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    3May, 2024
    These Articles are Guaranteed to Enhance Your Writing Life

    These Articles are Guaranteed to Enhance Your Writing Life

    Welcome to a one-stop page of articles guaranteed to help writers navigate, succeed in, and enhance your writing life. That’s right, these articles offer the nuts and bolts every writer needs to know.

    As the founder of WriterSpark Academy, I am passionate about helping writers ignite their creativity, hone their craft, and achieve their writing goals. The articles here are guaranteed to enhance your writing journey. This website is set up to be a go-to destination for insightful articles, tips, and resources to inspire and empower writers of all levels.

    So, whether you’re a seasoned novelist, an aspiring writer, or fall somewhere in between, WriterSpark Academy and our posts about writing have something for you. The articles published here cover a wide range of topics.

     

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    3. Writing Process: Discover strategies for overcoming writer’s block, staying motivated, and developing a productive writing routine.
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    It’s important to know that each article on the WriterSpark website provides valuable insights, practical advice, and actionable tips to help you grow as a writer. They are meant to help and guide you through your writing life, and to help you achieve your dreams. Whether you’re looking to improve your storytelling skills, polish your prose, or navigate through the publishing business, WriterSpark Academy is here to support you every step of the way.

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    Collage header with the covers of the Save the Cat books
    2May, 2024
    Master this Awesome Method of Storytelling to Write Better

    Master this Awesome Method of Storytelling to Write Better

    Collage header with the covers of the Save the Cat books

    If you can learn this awesome technique for storytelling, there is no question that your writing will improve. What is this fantastic framework? It’s the Save the Cat story structure method. It’s an incredibly powerful method for crafting riveting narratives. It can help make your book unputdownable.

    What is Save the Cat?

    The Save the Cat storytelling framework was developed by the late screenwriter Blake Snyder. It is also a philosophy. Where The Hero’s Journey focuses on the transformation of the hero, Save the Cat emphasizes the importance of creating likable protagonists and engaging storytelling beats. By mastering the Save the Cat method of storytelling, you discover the awesomeness.

    The book cover of Save the Cat by Blake Snyder, with a cat hanging by a rope Save the Cat Beat Sheet Workbook using Blake Snyder's Story Structure Method The book cover of Save the Cat by Blake Snyder, with a cat hanging by a rope

    The Key Elements of the Save the Cat Storytelling Method

    Now, let’s take a look at the specific steps of the Save the Cat framework so you can master this effective storytelling method. They form the building blocks of a successful story.

    Opening Image:

    Begin your story with a powerful visual that sets the tone and introduces the audience to the world of the story. It sets the tone and draws readers into the narrative. It could be a bucolic landscape, a busy city street or town square, or a quiet moment of introspection, the opening image sets the stage for the adventure to come.

    Theme Stated:

    Explicitly state or hint at the central theme or message of the story. This lays the groundwork for what is to come.

    Save the Cat Moment:

    Have the protagonist perform an act of kindness or heroism early in the story, endearing them to the audience and establishing their likability. This is crucial to this structure. This is where the title of the structure comes from. The hero’s act of kindness could be as simple as saving a cat.

    Fun and Games:

    This is the “fun” part of the story, where the protagonist embarks on their journey, encountering challenges and obstacles along the way. It mirrors the Road of Trials in The Hero’s Journey or Act II of the three-act structure. It’s like a rollercoaster ride—full of twists, turns, and surprises.

    Midpoint Twist:

    Around the halfway point of the story, introduce a major plot twist or revelation, changing the direction of the narrative. This raises the stakes. It’s the moment when the protagonist’s belief is derailed. They have to pivot to move forward.

    All is Lost:

    Make something happen that causes the protagonist to believe they cannot achieve their goal. They experience a setback or failure that threatens their entire journey and success. They may feel lost, alone, and unsure of what to do next. The All is Lost point is a pivotal moment in the story that tests the hero’s resolve and forces them to confront their deepest fears.

    Dark Night of the Soul:

    Make the protagonist grapple with doubt, fear, and uncertainty. They question whether they have what it takes to succeed. This is their darkest moment.

    Break into Three:

    Just when all seems lost, make the protagonist forge ahead with renewed determination and resolve, continuing their journey. It mirrors the Resurrection in the Hero’s Journey–a moment of triumph and transformation as the hero rises from the proverbial ashes and prepares to face their final challenge.

    Finale:

    In the story’s climax, the protagonist faces the final challenge and ultimately achieves their goal. Loose ends are tied up, the story comes to a satisfying conclusion, and reader expectation is met.

    Bringing the Save the Cat Steps Together

    There you have it. Save the Cat is one of the best ways to improve your storytelling. The effective method is powerful and will help you write better. If this method resonates with you, use it to craft your story. Developing the plot around story beats will help you create a compelling narrative that leaves readers begging for more.

    Want More?

    Read about turning points HERE.

    Read about Outlining HERE.

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    22Oct, 2022
    Don’t you Love a Witch’s Hero’s Journey from Practical Magic?

    Seriously, don’t you love a witch’s Hero’s Journey from Practical Magic

    Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Stockard Channing, and Diane Weist from Practical Magic are perfect witches. And Practical Magic (book and movie) is perfect for fall Halloween vibes.

    It is also one of my favorites. I adore Alice Hoffman, but like so many, Practical Magic tops my list. It’s October and just a week out from Halloween, so there’s no better time to do a Hero’s Journey breakdown of this classic.

    Hero–

    Sally Owens

    Ordinary World— 

    The first Owens witch, Maria, escaped a hanging with her magic. She was banished and cast a spell upon herself that she would never again feel the agony of love. That spell turned into a curse on any man who dared love an Owens woman. When you hear the ticking of the death watch beetle, the one you love is doomed to die.

    Sally and Gillian Owens are the most recent in a long and distinguished line of witches.

    Sally is blessed with the gift. And she never wants to fall in love.

    Gillian has magic in her, but not as strongly as Sally. She can’t wait to fall in love.

    Sally makes a list in her journal and casts the true love spell, but summoning a man with impossible traits. She’ll never find him, which is the point. “The guy I dreamed up doesn’t exist, and if he doesn’t exist, I can never die of a broken heart.”

    Fastforward. Gillian leaves home with a guy. She wants to go where no one has ever heard of her. They cut their hands. “My blood. Your blood. Our blood.” They will be together forever, no matter where they are. (Foreshadow)

    Sally misses Gillian. She wants to be “normal”. 

    The aunts say, “Being normal is not a virtue.” 

    Then she sees Michael. The aunts cast a spell so Sally can have a romance and be happy. They never thought she’d truly love him. She does fall in love with him, marries him, moves out of the aunts’ house, has two little girls, and is happy. People in town now accept her. Things are “normal. Life is perfect.”

    Meanwhile, Gillian is living a wild life. And she’s fallen for a “cowboy vampire” Bulgarian from Transylvania, Jimmy Angelov.

    Call to Adventure–  

    (11:00 minutes) The death watch beetle ticks.

    Refusal of Call–

    Sally tries to ignore it, but she keeps hearing it. She tries to find it, to destroy it. She tears up her house searching for it, because she knows what it means. Michael, who dared to love an Owens woman, will die.

    She thinks he’s escaped it when a group of bikes narrowly misses Michael, but a moment later he is hit by a truck and killed (14:00 minutes).

    Meeting the Mentor– 

    Sally goes to the aunts (Jet and Frances) and asks them if it was the curse. They reveal that they cast a spell. Sally is shattered. She wants him back using the old spell book. (Foreshadow)

    “You brought him into my life. Now I want you to bring him back.”

    They refuse. 

    Crossing the Threshold–

    The new world (15:00 minutes). Call and the girls move back in

    to the old house and Sally admonishes the aunts that her girls will never do magic. She denies her witchcraft.

    Tests and Allies–

    Watch Practical Magic (1998) Free Online

    1. Sally grieves. She can’tfunction.
    2. She looksat her scar, as does Gillian. They call to each other. Gillian drugs Jimmy Angelov with Belladonna so she can go see Sally. But Jimmy is possessive.
    3. She says Jimmy can survive the curse. She brings Sally out of her funk. 
    4. Then Gillian is gone again.
    5. Sally emerges. She opens her shop: Verbena. Mails a letter to Gillian. (Foreshadow)
    6. She is upset with the kids in town taunt her daughters (Kylie and Antonia) like kids used to tant her and Gillian.
    7. The girls know they are witches and wonder why Sally doesn’t do magic.
    8. The phone rings and Sally knows it’s Gillian. Gillian is in trouble. Jimmy has been erratic and he punched Gilly.
    9. They see a blood moon. Gilly goes to get her tiger’s eye. Jimmy is there and holds them hostage. The Elvis song, Always on my Mind, plays on the radio.
    10. Sally puts belladonna in Jimmy’s tequila. Jimmy sings the song. He tries to choke Gilly. Then Jimmy passes out. 
    11. But he’s dead. 
    12. The blood moon foreshadows doom. (30:00)
    13. Gilly wants to use the curse to bring Jimmy back, but he’ll be dark and unnatural. “He’s already dark and unnatural. I don’t care how he comes back, as long as he comes back with a pulse,” Gilly said. (Foreshadowed moment from earlier)
    14. This time Sally is the voice of reason. She doesn’t want to do it, but they don’t feel there is a choice. They perform the spell.
    15. They bring him back, he tries to choke Gilly again, and Sally hits him with the tequila bottle. Now he’s dead again.
    16. They bury him.
    17. They keep it secret from the aunts.
    18. Phone tree day. Sally is never picked because everyone knows Sally is a witch. Gilly makes sure it’s Sally. The townsfolk hate her. (Foreshadow)
    19. The aunts make midnight margaritas. They realize it’s Jimmy’s tequila.
    20. The aunts sing Always on My Mind.
    21. Broom fell. Company’s coming. The aunts leave Sally and Gilly to clean up their mess.
    22. Kylie sees Jimmy as a ghost…the man under the roses. The roses grew overnight.
    23. Jimmy’s boots are visible, then disappear again.
    24. (55:00) The Gary Hallet State’s Investigator from Tuscan shows up investigating a case.  comes searching for Jimmy. 
    25. Jimmy is back.
    26. Sally struggles to lie to Gary.
    27. The townsfolk tell stories about Sally’s magic.
    28. Gilly feels Jimmy’s presence. 
    29. Kylie, Antonia, and Gilly make a potion to banish Mr. Hallet. Kylie is good at magic. But the girls realize that Gary Hallet is the man Sally wished for as a child.
    30. Sally and Gillian have a huge fight. 
    Central Ordeal– 

    Sally goes to Gary to confess. She tells him that Jimmy is in the spirit world haunting them. She asks him why he read her letter so many times (Foreshadowed moment from earlier). She says Gillian didn’t kill anyone. Gary infers that Sally did.

    Gary promises to help Sally and keep her from harm’s way. They kiss. Sally sees his one blue, one green eye (Foreshadowed moment from earlier). She leaves, afraid of the curse.

    Reward– 

    Sally senses that something is wrong with Gilly. She races home. Gary follows her. They see Jimmy’s ghost in Gilly. He’s possessing her. Gary doesn’t understand, but he believes what he sees.

    Jimmy tries to kill Gary. The sheriff’s star saves him. Sally says to him, “You killed a spirit, but that I killed a man.”

    Garry confesses that he loves Sally. He’s loved her since he read her letter. She confesses that she sent for him when she was a girl. He does exist. What he feels is just her spell. Cunundrum. Would he stay because of her spell, or does she want him to stay because she doesn’t want to go to prison.

    Road Back– 

    They believe Jimmy is dead. “Curses only have power when you believe in them. And I don’t…You know what? I wished for you, too,” Gary tells Sally. 

    When Sally comes back in, she realizes that Jimmy is still inside of Gillian. 

    Resurrection– 

    It is not over. Now everything is coming to a head. The aunts are back.

    The aunts say: “He’s squatting inside of her like a toad. This is what comes from dabbling. You can’t practice witchcraft when you look down your nose at it.”

    “We have to banish him,” Frances says.

    “Force his spirit back into the grave,” Jet says.

    “We need a full coven,” Frances says.

    “ 9 women. 12 is better,” Jet says.

    “Do you have any friends?” Frances asks.

    Sally uses the phone tree (Foreshadowed moment from earlier). She confesses to the women who have always hated her that she is a witch. 

    The townswomen all show up. Kylie and Antonia are part of it. The girls set the toads free (a reoccurring symbol). 

    “Pick a broom. Form a circle.” They cast the spell to rid Gilly of Jimmy’s spirit.

    They fear they’re killing Gilly. Sally has an idea. She does the blood spell. Maria’s blood connects them. “Your blood. My blood. Our blood.”

    This excises Jimmy. Gary closes the case.

    Return w/ elixir–

    Sally calls to Gary. He hears that call and returns to her. The Owens curse is broken, they think because the sisters clasped hands and Maria’s blood flowed threw them.

    It’s Halloween. The town is gathered around the house. The three generations of Owens women are on the roof in witch getups

    Recurring Motif: Toads/Black cat

    When you’re done here, check out the rest of the Hero’s Journey Database!

    ***
    Resources
    24May, 2022
    The Hero’s Journey for Mysteries

    Have you heard of the hero’s journey? It’s at the core of the mythic structure. Here it is for mysteries!

    The hero’s journey is an incredibly intuitive story structure. It is the Go To for Hollywood screenwriters.

    I have adapted the Hero’s Journey for mysteries below. 

    Hero lives in the ORDINARY WORLD

    1. CALL TO ADVENTURE
    2. REFUSAL OF THE CALL
    3. MEETING OF THE MENTOR
    4. CROSSING THE THRESHOLD (to some magical or new world, which is entering the (6) ROAD of TRIALS). At this point, there is no return. The hero faces
    5. TESTS, ALLIES, & ENEMIES
    6. The APPROACH TO THE INMOST CAVE s a huge test for the hero. There are setbacks, but the hero grows stronger as a result.
    7. The CENTRAL ORDEAL is the second major turning point. It is a win for the hero.
    8. REWARD Whatever the hero has been after has been ostensibly won.
    9. THE ROAD BACK The hero has succeeded in the journey (or so he/she thinks) and heads back toward the ordinary world.
    10. RESURRECTION is the CLIMAX. The Central Ordeal was a false win. THIS is the true test of the hero’s mettle. This is the moment when the ordinary person is resurrected as a hero.
    11. RETURN WITH THE ELIXIR The hero returns to the ordinary world a changed person. 

    CLICK HERE to check out WriterSpark’s How to Write a Cozy Mystery course.

    CLICK HERE to read more about The Hero’s Journey

     

    The hero’s journey is a fairly typical story structure. With a mystery, however, the structure is slightly different.

    1. The Victim’s ORDINARY WORLD is disrupted when he/she dies! Depending upon the POV and type of mystery you are writing, the sleuth’s ORDINARY WORLD is also disrupted. Using the amateur sleuth or detective as our hero, he / she lives in their ORDINARY WORLD before the murder happens.
    2. CALL TO ADVENTURE occurs when the murder is discovered.
    3. REFUSAL OF THE CALL occurs when the amateur sleuth feels pulled to investigate, but doesn’t feel qualified or want to dive into the investigation. If the hero is a detective, the REFUSAL OF THE CALL occurs when he/she doesn’t want the case, or, in the case of my first book, Living the Vida Lola, Lola fears she won’t be given the case. Often, the refusal of the call is not the decision of the hero.
    4. MEETING THE MENTOR The mentor is whatever character (for good or for nefarious reasons) convinces the sleuth to get involved. This person can be the person the sleuth is determined to save or prove innocent.
    5. CROSSING THE THRESHOLD in a mystery means the hero (sleuth) takes the case and/or becomes an active investigator. There’s no turning back because he/she (or loved ones) may well be in danger.
    6. THE ROAD OF TRIALS and TESTS, ALLIES, and ENEMIES = LIES, DECEPTION, CLUES, RED HERRINGS, all laid out by the villain (the murderer) and the false leads the sleuth follows. This is the bulk of the Second Act in the Three-Act Structure.
    7. APPROACH TO THE INMOST CAVE Something happens to threaten the sleuth’s forward progress. This could be a second murder, the sleuth in danger, or some other test/trial that threatens the sleuth’s ability to continue the investigation. 
    8. CENTRAL ORDEAL The hero (sleuth) think the whodunnit is solved.
    9. REWARD Justice will be served.
    10. THE ROAD BACK The sleuth is ready to return to his/her ordinary world having solved the case. The problem is, either a red herring has led the sleuth astray, or the sleuth/hero is in danger at this point so may not be able to return with the knowledge. The sleuth manages to get to the right answer (or defeat the killer) during the 
    11. RESURRECTION This is the CLIMAX, which is the confrontation with the killer. The sleuth ultimately discovers the truth.
    12. RETURNING WITH THE ELIXIR, in a mystery, is justice. Finally, the sleuth can return to his/her Ordinary World, but now he/she is the MASTER OF TWO WORLDS. He/she has solved a murder and will never be quite the same.

    Are you ready for the next step in your writing process? Hire me as your developmental editor and partner. Together, we will take your writing to the next level!

    Owen Wilson as Charlie in Marry Me
    22May, 2022
    The Hero’s Journey: Charlie Gilbert (Marry Me)

    Owen Wilson plays a great everyman, and in Marry Me, he has a clear Hero’s Journey.

    Charlie, Marry Me (Owen Wilson, with Jennifer Lopez and Meluma)

    Summary (from IMBD): Music superstars Kat Valdez and Bastian are getting married before a global audience of fans. But when Kat learns, seconds before her vows, that Bastian has been unfaithful, she instead decides to marry Charlie, a stranger in the crowd.

    Hero– 

    Charlie Gilbert, an school teacher and head of the math-alon (math club and competition)

    Ordinary World—

    Charlie is a divorced dad trying to connect with his daughter, Lou, who thinks her stepdad is awesome. To get out of his funk, friend and coworker, Parker (Sarah Silverman), invites him to go to the Kat Valdez concert with her. Charlie does not want to go. He says he has Lou that night. Parker convinces him to go with the line: “Maybe she’ll think you’re fun.” 

    Call to Adventure– 

    Charlie goes to the concert. He ends up holding a sign that says “Marry Me”. Unbeknownst to him, Kat has just found out that Bastian cheated on her. She talks about losing faith in love, and says that if you want something different, you have to do something different. She sees Charlie holding the sign and in an impulsive moment, she says she will marry him. She says, “Why not?”

    Refusal of Call– Charlie is stunned. He doesn’t actually want to marry Kat. He doesn’t know Kat.

    Meeting the Mentor– 

    Once again, Parker steps in. She, along with Lou, push Charlie toward the stage.

    Crossing the Threshold–

    (18:00) Charlie hesitates, finally saying: “Okay.” They are married and kiss.

    Tests and Allies–
    1. Colin helps Charlie see who Kat is. He convinces her to give it a try for 3 months (as mentor).
    2. Charlie is introduced to Kat’s life of lights and glamour and paparazzi.
    3. He has to explain things to Lou and keep her grounded. He doesn’t want Lou to meet Kat because they’re not really together.
    4. They go bowling and Kat ends up going home with Charlie to see more about him.
    5. They spend more time together and he stays at a recording session.
    6. Kat and Charlie go to an awards ceremony where they run into Bastian. Charlie has to face the man who betrayed Kat, the woman he’s beginning to fall for.
    7. Charlie invites Kat to the school dance.
    8. They sleep together.
    9. Charlie challenges Kat to be self-sufficient. She accepts. She challenges him to use social media. He accepts
    10. They are from two different worlds, but maybe it can work. He posts: “When you sit in the question long enough, the answer finds you.”
    11. They spend a day together, acting as husband and wife. They are happy.
    Central Ordeal– 

    Kat goes to the Mathalon practice and tells a story about how she dealt with stage fright. The kids use dance steps to manage their anxiety. But Meluma shows up and announced that Marry Me has been nominated for a Grammy.

    Reward– 

    Kat has her Grammy nomination. He fears that he will lose her, but she still wants him, too.

    Road Back– 

    After the Grammy performance, Charlie lets Kat go to live in her celebrity world. He realizes that he doesn’t fit in, no matter how much he wants to. Their romance is over. (1:25) 

    Resurrection– 

    Charlies is distraught. Kat is everywhere he looks (in store windows, on cab signage…). From the media, it seems Kat and Bastian are back together. He refuses the money Colin offers him to keep the prenup in place.

    All he can do is protect himself. He goes forward with the mathalon. Still looking out for Kat, he asks Colin to be there for Kat when she figures things out, because “she’s going to need someone.” 

    At the mathalon, the opposing team’s coach tries to psyche the team out. Lou gets stage fright. Charlie uses Kat’s dance steps to get Lou through it, but not in time to win. Charlie helps Lou through it. He tells her how proud of her he is. 

    Kat walks in and says, “Not everything adds up the way you think it will…If you want something different, you have to do something different.” She is talking to Charlie, too. He says, “What if we’re just too different?” She says, “What if we’re not?”

    She then holds up a sign that says: Marry Me…and another that says: Again. She mouths: “I love you.” 

    Charlie comes to her. (1:44) They’ve come full circle to the Call to Adventure moment. 

    Return w/ elixir– Various clips show Kat in Charlie’s world (at school, dancing with his students) and Charlie in Kat’s world (rehearsals). The final scene is of Charlie, Kat, Lou, and the dog together as a family unit in their own world.  (1:45)

    Comments: This is a cute romcom. Both Kat and Charlie have a “fish out of water” hero’s journey. 

    The movie is one hour, 45 minutes (105 minutes). The crossing of the threshold happens at 18 minutes in, just under 1/4 of the way through.

    Act II comprises the bulk of the movie.

    The Resurrection (Act III), when Kat uses her newfound independence and knowledge of what she really wants, takes place at 1:35. This is the last 10 minutes of the movie.

    The Hero’s Journey is clear in both Kat’s and Charlie’s story. Click HERE to see Kat’s Hero’s Journey.

     

    22May, 2022
    The Hero’s Journey: Kat Valdez (Marry Me)

    Marry Me is a light romantic comedy of the first order, and Kat Valdez has a clear Hero’s Journey.

    Kat Valdez, Marry Me (Jennifer Lopez, with Owen Wilson and Meluma)

    Summary (from IMBD): Music superstars Kat Valdez and Bastian are getting married before a global audience of fans. But when Kat learns, seconds before her vows, that Bastian has been unfaithful, she instead decides to marry Charlie, a stranger in the crowd.

    Hero– 

    Kat Valdez, a singing superstar

    Ordinary World—

    Kat is set to marry Bastian in front of their legion of fans, but she’s not sure about it. In some ways, se feels she has lost herself. But the wedding plans are set and the concert where 20 million people will watch her sing Marry Me to Bastian, and they take their vows, is set.

    Call to Adventure– 

    (15:00) Kat sees people backstage looking at their phones. She knows something is up. She demands Colin give her his phone learns Bastian betrayed her.

    Refusal of Call– 

    Kat is stunned. She doesn’t know what to do. She stops the concert and talks about love. She proclaims love to be a lie. Not real. She won’t get married.

    Meeting the Mentor– 

    Colin, Kat’s manager, tries to protect Kat.

    Crossing the Threshold–

     (18:00) Kat takes a leap of faith. She says that “if you want something different, you have to do something different.” She sees a man in the audience holding up a sign that says Marry Me. She makes a different choice. She calls him up on stage and she does get married…to Charlie. She says: “I do.” They are married and kiss.

    Tests and Allies–
    1. Kat immediately confronts Bastian. Charlie intervenes to protect Kat.
    2. Colin tries to spin the situation, but Kat says she wants to give the marriage a try for 3 months. “Nothing else has worked. Maybe this will.”
    3. Kat watches herself do a Vitamix promo. She’s reflective about it, but we don’t know what she’s thinking.
    4. Kat proves she can bowl, then decides to skip the party she’s supposed to go to and goes home with Charlie instead. They get to know each other. 
    5. Kat and Charlie go to an awards ceremony where they run into Bastian. Kat has to face the man who betrayed her.
    6. Kat shows up at Charlie’s school. She enters his life for the first time. She also meets Lou to the first time.
    7. She goes deeper into Charlie’s world by accepting his invitation to the school dance.
    8. After the school dance, they sleep together. 
    9. Charlie challenges Kat to be self-sufficient. She accepts. She challenges him to use social media. He accepts.
    10. They are from two different worlds, but maybe it can work.
    11. She reads his post: “When you sit in the question long enough, the answer finds you.”
    Central Ordeal– 

    Kat goes to the Mathalon practice and tells a story about how she dealt with stage fright. The kids use dance steps to manage their anxiety. But Maluma shows up and announced that Marry Me has been nominated for a Grammy.

    Reward– 

    Kat still wants Charlie, but she also wants the Grammy and the reward for the song and her career.

    Road Back– 

    Charlie tells Kat that he can’t be with her. He doesn’t fit into her world. He’s a fish out of water. Their romance is over. (1:25)

    Resurrection– 

    Kat writes a song about her love for Charlie (On My Way). It hits #1. She is self-sufficient. She views the first kiss on stage with Charlie.

    When on Jimmy Fallon, he says she wrote On My Way was written for Bastian. This is a wake up call for her. She leaves mid-interview. “It’s an inopportune time to have an epiphany, but I don’t want to go back. Someone told me that if you sit in the question long enough, the answer finds you.”

    She uses her new-found independence to make her way to Peoria to find Charlie (1:35). Colin helps her, though. She goes in search of her answer.

    Kat walks in to find Lou on stage, frozen, and Charlie using her dance steps to get Lou through it (1:42). She tells Lou she was amazing. She took a shot, even though it was scary (1:43). She says, “Not everything adds up the way you think it will…If you want something different, you have to do something different.” She is talking to Charlie, too. He says, “What if we’re just too different?” She says, “What if we’re not?”

    She then holds up a sign that says: Marry Me…and another that says: Again. She mouths: “I love you.” 

    Charlie comes to her (1:44). They’ve come full circle to the Call to Adventure moment. 

    Return w/ elixir– Various clips show Kat in Charlie’s world (at school, dancing with his students) and Charlie in Kat’s world (rehearsals). The final scene is of Charlie, Kat, Lou, and the dog together as a family unit in their own world (1:45).

    Comments: This is a cute romcom. Both Kat and Charlie have a “fish out of water” hero’s journey. 

    The movie is one hour, 45 minutes (105 minutes). The crossing of the threshold happens at 18 minutes in, just under 1/4 of the way through.

    Act II comprises the bulk of the movie.

    The Resurrection (Act III), when Kat uses her newfound independence and knowledge of what she really wants, takes place at 1:35. This is the last 10 minutes of the movie.

    The Hero’s Journey is clear in both Kat’s and Charlie’s story. Click HERE to see Charlie’s Hero’s Journey.

    17May, 2022
    The Hero’s Journey: Jonah Byrde (Ozark)

    Jonah Byrde is not your typical hero, but he is a compelling one.

    Jonah Byrde (Ozark, 2017-2022 with Jason Bateman, Laura Linney, Sofia Hubiltz, Julia Garner, and Skylar Gaertner as Jonah)

    Summary (from Netflix): The Byrdes and their teenage kids, Charlotte and Jonah, are, for all intents and purposes, an ordinary family with ordinary lives. Except for the job of Marty, a Chicago financial advisor who also serves as the top money launderer for the second largest drug cartel in Mexico. When things go awry, Marty must uproot his family from the skyscrapers of Chicago and relocate to the lazy lake region of the Missouri Ozarks.

    Hero– 

    Jonah Byrde (Skylar Gaertner). He’s smart, quiet, introverted. Approximately 11 years old.

     

    Ordinary World—

    Jonah is approximately 11 years old in season one. He’s an ordinary kid living with his parents and sister, Charlotte, in Chicago.

    Call to Adventure– 

    Jonah’s parents tell the kids they will be moving to the Ozarks. This is the first hint to Jonah that his life may be changing.

    Refusal of Call– 

    Jonah (and Charlotte) do not want to go.

    Meeting the Mentor– 

    Buddy Dieker owns the house the Byrdes live in the basement of the house Marty and Wendy buy. He becomes a friend to Jonah. He teaches Jonah how to handle guns and how to hunt, which comes in handy later in the series.

    Crossing the Threshold–

    Jonah accepts his new life in the Ozark.

    Tests and Allies–

    1. Jonah realizes and Wendy confirms that Marty launders money for the Navarro cartel. 

    2. He takes an interest in learning the process of money laundering.

    3. After Marty wishes Jonah goodnight, Jonah goes back to his computer where he is watching the Navarro cartel’s violence. 

    4. He becomes friends with Tuck at the Blue Cat resort.

    5. Jonah learns how to shoot a gun (thanks to Buddy) and gets involved in how his parents launder the money.

    6. First kiss is with the cartel lawyer’s daughter.

    7. When it becomes clear that the lawyer (Helen Pierce) is not a friend, he threatens her. Helen tells Jonah the truth about Wendy’s involvement with Uncle Ben’s death.

    8. Acting out in anger, he shoots the window in his house.

    9. A PI, Mel Sattem, is in and out investigating the disappearance of Ben.

    Central Ordeal–

    Jonah’s involvement in his parents’ new world escalates when he begins to doubt his parents and their intentions. He begins working with Ruth Langmore (and indirect with Darlene Snell) laundering money

    Reward– 

    Marty is a bit proud of Jonah’s intelligence and entrepreneur nature. Jonah’s successful in his laundering. He works out of a room at the Lazy O motel, which Ruth now owns. At 15, he’s a successful money launderer

    Road Back– 

    Wendy’s father comes to town to search for Ben. He wants to take Jonah and Charlotte with him back to North Carolina. Jonah will be able to leave behind the criminal life.

    However, Ruth helps reveal that Nathan Davis (played by Richard Thomas) is not a man his grandkids think he is. He’s a misogynistic, abusive man. The kids do not go with him.

    Jonah begins a tenuous reconciliation with his mother.

    As Marty and Wendy make final preparations to extricate themselves from the Navarro cartel, there is a big fundraiser on the Missouri Belle, the floating casino his parents set up. Jonah is glad to be part of the event.

    Resurrection–

    Unbeknownst to Charlotte and Jonah, Marty and Wendy’s plans backfired. They manage to get through the night. Back at home, however, Mel Sattem  is waiting for Marty and Wendy with Ben’s remains (which Ruth had in a goat cookie jar and which Ruth gave to Jonah).

    All could be lost for the Byrde family, which has only just begun to come together again.

    The sound of a rifle cocks. The camera turns to Jonah, who points the rifle at Sattem.

    Marty gives a slight smile and a slight nod.

    Return w/ elixir– The screen goes black, but the sound of a gunshot is heard. Jonah acts to protect the family he realizes he needs and loves. In this moment, he’s put to use his shooting, which Buddy taught him, in a sense coming full circle to the beginning of his journey in the new world. 

    Comments: Ozark is a four season TV show. Jonah is a great example of every character being the hero of their own journey. He begins as an innocent and naive kid who becomes a force to be reckoned with in the world of money laundering and the criminal life his parents created. He ends up being their protector in the end. 

    Check out other Hero’s Journeys!

    Tom Cruise as Maverick with cast members in a classroom
    9May, 2022
    The Hero’s Journey: Top Gun (1986)

    The original Top Gun has a clear Hero’s Journey.

    The Hero’s Journey: Top Gun (1986), with Tom Cruise, Anthony Edwards, Tom Skerritt, TJ Cassidy, Val Kilmer, Kelly McGillis

    Hero– 

    Maverick (Pete Mitchell)

    Ordinary World– 

    Maverick is a gifted Navy fighter pilot who doesn’t follow the rules. Goose is his RIO. During a flight, they encounter two MiG-28s. Cougar, the pilot in another place, freezes. Maverick performs a risky inverted maneuver to help Cougar. 

    They are all low on fuel. Maverick is just about to land safely on the carrier when he breaks protocol and directly disobeys orders in order to help Cougar and his RIO land. 

    Call to Adventure–

     Maverick and Cougar are the two top pilots. There is a chance to go to compete for Top Gun, which is the best of the best.

    Refusal of Call– 

    This comes in the form of TJ Cassidy not wanting Maverick to be the one to go to Top Gun. He thinks Maverick is too much of a liability.

    Meeting the Mentor–

     Goose acts as mentor at this point. He supports Maverick, but is also his conscience. The commander (TJ Cassidy, as himself) cautions Maverick about his dangerous behavior. 

    Crossing the Threshold–

     Cougar ends up quitting. He has ‘lost his edge’ and turns in his wings. Cassidy, against his better judgement, selects Maverick and Goose to go to Top Gun. Maverick literally crosses the threshold when he drives his motorcycle onto the flight academy land.

    Tests and Allies–
    1. Maverick is his own worst enemy. He is irreverent and disregards the rules. He is arrogant. 
    2. Maverick does a flyby (‘buzzes the tower’), which gets him and Goose in trouble. This could ruin their chance of going to Top Gun.
    3. Iceman and Slider are Maverick and Goose’s immediate rivals.
    4. Maverick meets Charlie (Kelly McGillis) and is attracted to. Only to fine out that she is a civilian instructor at Top Gun.
    5. Maverick and Iceman go head to head as they vie for who is best.
    6. Viper (Tom Skerritt) becomes a mentor. He knew Maverick’s father.
    Approach to Inmost Cave-

    Maverick and Goose are doing tactical maneuvers. It’s a big fight scene in the sky. It looks like they will succeed until they intercept ‘jet wash’, which sends their plane into a spin. They eject. Goose dies.

    Central Ordeal– 

    Maverick goes back into flight with a different RIO. In the midst of the training, he freezes. He, like Cougar, has lost his edge.

    Later, Charlie tries to get through to Maverick, who blames himself for Goose’s death, but he is lost. He has his demons…namely that he is like his father, who was also a maverick and was considered dangerous. 

    Reward– 

    Maverick is cleared of any fault in Goose’s death. After Charlie fails to get through to Maverick, Maverick goes to Viper’s home. Viper (Mike) reveals the truth (classified information) about Maverick’s father—that he saved many people in the battle that ultimately took his life. Maverick’s father was a hero.

    Mike, as mentor, guides Maverick. He tells him he has two options: Get back up in the air or quit. He says he has enough points to graduate with his Top Gun classmates.

    Road Back– 

    Maverick shows up after the graduation (Iceman won Top Gun) and is given an assignment. Iceman expresses his doubt that Maverick is up to the task. Maverick is still doubting himself.

    Resurrection–

    The mission ends up far more intense than initially thought. There are 6 MiGs. One plane goes down. Iceman is in trouble. It’s up to Maverick, who is still doubting himself. He finally snaps out of it after a close in on Goose’s dog tags. He ‘speaks’ to Goose. After that he engages in the fight. He ends up saving Iceman and Slider with his courage and fearlessness. 

    Maverick is resurrected as a hero, like his father. He saved Iceman and Slider, shot down several MiGs, and regains his confidence. Iceman tells Maverick that he will make an excellent wingman for him. Maverick laughs and says, no, Iceman will make an excellent wingman for him.

    Return w/ elixir– 

    Maverick is in top form. He tells TJ Cassidy that he might want to be an instructor at Top Gun.

    He has closure with Goose when he throws Goose’s dog tags into the Pacific.

    And Charlie comes back to Maverick, coming full circle to their first meeting when she plays You’ve Lost that Loving Feeling on the juke box. 

    Comments: Top Gun’s hero’s journey follows Maverick as he deals with the  burden of his father’s reputation and his own dangerous behaviors. His resurrection is a powerful moment in his journey.

    Back to the Hero’s Journey Database

    1May, 2022
    The Hero’s Journey for Mysteries

    Have you heard of the hero’s journey? It’s at the core of the mythic structure. It basically goes like this:

    1. Hero lives in the ORDINARY WORLD
    2. CALL TO ADVENTURE
    3. REFUSAL OF THE CALL
    4. MEETING OF THE MENTOR
    5. CROSSING THE THRESHOLD (to some magical or new world, which is entering the (6) ROAD of TRIALS). At this point, there is no return. The hero faces
    6. TESTS, ALLIES, & ENEMIES
    7. The APPROACH TO THE INMOST CAVE s a huge test for the hero. There are setbacks, but the hero grows stronger as a result.
    8. The CENTRAL ORDEAL is the second major turning point. It is a win for the hero.
    9. REWARD Whatever the hero has been after has been ostensibly won.
    10. THE ROAD BACK The hero has succeeded in the journey (or so he/she thinks) and heads back toward the ordinary world.
    11. RESURRECTION is the CLIMAX. The Central Ordeal was a false win. THIS is the true test of the hero’s mettle. This is the moment when the ordinary person is resurrected as a hero.
    12. RETURN WITH THE ELIXIR The hero returns to the ordinary world a changed person. 

    CLICK HERE to check out WriterSpark’s How to Write a Cozy Mystery course.

    CLICK HERE to read more about The Hero’s Journey

    The hero’s journey is a fairly typical story structure. With a mystery, however, the structure is slightly different.

    1. The Victim’s ORDINARY WORLD is disrupted when he/she dies! Depending upon the POV and type of mystery you are writing, the sleuth’s ORDINARY WORLD is also disrupted. Using the amateur sleuth or detective as our hero, he / she lives in their ORDINARY WORLD before the murder happens.
    2. CALL TO ADVENTURE occurs when the murder is discovered.
    3. REFUSAL OF THE CALL occurs when the amateur sleuth feels pulled to investigate, but doesn’t feel qualified or want to dive into the investigation. If the hero is a detective, the REFUSAL OF THE CALL occurs when he/she doesn’t want the case, or, in the case of my first book, Living the Vida Lola, Lola fears she won’t be given the case. Often, the refusal of the call is not the decision of the hero.
    4. MEETING THE MENTOR The mentor is whatever character (for good or for nefarious reasons) convinces the sleuth to get involved. This person can be the person the sleuth is determined to save or prove innocent.
    5. CROSSING THE THRESHOLD in a mystery means the hero (sleuth) takes the case and/or becomes an active investigator. There’s no turning back because he/she (or loved ones) may well be in danger.
    6. THE ROAD OF TRIALS and TESTS, ALLIES, and ENEMIES = LIES, DECEPTION, CLUES, RED HERRINGS, all laid out by the villain (the murderer) and the false leads the sleuth follows. This is the bulk of the Second Act in the Three-Act Structure.
    7. APPROACH TO THE INMOST CAVE Something happens to threaten the sleuth’s forward progress. This could be a second murder, the sleuth in danger, or some other test/trial that threatens the sleuth’s ability to continue the investigation. 
    8. CENTRAL ORDEAL The hero (sleuth) think the whodunnit is solved.
    9. REWARD Justice will be served.
    10. THE ROAD BACK The sleuth is ready to return to his/her ordinary world having solved the case. The problem is, either a red herring has led the sleuth astray, or the sleuth/hero is in danger at this point so may not be able to return with the knowledge. The sleuth manages to get to the right answer (or defeat the killer) during the 
    11. RESURRECTION This is the CLIMAX, which is the confrontation with the killer. The sleuth ultimately discovers the truth.
    12. RETURNING WITH THE ELIXIR, in a mystery, is justice. Finally, the sleuth can return to his/her Ordinary World, but now he/she is the MASTER OF TWO WORLDS. He/she has solved a murder and will never be quite the same.
    Heath Ledger as Will Thatcher in A Knight's Tale hero's journey
    26Apr, 2022
    A Compelling Hero from A Knight’s Tale

    Heath Ledger is a Compelling Hero from
     A Knight’s Tale

    His path follows the Hero’s Journey. Not only that, the movie is a pure delight to watch. It’s fun and poignant. Heath Ledger is great, Paul Bettany as Chaucer is brilliant, and Rufus Sewell is such a great scoundrel.

    Movie: A Knight’s Tale starring Heath Ledger, Paul Bettany, and Rufus Sewel

    Hero–

    Will Thatcher

    Ordinary World–

    Will is a peasant squire. The opening scene, his master has just died.

    Call to Adventure–

    Will Thatcher wants to better his station in the world. His Call to Adventure is initiated by him.

    Refusal of Call–

    Despite Will’s desire to change his stars, he can’t realistically do this because you are born into nobility…and he was not. This is the refusal, thrust upon him by circumstances.

    Meeting mentor–

    Will Thatcher meets Geoffrey Chaucer, played by Paul Bettany. Chaucer gives Will vital information and guides him in his ruse. 

    Crossing the Threshold–

    Will literally crosses the threshold into the new world when he is accepted into the first jousting competition. Before that, he’s just trying on his new identity. It is when Chaucer (who is also an ally) helps him with his papers that he ‘becomes’ this new person.

    Tests and Allies–
    1. Will Thatcher has Wat and Roland as allies throughout the story. 
    2. He also has Chaucer, played by Paul Bettany.  At first, there’s doubt as to whether Chaucer should be trusted, but Will’s decision to trust him shows he’s a good judge of character and Chaucer ends up being a vital ally.  
    3. Enemy: Count Adhemar
      , played by Rufus Sewel
    4. The trials come in the form of all the practice Will goes through to be competitive, and the matches he competes in.
    Approach to Inmost Cave-

    Will competes against a prince, allowing the prince to lose with honor. This is a test of Will’s character.

    Central Ordeal–

    For Will Thatcher, the Central Ordeal comes when he’s visiting his father, already a success for all his wins at jousting. Count Adhemar overhears the truth about who Will is. Will is then imprisoned and it appears as if he has lost all. He is in the blockade, on death’s door. But the prince, who he previously helped, frees him and knights him. This is his rebirth. 

    Reward–

    Will survived the blockade. He is knighted, which is what he wanted all along. There is a sense of completion with the journey Will has been on.

    Road Back–

    But Count Adhemar challenges Will to a jousting match. 

    Resurrection–

    Will Thatcher faces Count Adhemar in the final jousting match, but he’s a knight now, and more than prepared to win the battle, which he does

    Return w/ elixir–

    Will’s hero’s journey is complete when he remains honorable after winning against the dastardly Count Adhemar. And then he wins the love of Kate.

    Comments: A Knight’s Tale has a very clear Hero’s Journey. Will Thatcher starts as a peasant and ends as a knight. He changes his stars, which is what his father told him he could do. His successful transformation is poignant because of the connect to his father.

    Back to the Hero’s Journey Database