreds of Hollywood movies we have deconstructed (see URL below) are based on this 188+ stage template.

Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters. This is the template you must master if you are to succeed in the craft.

[The terminology is most often metaphoric and applies to all successful stories and screenplays, from The Godfather (1972) to Brokeback Mountain (2006) to Annie Hall (1977) to Lord of the Rings (2003) to Drugstore Cowboy (1989) to Thelma and Louise (1991) to Apocaplyse Now (1979)].

THERE IS ONLY ONE STORY

THE 188 STAGE HERO'S JOURNEY:

a) Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.

b) Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.

c) Gives you a tangible process for building and releasing dissonance (establishing and achieving catharses, of which there are usually four).

d) Tells you what to write. For example, at a certain stage of the story, the focus should be on the Call to Adventure and the micro elements within.

ABRIDGED TIPS, EXCERPTS AND EXAMPLES:

(simply go to http://www.heros-journey.info/ for full details)

*****Belly of the Whale*****

It is in the Belly of the Whale where the Hero comes face to face with what he (or she) must become or deal with or be. In Straw Dogs (1971), Cawsey asks if "...they got anything worth taking...ten months inside is enough for me...." ; Ratboy steals Amy's knickers; "...I want what was in them....."

*****Losing a part of the Old Self. Gaining a part of the New Self*****

Before entering the First Threshold, the Hero loses a part of his Old Self and gains a part of his New Self. Often some tangible symbol or behaviour will be lost and gained. In An Officer and a Gentleman (1982), Zach leaves his bike behind and tries to cover up his tattoo. In Raging Bull (1980), Jake's wife leaves him.

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Because I am fat....

ny self-help books you read and therapy sessions you attend you can’t quite love the person who is staring back at you in the mirror, frustrated because personal trainers and exercise sessions are not enough, scared because every bite you eat not only makes you fat but could cause cancer or diabetes or whatever disease the scientists have induced on unsuspecting lab rats.

I am fat. I know it. I live in this body every day. I am also getting older. And my body lets me know with every crick crack of my joints and the hiss of my swollen feet. My body is changing faster than I can adjust to the transformation. I know it. I am the one in here. I am the one INHABITING this body.

I wanted to come to this wedding. I wanted to see my cousin get married to a man she loves and who loves her back.

But I was afraid to come here and almost decided not to. Every year I come to Puerto Rico to visit my mother and the relatives she has managed not to alienate completely. Every year I come because I love the green of the mountains and the intensity of the color of the sea. I love to feel the heat of Christmas time during the day and the coolness of the breeze once the sun sets. I can’t get enough of villancicos, aguinaldos, el Patriota, Christmas masses, the warm sea of New Year, the Three Kings parade, artisan exhibitions, the Spanish of mi gente.

But I am a freak. Such a pity, they think, with such a pretty face “pero taaaaan gooorrrrdaaa.” It is no wonder, they continue to muse, shaking their heads as they steal glances at my large frame, that she is not married.