Should the protagonist not appear, in court when summoned, the judge renders a default in favor of the opposing character, whether they be defendant or plaintiff. The character has failed to present and/or make her or his case for a story. And so has the author. All forward motion of plot ceases. No story exists, […]
Each story or novel presents the main character with not only an upset in daily activities, but also a quest. That quest presents itself not unlike a summons to court. The protagonist, in arriving at court, must plead her or his case. And yet the judge, the bailiff, the jurors, even the attorneys for both
The Journey and Its Calling… Read More »
Symbols link yearning and desire with the change and transformation required for the central character to achieve her or his goal. To the extent that you can attach a physical object to the goal your central character fights to attain, the more you solidify, in the mind of the reader, the experience of your protagonist
Of Avataric Moments, Desire, and Change Read More »
According to Jungian theory, the shadow aspect of one’s personality contains any, and everything that falls out of alignment, stands apart, from the ego ideal. The writer must examine the central character’s values, those held by her or his family, mother, father and culture, to gain a sense of how the Shadow archetype might manifest
Who Am I: What Do I Really Want? Read More »
Guardians of the Threshold, which Christopher Vogler discusses in The Writer’s Journey, Mythic Structure for Writers, may present as enemies. Yet instead they seek to test the protagonist or central character of a story, to ensure that she or he has integrated the wisdom and information provided by the Mentor. The best protagonists earn success
The Enemy at the Gates–Guardians of the Threshold Read More »