In recent months, there have been a number of instances where I’ve come across mentions of the hero’s journey, a narrative template that was popularised by Joseph Campbell’s influential work, The Hero With a Thousand Faces (1949). You may think that this is not a remarkable thing, considering I am a writer and a student of writing craft, but the contexts in which I stumbled on these mentions were outside the realms of writing. Most recently during a meditation, of all times, with the following quote shared by Davidji in his 7-day Finding Inner Peace Challenge on the mediation app Insight Timer:
The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.
-Joseph Campbell
Over January, I’ll be making my own hero’s journey, entering my cave of writerly fears. It is a cave riddled with sharp-pointed stalactites and stalagmites whispering you’re doing it wrong, you’re not good enough, you haven’t got it in you. These are deeply entrenched fears, but I will don my noise cancelling earphones and keep writing. I will hopefully emerge from the cave with a handful of chapters of my novel ahead of my semester 1 subject, Developing a Writing Project.
In the January 2023 issue of The Raptorial, I’ll share an update, live from the cave!
Until then, rather than a Christmas message, I’ll leave you with heartfelt words for any season: I hope you revel in many joyful moments and find the courage, time and time again, to enter your cave and claim the treasures that are waiting there for you.
Cate Kennedy’s tips for writing short stories
A couple of weeks ago, I attended the Northern Books end of year event that featured Cate Kennedy, winner of the 2022 Furphy Literary Award. Cate was in conversation with Julie Twohig. During the fun, engaging chat, Cate shared an anecdote — when the Furphy organisers called her and insisted she attend the awards event despite a prior engagement and the distance between said engagement and Shepparton, home of the Furphy, she got the hint that she was very likely the winner. Cate made the long road trip to Shepparton but it wasn’t till arriving that it occurred to her she could have better used the travel time by preparing an acceptance speech (considering — very likely winner). Without a speech prepared, much less talking points for an interview, on arrival, Cate was accosted by a journalist who asked, ‘Cate Kennedy, can give us your top 3 tips for writing a short story?’
When it came to question time at the Northern Books event, I took the opportunity to ask that same question. I got the expected laughs, but more importantly, the answer to that million-dollar, or perhaps more fittingly, fifteen-thousand-dollar question (paraphrased here):
Explain nothing
Be prepared to sit with the discomfort of not knowing where your story is going, and explain nothing (as a way out of the discomfort) — everything should be embodied.
Create a movie in the reader’s mind
You’re not writing to peddle a message or give a lecture; you’re writing to create a movie in someone’s head. Use filmic techniques and practice the craft of compressing scene and dialogue.
The devil is in the detail
Zoom in, be specific, give the reader an immediate visual image.
Raptorial Writes
A monthly writing prompt
Set a timer for 10 minutes and write. What do you fear most? Create a story spanning an hour in a person’s life where they face this fear. Taking on Cate’s advice, make it filmic, be specific, and allow your story to embody ideas, mood, emotions, and sensory elements.
I’d love to know how you go! Post your writing to instagram using #RaptorialWrites, or feel free to share it in the comments here. Happy writing!
Raptorial Bites
A monthly short story book club
This month, I’ve paired the story with the (festive) season — O. Henry’s The Gift of the Magi (1905).
I hope you’ll join me in this read and chat.