Christopher Vogler

I began reading The Writer's Journey several few years ago when I was taking video and multimedia course work during a transition in my photography and video career in 2009. I started from page one again in mid-2023 to begin the process of writing a project with Joseph Campbell's analysis as a framework. As someone who writes news articles and press releases for work, I am always a student for writing so this book has been helpful on many occasions.

I've heard other writers at discuss "The Hero's Journey:" as both a starting point and as an outdated model in modern storytelling but one can find many elements in nearly every film found in Campbell's work. I found the detail and approach in The Writer's Journey helpful on many layers and levels.… (mer)

This book fully explains in detail the different parts of Joseph Campbell's monomyth structure. However, it can be a bit tedious if you're familiar with Campbell, and the appendices are over-written centered around singular ideas that do not need the embellishment that they're treated with. I also felt that there may be a strong new-age thread running through the whole especially where the author uses The Golden Bough by James George Frazer as a reference but fortunately, it doesn't move from the juxtaposition of comparative mythology to writing into the realm of hokum. There are a lot of good ideas scattered throughout this book. I would recommend this book if you are at all interested in exploring Campbell's monomyth.… (mer)

I began reading The Writer's Journey in April 2019, then put it aside for a few years when I became busy with several short story projects, a new novel, and a few harrowing life changes. When I picked up The Writer's Journey again in late May 2021, I started from page one again and found Vogler's interpretation and application of Joseph Campbell's analysis of mythology useful. I approached it in much the same way I approach outlining my novels and short stories. It is a roadmap, not a strict rule book and even Vogler admits this. When developing any story, there are many avenues a writer can take and crafting the story is an organic process. Often while writing, I will have an epiphany that takes the story in an even better direction than what I had originally outlined.

Vogler's guide is no different. I know other reviewers accuse Vogler of diluting or cheapening Campbell's work. I've heard other writers at conventions and conferences deride The Hero's Journey as an obsolete model that no longer has a place in modern storytelling. To each their own. I enjoyed The Writer's Journey and found Vogler's voice and style easy to follow. Even after three novels and over 20 short stories in my young writing career, I never stop learning and will keep this book close at hand as I work through the latest revision of my next novel.… (mer)