The Writer’s Journey – 3rd edition: Mythic Structure for Writers Library Binding – November 1, 2007
Author: Christopher Vogler ID: 1615931708
Book Description
About the Author
Library Binding: 450 pagesPublisher: Michael Wiese Productions; 3 edition (November 1, 2007)Language: EnglishISBN-10: 1615931708ISBN-13: 978-1615931705 Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.4 inches Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies) Best Sellers Rank: #184,317 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #2754 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Movies
As a fan of Joseph Campbell and amateur writer, this book really appeals to me. It is more than just a how-to for aspiring novelists, it is a how-to for life. It is geared toward the writing of novels and stories with human drama and interaction, which makes it a bit more specialized. If you want a more general but very good reference for writing in general, then I recommend Simon & Schuster Handbook for Writers (8th Edition) (MyCompLab Series) — it is worth it’s weight in gold.
Back to the book at hand. Christopher Vogler’s 3rd edition TWJ is actually a very compelling read rather than a dry textbook sort of how-to. It is a very clear and readable application of J. Campbell’s theories about the mythic structure in film and book. The inclusion of the 6 Star Wars movies and their epic story arc makes for very interesting reading too. Delving into this book reveals ways to better create strong characters with depth and substance that will help set any story apart. Its study of mythology gives it a strong classical foundation from which a writer can draw upon in the creation of their own epic sagas.
The author has worked on such films as The Thin Red Line, Fight Club, The Lion King, and Beauty and the Beast so have no doubt that he knows his stuff, and presents in well in this 365 page gem. Vogler shows you how to go beyond the normal everyday writing (emails, letters, articles, etc.) to tackle the daunting task of structuring a novel that is thousands of words in size.
If you have yet to publish a novel but are an aspiring writer, add this to your list of required reads.
From page one, Christopher Vogler evidences his sincere passion for the theories of Joseph Campbell and Carl Jung. This is his book’s greatest asset. Even in the introduction, he reflects on the applicability of the "Hero’s Journey" to everyday life, rendering what is otherwise a mere literary and mythological structure into a life philosophy that will certainly have the capacity to assuage those readers who may find themselves, from time to time, in "the belly of the beast" or among any number of "threshold guardians." Moreover, Vogler establishes himself early on as an expert, occupying countless positions in Hollywood and particularly in Disney’s animation department.
But regardless of his passion and his experience, Vogler does not transform his book into anything but a watered-down rehash of Joseph Campbell’s theories. Yes, these theories may prove more relevant to the layman since Vogler elects to justify the Hero’s Journey through contemporary examples rather than Campbell’s esoteric myths; he frequently refers to a small cache of pop culture films to illustrate each of the hero’s faces and stages. However, the reader should never be fooled: this is diluted Joseph Campbell, and Vogler is even so bold as to slightly re-imagine the stages of the journey to fit his own whim. The fault of the book is that "The Hero with a Thousand Faces" is such an accessible masterwork, with ideas so cogent and convincing, that a book like Vogler’s–which aims to make Campbell’s ideas applicable to the writer–seems almost superfluous. In short, there is little for the screenwriter to learn here that he couldn’t have learned better and more meaningfully from Campbell.
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