The Hero’s Journey (Monomyth) is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of the hundreds of Hollywood movies we have deconstructed (see URL below) are based on this 188+ stage template.

Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters. This is the template you must master if you are to succeed in the craft.

[The terminology is most often metaphoric and applies to all successful stories and screenplays, from The Godfather (1972) to Brokeback Mountain (2006) to Annie Hall (1977) to Lord of the Rings (2003) to Drugstore Cowboy (1989) to Thelma and Louise (1991) to Apocaplyse Now (1979)].

THERE IS ONLY ONE STORY

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) Gives you a tangible process for building and releasing dissonance (establishing and achieving catharses, of which there are usually four).

d) Gives you a universal structural template upon which you can superimpose your situational story. This is why stories such as Alien (1979), Gladiator (2000), Midnight Cowboy (1969), American Beauty (1999), The Graduate (1967) and many others (all deconstructed at the URL below) appear to be different but are all constructed, almost sequence by sequence, in the same way.

and more…

ABRIDGED TIP(S):

*****Transmogrification*****

Every good Hero is wounded as he begins his (or her) Journey. As that wound heals, so it represents the Hero’s Transformation and Transmogrification from an Ordinary Self to a New Self.

For example, in The Godfather (1972), Michael is punched by Capt. McCluskey outside the hospital. Towards the end of the story, that wound has healed and is symbolic of his New Self.

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OVERVIEW

Most product documentation sounds like their product is the only thing in the User’s life. Such thinking results in User confusion and dissatisfaction. This article presents three real-life examples of this attitude, and what should be done to remedy these unfortunate situations. The article concludes with some techniques for the writer.

BACKGROUND

There are two important facts that User Documentation ignores:

1. Your product is a only minor item in your User’s life

2. Your User Documentation must help fit your product into the User’s life

User Documentation that is written with awareness of these facts results in a better user experience. Here are three examples of where the writers (always incorrectly) thought that their product was the only thing in the User’s life.

EXAMPLE 1: Shoe Cleaner/Protector

Most people know about polishing and perhaps cleaning their leather shoes. This cleaner/protector product is meant to clean, protect and shine shoes. The instructions simply tell the User how to apply the product.

What the User is Used to: I polish my shoes with regular wax (or liquid) shoe polish.

The Problem: If a User wants to polish his/her shoes as well as use your cleaner/protector, then what order should the polish and the cleaner/protector be used? The instructions merely tell the User how to apply the cleaner/protector. It’s like the cleaner/protector is the only shoe product in existence.

Possible Solutions: The the cleaner/protector instructions could say (as appropriate):

* Use the cleaner/protector instead of your normal shoe polish.

* Use the cleaner/protector after you polish the shoes with your regular shoe polish.

* For a deluxe shoe treatment, use the cleaner/protector first on the shoes. Wait a few minutes, then wipe off any excess with a clean cloth. Then polish the shoes using your regular shoe polish, in the usual way. Finally, use the cleaner/protector again, but do not wipe it off.

These would make for much more effective instructions, and they could easily fit on the package.

EXAMPLE 2: DVD Player didn’t realize that I had a VCR

People buying a DVD player a few years ago were in the following situation. They had a VCR connected to the single video input of their TV. DVD players’ instructions described how to connect the player to a TV using a video input. The instructions ignored the situation of how to connect the player if there already was a VCR connected to the TV ’s only video input.

What the User is Used to: The VCR is connected to the only video input of my old television.

The Problem: My new DVD player needs to be connected to the TV’s only video input. Do I have to buy a switch or manually switch the DVD player and VCR?

Solution: The writer should provide some tips or instructions how to set up the DVD player in the customer’s real-life situation. These instructions may include how to connect the DVD video through the VCR. Or connecting the DVD to the TV’s video input, and connecting the antenna of the VCR to the antenna input of the TV. Both devices can be connected with no need to buy additional parts. The instructions should mention how. It would improve the User’s experience in setting up the new device. (The instructions should also mention that these methods of connecting the devices would yield a less than optimal picture.)

EXAMPLE 3: A 2 in 1 Shampoo and Conditioner Product

A User normally shampoos his/her hair and then may use a separate conditioner product. He/she just purchased your product, a 2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner. It has no instructions.

What the User is Used to: A shampoo is used on the hair and immediately rinsed. A conditioner gets left in the hair for a few minutes, then rinsed.

The Problem: Does this 2 in 1 product get left in the hair, or does it get rinsed out immediately?

The Solution: Provide correct instructions on the package. Or, if it does not matter how long the 2 in 1 product gets left in the hair, then say so. Don’t leave the User guessing. If the User wanted to guess about something, then they would be reading a novel, not your User Documentation.

BOTTOM LINE: What to Do for Your Documentation

Examine your product in the light of how it will change the way that the User currently does things. How will it fit into the User’s life? How does the product fit with other products your User employs?

Make sure that your User Documentation helps the User to effectively fit the product into his/her life. By ignoring the reality of your User’s situation, you are forcing him/her to solve problems that you could easily solve. If you provide the solutions, then you will create a better product experience for your User.

Fitting the product into the User’s life presents the writer with a duty and an opportunity:

* The duty to ease the User from what he/she previously did to the new product’s situation

* The opportunity to explain your product by using the User’s experience as a background

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Produced by Reader’s Digest, A Child’s First Bible is a unique and kid-friendly book of Bible stories. The illustrations are bright, childlike, and interesting; the text, by Sally Lloyd-Jones, is lively and brief enough for most toddlers. Each Bible story takes up one page and includes sidebars of important points or questions to ponder.

The stories covered are: Creation, the Flood, Abraham and Sarah, Joesph, the parting of the Red Sea, Ruth and Naomi, David and Goliath, Daniel in the lion’s den, Jonah and the big fish, Mary and Gabriel, the shepherds and angels who went to baby Jesus, the story of the first Christmas, Peter and the fishermen, Jesus walking on water, Jesus feeding the crowd with five loaves of bread and two fish, Jesus healing the lame man, the Prodigal Son, and Jesus rising.

Examples of the sidebars: For Jesus walking on water, “Jesus is stronger than whatever scares us! What do you get scared of?” and for the Flood: “God keeps his promises! Do you know all the colors of the rainbow?”

There is also an introduction, which explains that the Bible is “like a letter from God to you and me. It tells the story of God’s love for us. We read about God and his friends and the adventures they went on. The Bible tells us that God wants us to be his friends, too.”

First of all, the cover! The board book has a cutout in the center, which is filled with heavy see-through plastic that has a pond and pond-creatures printed on it. Beneath that, we see a child and a rainbow. The cover alone inspires my 18 month old to study this book frequently. (And the cover has proved durable to being tossed around and chewed on.) My daughter also loves the colorful illustrations inside. I also appreciate the effective introduction to this book, and all the interactive sidebars. The retelling of the Bible stories is also much better than many, many children’s Bibles.

Nothing.

Excellent.

3 - 6.

Reader’s Digest, 2001; ISBN 1575848163 ; board book; $12.99

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There are lots (and lots!) of Bibles out there for kids, and it can be difficult to find the right one for your child. But I think you’ll find that Little Girls Bible Storybook (for Mothers & Daughters) is unique - and ideal for preschoolers. First of all, the text focuses on the feelings of the people in the Bible, making it easier for girls to relate to the stories. For another, the Bible stories (written by Carolyn Larsen) are told in a simple, entertaining fashion. Here’s a sample:

“‘Eve…Eve, wake up,’ the gentle voice whispered.

‘Who is it? Who’s there?’ Eve mumbled, stretching her arms and wiggling her toes for the very first time.

‘It’s me…God…your creator. Open your eyes, sweet child. There’s someone I want you to meet,’ God whispered again, a little louder this time.

Eve stretched again and sat up. When she opened her eyes, she couldn’t believe what she saw. ‘Ohhh, it’s…it’s so beautiful!’ Carefully trying her brand-new legs, Eve ran through the garden, touching things for the very first time. ‘What are these?’ she cried, pointing at a mound of color…”

The illustrations by Caron Turk are also engaging and creative. And like many adult Bibles, there are sections scattered throughout that help explain important principles - and give moms ideas on how to discuss these principles with their daughters.

The entire approach. No stuffy, boring text here. The illustrations are delightful, too. And the book encourages moms to get their daughters thinking about how the Bible applies to their everyday lives.

Nothing.

Excellent.

6 - 9

Baker Books, 1998; ISBN 0801044073; hardback; $16.99

Also available: Little Girls Bible Storybook (for Fathers & Daughters), Little Boys Bible Storybook (for Mothers & Sons), and Little Boys Bible Storybook (for Fathers & Sons).

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Written by best-selling author Elizabeth George, God’s Wisdom for Little Girls has a lofty goal: To help children understand Proverbs 31 and how it applies to their life today. Each page of this book (charmingly illustrated by Judy Luenebrink) deals with one character trait; through pictures and rhyming text, it shows little girls how that trait might apply to their life. The last page of the book breaks down some of the bigger words used in the book (like “diligent” and “gracious”), saying what they mean, and where moms can find the corresponding text in the Bible. God’s Wisdom for Little Girls says that “God’s little girl is:” priceless, kind, eager, helpful, cheerful, busy, hearty (giving it our all), diligent, caring, prepared, creative, prayerful, artistic, confident, gracious, careful, thoughtful, and cherished.

The concept; Proverbs 31, while an important passage to all women, isn’t always easy for grown-ups to understand. But the author does a fine job breaking down each concept and applying it to modern life. (Moms may learn something, too!) These virtues are things we should try to instill in our daughters from an early age, and God’s Wisdom for Little Girls really help mothers do that. The illustrations vary in color intensity (some are vivid, some are pastel) and are quite detailed. They depict little girls playing, working, and loving.

These aren’t dislikes so much as cautions. I think it’s important for mothers to tell their daughters they may not be able to live up to all these virtues - especially at first. It’s also important to stress that we can only be a Proverbs 31 woman (or girl) if we lean on the Lord. Initially, I also questioned some of the named virtues; for example, “artistic.” I couldn’t recall a Bible passage that said Godly women should be artistic. But when I checked the last page of the book and saw how the author defined artistic (”a skillful expert”), my objection disappeared. Some parents may also object that God’s Wisdom for Little Girls is sexist; it doesn’t depict little girls romping around with cars and tools; they are mostly shown doing traditionally feminine things. There is certainly room for romping in every girl’s life, but romping isn’t one of the virtues mentioned in Proverbs 31. (There is a little girl shown digging in the garden, however.) Yet, overall God’s Wisdom for Little Girls takes a pretty difficult subject and makes it approachable for preschoolers.

Very Good.

5 - 8

Harvest House Publishers, 2000; ISBN 0736904271; hardback; $15.99.

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