Reality – Here are the simple steps you can use to begin to write your own articles for more prospects, publicity and profits.

Step 1 – Have an expertise and knowledge inside of you. When you have knowledge and expertise inside you and it could help someone, not only do you have the right to write, you have the obligation to write.

Step 2 – Put your knowledge and expertise in writing. You can write it out, or talk it out and have it transcribed. Create 7 tips for your area of expertise and add a few lines for each area of expertise. This is a crucial point – write in conversational language not in text book language. In other words, write as if you are having a conversation with your reader, which in fact you are.

Step 3 – Follow the editorial guidelines of the article directory to which you post. So many beginning writers do not do this, get frustrated or insulted and give up. Read and follow the editorial guidelines.

Step 4 Post your articles to several article directories, such as EzineArticles.com

This is a great example of the difference between perfection and excellence. You do not have to be excellent to start, but you have to start to be excellent.

Visit http://www.TheArticleGuy.com for more leading edge tips and tools for writing articles that bring you prospects, publicity and profits. You can also subscribe to our monthly Article Writing & Marketing Tips Newsletter. You are also invited to visit my Express-Start Article Writing Program for more information on the next article writing tele-seminar.

In the article that follows, I’ll show you how you can do the same. I’ll show you how to select a subject, how to research it, how to write it, how to get it printed, and how to sell it.

I’ll show you the four ways to sell it.

If you are new to manual selling, I’ll show you which of the four ways is the best for you. That said, I hope you will read what follows very carefully and very thoroughly.

There are no catches. I have nothing more to sell to you (unless you want to read some of the other manuals which I have written).

I hope the information which follows can be of real benefit to you.

That is why I have written it!

Exactly what is a manual?

A manual can be called a booklet, a pamphlet, a report, a newsletter, a guide, an instruction manual, a plan, a manuscript, etc.

A manual is simply an easy-to-understand report which shows the reader “How To” do something that he does not already know.

Most manuals show the reader … How to start or expand a hobby; How to develop new abilities or qualities; How to start a new business or expand an old one; How to prepare for a new career; How to make or save money; How to solve personal problems; How to spend leisure time.

A well written manual is authoritative, factual, and helpful. It should be written in simple, easily understood language.

It can be anything from a brief two-page photocopied report to a professionally printed book bound in a hardback cover.

People who purchase manuals by mail are interested in the information they contain. Seldom do they care what brand of paper the information is printed on.

What kinds of manuals are now being sold by mail?

Pick up almost any magazine at a news stand that carries classified advertising and you will find ads written by people who are selling their manuals by mail.

Here are sample ads from magazines lying on the desk.

“Be secure, confident, successful! Learn the secret of personal power. $2.00″

“Secrets of the Spirit World! Only $2.00 Post-paid!”

“Traffic Tickets? Beat them, step by step method. $1.95″.

“Fluorescent Tubes Rejuvenated at no cost. Instructions $4.00″

“Why grow old and die? Li Chung Yun lived 256 years. You could too”.

“Guide to Witches Covens – $12.00″

“Learning Bridge? Send $12.95 for 20 page guide.”

“Learn the secret of making every dress you sew fit perfectly. Only $3.00″.

“10 Wonder Working Prayers. Enrich, Strengthen Your Life. $2.50″.

“Home Made Cheese. Hard, soft and cottage. Make it yourself! Complete instructions, recipes, $2.00″

“Peterborough Area Job Opportunities $2.00″

“Ship in Bottle. Instructions. Drawings. $3.00″

If you can produce a “How To” manual that is novel, interesting and genuinely helpful, you can do what the advertisers above have done. You can print it yourself and sell it by mail!

What should you write about?

You should write:

* only on subjects that really interest you, and * on subjects that you already know something about.

For example, if you just love to cook, write a manual on cooking.

If people like the first manual they buy from you, they will buy other manuals in the future, as long as they are on the same basic subject.

If you write on a subject that really does not interest you very much, you will be bored to death by the time you get to your third manual.

Ask yourself – what do I do with my spare time? Write a manual about that!

How do you research the manual?

Make yourself an expert on the subject!

Talk to friends and neighbors. Ask questions. Read books, newspapers, and magazines on the subject. Ask your librarian for suggestions. As you read, keep notes on everything. When you have read everything you could lay your hands on, sit down and study your notes. Read them over slowly and carefully. Then lay the notes aside and think about the whole subject for a day or two. You will be amazed at what your mind will do with the subject if you have researched it thoroughly. How do you write it?

Here is a tip from a professional writer.

Sit down and pretend that you are a person who knows absolutely nothing about the subject.

Write down fifteen questions that such a person might ask you. Then write out, in your own words, the answers to the fifteen questions.

Do not try to be literary!

When you are finished, lay it aside for a day or two. Then re-read it with a red pencil, crossing out all unnecessary words and sentences, inserting a new point here and there.

Rewrite the whole thing, and you will be amazed to discover that your manual is ready to be published!

How do you get it printed?

Type it as neatly as possible onto A4 white typing paper. Single space it, leaving two lines between each paragraph.

Take it to a local copy/print shop, who will make you however many copies of it, very reasonably, within 24 hours usually.

If you have more than four pages, have it printed on both sides of the paper. It will lower your printing costs slightly, and save you extra postage in the future.

To give your manual a professional touch, have it printed on canary yellow, pink, or light green paper.

How do you sell it?

1. Direct from ads in magazines and tabloid papers.

If economically possible, sell it for $2.00 or $3.00 per copy. Write a brief, eye catching classified ad, asking those interested to send their orders directly to you.

If your ad is novel, believable, and of genuine interest, you will be surprised at how many people will do this.

If your manual is about stamp collecting, advertise it in the stamp collecting papers.

If it is about astrology, advertise it in the Astrology magazines- to do otherwise is fatal.

Be sure to run your ad in at least three issues. If you have never sold manuals by mail, I sincerely suggest you use this method.

2. Advertise for Inquiries.

If your manual is quite elaborate, and must be sold for $5.00 or more, use this method. Write a brief, tempting ad describing your manual, and offer free details. Then mail literature describing the manual to those who answer the ads. Don’t expect more than one enquiry in ten to buy it from you.

Here are recent ads placed by manual writers who use this method:

“Never Won Anything? Anyone can win sweepstakes contests! Free details”.

“Troubled? God can help! Free information.”

“Overweight? I lost 53 pounds. Easily – Permanently. New Method. Information Free”.

“Make money clipping newspapers at home in spare time. Details free.”

3. Direct Mail.

If you have written a manual showing how to get your inventions patented, you could purchase a list of amateur inventors, and mail your sales literature to each individual on the list.

If you are lucky, you’ll sell your manual to about one person in every twenty-five.

Direct mail can be very effective for experienced mail order operators, but it is usually far too costly for the beginner.

It can easily cost you over two hundred and fifty dollars for each one thousand letters you mail.

4. Selling through agents.

If you are willing to sell your manual in small wholesale quantities, or if you are willing to drop ship manuals for mail dealers, then you might find this the most effective way to market your manuals.

Below are some ads placed by manual writers.

“Sell Health Books Mail Order! Write”

“Sell Books By Mail. Complete Dealer Set Up $2.00″

“Sell Books by Mail! 400% Profit”

“Free Newsletter! Sell Books by Mail. We wholesale/dropship”

Some of the above ads have been running for over ten years, indicating that this could be a very successful way to market your manuals.

Good Luck!

Even editors need editors sometimes, so there is no shame in giving in. Others can see our work more easily than we can, since they’re not emotionally connected to the material, as well as the journey it took to get there.

The first sign that you need an editor is that you are increasingly frustrated with writing. If you become bored, stare out the window, get angry or just stop caring about what you’re doing, chances are you need someone to help you focus your work and your energy.

Of course, we love to work one-on-one with our clients, if they need help, or provide input over the phone. But if you’re in a jam, Write Express StyleWriter can get your documents looking and sounding professional. By running your work through this software add-on, you’ll find any passages that commit common usage and style errors, and save your editor tons of time. That can translate into getting the job done, or not in some cases.

Another indispensable tool any writer should have is Editors on Editing: What Writers Need to Know About What Editors Do. Editor Gerald Gross gets down to the nitty-gritty by compiling a series of essays by editors at publishing houses large and small. Clearing up any misunderstandings now may save you a ton of time and aggravation now, so check this one out!

Writing workshops can help struggling writers out, as they begin to “hear” their mistakes read out loud. I find that listening to books on tape, CD or podcast really helps in this area, too. Training your ear to hear clunky grammar, beautiful sentence construction or dangling participles is really strengthened by a trip to iAmplify, where you can find downloads on everything from astrology to gaming, golf to weight loss. You might learn something, and your “ear” will thank you later.

Lastly, you know you need an editor when you have simply come to the end of the road. Writers talk about writers block as if it’s a curse, but some don’t even believe it exists. Allowing ourselves the time we need, for rest, sleep, proper diet, and vacations (are you listening, workaholics?) helps to cultivate creativity. We can’t force ourselves to write, paint or play music on a certain time schedule, so we shouldn’t try. Instead, your Inner Creative Person may need time to simply be. Vacations are a must. Even if you’re on a tight budget, Priceline can get you out of Dodge, quickly and easily. Add a car and hotel online, and you’re off. Who knows? Maybe the characters for your next novel are waiting at the very next stop.

Copyright 2006 GrammarGods.com

For more stories like this, visit http://www.GrammarGods.com

Perhaps you are a consultant or perhaps you sell something online and you want more Web traffic to come to your Internet site; in this case online article writing is a way to achieve your goal of increased sales and business coming to your web site.

In a perfect world you could write one perfect article and all the perfect customers would read it and come to your web site and buy something from you. Guess what? It is not a perfect world and it is doubtful that it will become a perfect world in your lifetime. I therefore recommend that you work on achieving article accumulation and set a goal for quantity and the number of articles you write and submit online.

As far as quality is concerned, there is no doubt that your articles must be well written and those articles must have something to do with the subject matter you might be discussing on your web site or the line of business you are in.

If you will concentrate on achieving article accumulation you will reach your goals and have more Web traffic. If you only write 100 articles or less you may not achieve all that you wish you could in the amount of time you wish to achieve it; but 100 is certainly a Great start indeed. Please consider this in 2006.

“Lance Winslow” – Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

It’s funny, though. At other times you’ve felt that you’ve written something worthwhile.

Now, however, you feel the urge to read several more articles, add more footnotes, edit it some more, or check your email. Anything but wrap it up and send it in.

It doesn’t matter if it’s a “revise and resubmit” article for a journal or a draft chapter to show to your dissertation advisor. There’s something anxiety-provoking about letting go of your work and putting it out there for the wider world to see.

One very brilliant client of mine told me how she had a similar feeling when she was 9 months pregnant. The baby’s room wasn’t ready, and she had so much more to do. She tried to will herself not to give birth yet. Luckily, her body didn’t cooperate. Now she tries to do the same with journal articles.

This reluctance to release one’s work is so common in academia, that it may well be the norm. In some cases, though, it can become crippling.

Reasons for Reluctance to Release Writing
Here are the kinds of statements that I hear from academics in regards to this issue. Each statement is followed by an alternate way to look at the situation. If you’ve found yourself saying anything like this to yourself, try the alternate way of thinking on for size.

Who am I to make that definitive a statement?

If not you, then who? What makes someone else an authority and not you? Where and when did the current authorities start having the authority to make their statements?

I have an idea, but I can’t find any references to cite that say what I’m thinking.

Maybe that’s because it’s an original idea! Sometimes new ideas really are leaps. Run it by some colleagues and see what they think.

I’m intimidated by the fact that others have written about my subject for much longer than I have.

Sometimes people who are steeped in a subject can’t think about that subject in as clear a light as a newcomer.

A new voice is always welcome (and if it isn’t, too bad for them.)

My viewpoint doesn’t fit the mental maps of academics in my field, so they will disagree with what I say.

Try to welcome disagreement! The best scholarly contributions often incite others to argue vociferously against the new ideas. By generating discussion you’re advancing the field.

The critical nature of academia is paralyzing to some. It’s important to realize that academics enjoy thinking and puzzling things out. The “devil’s advocate” approach that looks for holes in your logic is just part of the process. Try not to take that part personally.

Remember that some of the most famous theorists, even the ones with scads of data to back them up, invited the most invective. Charles Darwin comes to mind – I’m sure you can think of others.

What if I just don’t know what I’m talking about?

Then finish the piece, have others read it, and find out! Chances are you’re not completely out of your mind.

Everything I’ve written is junk. It doesn’t make any sense to me any more.

It’s time to finish the up the part you’re writing, give it a rest, and let someone else look at it. Either fresher eyes or new eyes will help you see it in a new light.

If you’re not totally burned out, push past that feeling. Trust the process. As one client said, don’t flip out just when you’re at the cusp of turning it from cream into butter. It seems like nothing is happening, but if you perservere, you will see that you have produced something worthwhile.

I can see that it’s not perfectly written. I’m a sham and a charlatan and I don’t deserve to be in this field.

It doesn’t have to be perfect; it just has to be good enough.

You don’t have to be perfect. If you’ve gotten this far, you ARE good enough. Besides, everyone in academia feels that way every once in a while.

Looking over already published papers will remind you that imperfect writing still gets published. And has some value!

There’s so much more I could say about this subject.

You can use this excuse never to complete a project about the subject.

It’s OK to keep writing about the subject. In your next paper, chapter, or presentation, that is. Finish this one – you’ve probably said enough for now.

So Give Birth To That Baby!
The world deserves to hear what you have to say. Don’t deprive the universe of your ideas! Release them from your brain and get them out there!

Gina J Hiatt, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist, tenure coach and dissertation coach and enjoys helping faculty and graduate students complete research, writing projects, and publish, while maintaining high teaching standards and other commitments. In addition to dissertation coaching, she teaches workshops and teleclasses on time management, writing, career planning and grad student/advisor relationships. Sign up for my free newsletter at http://www.academicladder.com or call me at (703) 734-4945.

When it comes to creating titles, I know of no other writer who does it so well as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle did. Even Agatha Christie, the Queen of Mystery, never produced a title as intriguing as those of Doyle. Christie’s titles usually leaned towards describing the setting of the novel: Murder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile, A Caribbean Mystery, Death in the Air, and They Came To Baghdad, for example.

Doyle’s titles for his short stories and novels leap off the page and demand to be noticed, and thus, read. Titles such as “The Five Orange Pips,” “The Man with the Twisted Lip,” “The Adventure of the Engineer’s Thumb,” “The Musgrave Ritual,” and “The Adventure of the Dancing Men” grab one’s attention immediately and inspires intrique and puzzlement. What does he mean by “Dancing Men” anyway? What happened to the “Engineer’s Thumb”? And how did the man get a “Twisted Lip?”

When thinking on a title for your short story or novel, you want it to be eye-catching but also to tell something about your story or novel. Speaking from my own experience, titles that say nothing about the story or novel leaves one rather disgruntled. I think, “Why did the writer use that title? It’s totally unrelated to the story!”

While some titles are obviously better than others, I’ve only come across one writer who has made me feel irritated over her choice of titles: Carol Higgins Clark. Some of these titles are Twanged, Fleeced, Iced, Decked, Burned and Popped. While these titles have a certain ‘cuteness’ to them, they tell next to nothing about the novels and leave me feeling a little affronted.

To sum up, choose a title that will pique interest, that has a clue to what’s hidden inside, and pass up any ‘cutesy’ titles.

Mary Arnold is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Fiction Writing.

Her writing portfolio may be viewed at http://www.Writing.com/authors/ja77521

Go to the closest Starbuck’s, bring your laptop or writing tablet, get a coffee or tea, start writing, and don’t stop until an hour transpires.

Can you do it?

If so, I believe you have what it takes to be a writer!

Granted, this seems like a weird test, and yes, I’ve passed it many times, but I believe there’s an interesting standard in this exercise.

Writing when distracted means several things:

(1) You can focus, and this is a powerful requirement for any writer, a novelist, journalist, or screen scribe.

(2) You can get into the zone at will, that marvelous place that athletes and aesthetes go to find their calmness, where things become frictionless, and easy peasy.

(3) You can write on a deadline, and this is an incredible ability when you’re working against the clock to get your manuscript to an editor who needs it yesterday.

(4) You can produce without being inspired. This is not only essential, it overcomes one of the alibis writers use to rationalize not writing.

(5) You’ll prove the counterintuitive truth that quality emerges by itself from quantity, which I discuss at length in my audio program: “The Law of Large Numbers.”

If you wait until conditions are perfect in which to write, you may be waiting for a long, long time. So, try the Starbuck’s test, and see how you do!

Dr. Gary S. Goodman, President of www.Customersatisfaction.com, is a popular keynote speaker, management consultant, and seminar leader and the best-selling author of 12 books, including Reach Out & Sell Someone® and Monitoring, Measuring & Managing Customer Service, and the audio program, “The Law of Large Numbers: How To Make Success Inevitable,” published by Nightingale-Conant. He is a frequent guest on radio and television, worldwide. A Ph.D. from USC’s Annenberg School, a Loyola lawyer, and an MBA from the Peter F. Drucker School at Claremont Graduate University, Gary offers programs through UCLA Extension and numerous universities, trade associations, and other organizations in the United States and abroad. He holds the rank of Shodan, 1st Degree Black Belt in Kenpo Karate. He is headquartered in Glendale, California, and he can be reached at (818) 243-7338 or at: gary@customersatisfaction.com

That’s the reason they engage in article marketing, but it’s not the reason they write articles — or at least, it shouldn’t be.

Article Marketing vs. Article Writing

The purpose of article marketing is to help you grow your business (by improving your search engine ranking, website traffic and overall web presence). The purpose of article writing is to inform, enlighten or educate your readers. Don’t confuse the two.

Article Marketing Thought-Process

When planning your article marketing program, think strategically. What are your overall marketing goals, and how do articles support them? How many articles will you write each week? How will you integrate your articles with your website or blog? What will your call-to-action be?

Article Writing Thought-Process

When writing your articles, think only of how you can help the reader. What valuable information do you have to share with them? How can you engage them, teach them, delight them or educate them?

What Not to Do

Don’t crank out articles just for the sake of attaching your website link at the end. This is often the path of the short-sighted article marketer. But in the long run, this will do you more harm than good. Weak articles will dilute your brand, erode your image, and lower your response rates.

Educate your readers with quality articles … that’s the path to article marketing success. Help your readers accomplish their goals, and you’ll be more likely to accomplish yours.

* Copyright 2006, Brandon Cornett. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active, do not edit the article in any way, and include the author’s note and byline.

About the Author
Brandon Cornett wrote the book on article marketing … literally! And you can learn about it or download it through Brandon’s blog: http://www.articlemarketing101.blogspot.com.

One time in my College years, I had a big problem with some of my friends, I was so depressed that time that I didn’t even want to tell it to anyone, so I found a good friend and confidante with my Personal Computer. As I kept on writing (or typing) every thought in my mind, I sort of felt that it actually helps me release some of the anger that I have felt. The more I typed, the more I felt good. Whenever I type the words at a very fast pace, I could feel the tension growing inside of me as if I’m telling it straight to that someone who is making me very angry. The very feeling that I am somewhat telling it to some shrink or directly to the person is very fulfilling.

What I do is to first, start with the whole story of the day that I had. Second, is that I ask questions to myself. And when I have already typed all of my questions to my self, I try to answer one by one with different perceptions. I first start with a pessimistic point of view then to an optimistic point of view. I try to find out and brainstorm on the specific details that started the fight or the argument. Then I try to read it all over again. By this time, so many solutions come to my head that I can’t stop my fingers from typing all that comes to my head.

By this kind of practice, I have developed my own problem solving techniques. Instead of just thinking and thinking of the whole event and how or why it came about, you better just write or type it down, because it helps on chopping the itsy bitsy teeny weenie details of how it all started. Now, as I see myself, it has been a long time since I confided with someone about a problem. It’s just a matter of chopping information into tidbits and trying to connect every thing that happened until you yourself would come out with a solution.
If it worked for me, it can work for you too!

The Hero’s Journey is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of the Hollywood movies we have deconstructed are based on this template.

Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters.

The Hero’s Journey:

a) Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.

b) Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.

c) Interpreted metaphorically, laterally and symbolically, allows an infinite number of varied stories to be created.

and more…

The Color of Money (1986) – basic deconstruction

[can be deconstructed with either Eddie or Vincent as the Hero; both transform]

FADE IN: Martin Scorsese narrates and explains nine-ball.

Meeting the Mentor in his Ordinary World: Eddie talking whisky on the bar.

Mentors Romantic Challenge: his girl behind the bar.

Representation of the Old World: John Turturro.

Foreshadow of the Hero: what guy? Yo Vincent, we’re on.

Developing the Hero: I slipped; need more money.

Meeting the Hero: kid’s got a sledgehammer break.

Meeting the Hero’s Shape Shifter [Romantic Challenge]: Carmen.

Meeting with the Mentor: hi, how u doin?

Developing the Hero: I just want your best game; lets just play play…

Mentor’s Capabilities: you don’t know what to say, do you?

How about I take you out to dinner tonight; you should ask Vincent, no you should ask Vincent.

Push to the Journey / Transformation: Ten years from now I can go to West Point on Stocker; you’re a natural flake; if you got an area of excellence, money comes easy; you couldn’t find big time with a roadmap.

Developing Shape Shifter’s Motivation: what do you mean big time.

Developing the Mentor’s Capabilities: my area of excellence; I’ll leave with her in two minutes.

Mentor’s Romantic Challenge: Eddie in bed with his girl.

Persuading / Developing the Shape Shifter: Eddie takes Carmen into the car; will you help me.

Hero and Shape Shifter’s Backstory: how Carmen and Vincent met.

Refusal: Vincent in the stock room, selling toys; this is my job.

Foreshadow of the Overcoming of the Refusal: you’re losing her kiddo, she don’t get the allure of this place.

Magical Gift: Eddie gives Vincent the Balabooshka / stick.

Representation of the Old World: John Turturro.

Overcoming Refusal: in the bar; where’s Carmen?

Conscious Agreement: Vincent agrees; I’ve been thinking about it, lets do it.

Mentor’s Romantic Challenge: Eddie dancing with his girl.

Leaving the Old World and Old Self: John Turturro appears; I’m gonna be out of town for a couple of weeks.

Resistance to leaving the Ordinary World and Ordinary Self: John gets annoyed.

Resistance to leaving the Ordinary World and Ordinary Self: Eddie’s girl walks out.

Rules: I stake horse; I take sixty percent; sometimes if you lose you win.

Foreshadow of the Transformation: Grady Seasons; hang around the practice room.

Physical Change: watch the paint.

Journey to the First Threshold: on the road.

Developing Characters and Relationships / Backstories: that’s a dead giveaway; she used to be a waitress; I got retired.

Resistance to the Transformation: I’m too old to start again now.

Mentor’s Guidance: in the car; are you the best liquor salesman.

Foreshadow of the Transformation: I can’t believe I got goosebumps.

Middle Cave: Entering the now-it’s-a-furniture-store pool hall.

Inner Cave: playing the Old Men; I can’t take these guys’ money; what is it so far $60 no big deal.

Forced out of the First Threshold: running away from the old men et al.

Consciously Agreeing to Transform: in the car; you never ease off like that again; nice guys finish last; stick a pool cue down his throat; next time kid.

Journey to the Belly of the Whale: Chalky’s still around.

Foreshadow of the Transformation: Carmen shows herself in the bathroom.

Belly of the Whale: entering Chalky’s.

Meeting a Transformation Mentor: the owner of Chalky’s.

Mentor’s Status: this here is Fast Eddie Felson.

World of the Transformation / Creatures of this World: the pool hall; the men in the bar.

Resistance to the Belly of the Whale: I want Carmen out of here.

Foreshadow of Trial and Transformation 1: Eddie tells how they’re going to make money; Earl et al.

Physical Separation: Eddie picks up the pool cue and plays.

Trial and Transformation 1:

Eddie shows how hot he is: cool it; even if it is just for bangers; only one guy can be the best….

Eddie walks out: you know what this is turning into, a waste of my time and a waste of my money…

Eddie lying down and thinking; childcare.

Eddie visits Carmen; come on then, lets do it in the shower; work with me; we’re businesspeople.

Pulled to the Inner Cave: he’s taken the Stick.

Inner Cave: what you got in there; Doom; Werewolves of London; Vincent is king of the pool hall but he loses Earl.

Transformation [hero]: you lost money; the town is dead for you; I’m a fucking animal; get in the car; the talk in the car; I’ll try.

Transformation [mentor]: Eddie talking to his girl on the phone; maybe you could move in with me, just for practice.

Trial and Transformation 2:

In the café; you heard of hustle called: Two Brothers and a Stranger.

Developing Characters and Relationships: people never talk to me like that; I really appreciate it.

Building a trophy wall.

Eddie and Carmen go in.

The hustle works.

Inner Cave: Vincent and Eddie argue over Carmen.

Transformation: it’s only acting.

Reward: the money; I got a good feeling about this.

Transformation: clips of Vincent et al playing the pool halls and improving; developing characters and relationships.

Trial and Transformation 3:

Meeting Grady Seasons.

You are going to dump something fierce.

Resisting Trial 3: why can’t I have a hustle where I win?

Losing to and being patronized by Grady.

Resisting: finding it hard to lay down.

Inner Cave: you win one more and you’ll be humping your fist for a long time.

Foreshadow of the Oracle: what are you doing, meditating?

Transformed: Vincent lays down and is happy with it; jumping on the bed with Carmen.

Meeting the Oracle: can I have the Balabooshka.

Seizing the Sword: Eddie plays for money and loses; how could I get suckered like that.

Resisting the Near Death Experience: Vincent gets mad.

Near Death Experience: How much do you need to go it on your own; I got nothing else to teach you.

Reward: Eddie goes on the road by himself; feel good don’t it.

New Self: glasses; swimming.

Rebirth and Transformation: Eddie plays Moselle and loses; practices; begins to win; beats Moselle.

World of the Atonement: Atlantic City.

New Self: suit; glasses; change of clothes.

Goodbye to the Old World: John Turturro just wanted to say hello.

Atonement with the Father: rising through the ranks at Atlantic City; beating the other hustlers; I didn’t deserve that, yes you did.

New Self [Vincent]: Vincent in control of Carmen now; annoyed that she didn’t negotiate for more.

Apotheosis: you were right, we didn’t need you.

Catharsis 1: Vincent beats Grady; you got lucky you lucky prick.

Catharsis 2: Eddie beats Julian.

Foreshadow of the Boon: I feel good; come down here.

Reward / Convergence: Eddie’s girl arrives with the chalk.

Ultimate Boon: Eddie beats Vincent.

Celebration: yeah… outside the door.

Denial / Refusal: Vincent dumped.

Romantic Challenge Resolved: I’m a real big fan of character in people.

Magic Flight: Eddie quits the tournament.

Rescue from Without: you gotta save my ass.

Crossing the Return Threshold: Vincent arrives; wanna play kick the dog for the rest of your life.

Master of Two Worlds: pick myself up and let you kick me again; don’t put the money in the bank.

Freedom to Live: I’m back.

FADE OUT:

Kal Bishop, MBA

You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made and the author’s name and site URL are retained.

Kal Bishop is a management consultant based in London, UK. His specialities include Knowledge Management and Creativity and Innovation Management. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. The Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and other story structure templates can be found at http://www.clickok.co.uk/

You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.