From our deconstruction of hundreds of Hollywood blockbusters….

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…

Sample Movie Deconstructed: Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (2000)

Introduce Male and Female Supernatural Aids (Mother and Father mentors) and their challenge [Li and Shu Lien; that they love each other].

Female Mentor departs on a journey to deliver the Sword.

Female Mentor enters a New World [Beijing].

Female Mentor delivers the Sword and meets her own Mentor [even Mentors have Mentors]. Her Mentor provides guidance: to admit her love for Li.

Meeting the Heroine [Jen]. Heroine’s challenge [to be free; to be a warrior is to be free].

Develop the value of the Sword [Governor Yu].

Introduce the Interdictor [Jade Fox].

Heroine seizes the Sword. Conflict.

Battle with the Mother. Heroine saved by the Antagonism.

Mother and Heroine interaction. Restating the heroine’s challenge. Mother gives guidance to the true path.

Foreshadow of the Physical Separation [remembering the desert].

Setup the nature of the antagonism [preparing for the battle with Jade Fox].

Significant antagonism [danger of Jade Fox illustrated].

Father and Antagonism battle.

Mother attempts to persuade the Heroine to follow the true path [return the sword].

Father offers to guide through the transformation. Retrieves the Sword.

Hero resists.

Physical Separation. Heroine and antagonism separation [Jade Fox].

Mother attempts to dissuade Father from the Journey [Li and Shu Lien interaction].

Transformation [Lo comes for Jen; in the desert].

Seizing the Sword [Lo sacrifices his life; persuades Jen not to marry].

Atonement with the Father [Li expresses his love for Shu Lien]. Jen becomes a warrior.

Seizing the Sword [Jen steals the Sword].

Rebirth Through Death [beating the warriors]

Atonement with the Father [Battle with Mother and Father].

Apotheosis [she is nothing without the Sword].

Ultimate Boon [Being a warrior does not make her free]

Refusal of the Return [refusal to give the Sword back].

Magic Flight [Jade Fox kidnaps Jen].

Rescue from Without [Li comes for her].

Crossing the Return Threshold [Jade Fox and Li battle; Jade defeated].

Master of the two Worlds [Li crosses into the Other World; Jen uses her knowledge to attempt to save Li].

Freedom to Live [Jen jumps the mountain].

Learn more…

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.

Kal Bishop, MBA

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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. He can be reached at http://www.clickok.co.uk/

How To Get The Best From Your Freelance Writer

The information in this article is the result of my experiences as a magazine editor when I learnt a few of my fellow journalists and writers had attributes normally associated with sleazy politicians: they could be economical with the truth, liberal with deadlines, slippery in times of crisis and disappointingly unable to deliver on their big promises. Follow my guidelines and you will avoid many of the mistakes I made and find commissioning writing work a pleasurable and rewarding experience.

Ask To See Examples Of Previous Work
Don’t wait until deadline day to see just what the journalist or writer says they can do: you could be in for a nasty surprise. As an Editor, I was sent work that bore no relation to the stories I’d commissioned; stories that had been copied out of books; and stories that might have pleased third-grade teachers but which had no place in a grown-up magazine. If you don’t want to be disappointed, ask to see proof of your writer’s previous work before you contract anything. An experienced journalist/writer will have had work published and will be able to provide copies of it on demand. You’ll soon see if they really can do what they say they can.

Be Specific

Spell out exactly what you want. If you want a general article on say, Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), then that is what you will get. If however what you really want is an article on the benefits of using Neuro Linguistic Programming in a sales environment then say so. The more specific you are in the beginning the more likely you are to receive the writing you want.

Set A Word Limit
If you are paying by the word then set the word count you expect to receive. If you want a 500-word article on Winning Telephone Sales Techniques then say so. Make it clear you won’t pay for extra word length.

Be Clear About Payment
How much do you want to pay for the article, web content or newsletter? State in writing how much you will pay, the length of writing you expect, and how that payment will be made. Ensure the journalist/writer has received this information and agrees with the set price.

Expert Advice
Is there someone you specifically want to be included in the article? Tell the writer who that person is and if necessary, provide their contact details. Is there an organisation that you want to be featured in the story? Do you want to have examples of businesses or people to illustrate the piece? Make sure you tell the writer these details before they begin.

What Angle Do You Want?
If you expect a certain angle in the story, make a point of telling the person writing the story what it is. Include it in your initial commissioning letter or email.

The Audience
Tell your writer or journalist who the piece will be aimed at and the tone you expect. Do you want the piece to be hilariously funny, deadly serious, highbrow or chatty? Is it aimed at beginners or experienced people in the field? Is it aimed at a general audience or a specific group?

Build Some Leeway Into Your Deadline
Journalists can be addicted to the adrenaline rush that writing to a looming deadline brings and will leave everything to the very last possible moment. Be warned: not all of them will make the deadline. If you want to avoid the stress that this failure will inevitably cause, give your writer a deadline that is a few days or even a week ahead of the real deadline. Do not under any circumstances divulge to a writer that you have given them a faux deadline.

Specify The Format
Do you want the article or story to be sent via email, fax or by post? Do you want it to be sent on CD or floppy disc as well? Should the article be double or single-spaced? These details may seem unnecessarily fussy but trust me, when you are nearing the deadline, you will appreciate receiving copy that can be read quickly. Unless you enjoy typing, discourage anyone from sending you handwritten copy or discs that come from a bygone age. Make things easy on yourself.

Put It In Writing
Before work begins, write down exactly what you want from your journalist or writer and either email it or send it by post. This should include the word count, the specifics of the story/article, the people or organisations you want to be included in the piece, the angle you want, the tone of the article, the illustrations if any, the deadline and payment details. Follow it up. Check that they have received and understood everything in your email or letter and agree with the conditions you have set.

Get Contact Numbers
Ask for as many contact details as you can possibly get from your writer or journalist. Don’t be fobbed off. At the very least, you should ask for office, home and mobile phone numbers and home and email addresses. If you haven’t received the copy by deadline time, you will be very grateful for every possible way of contacting your writer or journalist that you have.

Progress Reports
Don’t be afraid to check on the progress of the work. Your writer or journalist won’t like you checking up on them but early intervention could save you a lot of stress later on. Find out if they are having any problems with contacting people or getting the information they need to complete the article. You may be able to help.

Revisions, Re-writes
If the article or writing does not meet the standards outlined and agreed upon in your original commissioning letter or email then you have the right to ask the journalist or writer to revise or rewrite it. If however you have changed your mind and want something different from what was originally agreed upon, then you will have to pay for the extra work that is involved.

Read The Copy Before The Deadline
If you miraculously receive the copy or a disc containing the copy before the deadline, rejoice for you are a rare individual indeed and obviously blessed with more good fortune than most other editors. When you’re done rejoicing, for goodness sake, read what you’ve been sent. Test the discs to see that they are recognised by your computer system. Can you read the documents? Does the article or story meet your criteria? Are you happy with what you’ve been sent? If yes, then continue with your rejoicing. If not, act fast. Get the journalist on the telephone as quickly as you can. Ask for a rewrite and demand to know when you will receive it. If you can’t read the disc, let the journalist know. Ask for another to be sent along with a hard copy of the article.

Gratefully Accepted
If you’re happy with the work you received then be kind and let the writer or journalist know. They will appreciate the praise. If you want to become a true hero to journalists and writers everywhere, ensure payment is swift. They will be forever grateful.

About the Author:

For high-quality freelance writing assignments completed at warp speed, visit Marie-Louise Small, aka The Fast Freelance Writer, at http://www.FastFreelance.com/

Copyright Marie-Louise Small 2005.

Going for a degree in this discipline which is usually thought to be the most universal of all the engineering fields a wide choice of mechanical engineering jobs will be available at short notice. Engineering work covers a broad range of applications including energy, heating, cooling systems, and even air-conditioning design; the automobile industry, heavy plant engineering and upkeep; highly pressurized vessels and piping. Roles may be as different as employment involving business development, administration and management, further options could be the food industry and production manufacturing. Just how much should a mechanical engineer earn?

A salary survey comissioned in 2003 discovered that mechanical engineering jobs most often covers a 40,000USD to $93000 earnings range, education and of course on the job experience being defining elements. Another factor affecting a mechanical engineering salary is the field of engineering you select. Getting a job: — A comprehensive CV is necessary. When you have optimized your CV to reflect your on the job experience and education, you must roll up your sleeves and put yourself out there. Where can you find jobs in my chosen field? Employment fairs: Relevant local job fairs will advertised somewhere in the engineering science department of your university. These events can give you the chance to interact with the individuals doing the hiring. Working as an intern: Your school should help with obtaining the good internship. Many businesses which employ interns will take on students upon graduation, and can also improve significantly your prospects of a greater salary. Mechanical engineering groups: Participating in groups or going to meetings opens up ways to learn more about engineering, but additionally gives you a chance to hook up. The press is a valuable resource: Engineering businesses advertise in the press just the same as any firm. Check the papers daily; make applications; follow through. The secret is tenacity. Use cyberspace: Submit your resume on some of the well-known job hunting sites on the internet. Build up a portfolio on the LinkedIn website and network. Take advantage of the net to accelerate the search for the ideal job. Perseverance compounded with finding industry contacts are key to discovering a position. Ensure that your name and cv are out there; don’t forget to follow up all your prospects; establish an online persona. These are all actions you may take to get the job of your dreams.

In his book, “Achieving Financial Independence as a Freelance Writer,” Ray Dreyfack, a full-time freelancer for 30 years, suggests that writers “ease” into full-time writing while maintaining their day jobs. If you’re following this advice, either by choice or by necessity, you know that it’s not always easy. Obligations to jobs and families tend to take priority over writing. It’s easy to lose focus of your writing goals when you have so many distractions in your life.

It is possible to pursue a career as a freelance writer, even though you can’t commit yourself to it full time. All you need are three things: time management skills, desire, and a day-planner. If you have the first two, you can get the third after you read this article!

Schedule Your Week

As in any part-time job, you must determine your hours of availability. Every Sunday evening check your calendar for the upcoming week. Schedule yourself “off” for the days filled other obligations. Establish what your work hours will be before you do anything else. Write your work days and times in your planner.

Writing Goals

Most experts promote the practice of setting writing goals. However, plans such as, “write something everyday” or “research on Mondays, write queries on Tuesdays,” (you get the picture), are too vague for writers operating on a time crunch. What happens if your child has a band concert on Tuesday? Not only will that throw you off course for this week, chances are, it will also set you back the following week. These disruptions in such a loose plan can cause frustration and weaken your writing resolve. For greater productivity, set your goals on a weekly basis, after you’ve determined your hours of availability. Plan what you will do at each work session, according to the time available, and write it in your planner. This way, you’ll be focused the minute you sit down, instead of trying to decide what you should do.

Create A Secondary “To Do” List

This list is separate from your weekly plan. It contains tasks that require a small block of time to complete. Organizing files, writing greeting card ditties, sending out reprint offers, and researching markets are some examples. This list is where you turn when you unexpectedly find yourself with extra work time. It will also come in handy on those days when your work time has been unavoidably reduced. Without this list, you may end up spending this precious time trying to decide what to do with it. Designate an area in your planner for this list. Remember to cross off your accomplishments and add to your list as needed.

Organize Your Supplies

Keep everything you need in one area. Nothing wastes time like repeatedly getting up to retrieve items you need. If you have an office or work area, keep your most important tools of the trade close at hand. If you don’t have an area designated for your writing, a bin with everything you’ll need works just fine.

Use an area in your planner to keep track of your writing supplies. Make a list of everything you use. As you begin to run low on any of the items, make a note to replenish your stock as soon as possible.

Show Up For Work

This is probably the most difficult part of all, because there are always going to be reasons for not writing. After you’ve made your schedule, do everything in your power to stick to it. No employer in their right mind would pay an employee who always makes excuses for not showing up. If you want to get paid for your writing, you must plan time to write!

Karen Bianchi is a freelance writer who also holds a part-time “day job.” She has 4 kids and is the editor of http://www.AwesomeMomsNetwork.com

A greatly overlooked element of owning a PDA is that you actually need to take care of them if you want them to last. For most people this will mean two things – getting some software protection for your PDA and getting it a physical case to stop it getting knocked around.

As everyone knows, desktop and laptop computers need to be protected with firewalls and antivirus software. With so much malware, spyware and adware around it is pretty much a necessity. Unfortunately the same thing has to be done for your PDA. A good money saving tip is to search for software that can be used on both your computer and your PDA. There are tons of options available with Avast4 PDA Edition and Airscanner software both being very popular choices for protecting PDAs. Installing this software should be very high on your agenda when getting a new PDA as an unsecured device is just as vulnerable to attack as an unsecured PC.

The other thing you will need to consider is some physical protection for your PDA. The fact is that PDAs will get knocked around a lot in general use (even more if you are a PDA addict!). For this there are luckily an incredible amount of choices. You can go with a soft case or a hard case. The choice should really depend on how heavily you use the PDA – with heavier users perhaps being well-advised to stick with hard cases. Soft cases are fine for general users, but obviously they will not stand up to the same level of abuse as a hard case. Of course having a cool looking case is important too! Luckily there are no shortage of funky cases either!

By protecting your PDA both physically and from a software point of view you will extend its effective life significantly. As with any investment it is wise to protect it and get your money’s worth!

Rob Wood runs a PDA Accessory website at http://pda-assistant.info

Home Urine Drug Test

Drug screen has grown into a frequent problem across the globe. Many companies do drug exams on newly hired people or active employees to assure a drug-free surrounding at workplace.

Insurance agencies and courts carry out drug screens on a frequent basis on distrusted individuals. The main question that comes to your head, when you go for some test is how to beat any drug exam?

Online web sites much like Drug Testing Advice proposes the up-to-date detoxification products including perm cleaners, man-made weewee products, and saliva cleansing products, health drinks and home drug test kits.

Passing A Hair Follicle Drug Test

Pass The Drug Test offers up master support for every item, with support offered by drug test professionals which are highly veteran with diverse types of drug testing methodologies and results. Support is available by electronic mail and telephone. Transportation is streamlined, with complete privacy assured, using plainly and discrete packaging materials to preserve absolute client privacy.

Drug Testing Pass

Embedded on the new web site is a sizeable range of products for detox and screening intentions. Permanent cleansers are proposed in 3, 5 and 7, 10, 14, 21 and 30 day products, with a variety of herbs, roots, barks and minerals that are famous lipids destroyers which work to break down fat cells and eradicate toxins wholly. Man-made weewee is proposed, which incorporates all elements ordinarily seen in urine, specially balanced for pH with specific gravity, creatin and other weewee characteristics. A saliva cleaning mouthwash is proposed will remove toxins from the mouth with just 3 minutes of use. We sell a range of herbal drinks, every last one accommodating the most active herbs and fiber to help rid the body of toxins that may have accumulated.

If you use Google to research the wide world web for us here are 10 Super phrases to use to obtain our site.

Passing A Drug Test With Certo

Drug Natural Passing Remedy Test also proposes drug examination kits including saliva, hair and weewee based tests to guarantee that detox efforts are effective. For more information, visit Passing Drug Test Naturally If you have any questions, please call us at: 800-727-7123

An inspection of construction sites in Teesside as part of an ongoing initiative by HSE inspectors has led to the closure of five sites. 58 sites were inspected with 15 being served notices connected to the risk of people falling from the scaffolding.

During the inspection drive, which aims at reducing the number of deaths in the 1500 building sites across the UK, the HSE officials ensured that

jobs involving work at heights were identified and properly planned with appropriate precautions in place; correct installation, assembly, inspection, maintenance, and usage of equipment existed; there was good organisation of sites to avoid trips and falls; there were obstruction free walkways and stairs; clean work areas existed; the risks associated with asbestos exposure were managed correctly and in accordance with the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006; and there was awareness amongst the workforce about risk mitigation measures.

Rob Hirst, HSE representative, said that the agency would continue looking closely at both principal contractors and contractors working in the refurbishment sector. He also informed the press that the majority of site inspectors did not have to serve enforcement notices, which was quite good news.

Mr. Hirst added that the HSE would continue to target sites where the employers allow dangerous practices to be followed, and strict action would be taken against the culprits. He stressed that preventing an accident is much better than having to deal with disastrous consequences.

To avoid the repercussions of a visit from HSE officials companies should bring themselves and their employees fully up-to-date with the latest H&S regulations. click here for more information about nebosh training run by Workplace Law Training which is a good first step to improving your companies H&S culture.

The over riding benefit of Chamonix is its proximity to Geneva and its airport. One can easily fly from the UK in the late morning and be skiing during the afternoon. The success of BMI Baby and budget flights has meant much lower tickets moreover with merely a one hour trip duration between Geneva airport and Chamonix a weekend’s skiing is nowadays within the budget of everyone; moreover all our luxury ski chalets are available from Thursday until the Sunday to allow you to enjoy reasonably priced travel costs and empty runs. From your greeting at the airport right up until collecting the group’s ski badges waiting for you on arrival; everything is organised to ensure that the group endures the least amount of time on route and the maximum of the break snowboarding.

A short break in Chamonix Mont Blanc is an enjoyable vacation if one arrange the finer details correct so that one can enjoy your precious break. That entails arranging the air flights ski transfer and luxury catered ski chalet bang on and transferring the group to the pistes as effortlessly as possible. The task is to provide you the maximum amount of time with the minimum amount of hassle including the normal impeccable levels of cosines cuisine and personal service. With this in mind we provide speedy ski transfers exceptional accommodation exceptional dining and we will advise and book mountain guides and skiing instructors.

Generally speaking a betting hall is an edifice that organizes card-playing. Here, patrons will hopefully take a chance at the one armed bandits or some other gambling games. Betting room games frequently have ovious probabilities included which guarantee the gambling hall keeps up a profit versus the gambling devotees. instant no deposit casino bonus

More often than not, betting hall games may cause you to get addicted swiftly. There’s the quintessential slot-machine, a cash operated contraption with 3, sometimes more drums which orbit once a bar connected to it is operated. This appliance most often remits in correlation to a run of images seen on the panel of the gadget. Regrettably, betting room pastimes tend to convey the semblance of domination, deluding the betting enthusiast – the participant is tasked with choices, but they can not truly remove the gamer’s odds. That is due to the betting establishment not returning the full stake as expected. This philosophy is repeatedly noticeable in popular casino games like stud poker, craps, roulette or blackjack.

Five-card stud is really an immensely trendy casino game. The gaming fans, closely guarding their either fully or partially concealed hands, place stakes into a central pot which is finally paid out to the prevailing player endowed with highest combination of cards. (As everybody knows, the best bluff may well prevail too!) Similar to five card stud, blackjack is also an incredibly trendy casino game. A generous portion of its reputation is by virtue of the mix of chance and mastery and choice making, as well as a praxis named “card counting”. It is an approach by which gambling buffs are in a position to change the arm of chance of the game to establish the upper hand both by wagering and strategy decisions based on the cards shown.

Craps is a acclaimed wagering game based on the roll of two dice. Guests are betting on the end result of 1 roll, or on a string of cycles of two dice. Dissimilar to blackjack, there isn’t any conceivable long term killer tactics punters can make use of to bend the odds.

Roulette is another insanely popular casino game of luck. Here a croupier will twirl a roulette wheel which holds thirty-seven (French roulette) or thirtyeight (as in American roulette) independently marked compartments in which the ball will settle, which establishes the winner as well as its connected odds. When our player happens to set their stake on any given number and hits it big meaning they’ve got a lucky hand, the promised dividend will be thirty-five to one, the initial bet will be returned. Thus in totality the initial stake is multiplied by thirty six.

You should always be emphatically alert all the same as such betting hall games of luck should be deemed pretty dependency building. An alarming number of lives have been demolished due to addictive gambling and much as it definitely can be entertaining, work to exert some self-control.

It’s not easy to get a scholarship at the moment. These scholarships differ from a student loan because these are a grant for education, and, do not need to be paid back. When looking for means of funding a higher instruction, check out some of the unique options, such as financing for left handed scholars.

Lefty Scholarships: — A left-handed scholarship may at first seem out of the ordinary, however it’s worth looking at this: Bill Gates is a southpaw, as is President Obama. Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, Ringo Starr also Charlie Chaplin were left-handed as well. An estimated 11% of the population are left handed. Often considered to be more artistic and more intelligent, lefthanders have frequently been the victims of discrimination in the past. Discrimination is not an issue any longer and southpaws are no longer thought of as odd, as a matter of fact they may even be associated with the great people noted above.

Should you be left handed and looking for grants specifically for lefthanded students, plenty of grants for lefthanded people are available which you could receive. A Frederick and Mary F. Beckley Scholarship for $1,000 is available at Juniata College stuated in Huntington, PA. For students going to Juniata College and it was established in 1979, this particular college fund assists many left-handed pupils through university. Whilst you are searching for school scholarships, do be aware that some of them have requirements or limitations. In a few cases particular grades may be involved or certain monetary guidelines must be met. Apply for as many school scholarships as achievable to give you a much better probabilty of funding a university degree acquiring a minimal level of debt. Consider community organisations, societies and even groups connected to your hobbies. Lefty scholarships are just an illustration; funding is likewise obtainable if you’re a child of a veteran or have a disability, for example. Researching scholarships can be time consuming, but the advantages may potentially be huge. Employed along with standard lending, they can significantly cut back the student debt that a college degree generates. Be sure to research every last scholarship. The above-mentioned grants are not the only option — be imaginative! If you suppose you might be suitable, then go for it, you may keep your student costs to a minimum, and you will likely look forward to a better career future when you eventually graduate.