Most fiction writers write transformation myths. They may not recognize it as such, and that’s what they’re doing because transformation myths are “start here, end there, setbacks and triumphs along the way, big setback followed by breakthrough triumph, end of story.”
Tolkien’s tetralogy is a transformation myth story (or series thereof). The Star Wars saga is a transformation myth story. Most if not all of my writing is transformation myth stories.
The great thing about transformation myth stories is the bulk of the work is already done for the author. Doesn’t matter if it’s science, fantasy, romance, crime, history, …, the characters and their roles (their function in the story) is pretty much culturally defined by the transformation myths indigenous to the writer’s culture.
Where do these culturally defined transformation myths come from?
They come from each culture’s creation mythology. Creation myths are more difficult to write because there are no rules for how characters are suppose to behave, grow, interact, anything, and provide the archetypes for cultural transformation stories.
Also Creation myths go beyond world building because most world building is based on the writer’s culture’s creation mythology, hence serves only as setting for whatever transformation myth occurs in the story.
Think of true creation myth stories along the lines of Stephen Hawkings’ “If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe.”
Just remember, inventing the universe from scratch means apples, pies, and the desire to make them might not exist.
Use your godhood wisely.
Enjoy.
Think I’m onto something? Take a class with me, schedule a critique of your work, or buy me a coffee.
Think I’m an idiot? Let me know in a comment.
Either way, we’ll both learn something.
Get copies of my books because it’s a nice thing to do, you care, you can follow along, and I need the money. My latest is my trauma recovery fantasy Chrysalis.
Wilderness House Literary Review EIC Steve Glines and I (Senior Fiction Editor) hold monthly open chats with authors interested in a) writing for us, b) improving their craft in general, and/or c) increasing their chances of being accepted by other markets.
Meetings are held via Zoom on the last Friday of each month from 9-10amET.
So, want to know how to write for us? Want to know what gets our attention? Want to know how to write better for whatever market you’re interested in? Join us for our next “Meet the Editors” Zoom session. Seats limited! Sign up and talk with us. We’re relatively easy going and fun to be with.
Last item, finding these experiments useful? Strengthen my ego and link/friend/follow me.
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