Books and Myths to Inspire Your Writing

I've always enjoyed classical mythology. The archetypes speak to me as they have to millions of people throughout the centuries. Edith Hamilton and her book Mythology was my first introduction into the classic stories of man verses god and sometimes himself. In college, I discovered Joseph Campbell's Hero with a Thousand Faces and how mythic images are still with us today. I recently picked up The Hero Within: Six Archetypes We Live By by Carol Pearson to help me with character and story development.

If you aren't familiar with Joseph Campbell's work and want a quick introduction, then I'd recommend Reflections on the Art of Living: A Joseph Campbell Companion edited by Diane K. Osborn. It is a beautifully compiled series of his lectures and thoughts on mythic subjects and how they still influence and inspire us. It also provides a good introduction into the concept of the hero’s journey and examples of its continued use in modern novels and movies. Watch Star Wars to see the hero's journey in action. Understanding the hero's journey can help you better understand plotting and story development.

In regards to writing and how mythic imagery still influences storytellers, my two favorite books are The Writer’s Journey and The Artist’s Way. The Writer's Journey by Christopher Vogler was one of the first writing books that I read. The plotting techniques are great for helping me create both simple and complex stories and characters that appeal to a wide range of people. His use of common films like The Wizard of Oz to illustrate his points makes it a very accessible book. The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron is an excellent book that appeals to my mythological side while offering some great writing techniques for inspiring the muse. Her method of daily journaling helps keep writer's block at bay and to keep the creative juices flowing. It's an excellent book for those looking to unlock their creativity or for those just starting as writers. Through the book's exercises, emerging writers learn about themselves and their process while developing the daily habits necessary to becoming successful.

I hope you check out some of these great writing resources, and that they help you on your own path to writing just like they helped me.

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