The Writers Journey - How to Write a Novel
74How to Write a Novel - Hub # 1 of 11
This hub links to other hubs for details of how Vogler explains how to write a novel.
Read them in order for the best lesson on how to write a novel.
The Writers Journey by Christopher Vogler
The books
 | Amazon Price: $13.78 List Price: $26.95 |
 | Amazon Price: $14.25 List Price: $22.95 |
 | Amazon Price: $12.55 List Price: $21.95 |
Overview of The Writers Journey
Christopher Vogler's book The Writer's Journey: Mythic Sttucture for Storytellers and Screenwrites is a classic book explaining how to write a novel. Furthermore, it is an enjoyable read and a fantastic reference book for every aspiring novelist.
To learn how to write a novel, you need to understand two main elements, character and plot.
The book is set out in two main parts:
- Part One: Mapping the Journey
- Part Two: Stages of the Journey
Part one is about the type of characters a good novel needs for a story.
Part two explains the stages of a story, or, in other words, how to mold the plot.
If you want to learn how to write a novel, you will benefit from reading this series of hubs. Click the links below to learn how to write a novel.
Part One: Mapping the Journey
Book one is about the Archetypes, or characters. When you are learning how to write a novel, you need to create strong characters. In his book, Vogler presents the most common characters being
- Hero
- Mentor
- Threshold Guardian
- Herald
- Shapeshifter
- Shadow
- Trickster
Click on the links below to read more about the character types.
Links for Part One - Characters
- The Writers Journey - Hero Characteristics
A hero will sacrifice their own needs for the sake of others, therefore the hero needs to be self-sacrificing. In The Writer's Journey, Vogler considers that the hero has a psychological function that is... - The Writers Journey - Mentor Characteristics
The Mentor can be a wise old man or woman. The mentor is expressed through characters that teach the hero and may give them gifts and protection of various kinds. To help you identify mentors, think on the... - The Writers Journey - Threshold Guardian Characteristics
At the gateway into each world the hero tries to enter, there is a threshold guardian whose job it is to prevent the unworthy from entering. They do not have to be villains, and sometimes they can becomes... - The Writers Journey - Herald Characteristics
In the beginning of a story we usually meet the hero, and then something happens that tells the audience that the hero's life is about to change. Think of the voice in Field of Dreams that announced "If you... - The Writers Journey - Shapeshifter Characteristics
As its name suggests the shapeshifter's character will change as soon as you examine it closely and think you understand it. They can change their mood and appearance. They can mislead the hero and the... - The Writers Journey - Shadow Characteristics
The shadow represents the energy of the darkside and is often projected onto characters that are villains, antagonists or enemies who are dedicated to the death, destruction or defeat of the hero. As in... - The Writers Journey - Trickster Characteristics
The trickster represents the energies of mischief and a desire for change and is a popular hero type in myths, folklore and fairy tales and is important for people who are learning how to write a novel. They...
Part Two: Stages of the Journey
Book two is about the stages of the journey. When you are learning how to write a novel, you will hear about plot.
Vogler teaches that there are 3 main acts that comprise12 main stages to the plot. For more information of learning how to write a novel and stage your plot, please click on the Act Number
ACT ONE
- Ordinary World
- Call to Adventure
- Refusal of the Call
- Meeting the Mentor
- Crossing the First Threshold
ACT TWO
- Tests, Allies, Enemies
- Approach to the Inmost Cave
- Ordeal
- Reward (Seizing the Sword)
ACT THREE
- The Road Back
- Resurrection
- Return with the Elixir
Click on the links below to learn more about developing the plot as part of learning how to write a novel.
Links for Part Two - The Plot
- The Writers Journey - ACT ONE
When learning how to write a novel, character and plot are the two crucial elements of a good story. Here we begin to understand how to structure the plot. Vogler suggests that Act One should consist of... - The Writers Journey - ACT TWO
In learning how to write a novel, you now need to know how to move the plot into real action. Act two should comprise about half of the story, and this act will involve crisis from about the halfway point... - The Writers Journey - ACT THREE
Congratulations, you are now at the end of your story. I hope you have enjoyed learning how to write a novel. Vogler suggests that this act should comprise the last quarter of the story. Act two put our...
How to write a novel.
Above you have the basic outline of what will come in future hubs. Each bullet point will be linked to a hub with more information. You should read them in order or in progression if you want to learn how to write a novel
This book, The Writer's Journey is the best guide to character and plot that I have ever come across, and should be the holy book of all writers seeking the holy grail of publishing an learning how to write a novel.
You have just read Hub # 1 of 11 hubs.
Go to hub # 2 of 11 How to Write a Novel
- The Writers Journey - Hero Characteristics
A hero will sacrifice their own needs for the sake of others, therefore the hero needs to be self-sacrificing. In The Writer's Journey, Vogler considers that the hero has a psychological function that is...
How to write a novel. Buy the book!
| Amazon Price: $13.78 List Price: $26.95 |
| Amazon Price: $14.25 List Price: $22.95 |
| Amazon Price: $12.55 List Price: $21.95 |
CommentsLoading...
It is actually a brilliant book, and a really helpful guide. Thanks for reading my hub.
Something I will have to read.
love this writers series...
I'm sure I need to read more books on how to write. I hate the discipline and love the creativity, but could learn from such books if I would discipline myself to read them. Good informative idea.
Sandy, Barry and Valerie, thankyou so much for reading and commenting. I believe this is a great book. I wrote the hub because I re-read this book over the weekend to try and sort out some problems I've got with a novel plan that just isn't working - saw a bit of new light though.
gramarye, this is a wonderful hub for all of us writers. I bookmarked it. so thank you!
Thanks for your comment ladybird. Hope it gives the type of guidance you need.
I'm going to print this out and tape it to the wall next to my desk
I never had the opportunity of learning how to write before i ventured into writing. I think i should start buying 'how to' books on writing so that I can hone my writing skills.
Thanks for sharing and the follow.
Cheers!
Thanks for reading my hub chinweike, your writing looks pretty good to me!
Really great hub. Thanks for posting it and I will get the book and learn from it.
WOW! fantastic hub! Great job I love your style of writing it is very easy for me to follow along with and it is much like we are having a conversation. On the hub - great suggestions! I love the breakdown of Act 1, 2, and 3! I had forgotten about that and you explained it very well. Anyway thanks and appreciate the time you put into it!
This really helped me a lot. I'm going to get the book for sure - I know nothing about novel writing as a craft or in any other way. This is like being given keys to the penthouse suite - thank you!
SilverGenes, I'm glad you found it useful. The book is almost a writer's bible, I'm sure you will get a lot of useful information
This looks interesting. I never really had structure in my learning of the different writing art styles. I first learn script writing though and then moved on to writing a novel was a hard transition. I kind just tossed all the supposed rules out the window and just write what was in my head. It amazingly turned out good in the end still...I think.
Thanks for your visit and comments JannyC. I agree that we don't always need to write with structure, but it can help sometimes. Good luck with your freelancing!
In my The Legend of Sven Svenson, the Swedish Outlaw, I am writing a Western from scratch and trying to document my thinking along the way. I think the best way to learn to write a novel is 1) Just write and 2) read as much as possible. Reading good books, Fowles, Vonnegut, Marquez provides one with lots of ammunition. Overly structure efforts to me seem a bit stifling.
Very informative and encouraging that with the correct outline and planning I can turn into a great author something that will be in my future once I complete school and free up some of my time and mind. Thanks
Yeah! I know this book. I am currently working on a script I wish to convert to a novel and I came across this book in a friend's place. I will try and grab a copy before I continue my project. I have been working on this since 2004 and I am already in the 2nd phase out of 5 phases of my plan.
Thanks for re-igniting my interest and I must say that this is such a great hub.
Dchosen_01, thanks for your comment, and good luck with your project - never give up and remember that you always have "down" times, and re-ignition is really important. Hope I've helped...
Wonderfully instructive hub gramarye, very well written.
But I think I'm in the minority when I say that I didn't like Vogler's book. I found it too prescriptive, and lecturing. I'm not a novelist, yet, but I prefer to be much freer in my writing, and it's working very well for me so far.
But I just wanted to say that I think it's good to use several 'how to...' books, rather than just sticking to one. I have roughly eight or ten books that I like to dip into, and I get very varied suggestions from all of them on the same subjects. This means that I have to think about what the right method is for me, rather than just accepting what one author tells me - in other words, I have many choices. Just as a writer should read widely, in and out of the genre they've chosen, I do think they should apply the same principle to their instruction material.
Still love your hubs though - they're excellent :)
Linda.
Linda, thanks for your thoughtful comments. I agree Vogler is a bit prescriptive, and like you, I have several favorites. Glenda.
I have tried writing off the top of my head without any structure. It only worked (for me) for a short while. I got so bogged down after a bit that it now sits on a shelf - well actually in a file on my computer - gathering dust.
I'll read your work, and maybe dust it off me thinks.
Go for it Duchess - even if you just need a bit of inspiration!
I found this interesting and weird since the way I am writing my novel is the basic outline of these principles.
Great info and I will read the rest of your hubs on writing for you can neverget enough information! I myself am right in the middle of writing my frist novel so I will investigate further! (I got you book marked).
Good Outline for those interested in improving their own writing abilities. I'm all for putting good quality articles out there to show that writing well is always achievable Gramarye!
Thanks for adding to the resources for those inquisitive newbies to see, read and adapt to their needs. Reminds me of the diversity available to those who care to look! Will be sure to pass it along, Gramarye! Thanks Again! ;D
Excellent hub. I really enjoyed reading it. Structure like this is useful to know as it will influence my thoughts even if I don't follow it slavishly.Thank you.
I typically write novels that don't have many of the elements of a mythic novel or the really defined story arc of fantasy or sci-fi, but this book may be one to check out if I ever do decide to write more commercial fiction, which I will probably try sometime in the future. So thanks for this great hub.
Hello again gramarye, Joseph Campbell's Monomyth the Heroe's Journey speaks to this topic as well...
Great help for novel writing. I was looking for some help online as don't get time for any sort of classes. I hope, it made me successful in writing my own one day.
Thank You, I will take this into consideration as I redefine my characters
A useful hub. Though I've read a few articles online detailing the same topic, your ideas were insightful and the links included were also helpful. Hope to include these pointers when I get around to being published in the real world. :)
Zsuzsy Bee 2 years ago
I think I saw that book at Chapters last month. I have quite a few "how to write books" but always like a new perspective which might help.
Thanks for sharing.
hope you're well
kindest regards Zsuzsy