“The journey of the hero is about the courage to seek the depths; the image of creative rebirth; the eternal cycle of change within us; the uncanny discovery that the seeker is the mystery which the seeker seeks to know.”

— Joseph Campbell

In this transformative four-week writing workshop, we will use the universal framework of the Hero’s Journey to unlock the structural secrets of compelling narrative. Starting with the Odyssey, we go beyond formula to explore how this blueprint shapes stories of transformation and change. The class will bring the Monomyth to life by examining its 12 stages through illustrated myths and stories using classical paintings, prints, sculpture, and movie stills from Star Wars.

The 4-Week mythic map applies the heroic structure through diverse narrative studies:

Week 1: The Epic Founder. We begin with the foundational myth: Homer’s Odyssey.

Week 2: The Forest and the Fear. We explore the framework through Russian and German Fairy Tales, focusing on female protagonists.

Week 3: The Trickster’s Call. We study an international perspective with a Tlingit Origin Myth, examining the journey through the unconventional protagonist, Raven.

Week 4: The Wrong Kind of Hero. We conclude by analyzing the ultimate complication: heroes whose journey leads to tragedy, studying Oedipus alongside Luke Skywalker from Star Wars.

You will learn to apply these timeless archetypes directly to your work-in-progress, ensuring your plot is structurally sound and your character’s emotional journey is profound. This class is ideal for writers of fiction or screenplay looking to infuse their work with mythic power and universal resonance.