The end of the beginning is nigh! We move on to the third stage of a Hero’s Journey plot line, “Crossing the First Threshold.” This stage...

Listen up, you! Yes—you! On we go to the 2nd stage of a Hero’s Journey plot line: the “Call to Adventure.” This is where the fun begins....

Let’s begin! Authors and screenwriters often refer to the Beginning, Middle, and End of stories as Acts 1, 2 & 3. Over the next few days,...

So far, as a writer, I have found no theory more useful or compelling than that of the “Hero’s Journey.” When I go to writing conferences...

Writing a book is like building a puzzle made out of magnets. My last post, about how a character’s wishes can kick-start a story, made...

I visited the National Leprechaun Museum—it’s a real place!—in Dublin earlier this summer. Inside, the tour guide filled us in on all...

As I see it, there is no conflict between science and religion, or at least, between science and spirituality. And stories—especially the...

The “Tyrant Complex” Stories involve change. Lots of people say: “A good character is one who experiences a change from beginning to...

I’ve encountered a lot of storytelling and screenwriting tips that say something like: “Coincidences are great for getting your character...

There was Storythreads–or at least now there is! This is a blog by Vancouver-based writer Russell F. Hirsch. That’s me! I’ll be posting...