• By Winston Kuwada
• Published 10/8/2011
• Fiction

If you’ve ever dreamed about writing a novel that will read and loved by millions of people, then you’re in luck. There’s a hidden structure in every famous book, movie and stage performance that goes back beyond recorded history. And when you tap that mythical structure, you’ll write a story that will resonate with people around the world. There was a social scientist named Joseph Campbell who traveled around the world and studied mythology. He discovered an amazing thing. Without question, almost every myth followed the same structure. No matter if the myths were ancient Japanese stories, or Native American legends, the same story was played out again and again. It starts off with a normal person, just like you and me. Then something happens, and they are drawn into something that is bigger than themselves. Often times they are forced into it, or have to be convinced by some force of nature.

Luke Skywalker, and Dorothy from the wizard of oz are prime examples of this. At first, Luke didn’t want to follow Obi Won because he had obligations on the farm. And it took a tornado to set Dorothy on he

r Journey. The next thing that happens is the hero must create a new group of friends. Again, Luke met all kinds of new friends and Dorothy met the famous Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion. Together with these new friends, the hero must confront the bad guy. Dorothy had to face off with the great Wizard, and Luke had to square off with Darth Vader. And both of them succeeded, but only with the help of their friends. In the final part of the myth, the hero returns home, but with much more skills, talents, and respect. It’s as if they’ve gone through a transformation. And they have. A powerful transformation that for some reason or another, we all identify with on a deep subconscious level. That’s why these stories are so popular. One theory as to why this resonates with us is because this is the same process we went through when we were born. We were safe and sound in the womb, but then forces beyond our control sent us on a journey through the birth canal, and then through life itself.

And the same process repeats itself over and over again throughout our lives. So when you write a story that resonates with people on this level, it will be a sure winner.