The Modern Monomyth: Mythological Storytelling--Stages of the Hero's Journey

A new Story Ninjas' book, Mythological Storytelling is available for purchase! Check it out:


              

As a fiction writer, the goal is to create a story that resonates with the audience. We all want to write something gripping that people will share with friends and family; a narrative that lasts with the reader for years to come. Unfortunately, this is easier said than done. Many of us start out with a passion for storytelling. We love exploring new worlds and developing complex characters. So we begin to write. But at some point, every storyteller realizes that in order to become a professional, we must hone our natural talent into a skill. So, what do we do? We buy books on writing. There’s a book out there for everything. Some teach plot, others character. There are books that explain how to write action, suspense, conflict, dialogue, setting, theme, etc... 
But no matter how logical we structure our story, or how perfectly we construct our prose, the story doesn’t seem to have that “X-factor.” 

Even well known professionals face this problem. Think about how many times you’ve gone to the movies or picked up a book by a writer you follow, or a franchise you love, only to be completely let down. How many forgettable novels or films have you come across in your lifetime? Some written by reputable authors and screenwriters. Even though the action, mystery, or romance was great, the story still fell flat. The narrative lacked some mystical element that every great story seems to inherently possess. 

This is the major problem every author, writer, poet, screenwriter, and storyteller face. 

The Modern Monomyth series is aimed to teach writers from all walks of life how to fuel their stories with the power of myth. By utilizing mythological elements from the Monomyth (also known as the Hero's Journey), authors are able to connect with their audience on a deep psychological level. 

This book provides a definition of the Monomyth and it’s early origins. It teaches the three act structure as it pertains to the Hero's Journey and explains the difference between the known world and the special world of your story. You’ll learn what really makes a character heroic, and how plot and character feed off of each other, creating both an inner and outer journey. We’ll outline the 18 distinct stages of the hero’s journey and briefly discuss the main archetypes of the Monomyth. For each stage, this book provides at least four modern examples from well known stories. Each example will help you understand Hero’s Journey, and help you identify the stages in your own book. Every chapter concludes with action steps, which you can immediately use on your story. These will help you infuse mythic power and life into the narrative. By the end of the book, you’ll have a basic understanding of the Monomyth and a road map for your own story.

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Steampunk Wars: Beyond the Rim Amazon Release

Steampunk Wars: Beyond the Rim just released.

W00t w00t!

It’s available on Kindle or paperback. You can get a FREE Kindle copy starting tomorrow, 6 May, through 8 May (Non-US peeps may have to wait till 7 May). Amazon link is below. Tell all your friends!

                                            

STORY DESCRIPTION:

Anna Windrider is a gritty airship captain looking for opportunity and adventure. The crew of the Evangeline is in desperate need of coin. While searching for work at the Air Harbors, Anna is approached by Sir Earnest Walmsley, founder of Atlantis. The famous explorer is leading an expedition to find a lost city, and offers her a job to transport his team beyond the Rim. Despite her reservations, Anna cannot resist the call to adventure. Little does she know, dark forces are plotting against her.

Not only will Anna's world be turned upside down, but she will be forced to make a decision that will affect every man, woman, and child in the Empire.

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Creatures of the Night: Deadly Decisions--Book One of the Bloodline Chronicles

Creatures of the Night: Deadly Decisions just released over the weekend. Get your copy for free 19-20 April 2017!!!                                     

                                    

Xavier Nightwalker is a vampire and the lead hunter of his coven. While chasing a rogue vampire through the city, he comes across a girl named Ashlynn. For some reason he's drawn to this woman. She reminds him of his past, before he took the dark gift. After spending time with her, he begins to fall in love. The only problem is, the laws of his people obligate him to marry Violet, his oldest friend and a powerful vampire in her own right. He must chose between duty and love. The decision he must make not only affects his love life, but the lives of all the people he cares for the most. Little does Xavier know, there are dark forces at work which plan to take matters into their own hands.

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Creatures of the Night: Deadly Decisions (1st Book in the Bloodline Chronicles)

Children of the Night ready for preorder now!

Xavier Nightwalker is a vampire and the lead hunter of his coven. While chasing a rogue vampire through the city, he comes across a girl named Ashlynn. For some reason he's drawn to this woman. She reminds him of his past, before he took the dark gift. After spending time with her, he begins to fall in love. The only problem is, the laws of his people obligate him to marry Violet, his oldest friend and a powerful vampire in her own right. He must chose between duty and love. The decision he must make not only affects his love life, but the lives of all the people he cares for the most. Little does Xavier know, there are dark forces at work which plan to take matters into their own hands.

You can find Story Ninja's books on Kindle here.

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Dark Tales Volume 2: Scary, Spooky, Haunting Campfire Stories

Check out our newest scary story anthology, Dark Tales Volume 2. You can download a copy of Volume 1 and 2 for free 5-8 April 2017!


                                   

Planning a cabin trip? Going hunting? Looking for stories to tell around the campfire? Or maybe you want to spook your friends this weekend? This is the book for you. Dark Tales is the second installment of tantalizing tales from Story Ninjas. In this collection you'll find SEVEN scary stories to tell around the campfire. From killer clowns to viral parasites, this anthology has all kinds of haunting stories to make your spine tingle. What happens when a group of college students come back from a cabin trip only to find mysterious photos on their phones? Or what about an author that must make her story go viral in order to avoid a gruesome death? Maybe you would prefer to read about a boyfriend who takes his ex girlfriend to the same bridge his best friend died just a year ago? All of these stories and more await you in Dark Tales Volume 2.


Who are the Story Ninjas?

Story Ninjas Publishing is an independent book publisher. Our stories range from science fiction to paranormal romance. Our goal is to create stories that are not only entertaining, but endearing. We believe engaging narrative can lead to personal growth. Through unforgettable characters and powerful plot we portray themes that are relevant for today’s issues. Our hope is that readers find lessons they can apply to their everyday lives, so that the stories live on through the actions of each person they touch. Additionally, we provide creative non-fiction books that are meant to serve as tools to help people solve everyday problems. We hope you find our products entertaining and helpful.

You can find Story Ninja's books on Kindle here.

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Desire and Decisions: Giving Characters Believable Motivation

Characters in fiction, and sometimes creative non-fiction, can be extremely dynamic--in the sense that they portray a lot of emotion that most people relate to. One of the most fueled emotions within a story is desire. Just like people in the real world, every character within a story wants something. Or they wish for a particular outcome. If a reader can relate to that desire, they can relate to the character. They feel a sense of comfort from knowing that they aren’t the only human on earth seeking such desires.

Desires can come in many different hues and shapes, but they normally come from a basic human need.

Here's a list of just a few:

• Love
• Power
• Recognition
• Family
• Support
• Money
• Social Status
• Safety

These needs can portray themselves in the form of sexual desire, material desire or even desire of attention. Perhaps they want recognition from a friend, co-worker, or family member. Without these, often times harbored, emotions, there wouldn’t be a story to tell.

More importantly, characters would haven no believable motivation to make the tough decisions without desire to back them up. They are the logic behind the emotion. A character's wants, wishes and desires help the audience understand why the character makes the decisions that she does. When a character comes in conflict with the task of making critical choice, their desires should motivate the outcome. More often than not, the outcome is not always positive. The idea of trying to make rational decisions when desires are fueling the mind, seems an almost impossible task at times.

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Character Flaws: Creating Reader Empathy Through A Character's Faults

All stories have characters.

Main characters.

Supporting characters.

Throw away characters.

An author’s goal when writing fiction is to get his or her audience to relate with the characters of their story. This rule applies to poems, short stories, novellas, novels, scripts, songs, comic books, and creative non-fiction works. The best way to create empathy is to give your characters human flaws. Just like everyday people, every protagonist, sidekick, mentor, ally, rival, henchman, and antagonist, should have faults.

These can come in the form of vices, quirks, habits, or neurosis. But they must be shown to the audience.

When the protagonist in a story starts off with personal problems, readers tend to root for them throughout the story. People want an underdog, because they see themselves as an underdog. becWhen a hero struggles with addictions, relationships, or internal conflicts, it humanizes them. Just as in real life, there are obstacles within stories, and writers must test their character in tough situations. A lot of times, when character is tested, wise decisions aren’t always made. That creates the human factor.

We all make mistakes.

We all fail.

But it’s how we bounce back from them that matters. If our characters can do the same, then the reader sees them as someone they can relate with.


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Story Ninjas--Stories that pack a PUNCH!

Story Ninjas--Stories that pack a PUNCH!

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Story Ninjas Publishing is an independent book publisher with fiction stories that range from science fiction to romance. Our goal is to create stories that are not only entertaining, but endearing. We believe engaging narrative can lead to personal growth. Through unforgettable characters and powerful plot we portray themes that are relevant for today’s issues. Our hope is that readers find lessons they can apply to their everyday lives, so that the stories live on through the actions of each person they touch. Additionally, we provide creative non-fiction books that are meant to serve as tools to help people solve everyday problems. We hope you find our products entertaining and helpful.

Who are the Story Ninjas?

Story Ninjas Publishing is an independent book publisher. Our fiction stories range from fantasy to romance, and everything in between. Our goal is to create stories that are not only entertaining, but endearing. We believe engaging narrative can lead to personal growth. Through unforgettable characters and powerful plot we portray themes that are relevant for today’s issues. Our hope is that readers find lessons they can apply to their everyday lives, so that the stories live on through the actions of each person they touch. Additionally, we provide creative non-fiction books that are meant to serve as tools to help people solve everyday problems. We hope you find our products entertaining and helpful.

Below are just a few of the books we've published: