Creating Ideas For Children's Books

Where do you get your ideas? Robyn Opie, author of 61 published children's books, is asked this question all the time. Read this article to find out.

Writing Effective Press Releases

There is a heck of a lot of time being spent in America writing useless press releases that go nowhere. Sometimes even the company commissioning them don't expect them to go anywhere. Why waste time with PR schlock when you could be getting press releases that actually promote your business?

Writing Research Papers; Some Thoughts

Are you contemplating writing some research papers? If so, then perhaps you might like a few pointers. The first comment is one of finding the right template. Now many people who use Research Paper Templates have complained that when writing research papers in a template format they find themselves concentrating on the structure more than the information.

Press Releases - Step By Step Guide To Writing And Formatting

OK. You have a message to convey, all your facts and figures are well-researched, and you're ready to put pen to paper, or fingers to the keyboard! But, what is the best way to format a press or media release for maximum impact?

188 Stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth): Establishing Context With The Fade In

Fade In is another word for context. In Bonnie and Clyde (1967), photos of 20's and text explain when Bonnie and Clyde were born and that they were vicious criminals.

188 Stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth): Physical Wounds Representing the Transmogrification

Every good Hero is wounded as he begins his (or her) Journey. As that wound heals, so it represents the Hero's Transformation and Transmogrification from an Ordinary Self to a New Self.

188 Stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth): Rules of the First Threshold

An Authority Figure will guard the entrance to the Great Cave of the First Threshold and dictate the rules of this New Domain.

188 Stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth): Rebirth

The Rebirth follows the Near Death Experience. In Brokeback Mountain (2005), Jack and Lureen (everyone) are older (the parker sequence). Ennis and Alma are older too (Ennis forgets his fishing gear).

188 Stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth): Hero's Allies

The Hero often has Allies in his Ordinary World that will accompany him on his Journey (often these are developed or more are encountered in the First Threshold). In Lord of the Rings (2001), Frodo has Sam and Pippin et al. It is these Allies' Challenges that form the basis of the subplot.

188 Stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth): New Self and Demonstrating the Changing

The New Self is expressed in a number of ways and at various stages of the Journey and Transformation. In Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Clyde asks Bonnie to change her hair, he doesn't like it the way it is.

188 Stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth): Brokeback Mountain; Night Sea Journey

It is post the Seizing of the Sword that the Hero is led on a Night Sea Journey. In Brokeback Mountain (2005), Ennis and Jack go to the mountains for a couple of days.

188 Stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth): Leaving Behind the Old Self

With a goodbye of the Old Self, we see the Hero leave behind a tangible part of his old self. In Brokeback Mountain (2005), Valerie sees Ennis in the cafe. She leaves.

188 Stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth): Returning

The Crossing the Return Threshold is a dangerous journey and the resulting New Domain that the Hero finds himself in, contains the Antagonism. In Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Clyde steals another car, Moss drives, Moss gets some drinking water from the travelers, Moss takes Bonnie and Clyde to Pop.

188 Stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth): Brokeback Mountain; Entering the Middle Cave

This is a place of Allies and Enemies. Where no new characters are met, the problem becomes one of establishing greater friendship or animosity. In Brokeback Mountain (2005), Jack and Ennis become friends through the act of hunting.

188 Stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth): Brokeback Mountain; Fish Out of Water

Every Hero must be a Fish out of Water at some point - the essence of every story is Transformation. Commonly, one Fish out of Water stage is upon entrance of the New Domain of the First Threshold. In Brokeback Mountain (2005), the sheepherder tells Jack and Ennis what not do to; don’t order soup; don’t need soup; Jack can’t ride.