The Writer's Hero's Journey -- January 2001 Meeting Recap

"The Hero's Journey"
(January Meeting Recap)
by
Rosanne Boettiger

Chris Pacheco, aka. Christy Lockhart, gave a wonderful talk at the HODRW's January monthly meeting. Here is a brief recap of Chris' talk on "The Hero's Journey".

Chris started with an example: life in general is a hero's journey, and the fact that we have all managed this far makes us all heroes. But of course this was a writer's meeting, and Chris was quick to point out that a writer's journey is a special journey.

A call to adventure.

Each call to adventure is unique. Have you always been a storyteller, a dreamer, a poet? Perhaps your call was dialogue shouting in your head, or scenes flashing before your eyes.

Receiving the call, and answering are two different things. As Chris pointed out there is always something that can be done before we really dig in and start writing. For example, there is research to do, making notes and diagrams on what will be in the book, planning the stages of the book, and even reading books on how to write books.

Sound familiar? We've all been there. Chris gave us some concrete pointers on how to move past the planning stage.

1) Have a mentor. They should be at your level of writing or a little ahead in order to draw on their wisdom. Some people, however, are born mentors and have an inherent wisdom that you can draw upon even if they are not at your level of writing.
2) Find someone successful you can emulate.
3) Make sure you write each and every day.
4) Focus on your writing.
5) Write a business plan for yourself and your writing goals.
6) Tap into the knowledge of published authors. Most would love to answer your questions if you will only ask them.
7) And most importantly, take chances! Take time off to go a new direction. Take a risk and write that historical novel you've dreamt of when contemporary is your normal genre. Don't worry if your readership will follow, or if you can afford a new style. It's the risks along the journey that make writing an "adventure"!

Okay, you are committed to the journey. Now comes the tough part. Chris calls this "Crossing the Threshold," and getting past the "Threshold Guardians." Guardian's can be a number of people and/or commitments. Many of them are well meaning, but do not fully understand your burning desire to write. Who are they? They can be your spouse, significant other, friends, parents, kids, obligations, work deadlines, even those well meaning people whom ask, "When are you going to write a real book?" Our own fears - of not being good enough, of failure, of running out of words - can be threshold guardians. All these things hold us back from making the final step, the actual writing of the book.

Chris states one way to firmly cross the threshold and start is to take your writing seriously. If you do not, no one else will.
Some allies to your writing are:

1) time management system
2) concrete goals
3) mission statement
4) carve out time for your dream (book)

But, Chris is also quick to point out that your life will need balance. Don't let writing overwhelm your life. Focus on the important relationships.

How does one stay motivated during the journey? Chris suggests an accountability partner. This is a person whom will help keep you focused on your goal.

Another wonderful point Chris made was regarding failure. Failure is elusive, but it is also a learning experience. It is one more step along the journey. It is having learned a new way not to do something (that's my personal favorite!). Would you call someone else a failure when they have done what we feel is a failure for us? Chris says that many people give up writing just one step too soon because of perceived failures. "Success most times comes one step beyond your most spectacular failure".

The next step on the journey is the "ordeal". The time spent putting words on paper and finishing the book. During this time characters and plot points can wake you up in the middle of the night. But if you persevere and finish the book, you will never be the same again. At that point, Chris says, "Stop! Celebrate when you finish! You have accomplished what many others have wanted to do, and not done."

A writer's journey, as Chris summed up, is circular not linear. Our end is merely a new beginning.

Rosanne Boettiger has been writing 'professionally' for six years now, but got hooked on writing in seventh grade. With several articles and short stories, and even a children's book to her credit, she is eagerly awaiting the 'big event' - the sale of her first romance.