21.42: Deconstructing the Heroine’s Journey

21.42:解构女英雄之旅

Writing Excuses

2026-10-18

23 分钟
PDF

单集简介 ...

Psychotherapist Maureen Murdock invented the Heroine's Journey in response to Joseph Campbell's monomyth Hero's Journey. He reportedly said, "Women don’t need to make the journey, they are the place that everyone is trying to get to." This version of story structure is attempting to tell different stories. This week, we’re diving into the Heroine’s Journey! We talk about its (very) gendered origins, but also about what we can take from the structure: what happens after a character gets what they thought they wanted? Our hosts also discuss the biases built into different plot structures, layering structures on top of each other, and using the Heroine’s Journey to think about a character’s relationship to themself, their community, and the expectations placed on them. Homework:  Pick one of three strands—your character’s relationship to community, self, or expectation—and track how it changes at each major plot point. When you get to the end, ask: is there somewhere else you can go? Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, and Howard Tayler. It was produced by Emma Reynolds, recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson. Join Our Writing Community!  Writing Retreats Newsletter Patreon Instagram Threads Bluesky TikTok YouTube Facebook Our Sponsors: * Check out Talkiatry and use my code talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
更多

单集文稿 ...

  • At Vrbo, we understand that even the best of plans sometimes need a little support.

  • So we plan for the plot twists.

  • Every booking is automatically backed by our Vrbo care guarantee, giving you confidence from the very start.

  • Whenever you need help, it's ready.

  • Before your stay, through the moments in between, and after your trip.

  • Because a great trip starts with peace of mind.

  • And maybe a good playlist.

  • But we've got the peace of mind part covered.

  • This is the story of the one.

  • As a shipping manager, he's running the dock, stocking supplies, and making sure every order goes out on time.

  • And Grainger helps him stay prepared.

  • From shipping supplies to PPE to hand tools, he counts on Grainger to keep products moving and trucks rolling.

  • So his operation runs smoothly no matter the shift.

  • Call 1-800-GRAINGER, click grainger.com, or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done.

  • Did you know that mosquitoes have killed almost half of all people who have ever lived?

  • Today, people are fighting back.

  • With support from the Gates Foundation, American scientists and partners around the world have developed

  • a new generation of bed nets that can kill up to 90% of mosquitoes exposed to them,

  • helping cut malaria rates in half.

  • The result?