The Hero’s Journey: How to Plot Your Story with Joseph Campbell's MonoMyth
Listen, I get it. The Hero’s Journey—or the Monomyth if you want to sound insufferable at brunch—has...
Derek MurphyAuthor of 35 Articles
studies the art and craft of writing to inspire joy.
Writing Fight Scenes That Pack a Punch: How to Craft Action with Real Stakes and Emotional Weight
There’s nothing quite as deflating as finishing a fight scene that reads like a YouTube highlight reel—flashy moves,...
From Archetype to Iconic: Crafting Dynamic Characters That Stick
Let’s get one thing straight from the jump: I love a good archetype. I love the brooding exile, the...
Character Development That Hits Like a Freight Train: Arcs, Flaws, and Why Your Story Can’t Survive Without Them
I’ve thrown more than one book across the room in my time—sometimes because the plot made me weep,...
Chekhov’s Gun, Foreshadowing & the Secret of Tension You Can’t Look Away From
When I was eleven, I wrote a story about a girl who could talk to shadows. I gave her a...
Protagonist vs. Antagonist: Who’s Really Driving Your Story?
Look, I love a great hero. Seriously—I’m all for noble quests and selfless courage and characters who step...