Access To The Internet

It’s heartbreaking. You go to a local fair and there at the author’s table is a row of smiling hopefuls, eager to sell their books. A few are beautiful books, either self-published or produced by traditional publishers. But so many are poorly written, poorly produced, with amateurish covers and cheap bindings. The author’s smiles are wearing thin as they realize that the world isn’t flocking to buy their books, and they’re just beginning to wonder if there’s something wrong with this picture.

Score another for the vanity presses. The poor authors, with no knowledge of the business end of publishing, have been snookered out of hundreds or even thousands of dollars and now have cases of unmarketable books serving as very expensive doorstops.

In these days of POD (publish-on-demand) technology, the vanity presses may promise to ship the books when they are ordered, which at least relieves the author of having to warehouse the books. But the vanities still charge large amounts of money and the author is still left with an empty bank account and shattered dreams.

Or worse. Some scammers take money from hopeful authors and deliver nothing at all.

The good news is that with a little knowledge, it isn’t too hard to spot a scam. Here are some obvious red flags to look for:

Red Flag #1: “We’ll publish your book for ONLY $595!”

Remember this one rule above all: legitimate publishers pay YOU for the rights to publish your book. You should never have to pay anyone to publish your work unless you choose to self-publish.

To get a book published, you have to write the very best book you can. You must study the market, and use a current market guide to select the most appropriate publisher. You submit your manuscript using a standard manuscript format, which is described in most good books on writing and publishing. While you wait for a reply, you go to work on your next project. If a publisher is interested, an editor will contact you and make an offer. The publisher will pay you an advance against royalties, and once the advance is earned back, you will earn royalties on further sales. You or your agent may also sell other subsidiary rights, such as foreign translation rights or movie rights. Chances are high, however, that your manuscript will be rejected. If that happens you select the next publisher on your list and send the manuscript there, then go back to work on your next project.

If you want to self-publish, the best way to go about it is to create your own small publishing company. You give your company a name, you choose a good printing service, you buy the ISBN number and file for copyright. If you pay for “publishing,” but the book bears the imprint of another publisher, that company is a vanity publisher. A good printing service will encourage you to use your own imprint. You have a much better chance of getting a distributor to carry your books if you use your own imprint. Most distributors steer clear of vanity publishers.

If you want only a few copies, such as a memoir meant only for family, look for a good book binding service.

Red Flag #2: “Authors wanted by major publisher!”

No legitimate publisher ever has to advertise for authors. All major publishers have gigantic slush piles stacked high with far more manuscripts than they will ever be able to use, most of which are of poor quality. If you see an ad in the back of a magazine that offers to “publish” your book, or suggests that they “need” authors, chances are high that it is a vanity press.

Red Flag #3: “We know the secret for instant success!”

There is no “instant success” in the publishing world. Most famous authors worked hard for years to become an “overnight success.” Sometimes a lucky break will propel a new author to the top of the bestseller list, but remember, their story is just one out of millions. Most authors never get that kind of fame. If the opening page of the site talks about how your book could be a best-seller, be cautious. Real publishers don’t make those kinds of promises, because they know the reality of the publishing business.

Red Flag #4: “Traditional publishing is dead/a rip-off/not worth your time.”

A publishing company that disparages traditional publishing is almost certainly either a vanity publisher or an outright scam. What they are disparaging are long-established honest businesses that carefully select the manuscripts that are most likely to sell and pay the authors for the rights to publish these works.

Red Flag #5: “We’ll list your books on Amazon.com!”

Getting your book listed on Amazon.com is as easy as going online and filling out a form. Anyone can do it. And a listing on Amazon isn’t a guaranteed path to success. Even in this day and age of online commerce, something less than 10% of all books sold are sold online. The vast majority of books are sold through bricks-and-mortar bookstores. While you may possibly be able to talk your local bookstores into carrying your self-published book, the only way to get it into bookstores across the nation is by getting a distributor to carry it. That can be expensive (which is one reason that the vanities don’t bother with distribution), and distributors won’t touch vanity books (which is the other reason). Distributors and bookstores also don’t like POD (publish on demand) books, because they can’t be returned if they don’t sell. Booksellers, unlike most businesses, expect to be able to return or destroy unsold books and get their money back. It sounds crazy to other businesses, but that’s how it is. If the publisher can’t offer distribution services to get your book into bookstores, it’s not a publisher that will serve you well.

Red Flag #6: Bad review on Preditors and Editors and Writer Beware

Yes, it’s really spelled that way, for alliterative purposes. Preditors and Editors is a website chock full of scam warnings and wise advice to writers. Writer Beware, on the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America website, has a list of current scam alerts. Both are useful when researching a potential publisher. If any publisher disparages either of these sites, beware!

If you can spot these red flags, you can avoid most publishing scams. The best way to protect yourself, though, is to educate yourself about the publishing industry. Read as many books on writing and publishing as you can get your hands on. Find out how the industry works, and find out how to market your work in the genre you are writing for. Stay abreast of industry trends by reading Publisher’s Weekly or visiting their website. With a little education, you can help put the scammers out of business.

Karen E. Bledsoe is a children’s book author, and has written many books for the school and library market. For more information on writing for children, see her website at http://www.gkbledsoe.com

Recently I attended a presentation introducing several new computer software programs. I was doubly delighted. Not only was the presentation lively, informative and exciting, it was orchestrated by not one, but two speakers. This feat in itself offers a huge challenge, and yet, when accomplished as well as the two men I heard, can be an excellent and effective way to present. In this article, I address some of the effective ways of partnering for a presentation.

What makes a presentation given by two people good, along with being worthwhile, not only for them, but also for the audience?

Preparation, preparation, preparation. It was extremely evident that the two men who were working together – they bill themselves as “brothers” – were both well prepared for their portion of the program. They were also, however, prepared for the parts they shared. It wasn’t just one person’s show, followed by the other person’s show. They were working together.

Timing is more important than ever. When two people are presenting together, they must know exactly how much time to devote to their part and/or parts of the time allotted. If one goes way over, it will detract from the other’s portion, because the audience will feel they were cheated out of information. A clever way to handle this and keep the audience aware of the time was the way the first “brother” presenting asked the second “brother” to keep track of the time and give him a signal when it was time for him to wind down. As the second “brother” started, the first one unobtrusively switched the connection to the projector from his laptop to his brother’s.

Be comfortable with each other. One of the most important factors that made this presentation such a complete success was that these two men exhibited such an easy camaraderie with each other. They joked with each other – but not too much. They listened to each other (even though I am sure that they have heard this material many, many times before – they travel the country doing these presentations). Most of all, they appeared to sincerely like each other. The rapport they had with each other multiplied into establishing an easy rapport with us, the audience.

Even if your personalities and presentation styles differ, it is imperative that each of you is a powerful presenter. The two men who were so impressive could be brothers (I have a feeling they aren’t), but they were similar in looks, the way they dressed (appropriately for the type of meeting they were attending), and both were equally excellent presenters. Both had enough pizzazz and polish that neither outshone the other – even though I was more interested in the software programs attacked by the second brother, I still enjoyed the first presentation as much.

Yes, co-presenting with another can create a challenge, but can also – when done well – give you and your listeners a powerful presentation to remember. Try it. You will be glad you did.

When you have to speak in public does your mouth get dry, your palms sweaty, knees get weak? Most of us do when we have to address even the smallest gathering. We do our best to avoid this most stressful exercise; but this may not be possible always. Public speaking is inevitable, if you want to accomplish certain tasks or make your presence known and be successful in life.

The key to overcoming this fear is to recognize what makes you nervous. We are afraid of making a fool of ourselves in front of an audience. We take one look at other seasoned speakers and conclude, “I can never be that smart”. The truth is we don’t need to be outstanding to be a successful speaker.

If you have a fair idea of what you want to say, say it to the audience in a simple and sensible way. Get your point across by dividing the topic into two to three major points and embellish a little on each point. Rehearse the speech well in advance and practice it in front of your family and friends.

Make sure you have a hard copy of the speech in front of you. Even the best of us forget what we were or want to say. A backup gives confidence as do index cards with important points bulleted.

Remember to be yourself while giving the speech. Use your normal body language and disposition. Trying to be a bit jovial if you have a serious, but not heartbreaking, countenance. The audience is generally kind and will listen even if the speaker is moderately good

Imagining making the most inspiring speech can be a great motivator. Experiment with a small audience with a rehearsed speech. Impromptu speeches will come later.

Public Speaking provides detailed information on Public Speaking, Fear Of Public Speaking, Public Speaking Tips, Public Speaking Training and more. Public Speaking is affiliated with Topical Sermons.

Trinity means a set of three, arranged by relationship and response to each other. The trinity could be a set of writings, group of authors, or, if we go by Christian religious meaning, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The trinity presents itself as one, prompting us to take them in entity.

Fiction has Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code, the second of three books (or trinity) questioning age old tenets and beliefs. The author takes the reader on a rollercoaster ride of codes, mysteries, puzzles, and conspiracies with a novel that is part detective, part thriller and part conspiracy theory, interspersed with hypothesis concerning the Holy Trinity, the Holy Grail and the role of Mary Magdalene in Christian history. It is a different matter that Dan Brown deviates from the truth, but as popularity charts go, he has managed to be on the best seller’s list.

Trinity can also be a set of authors complementing each other, as the study or research of one author necessitates the study of other two. The nineteenth century had trinity authors Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Walt Whitman, who all complement one another; during the forties and fifties, there was a trinity of Black authors Richard Wright (Native Son), Ralph Ellison (Invisible Man), and James Baldwin, who wrote Notes of a Native Son in direct response to Wright’s book. The American trinity of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happinessin all its connotationswas showcased by different sets of authors throughout the centuries.

If we go by religious sentiments, then trinity is not only about the number three, but about the Holy Grail and Christian way of living. American authors responded to the call of their hearts and spirits. J. Stephen Lang (1,001 Things You Always Wanted to Know About the Holy Spirit), Norman Mailer, Martin Marty, Nora Gallagher, Frederick Buechner, Alan Jones, and Richard Gillet have all written about their experiences of the religious or spiritual kind.

Authors provides detailed information on Authors, Black Authors, Trinity Authors, Book Authors and more. Authors is affiliated with Calligraphy Fonts.

Should the purposefully miss spelling of words be allowed on online article submission websites? Why would anyone want to miss spell a word in the title of an article that they wrote, as it would make them look silly and stupid right? Well there are some people doing this to get the clicks from the search engines when someone makes a typo when searching by accident you see?

Some online article submissions wish to prevent and ban all miss spellings in the title of their articles to prevent these folks from “gaming” the search engines. But in doing so they might hurt other authors and this is why I completely disagree and believe miss spellings should be allowed. Because many people miss key strokes and then end up having to re-submit the search.

Besides there are many common miss spellings, which are so common that they are considered normal and where do you draw the line anyway. Not to mention that the English versions of words are often different slightly and you might miss all those potential article views. I think linear and stupid people often want to make rules before they think through the repercussions of the rules they make.

For instance BioDiesel is not a word in the dictionary. Bio Diesel shows up as correct but most articles in science use BioDiesel and so let’s say you allow this either way. You just broke your stupid rule. Now do you see why I am opposed to making such a rule? Consider all 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/

Do you fear you might die with your book dream still inside? Don’t fear. You can do it this year. Honest, you can. Keep reading, I’ll tell you why…The truth is few can pin point real reasons they haven’t done it yet. They get hung up with the myth reasons that hinder them from getting their book done. It’s true there are reasons that will stop you cold every time, if you fall for them.

Yet, there are little recognized truths (secrets) which destroy the myths that keep you from realizing your book dream. Here are the top eight secrets to help you write the book you have always wanted to write, now:

Secret #1 Know now is better than later.

Winning writers know how to overcome the giant called procrastination. Have you ever met anyone that said, “I wish I never wrote my book.” I only meet people who say, “I wish I had written my book sooner.” Apply time management skills with this book’s easy writing program and get your book out quickly so that you can start profiting from your knowledge now.

Secret#2 Develop one central thought with a marketing emphasis

Winner selling books focus on one main concept. To write focused compelling copy for your book select a central thought and write each chapter to support that central thought. Include strategic marketing points before and throughout your manuscript. At the end of your project you will have a well written book ready to sell.

Secret#3 Choose a topic you are passionate about

Successful writers select a subject they are passionate about. They realize they can overcome all obstacles with persistence and passion. Choosing a topic you are passionate about will make research and fact gathering a joy because you are constantly finding out new and interesting facts about something you love. Well maybe not a joy for everyone but at least it will make it easier.

Secret#4 Recognize a successful book is part of a journey

Writers who win know writing a book is just a part of an interesting journey. Discover in this book how to write it simply, organized, with passion and lots of profit. Your journey will be enjoyable, stress-free and in less time as half or even one-third.

SUMMARY

The truth is there are no more legitimate reasons to not get started writing your successful book. Implement the above steps and write the best book you’re capable of. Pair up with a book coach and do it now! For now is better than later.

© Earma Brown, 11 year author and business owner
helps small business owners and writers who want to write their best book now! Author of “Write Your Best Book Now”, she mentors other writers and business professionals through her monthly ezine “iScribe” Subscribe now at
iscribe@writetowin.org for FREE mini-course ‘Jumpstart Writing Your Best Book’ or visit WritetoWin.org

So, you want to be a writer. Maybe you’ve even written your first few songs or your first novel, fiction or non fiction. Perhaps you have a collection of poems or you are a technical writer for electronics and want to get published. Where do you begin? While becoming a published writer for pay is one of the hardest things in this world to do, it is possible. The following tips will make your life a lot easier.

The first thing you have to do is identify what type of writer you are. Every area of writing, whether it be song writing, fiction writing or technical writing, has a different avenue that needs to be traveled in order to get where you want to go. Most likely if you’re writing for the first time and have never been published you have no clue where to even go or who to approach to get your work published.

In that case the first thing you have to do is research. This can be done in book stores, libraries or even on the Internet, which is probably the most convenient place to start. Simply go to a search engine and type in “How to get started as a…” and fill the rest in with whatever type of writer you are, such as songwriter, fiction writer, technical writer and so on. Your search will turn up a number of results including articles on the subject and organizations for each type of writer. Read as many of these as you can. Yes, it is a lot of work and very time consuming. But think about how much time you spent on your finished work. It’s going to take at least that much time if not longer to get it published.

In the course of your search you’re going to find instructions on submitting your work, whatever it is. If it’s of a musical nature you will probably be asked to submit a CD of your recording. You may also be asked to submit the actual sheet music. If you’re not a technically trained person and don’t know how to transcribe music, there are two options open to you. You can either go to a service that will transcribe recorded material onto sheet music or you can buy software that will do this for you. Good software will cost a pretty penny, so make sure the cost is justified by how much you will save if you had each of your songs transcribed by a service. When you eventually get around to submitting your work, make sure you follow the instructions to the letter. Because of the number of submissions these companies get, they look for reasons to reject your work. Don’t give them even one.

Most companies say it will be 4 – 6 weeks until you hear something. Be patient. Don’t call up and ask if they got to your material. They’ll get to it when they do. If you should get a rejection letter back, don’t let it get to you. You will get a hundred of them before you get your first acceptance letter. Hopefully, the letters will come back with constructive criticism as to why you were rejected, though most will simply say, “Not what we are looking for”. If you do get comments, take them seriously and work on what they feel you need to work on. These people are the experts. They know.

If however, you do get your work accepted, make sure you follow all instructions they give you. If they want you to fly out and meet with them you book that flight yesterday. If they send you a contract to sign, get a lawyer immediately. If they say jump, you say “How high and how far?”.

Breaking into the business of writing is harder than you can possibly imagine. Once you get that opportunity, the words “I don’t want to do that” better not be part of your vocabulary.

This may be the only chance you get.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Writing Tips

If you are reading this article, I assume that you are struggling with writing articles. Sometimes it is just so hard to get the information out of your head and it seems like when you are sitting in front of your computer, you minds go blank.

Writing an 250-500 words article is better than 1000 words article, people are in a hurry, they don’t want to sit there an spend the next 30 minutes of their time reading your article unless it is super good quality and contain the information you are seeking.

There are three purposes articles do. The first is to generate sales, the second drive traffic and the third is to capture their email address. I consider the third to be more important than others because once you capture their email address; the others will fall into place.

There is plenty of information on the internet that you could use to write your articles. Information such as old ezine articles, you could use other’s people content and create you own unique articles.

Or you could use books old books as a content reference guide to crank out another series of articles.

But the best way to do it is to use articles that you have written before. You could simply add more content or refine it. Since the internet world is changing so fast. I bet you could update your articles into better one.

With all of this information, you need a system to write articles. You’ll need a system that you could use over and over again to produce articles, a step by step guide for yourself. A system could help you concentrate and focus on what you need to do, it will help a lot.

To develop a system, either you create one yourself or you can use ones that other people have created.

Since it takes time to develop a system and tests if it works or not. I recommend you to use other people’s system.

If you want to use other people’s system to gain the benefit yourself, visit http://www.articleunlimited.com/30minutes.html

Conclusion, if you want to produce more articles in less time, uses a system to help you. Remember, not only earning profits is money, time is also money…

Titus Cheng is an infopreneur that specialized in article marketing. He website has an ecourse to teach other people how to use article to marketing. To subscribe to his ecourse, visit http://www.articleunlimited.com

Stop paying for your web site visitors. Write an article, submit that article (for free) to the best article directory web sites and see your traffic explode!

Driving more visitors to your web site is just one of the benefits of submitting articles to article directory web sites.

There are other benefits too: Your Google page rank will increase! Your Yahoo and MSN rankings too! Alexa.com ranks web sites based upon web site traffic, so you benefit that way as well.

Distribute articles and establish yourself as an expert. Submit articles to make more sales, to get more web site traffic for free, to increase your website’s Google Page Rank & boost your Alexa score.

In my opinion, article publishing is the greatest free traffic generating “secret”.

But, I am sure you do not have the time available that it is going to take to submit your articles to twenty, fifty or a hundred article directory web sites.

So, what is the best way to submit your article to as many article directory web sites as possible?

Free article submission? No way. Just SPAM machines that can get you banned from article directories. Cheap article submission services? They lack the professional features that I am looking for. The top-notch ones have almost everything that I am looking for but they are too expensive.

Article submission software is the solution to this problem. Article submission software will store your information, your resource box and article body and visit each of the article directories to log you in and automatically fill in the fields (name, article body, resource box etc) for you. After that, you will need to select the appropriate category for your article and hit the submit article button.

Article writing is not a very easy work but it can become very rewarding. Keep it short, about 400 words. Check your grammar and spelling. Do not copy from other articles. Use a catchy title. Don’t forget to include a call to action and a link back to your web site in your resource box.

John Iacovakis is the owner of PopAds Online Advertising and CreativeNet Article Submission Software

From our deconstruction of hundreds of Hollywood blockbusters and sitcoms at www.clickok.co.uk/

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…

EXAMPLE: The Graduate (1967) – [Hero's Journey, basic]

FADE IN: meeting the Hero / going on a journey: Ben in the aircraft; arriving in the airport.

Time Pressure: parking limited to 3 minutes only.

Herald: Ben’s father asks him to come downstairs, to meet the guests / friends.

Resistance to the Journey: Ben hesitates to go downstairs; he is worried about his future.

Creatures of the Ordinary World: meeting the guests downstairs.

Hero’s Capabilities: hey “trackstar”; I want to hear all about that award you won.

Hero’s Status: we’re so proud of you.

Pushed towards a Transformation: what are you going to do now? About your future? There’s a great future in plastics…

Hero’s backstory: Someone reads Ben’s yearbook.

Forced to a Journey: I have to get out of here; Ben goes upstairs to be alone.

Meeting the Mentor / Shape Shifter / Antagonist: Mrs Robinson finds Ben in the room alone.

Antagonist familiar with the Hero: …the track star doesn’t smoke….

Call to Adventure: will you drive me home?

Refusal: take the car; do you know how to work a foreign shift?

Time Pressure: lets go.

Pushed to the First Threshold: will you come in please, until I get the lights on.

Crossing the Threshold Marker: would you mind walking in front of me into the house; the main door.

Resisting the Outer Cave: I was glad to drive you home but I have some things to think about.

Pulled in: please wait until my husband comes in.

Rules: I’m very neurotic.

Outer Cave Trial: you didn’t think I’d do something like that did you, Mrs Robinson; Mrs Robinson you’re trying to seduce me.

Resisting the Middle Cave: are you trying to seduce me? I’m not sure.

Meeting the Romantic Challenge: Elaine’s room and her portrait.

Middle Cave: will you unzip my dress; I think I’ll go to bed.

Resisting the Inner Cave: what if Mr Robinson were to walk in now? Would you like me to seduce you?

Pushed to the Inner Cave: would you bring up my purse; I’m putting it on the top step; will you stop acting this way and bring it inside.

Inner Cave: Mrs Robinson naked; I want you to know I’m available for you; if you won’t sleep with me now you can call me anytime.

Forced out of the Inner Cave: Mr Robinson arrives.

Pushed to the Belly of the Whale: I think you should take it easy; sow a few wild oats; have a few flings this summer.

Resisting the Conscious Decision: do I have to do this?

Conscious Decision: diving into the pool sequence.

Goodbye to the Old Self: the fading image.

Belly of the Whale: Ben calls Mrs Robinson from the hotel; give me an hour.

Creatures of this World: the people in the hotel.

Threshold Guardian: the hotel receptionist.

Creatures of this World: the people in the party.

Fish out of Water: Ben is uncomfortable and out of place in the hotel and nervous when Mrs Robinson arrives.

Threshold Guardian: getting a room from reception.

Pushing to the Physical Separation: Ben phones Mrs Robinson and gives her the room number.

Fearing the World of the Transformation: Ben anxious in the room.

Resisting the Physical Separation: Mrs Robinson undresses; I can’t do this.

Pushed to the Physical Separation: is this your first time?

Physical Separation: I am not inadequate.

Transformation and Trials 1:

New Self: Ben with glasses in the pool.

Being undressed by Mrs Robinson.

Goodbye to the Old Self: closing the door on Mom and Pop.

Watching TV in the room with Mrs Robinson; she leaves.

Foreshadow of the Romantic Challenge: What are you doing Ben? Elaine is coming down from Berkeley, why don’t you give her a call?

Mom asks Ben where he goes when he stays away all night.

Transformation and Trials 2:

Antagonist’s Backstory: Mrs Robinson, could we have a conversation this time? Having a conversation; Mrs Robinson got married because she got pregnant.

Interdiction: don’t talk about Elaine; don’t you ever take that girl out.

Ben starts to walk out; Mrs Robinson persuades him to promise never to take out Elaine.

Transformation and Trials 3:

Pushed to the Trial: Pop encourages Ben to ask Elaine out.

Resisting the Trial: Mrs Robinson is angry; Ben tells her he won’t see her again.

Ben takes Elaine to a strip joint; Elaine cries and Ben chases her, explains and then kisses her; he has a compulsion that he has to be rude all the time.

Meeting the Oracle: it’s still early, lets go somewhere else.

Journey to the Sword:

Recognised as Mr Gladstone at the Taft Hotel.

Ben tells Elaine that he had an affair with a married woman and that it’s all over now.

Seizing the Sword: I want to; arranging a date for tomorrow. The kiss.

Night Sea Journey: Mrs Robinson gets in the car and threatens to tell Elaine everything. Ben runs to Elaine.

Near Death Experience: Mrs Robinson appears and Elaine realizes the truth.

Ben watches Elaine leave.

Rebirth: Ben tells Pop that he is going to marry Elaine.

Atonement with the Father:

Driving to Berkeley; spotting Elaine.

Getting a room.

Watching and following Elaine; running after her in the bus; talking to her in the bus.

Elaine meets Carl at the zoo.

Apotheosis: Elaine comes into the Elaine’s room; Ben tells her he loves her; Ben tells Elaine that he didn’t rape his mother; Elaine screams; Elaine is OK, she’s drinking a glass of water; I want you out because I don’t like you; Elaine doesn’t want him to go.

Ultimate Boon:

Elaine comes back into Ben’s room; will you kiss me. Will you marry me etc.

Refusal / Denial / Disgust: Mr Robinson appears; he and Mrs Robinson are getting divorced. I will get you arrested if you ever look at Elaine again; get outta here.

Magic Flight:

Elaine has left school. She leaves a note.

Ben drives back home.

Ben sneaks into the Robinson’s home; Mrs Robinson calls the police.

Time Pressure: sorry you won’t be invited to the wedding.

Rescue from Without: Ben finds out where Carl is getting married from his classmates.

Crossing the Return Threshold:

Stops off at the gas station to find out which church.

Gas runs out and he runs.

Knocks on the glass window.

Final Antagonism: Ben sees the post-ceremony kiss.

Master of Two Worlds: Elaine calls for Ben; he gets past Mr and Mrs Robinson; they run; into the bus.

Freedom to Live: smiling in the bus.

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, the author’s name is retained and the link to our site URL remains active.

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.