Welcome to Launch Day! Today, at long last, I get to officially share my newest book on the craft of writing and storytelling. For me personally, Writing Archetypal Character Arcs: The Hero’s Journey and Beyond has been quite literally an archetypal journey. I am so excited to finally and officially share it with all of you!
Where Can You Buy the Book?
You can purchase the book at the following links:
Amazon USA (affiliate link)
(Audiobook coming later this year!)
If you don’t have a Kindle but want to take advantage of the cheaper e-book option, you can read Kindle books off your computer, iPhone or iPad, or Android, using their respective Kindle apps.
About the Book
This book dives deep into the possibilities for using all the power of “mythic beat sheets” in your own stories. Whether you’re writing fantasy or mystery or romance or contemporary drama, your stories will benefit from an understanding of how archetypal characters and archetypal journeys inform the life cycle of the human experience.
The first and most important part of the book goes deep with six foundational and sequential archetypal character arcs:
1. The Maiden – Coming of Age
2. The Hero – Slaying the Dragon
3. The Queen – Defending the Kingdom
4. The King – Becoming the Sacrifice
5. The Crone – Facing Down Death
6. The Mage – Surrendering Control
The book then explores twelve shadow archetypes—two for each of the main arcs: the Damsel/Vixen, the Coward/Bully, the Snow Queen/Sorceress, the Puppet/Tyrant, the Hermit/Witch, and the Miser/Sorcerer.
It also talks about the six “flat” or resting archetypes that live in the calm between transformative arcs: the Child, the Lover, the Parent, the Ruler, the Elder, and the Mentor.
And it finishes with a discussion of the twelve symbolic archetypal antagonists that oppose characters in their attempts to complete their mythic journeys: Authority and Predator, Dragon and Sick King, Invader and Empty Throne, Rebel and Cataclysm, Tempter and Death Blight, and Weakness of Humankind and Evil.
I talked about my own deeply personal journey with these archetypes in a post earlier this week, and you can read the official back cover blurb here:
The Six Transformational Character Arcs of the Human Life
Ready to take your story’s character arcs and themes to the next level? This latest book from veteran writing teacher and story theorist K.M. Weiland ventures far beyond the popular and pervasive Hero’s Journey to explore six important archetypal character arcs, representing key moments of initiation in the human experience:
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- The Maiden
- The Hero
- The Queen
- The King
- The Crone
- The Mage
Found in every genre from fantasy to drama to romance to adventure, these transformational stories are the secret of powerhouse fiction—as shown through a wide variety of real-story examples throughout the book.
Writing Archetypal Character Arcs will teach you:
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- The archetypal beats for each of the six journeys
- Which archetypes are right for your particular story
- The best way to use archetypes in a series
- How to choose the right archetypes for supporting characters
- How to use archetypes to identify your story’s theme
You will also learn how to deepen your stories by implementing shadow archetypes (the negative sides of each positive archetype), resting or “flat” archetypes (the fixed stage between each of the main arcs), and archetypal antagonists (the epic antagonistic forces that oppose each of the positive archetypes in their journeys). The Hero’s Journey is just the beginning. Learning about archetypal character arcs will change the way you view stories—and life—forever.
Find the Tools to Write Stories Readers Will Never Forget
Enter to Win the Writing Archetypal Character Arcs Launch Prize
To celebrate the launch of Writing Archetypal Character Arcs, I am giving away a Freewrite! The winner will receive their choice of either the Gen3 Smart Typewriter or the Traveler (value up to $649).
Description of the Freewrite Smart Typewriter and Traveler:
“The Smart Typewriter is a dedicated drafting device for anyone who writes without the distraction—or temptation—of browsers, email, or notifications. Get in writing flow and develop more prolific writing sessions by separating the drafting and editing processes. When it is time to edit, your drafts wirelessly sync to the cloud for export into your software of choice. Push your productivity forward and tap into writing joy!” (Read more about the Typewriter here and the Traveler here.)
To Enter
Winners will be announced Monday, April 3rd. Enter below! (Note: no purchase is necessary to enter.)
This Giveaway Is Now Closed
Good luck to everyone in the drawing, have fun, and thank you for helping me celebrate the launch of Writing Archetypal Character Arcs!
Master List of Answers to Most Asked-For Writing Topics on This Site
Writing Archetypal Character Arcs Launch Day Winner Announced!
Genre Tips: How to Write Historical Fiction
About K.M. Weiland | @KMWeiland
Writing Archetypal Character Arcs: The Hero’s Journey and Beyond (Helping Writers Become Authors Book 10)
K.M. Weiland
Acquired on 30 March 202
(Kindle)
Paper book arriving tomorrow in the UK!
(I asked on FB for the UK paperback book as Amazon had only showed the kindle book at that time. Thank you for your response!)
I have the kindle version of all of your writing resources and most of the paper books too – I find if I read on the kindle, then come back to reading in person, and using the excercise books (but writing somewhere seperate) the information sticks and stays.
(Writing a reply because I can’t figure out how to comment)
Why must one be 21 or older to enter the giveaway?
That’s just the “raffle rules” here in the U.S. However, you can get a parent or someone of legal age to enter on your behalf.
Ah. Ok, thanks.🙂
Yay! I’m so glad Amazon was able to populate the book to the international sites in time. I hope you enjoy it! 😀
I’ve been waiting for this book release day and it’s finally here! Ordered my copy and looking forward to diving into the archetypal treasures. Thank you so much for writing this.
Thank you, Maryn! (Your name is beautiful, BTW.)
Looking forward to diving in! Also, your Queen/Bully/Elder illustrations are rad. Where’d you find those?
Thanks, Joseph! I “made” those on Midjourney. You can see the full series on my Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/authorkmweiland/
I can’t wait to dig into the archetypes! I’m going to order the paperback to get a break from screens. Thanks so much (as usual!) for the insights.
Thanks, Jessica! And, yes, I still think you can’t beat the experience of a paperback in your hands. (Although I love my Kindle too!)
Eek! This is so super cool!!! I entered and sent the link to three writing buddies. Is that how share it to get more entries?
I am also going to buy that book as soon I can! I’ve gotten quite a books lately and need to slow down my reading to pick up on my writing but it’s a writing book so I may be able to work it soon 😂
Thank you so much! And, yes, each time someone enters the giveaway using your link, you’ll get another entry.
Yay!
Just ordered two! One for me & one for my daughter – can’t wait to dive in!
Thank you! I hope you both enjoy it. 🙂
Hey Katie, I cannot tell you how excited I am to have finally bought this book after listening to the podcasts. I bought the one on theme as well. Looking forward to deepening my writing tool box and learning more. Hope you’re well.
Ben
Aww, thank you, Ben! Always a pleasure when you stop by. 🙂
Let me echo Ben Johnson’ comment. I have been hoping you would collect those archetype posts into a book so that I could have them all in one place. Looking forward to reading through them all (including the ones I missed the first time).
Thanks, Gary! I hope the book is everything you wanted it to be. 🙂
I’m so glad the book is finally here! I followed the blog series earlier, but having grown as a writer and person since then, I’m looking at the material with fresh eyes and fresh admiration. There’s so much good stuff. I can’t wait to start wearing this book out.
“having grown as a writer and person since then”
Isn’t that the best? 🙂
Got my copy! So grateful for you and your wonderful work!!
Appreciate it, Cathy! 🙂
Thanks for this fantastic dive into character archetypes. It is the perfect addition to your library of craft books. “Structuring Your Novel” was the first writing craft book I purchased. It gave me a roadmap as I didn’t know what to do or where to start. I love getting your new podcast episodes every time you release one, and from listening to the series concerning the content of this book, I believe it will be a critical tool in my writer’s toolbox. You are very generous and greatly appreciated, Katie. Thanks!
That’s wonderful to hear! I’m so happy to have been a part of your writing journey from the very beginning. Very cool. 🙂
Congratulations! It’s obvious how proud you are of this work!
Thank you, Lori! This book has been the product of such a deep and rich chapter in my life. I hope to share a little of that with all of you!
Congrats! Ordered my paperback. Can’t wait to get it 🙂
Thank you! I hope you love it! 😀
Excellent, entered and also bought the Kindle Version but in France. Congratulations on another book that I’m sure will be a must have in the bookshelf.
Merci! 🙂
Hi many congratulations on your launch. I got the kindle a couple of weeks ago – it’s a hell of a piece of work – well done you.
You’re so kind! Thank you very much. 🙂
Another excellent book! Great job!
Thanks, Chris!