All Stories Tell a Journey

Whether you're writing fiction or nonfiction (even business writing), all writing tells a journey.

There's a starting point and an ending point. Your job as writer and author is to get your reader from Point A to Point B. The most popular format for a journey story is Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey, mainstreamed and made popular by Star Wars: A New Hope.

But it doesn't have to be just fiction that gets to play with the Hero's Journey (or any journey). The story of a journey isn't just appropriate for all writing; I go as far as to say it's crucial.

See, your readers, whether they're reading literary fiction to be entertained, or scrolling through your sales page to see if your product or service can solve their problem, want to go on that journey.

They want transformation.

They want to be different.

They want to stop their pain.

They want to reach their dreams.

Your job is to help them see that the journey is possible, no matter what you're writing.

Fiction - Whether your story is an obvious "Luke Skywalker goes from farm boy to Jedi Knight" or an internal emotional journey, your characters should evolve and transform.

Sales Page - Honestly, whatever you're selling (product, service, program, time with you, etc.), you're selling a journey. Someone who is having trouble getting a handle on his finances... your bookkeeping services will take him on a journey from a hazy view of his numbers to a solid understanding of his financial situation. An entrepreneur who doesn't get social media but knows she needs to be on there? Your social media strategy consultations craft a path through the fog to a clear action plan.

Article - With how-to's and explanations, you describe the steps to take on that journey. "The Top 5 Numbers You Should Be Keeping an Eye On." "3 Things You Can Do on Social Media in 5 Minutes."

Blog Post - Explain and make clear - to make that journey a little easier. Since blog posts tend to be more casual than articles, it may be difficult to see the journey. Basically, when you write about your day-to-day life, your personal challenges, your insights, you are clarifying YOUR journey. That clarification allows readers to view your journey and perhaps apply to their own. "Confession: I Hate Reconciling My Bank Accounts." "My Fumbles and Follies with Social Media." Your conclusion often informs your audience what journey they are on.

Bio - Your bio not only describes your journey, but it also sends readers on their own journey, an understanding of who you are - an understanding they didn't have before. Plus, YOUR journey can inspire your audience. "Oh, if she did that, then I can, too." Chellie Campbell in The Wealthy Spirit talks about her own financial issues and even having declared bankruptcy. Her expertise in financial management and her resulting success gives the reader hope.

Your writing is going to be more powerful the more visual and illustrative you can be. Tell a story. Give details. Paint a picture. Explain what it's like at beginning (Point A), and how it can be at the destination (Point B).

It may not seem like you're writing about jou
eys when you're writing a sales page or a how-to article. What you're doing is so much more - you're helping people transform and make the journey a little easier - it's that deeper part of what you're doing.