The Three Story Method Influencer Series: The Virgin’s Promise
In the third of this special 5-part series, Zach and J. examine the Virgin’s Promise developed by Kim Hudson. They discuss how these ideas will change modern storytelling. In addition, Zach asks J. how he incorporated the Virgin’s Promise in Three Story Method and the ways they impact novel writing.
The Virgin’s Promise provides an alternative to the monomyth, a non-linear story archetype that accentuates the duality of feminine and masculine energy.
Being open to new ideas and techniques can yield great results and add tools to the novelists toolbox.
The Career Author Podcast is a podcast where co-authors J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon share their struggles and successes as full-time authors, advice for improving your writing craft, and honest discussions of what it takes to build a successful career as an author.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- How the Virgin’s Promise is like the Hero’s Journey
- How the Virgin’s Promise is different than the Hero’s Journey
- Why Hudson believes in the duality of existence
- How the 13 Beats of the Virgin’s Promise can be applied to Star Wars: The Force Awakens
- Why an internal story arc is so important in modern storytelling
- How J. modeled elements of Three Story Method after the Virgin’s Promise
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Leave us a comment: What questions do you have about the Virgin’s Promise and Three Story Method?
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Comments
14 responses to “The Career Author Podcast: Episode 113 – The Three Story Method Influencer Series: The Virgin’s Promise”
Morning guys. I did my homework and read Virgin’s Promise (VP) this week so this is a fascinating show.
You mentioned that the Hero’s Journey (HJ) has been the predominant structure for the last century but don’t forget it is a codification of myth structure that has existed for over 5,000 years.
I love the idea of an internal journey structure and I think the VP is a great tool for that.
HJ and VP effectively start in the same place because there is nothing that says Ordinary World has to be a benign world so Ordinary World can also be Dependant World.
Of the 21 films Kim analyses for VP I have only seen 2 of them and I have no interest in watching the others. Interestingly the 2 films I have seen are both mentioned in Vogler’s book about the HJ. So I suggest VP may integrate and complement HJ but I don’t think VP has enough for a story structure on its own.
As you may detect I’m not totally sold on VP, partly because I can’t help feeling it should have been called the Victim’s Promise. But I will think about it and read the book again later as I would like to integrate elements of VP into my HJ template that I use as an outline in Scrivener.
J, I think you missed the Google Play link from the show notes.
I’m really looking forward to your book guys.
Great show today.
I’d definitely read it again. I’ll reiterate that I don’t think HJ and VP are an either/or. Looking at the same story each can enrich it.
Got that Google link in there now. Thanks!
I’ve been waiting for this podcast episode! I think the Virgin, after challenging a belief or action, is transformed, not a victim. I’m very interested in the Kim Hudson interview transcript that will be in Three Story Method.
So only weeks for the release of TSM? Can’t wait!
Yes! Only a matter of weeks now.
Another great episode! When I first read The Virgin’s Promise, I wanted to dance for joy. 🙂 It’s such a great complement to the Hero’s Journey, and we needed something to track that inner journey. I’m in the middle of a major rewrite of a book, and when I’d gotten about halfway through, I realized that my character (who is male) is going through the stages of the Virgin’s Promise. I was so excited when I recognized it!
I’ve heard that a character either needs to change or to grow. Of course, they often do both. It got me thinking about the Hero’s Journey and the Virgin’s Promise. Maybe the HJ is for change, since it’s often an external journey, while the VP is for growth, since it is more internal. I know this is simplistic, but it’s got me thinking!
I’m looking forward to reading the interview with Kim Hudson in the book.
That’s a GREAT way of thinking about the difference between the two. Thanks for sharing!
Good episode. My Landmark comment is as follows:
I didn’t even know about the Virgin’s Promise.
I am trying to figure out how in my story and in the ones that I have read that I am basing the story on they follow the Hero’s journey but there is not a “turn your back on the opportunity” section in them. Is it critical to have?
I think the difference between HJ and VP could be the maturity of the writer? I feel there needs to be a bit more craft knowledge if you are going to be doing more internal growing than the lighter easier growth in HJ. Thoughts?
Also we have a 3 story method, You have the HJ and the VP and now we are doing a third that I don’t recognize. Where is the story grid method in here since that had to have influenced J in creating this since he is a certified editor in it?
You sure packed a lot into that landmark comment 😉
For HJ, the Refusal of the Call is important. You should probably have that.
I don’t see any of these methodologies competing with each other. There isn’t a “better” or “right” one to use. They’re all (including 3SM) saying the same thing in different ways.
Regarding SG, one of the main reasons we pivoted was because SG is not a methodology as much as it is a revision tool. Just look at the subtitle of the book. We struggled to adapt it to pre-production because Shawn has said repeatedly that it wasn’t designed for that which is why we developed 3SM and why we’re not doing an influencer episode on Story Grid.
I find that several of my stories that I like specifically in Mil Sci Fi, there isn’t a refusal of the call. Maybe I am just not seeing the nuance.
Make sense on the SG. It is more revision and editing rather than creating from scratch. Looking forward to your release. What does your podcasting partners say about it? I know Zach is a fan. What about Rachel and J.D. ?
Those two haven’t seen it yet 😉
I’m honestly stunned that I’ve never encountered this story archetype before. It definitely suits many of the woman-authored stories I love better than the Hero’s Journey. Now I need to read this book!
Awesome!
I’m late to the party, but I’m so glad I listened. I’ve never heard of the virgin’s promise, and I just bought the book because it is definitely the framework on which my brain makes stories. It also mirrors important moments in my actual life, which is probably not a coincidence.
I also wanted to suggest (you know, without having actually read the book) that maybe the dependent world for Rey is her non-existent parents. I don’t think she’s following all the rules at the scavenging community because she feels like she should… I think she’s doing it because she feels like that’s what her parents will expect to see “when they come back for me,” or because otherwise she’ll die and not even be there for them to come back to. If you took them out of the equation, I think Rey would have been resourceful enough to get out of the horrible situation on her own. She’s trying to meet the expectations of her parents, not the alien guy who gives her food credits, in my opinion. Just a thought.
Better late than never. Welcome!