More Than Adventure ~ Laurie Schnebly Campbell

EVERY story is an adventure. We already know these characters will come face-to-face with all kinds of excitement, challenge and danger–whether that danger involves dastardly villains or a reluctance to fall in love.

A lot of readers are thrilled when a story’s main adventure involves bullets, pirates, dragons or floods. Sometimes all of ‘em combined, plus more!

 

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 There are plenty of stories for those readers to enjoy.

But what about the readers who prefer excitement on a more internal, emotional level? How can we satisfy THEM?

Here’s where The Heroine’s Journey comes in handy.

We all know about The Hero’s Journey, which Christopher Vogler adapted from Joseph Campbell’s discovery of the twelve steps a hero goes through on his way from Accepting The Quest to Returning With The Elixir.

Those steps involve all kinds of external conflict, and occasionally there might even be a bit of internal conflict along the way.

The hero isn’t JUST coping with bullets-pirates-dragons-floods…sometimes he’s also coping with self-doubt or fearing cowardice or concerned about his family while he’s busy dodging bullets, fighting pirates, lassoing dragons and swimming through floods.

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Then there are the more normal characters.

These are the ones who don’t come up against such problems. Their external challenges are quieter. Every bit as dramatic and intense, but instead of trumpets and drums they're accompanied by the music of a solo saxophone.

* Maybe their problem is the inability to say no to a loved one.

* Or the discovery that the life they’ve been trained for isn’t what they truly want.

* Or the choice between their love and their dream.

Theirs are the stories that follow 

The Heroine’s Journey.

The journey can apply to men as well as women, but it’s easier to distinguish Chris Vogler’s twelve steps from Kim Hudson’s thirteen steps by assigning each journey to a different gender.


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Kim Hudson’s book, The Virgin’s Promise, goes into fascinating detail on how a character who’s found a somewhat secure niche in society — at the expense of her own individuality — comes up against all kinds of challenges if she ever tries to become the person she’s fully meant to be.

This rings true for a lot of heroines. And sometimes even for those of us who write their stories.

We’ve been through experiences like Paying The Price of Conformity, realizing we No Longer Fit in a comfortable-but-confining world, giving up What Keeps us Stuck, and more. It can be a lifelong process. But in a book, it’s a lot more exciting to show the entire process taking place in just those pages between Chapter One and The End.

The question is, how do we keep it exciting?

Most readers (and writers) have faced these same challenges in real life, even though they don’t tend to view themselves as heroic characters. Yet every time we question our boundaries, every time we consider changing a habit that no longer fills its original purpose, every time we stand up for something we believe in, we’re taking the same 13 steps as those heroic characters who achieve — and deserve — a triumphant ending. 

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Even so, somehow we tend to think of our own life as “not very exciting” — unless the challenges we face involve bullets, pirates, dragons and floods. That’s why a lot of writers add those elements to their books.

With The Heroine’s Journey, though, there’s no real need for such external dangers.

There’s already a whole world of adventure in seeing her…

* Move from dormancy to risk.

* Sample an unrealized dream in secret.

* Balance her old and new worlds.

* Face the chaos that comes from change.

* Confront the ultimate challenge, and bring new light to the world. 

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You’ve done that yourself. You’ve taken on a challenge which people close to you viewed as questionable. They doubted your ability, your commitment, your thinking, and often made you doubt it as well. But you persisted, and you emerged triumphant.

Your more-than-adventurous heroine can, too.

Which leads to a prize-drawing question:

To inspire all of us creating memorable heroines, who face the kind of challenges that affect people like ourselves, could you describe a time when you or someone you know went beyond the limits set by her everyday world? Somebody who comments will win free registration to my September class on The Hero’s Journey, For Heroines!

Laurie Schnebly Campbell always wondered what was wrong with her, not really GETTING the Hero’s Journey, until she discovered its feminine counterpart. Then she got excited — not only by the premise, but also by the chance to create a four-week class for WriterUniv.com. She can’t wait to see who else shares her enthusiasm for characters making discoveries within themselves, as well as within the world…no matter what their gender.

71 comments:

  1. Going beyond the limits: I was twenty two, and sick of doing a very average job with a rotring pen in the Geology office in which I worked. The boss walked in, watched me for a moment, then said "How would you like to go to Bougainville, to do bridge site investigations?"
    "Yep," I said, "Where is it?". I spent a year on Bougainville, running a very questionable drilling crew, cut off by flooded rivers from the only towns on the island and learning many things about crowd control, driving in flooded rivers (A ute with the tail-gate up will float) and what I could tolerate by way of work hours and dirt. I met with great kindness and some fearful acts and I'll never forget it. - Moya B

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    1. Well, shoot, I hope these are going through...I'll try posting other responses and check back later.

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    2. Moya, talk about a wonderful challenge AND an impressive response -- moving from an average job to drilling & floods & crowd control into novel writing seems like a Heroine's Journey story just waiting to be told!

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    3. As a WTC/9/11 survivor, that day is etched in my memory. I walked with many traumatized people for three hours covered in soot and grime. The NYC police epitomized the word "hero" that day. Without them, I wouldn't be here to write this reply.

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    4. Joan, while the NYC police absolutely were heroic that day, so were the regular people like you! Walking three hours covered in soot and grime, and surviving to tell the tale, is the kind of challenge not many people ever have to face in everyday life...but you not only faced it, you survived to write about it. :)

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  2. My greatest hero is my mom because she has gone beyond the limits multiple times in her battle against a "dragon" that keeps rearing its vicious head - cancer. She's had moments she calls "pity parties" but they're extremely rare, and I know if I endured what she did for as long as she has, my normal existence would likely be one never-ending pity party. It's taken a toll on her, of course, but like every hero we know, despite the occasional bout of doubt, she has never given up. The hero she is, keeps on fighting.

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    1. Debbie, that's as heroic as a mother (or, well, anybody) can possibly be. I love how she's not only fighting for herself, but for the happiness of those she loves and doesn't want to leave yet...good for her. And YOU, for enduring all that alongside her!

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    1. Lis, it's kind of a wonky system...I clearly haven't mastered it myself. But I see you made it in down below, so thanks for trying again. :)

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  4. By all rights I should still be doing accounting for a living, but I was given a chance and I grabbed it with both hands. I got laid off from my accounting position. This was when the economy was in the dumper and jobs were hard to find for someone half my age and experience. It was even harder for someone like me with 30 years experience and being 55 years old. No one wanted to hire me. So my BFF said come publish your books with me and introduced me to Amazon's KDP and I've never looked back. It took a couple of years, but I was lucky and collected unemployment for 18 months which really helped me get my career started. by the time the unemployment ended I was making a living doing what I love. I was living my dream and only because I took that first scary step and said I can do this. I can do this. I can do this. And I did.

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    1. Cindy, what a wonderfully empowering story. Especially your closing...that's worthy of a book right there. And speaking of your books, I was so proud when a friend asked a few weeks ago about Old West romance and upon referring her to Amazon I saw so many of YOURS in the bestselling lineup!

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  5. I thought about this and came to the conclusion that it's my characters who take the risks and go beyond their limits. I've led a very boring life, so maybe that's why I write.

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    1. Terry, that's a great insight for any writer who feels like life is boring...just LOOK at all the excitement you can create without having to go through the hardships and tragedies that sometimes accompany limit-pushing. And you're not only creating it for yourself, but readers as well, so you're doing good at the same time. <3

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  6. Hi, Laurie. My parents were city people and were so confused when their daughter wanted to be a cowgirl. I couldn't imagine not being around horses. They were supportive although I'm sure they shook their heads about the things I did. LOL

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    1. Steph, what a wonderful story opening...City Girl Goes Country, with the added complexity of a supportive family so it's sure not gonna be a "never going back" scenario. Although, wait, maybe a better trope is City Girl Goes Cowgirl? Lots of possibilities there... :)

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  7. My mom had polio when she was a little girl. Paralyzed her legs. Was told she would spend her life in a wheelchair; was told she wouldn't live past thirty-five; was told she wouldn't be able to have children.

    She got around for most of her life on crutches and braces; had children; and lived long enough to see her grandchildren. Had a long career as a social worker and family therapist. Just... kept moving along and doing things. Drove cars, swam in the pool, kept us organized...

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    1. Never underestimate the power of people just quietly going about their lives, is what I'm saying here.

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    2. Michael, wow, talk about a shining example of heroism in action! The fact that she kept moving along and doing things after all those dire predictions, most of which were probably meant Kindly, is a GREAT meeting-the-challenge story...and I love that she got to see her grandchildren.

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  8. This is great, Laurie. I like the way you describe a character's journey doesn't have to involve swords or guns or a lot of external activity because a LOT can happen internally that's just as intense. For me, a time when I went beyond the limits set by my everyday world happened when my daughter came in to tell me she'd taken enough Advil to kill herself. That was so out of my "normal" realm of life but I had to step up to the plate and not freak out and help her get the necessary medical and psychological attention she needed.

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    1. Patti, you're absolutely right about the intensity of internal events! And, boy, you sure DID step up to the plate...not only helping your daughter, but helping other people in difficult positions by sharing stories that show "everyday" people absolutely CAN meet challenges we might never have thought were possible!

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  9. I don't know what I did wrong trying to leave this; what I wanted to say was it amazes me that after having known you as long as I have, and feeling like I pretty much get what you do, every bit of this was new and fascinating to me.

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    1. Ah, no worries -- and I'm tickled it's new and fascinating! On our next Sisters Vacation, I'll run through the 13 steps and BOY can we have fun picking 'em out in our own lives! :)

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  10. I'm working on stories in mystery of a female engineer in a man's world. I'm also working on a story of my great-grandmothers who always inspired me. I've been blessed with their stories of overcoming hardships and persevere to protect their family, kids. These are my heroines and inspired me to first become an engineer and now to write their stores.

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    1. Laurie, talk about fabulous inspiration -- I think there's something even more empowering about knowing it's in the bloodline, not just on the pages of a book, when making decisions to push beyond the limits. And sharing that inspiration via their stories is a lovely gift to the world!

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  11. I love the idea of all of us facing some kind of adventure worthy conflict in our lives. I think mine would be working to become a teacher. I was terribly shy my whole childhood, and, when I got to college, they told me they'd help me overcome that shyness to be a teacher, which was HARD, trust me. But, I pushed myself, went outside my comfort zone, and now I do it every day. Like many book heroines, it's something that stays with you that you have to continually work on.

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    1. Amanda, that's a great example of adventure-worthy contact...you're SO right that overcoming shyness can be every bit as big a challenge (sometimes bigger) than overcoming a dinosaur or volcano or zombie pirates. And the "have to continually work on." even when it can be a nuisance in everyday life, is sure a good thing for readers who love series about a recurring character!

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  12. One adventure took me from my comfy career in Ohio to Texas, where I knew not a single soul. The driving force was the idea that it would be cathartic to work in the world's largest medical center after my dad died. Crazy and yet gutsy, can't believe I did it.

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  13. Wendy, what a great heroine's journey that was! I like that you had a plan even while going through catharsis...you weren't just driving aimlessly, you were heading for the world's largest medical center. Not that driving aimlessly couldn't be an intriguing story as well, but you were out to overcome a challenge and you absolutely DID. :)

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  14. I love this and that you have a class for the heroine's journey. Before I was published, an agent felt writing showed promise. She guided me through umpteen revisions, but I kept hearing "not quite ready yet" so I'd keep working on it. Many of my friends privately told me I should give up on the story and the agent and move on. I decided to persevere until she gave me a hard no. Well, I finally got the call offering representation and she sold that ms to my dream publisher. I'm not so sure this was heroism as much as stubbornness. LOL!

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    1. Carrie, I think stubbornness is an excellent trait for a heroine AND a writer -- it just sounds more admirable to call it perseverance. And the fact that it resulted in a happy ending with your dream publisher...what's not to love about an adventure story like that?!

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  15. It took courage and overcoming many obstacles for me to sing in public.

    Paula Messina

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    1. Paula, that's a wonderful example -- anyone who's ever felt some uneasiness about performing can totally resonate with that. And if there were external challenges along with the internal, you deserve even MORE credit for having persevered all the way to first picking up that mic!

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  16. I could give you a million examples in my mom's life (single mother with no college degree who fought chronic health issues but achieved high-level positions in her day job and won awards and raised two great kids) but can't think of anything in my own life. LOL Which is kinda your point, huh? :)

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    1. Natalie, talk about a perfect illustration of the point -- none of us appreciates our own gifts anywhere near enough! But that sure doesn't take away from your mom's amazing inspirational qualities; she sounds like the kind of heroine every reader loves to root for. Which I'd be willing to bet is what other people will be saying about YOU someday. :)

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  17. There are so many heroes and heroines who have stepped up during this pandemic, but the one who comes to mind is a woman up the road from us who organized a community food bank. In our rural area, the regular food distribution is often foods with a long shelf life (rice, canned vegetables, Spam). The woman spread the word that she would coordinate distribution of fresh fruits and vegetables and rallied we farmers to contribute. It may not seem like much, but it gave we farmers a way to help families eat a healthier diet.

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    1. Jackie, what an amazing service...and I love that this woman enabled other kindhearted people to step in and help as well. If her story were in a book, it'd be fascinating to see what she overcame to become such an inspiring organizer -- but, heck, that means if she DOES inspire a novel the author can choose whatever sounds good!

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  18. My life has been a series of explorations into people, places and things. It's taught me, among other lessons, to admire the courage of people who were told all their lives not to make waves. One of the bravest people I know is my friend W, who was convinced that his being gay was bad, his being single was bad, and his moving out of the neighborhood was bad. He obeyed it all until he retired, which is its own kind of courage. (I could never have done that.) Then he ended a long,awful marriage and moved halfway across the USA. Now he's living the freedom he's so well earned. Awesome spiritual development too. Another kind of ordinary hero.

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    1. Meg, thanks for showing how the heroine's journey can apply every bit as well to men! It works for any character (or real-life person) who's constrained by social expectations, and finally manages to declare "THIS is who I am and what matters to me" -- congratulations to your friend for accomplishing that. <3

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    2. (By the way, rereading how I wrote this description reminds me of a series on Netflix, called "Grace and Frankie." It's about two men who come out in their seventies, and their ex-wives who become best friends.)

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    3. That's SUCH a great series -- I've been stretching out the episodes for quite a while, but had forgotten there are still more to enjoy!

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  19. Excellent topic! (I think of the hero's and heroine's journeys more in the sense of Michael Hauge's character essence, I think, which basically if you identify the essence of your character, you can create internal and external conflict, which I think is much like the conflict of the heroine (internal) and hero (external).)
    I though Hauge's discussion on this topic was very interesting because the beginning of the story is the LIE the character believes about himself and then the character arc of discovering his true essence and accepting it. And the internal struggle plays out in the external...

    As for me, as a heroine, I was born to older parents who grew up in the Great Depression, from very humble means. Neither parent finished high school. My mother LOVED to read; and she instilled a love of reading in all her children and I can think of several small "battles" she would wage in order to spend money on books/magazines for us kids, because literacy was important. My dad was not a great reader (I wonder now if he had some sort of dyslexia, because it took him so long to read and then comprehend what he just read.) So winning over dad to collecting books was quite a battle, especially since he only ever approved of non-fiction. *LOL* My mom--she was definitely the kind of quiet heroine who didn't stand out or rock the boat--but she would make these little protests that when you look back upon them, you're like, "Go, Mom." So later when I wanted to go to college, and both my parents hesitated (due to the cost), in the end, they were supportive, especially mom, who I think I was living something she wanted.

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    1. Oh, Hellie, your parents sound like fabulous book characters! It's so easy to empathize with each of them, and I love that your mom stood up for what mattered to her without rocking the boat TOO much...just enough to make sure her kids got the reverence for literature that turned at least one of 'em into a successful author. :)

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  20. There’s a woman not far from the area where I live who was originally the village postmistress, until she began taking home any injured hedgehogs she chanced upon and now has a famous hedgehog hospital. She’s has devoted her life to saving the hedgehogs, spending her own money on food and vet bills and then returning them to the wild. Another local woman has been caring for injured wild animals at her home for 40 years and has a house and garden full of birds, ducks, geese, hares, hedgehogs and even a deer. She says: “The vets are brilliant – but they think I’m as mad as a box of frogs. I sit there in the waiting room with all sorts of animals A woman did double take on me the other day because I was sitting there with a swan on my knee!” I don’t know what these 2 women have had to overcome to get to where they are today, but I can’t help admiring them and am starting to imagine a romance novel heroine who can’t turn away an injured animal and maybe prefers animals to people.

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    1. Janet, they each sound like fascinating heroines -- even if they never overcame anything to become what they are today. But it sounds like a pretty safe bet they must've had SOME challenges, internal or external or both, along the way...so that'll make 'em all the better as book characters!

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  21. Like the heroines in the literary journey, most of the women I know who have grasped the chance to succeed outside their normal worlds had the capability to be more than they were inside themselves already. Two cases: my mother-in-law was raised a "Southern lady," but she married the man she loved, the son of a mechanic who joined the Marine Corps during WWII. They decided to stay in the military--something her family found scandalous because to them it was a career choice for people who couldn't do anything else. She became involved in teaching, as did my father-in-law, when he retired from the Marines. The naval air station in Norfolk VA approached my father-in-law and offered him the chance to head their educational program. He suggested they talk to my M-I-L. She became head of a huge organization, working with generals and admirals and their deputies and established an organized, admired program. She was raised to take charge, and she did, but not in a way she ever expected to.

    when my previous boss became lead of our group, she was petrified that she would fail. Leading a group of six was the most responsibility she'd ever had. Years later, the company (mistakenly IMO) let her go. Someone suggested she try real estate--something completely outside her experience or thought. She's become lead seller in our area and has won multiple award in the four years she's worked at it. She had the capacity for caring in her all the time, and it helped her succeed in both endeavers.

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    1. Kris, both those examples are perfect reflections of women transcending what they'd been conditioned to expect from themselves and discover what they actually COULD contribute as their best selves! Which, come to think of it, could be an equally good description of your WIP heroine...

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  22. Hi Laurie,
    I love this refresher on the heroine's journey. Don't include me on your drawing. I"m going to sign up for your September class anyway. I've been on the fence but after reading this, I need the class! Thanks for always being insightful and helpful. -Gina

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    1. Gina, what fun that I'll get to see you next month -- you'll recognize some San Diego Retreat friends there as well. And I can't wait to see what story you'll be working on next; it's always such a treat getting a sneak preview of the next Gina Conkle romance. :)

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  23. What a great topic! So many heroines I know and too many stories to share. But from a personal perspective, as I look back over my own life, I guess driving my car out to L.A. not knowing a soul meant overcoming fear of the unknown and also required a lot of naiveté! So glad I did, though. Thank you for this discussion, Laurie.

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    1. Nan, I like your parallel of not only overcoming fear of the unknown, but also needing some naivete! That's often what gets a fictional heroine into trouble, thinking "I can't possibly handle XXX because I don't know about YYY" -- but good for you on not letting that stop you. <3

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  24. Laurie, I'm saving up my bonus points at Amazon to buy this book! It's awesome to know that we heroines can do good deeds, and become stronger without all the drama. My paternal grandmother was like this. (I wrote about her the last time we emailed) She raised 5 boys of her own, owned a grocery store with her husband in her younger years and in her later life took on 3 of her grandchildren every summer for many years. This was in the 50's before adopting your grandchildren became the norm. She gave of herself unselfishly to make sure they had all the tools they needed for what was to come. I only hope I can live up to that legacy and become a quiet heroine like her.

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    1. Marcia, knowing you've got that kind of DNA in your makeup -- not to mention that kind of inspiration before your very eyes -- is a wonderful talisman for your own journey! And you've already got a GREAT head start...although I wouldn't be at all surprised if you don't recognize that nurturing & managing strength in yourself, because heroines rarely do.

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  25. Wow! What a great post. Now I’ve got to order the Virgin’s Promise. As for ordinary people going above and beyond I see it all the time here in my small town. It’s incredibly brave to stand up or stand out when the community as a whole prefers you turn a blind eye to domestic issues. I think it’s so important for stories to show how the characters can overcome relatable conflicts. You just never know as a writer who you might inspire or embolden to get out of a bad relationship

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  26. Margie, that's a great example of people stepping up in an arena they weren't brought up to think of as their area of expertise. Nobody bats an eye when a firefighter rushes into a burning building, but when a dancer does? We take it for granted that a teacher will comfort a sad student, but when a firefighter does? So anybody moving beyond their expected role, especially when that role is "nice person who doesn't make a fuss," is always a treat to hear about...or read about!

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  27. Hi Laurie. Wonderful post and it's so great that you're focusing on the Woman's Journey. In a world that's sadly becoming more anti-women, we need to tell inspirational stories of women and their struggles. These stories are so much more exciting (at least to me) than the flying-bullets-and-flying-dragons kind of stories. Talking of examples, I recently re-read a classic novel by the great Bengali litterateur (Bankim Chandra Chatterjee) whose protagonist is a woman who defies societal norms (of the 1850s in colonial India) to stand up for what is right. I'm also very excited to adapt this novel into a film script and am currently working on this project. :)

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    1. Adite, that sounds like a very cool film-to-be...you got me over to Wikipedia, and I love how Chatterjee's heroines challenge the status quo. Good point, too, about the need for inspirational stories of women; I just read Troop 6000 by Nikita Stewart about a woman who started a Girl Scout troop for girls in her homeless shelter. Uplifting story!

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  28. As usual an informative and inspiring post providing lots to consider. When I was 13 I was diagnosed with lupus and two years later I asked a dr when I could leave hospital as I had exams coming up. He told me all I would be able to do was watch television. Since then I've finished hign school and gained a uni degree with honors plus a post grad certificate and worked as a Social Worker for 20 years. It's just doing the next thing and seeing if it fits for you.

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    1. Tracey, what a lovely summary -- "just doing the next thing" could apply to a LOT of the Heroine's Journeys along this page of women doing things that they might not have perceived as heroic at the time (or even later) but that the rest of us can embrace as truly inspiring. My grandma had lupus, and I wish she could've met you. <3

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  29. What a wonderful post, Laurie. So good having you as our guest and hope you will visit again! My unsung heroes at the moment are the power linemen and women who put the City of Cedar Rapids back in the light after our inland hurricane hit 2 weeks ago. While it will take a few months to remove all of the debris, those who are helping will forever be the heroes.

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    1. Grace, thank you; I was tickled when Jackie invited me! And, boy, those unsung heroes deserve all KINDS of acclaim...I wonder how long it'll be before one of them winds up serving as the inspiration for a book character?

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  30. Well, Laurie - great post, as usual! You KNOW I've many times gone against social limits and expectations put upon us by others close to us. But, the most recent time was when I and Isabel moved from Denver to Tucson, leaving Chris and Bridget in Denver to finish up her high school and for us to set up life and improve our health down here for when Chris could join us. I had close friends feel threatened by that, in regards to what that would mean for their own marriage. I never had any worries about my marriage, and of course, as you know Chris has joined us, and I feel that having taken that "odd" step in our lives, led me to a more expanded me - I got a master's, I worked, I learned to be way more independent, and I think because I'm more expanded, it's lead me to discover that I love art and can be an artist!

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    1. Charlotte, yours is one of those marriages it's hard to imagine collapsing from a couple years apart -- the fact that you're both good at "hoeing your own row" is a sure sign you two were meant to be together. And it's lovely to see the rewards that come from being willing to go beyond the status quo!

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  31. Thanks to Moya, Joan, Debora, Cindy, Terry, Stephanie, Michael, Patti, Lisa, LaurieD, Amanda, Wendy, Carrie, Paula, Natalie, Jackie, Meg, Hellie, Janet, Dee, Gina, Nan, Marcia, Marguerite, Adite, Tracey, Grace and Charlotte for a TON of insightful observations!

    I told random-dot-org "pick a number between 1-28," and their pick was #28...so congratulations to Charlotte, and look for your class invitation coming up. You'll get the fun of seeing heroine's journeys ALSO in progress from Dee, Jackie, Joan, LaurieD and Tracey, so you'll be in good company. :)

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  32. Thank you so much, Laurie! I can't wait for the class, and to meet my fellow writers!

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  38. Charlotte, yours is one of those marriages it's hard to imagine collapsing from a couple years apart -- the fact that you're both good at "hoeing your own row" is a sure sign you two were meant to be together. And it's lovely to see the rewards that come from being willing to go beyond the status quo! more info

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  39. จัดฟันที่ไหนดี Thanks for writing such a good article, I stumbled onto your blog and read a few post. I like your style of writing...

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Sometimes Life Does Imitate Art

  The book I’m currently working on features a protagonist who is an assistant manager at a food bank. The idea came to me because I love vo...