Mythic Writers Blog

Of course, I’ve been aware of Joseph Campbell and his works for ages. Anyone with an interest in mythology knows his name. I’m embarrassed to say that I haven’t really read much of his work, though. (I’m not even sure I should be admitting that in public!) I’ve always meant to read his works, study them, watch the Bill Moyer interviews, etc. I’ve read parts of his work. I’ve read synopses of his works. But I haven’t made inroads into any sort of true study of his works.

I’m going to change that now, though. It’s ridiculous that I keep putting this off—it’s my own desire that has put reading Campbell’s work on my “to do” list. It’s not like someone else is trying to make me read his books. And yet I keep putting it off. But no more! With Mythic Writers kicking off, this seems like the perfect time to delve into Campbell’s works and educate myself more fully. (As a side note, lifehack.org has a couple of great articles about self-education. One outlines ways to become self-educated, and the other gives steps to being a lifelong learner.)

Now the next problem—where to begin? The man was nothing if not prolific. There’s so much to read just of Campbell’s work alone. Then there are all of the offshoots created by people responding to and adding to his work. Contemplating all of it has put me into overwhelm several times in the past. But I am really feeling driven to wade in this time, so I’m going to take a look at the list of his works and find a starting point.

I think I’ll start with Hero With a Thousand Faces. Of course, there’s also The Hero’s Journey where Campbell discusses his life’s work (there’s also a video with George Lucas). And the video interviews with Bill Moyer, and the book The Power of Myth which is based on the interviews, but I think I want to start with a work by the man himself. I can get into the discussions of his work and that sort of thing later.

Well, that wasn’t so hard. I made a decision and in less than half an hour! Hero With a Thousand Faces it is. Now to get the book and get started. Stay tuned for progress reports!

One of my favorite things to do is spend an entire day lounging on the bed, reading. Is there anything better than waking up, not getting out of bed, and reading an entire book in one day? Not too many things.

I am really feeling the need for a day like this. This weekend is just not going to let it happen—too much other stuff I have to do. But soon. Soon, I will absolutely have to schedule a reading day.

I love the anticipation in planning for a day like this. What day will it be? What book will I read? I save books for just such occasions. It’s like saving your favorite flavor of jelly beans to eat last—they taste so much better when there’s a whole pile of them to eat at once! Some books are like that. They’ll always be good, but they’re just that much better if you can read them all at once.

I have a book already picked out for my next all day read-a-thon. Charles de Lint’s Promises to Keep. A story by my favorite author about my favorite character of his! How perfect can you get? I’ve been saving this book for a while now. I almost read it during my last all day reading session, but I wanted to wait. I was saving it for when I really, really needed a Charles de Lint story. That happens sometimes. Sometimes I’m in a particular mood, and only a Charles de Lint story will do. And it’s especially glorious when that mood hits and I can read a story of his that I haven’t read yet. Bliss!

I don’t generally get in moods for a particular author. Most of my reading moods are about what sort of story I want to read. Often, I crave something moody and gothic, with decaying mansions and ghostly encounters (and those are really hard to come by, let me tell you!). But sometimes, it’s the magic and reality of a Charles de Lint story that I have to have. And I’m feeling that now. The anticipation is thrilling, that little quiver of excitement in my solar plexus. I can’t wait to meet the new people, experience the mystery and myth I always find in his stories.

What stories or authors or genres give you that thrill? What books to you save like jelly beans to savor slowly, at your leisure? I know I can’t be the only one who does this, right? I hope we get a good list going–I can always use more books to add to the pile!

All this talk about saving and savoring books has made me antsy to have my reading day. I think I’ll grab the calendar now and see when I can make this happen. There’s a story waiting for me—I don’t want to keep it too long.

Beginnings are hard. I feel as if I should write something pithy and clever, be so witty and insightful that anyone reading this will just sit at the computer longing for more until I post again. That’s not actually going to happen, though, so I think I’ll just start right in.

I have been in love with mythic fiction since before it got that name. I’ve been reading Charles de Lint and Terri Windling and Robert Holdstock and so many others from the moment they first appeared in the bookstores. And before I discovered these magic makers, I read fairy tales and folk tales and anything that spoke to me of magic and myth touching the “real” world. And I am always seeking more. There just isn’t enough mythic fiction out there! Happily, though, the field is growing…

You might be asking “what is mythic fiction?” The term, coined by Charles de Lint and Terri Windling, refers to fiction that has mythic elements. That’s the broad-stroke definition, but it’s so much more than that. It is lyrical, ephemeral, magical, intense, gritty, stark, dramatic…It is too many things to write about all at once. Many of my posts here will be me going on about all of the intricate, beautiful, fascinating details of what makes up mythic fiction. It will be me writing in appreciation, and writing to get a clearer picture for myself of what it really is.

I keep trying to pin down what mythic fiction is. It may be an impossibly task, but I keep trying. So really, what is it? Mythic fiction is a longing. You know those beautiful tales that fill your head with visions of fairy lands, images of misty mountains, rolling hills, impossibly green lands filled with whispers of magic? Mythic fiction takes these elements and brings them into our world, brings them to a place where maybe we can see and touch them ourselves. Mythic fiction is the kind of writing that stirs a longing in your heart, that bittersweet pang of homesickness for places you’ve never been. It is magic.

Can I promise you magic here? I don’t know. I can promise to take you along as I search for the magic and look for ways to write it into my world. I’ll stop in here at least twice a week to chat more about mythic fiction, writing mythic fiction, reading mythic fiction…You’ll usually see me on Mondays and Wednesdays, and sometimes on Fridays, too. I’m looking forward to the conversation. I hope you are, too.

Mythic Writers was born Sunday, March 16, 2008 at 2:08 p.m.  Of course, it was stirring in my mind (Kim) for quite a while in various incarnations.  And then I talked to Jaymi about it in October.  And now here we are!  I’m really excited, and more than a little nervous, about my “baby” finally starting to take form out in the world.  But I think it’s going to be something wondrous and beautiful when it grows up.

The site it brand new right now, but we have all sorts of exciting ideas percolating.  Look for forums on mythology, mythic fiction, Joseph Campbell, writing, and all sorts of other interesting topics soon.  Also, as we grow a bit, keep your eyes open for new areas such as a newsletter,  articles and essays, book and movie reviews, and online classes and workshops.

We’ll make sure to post here under the “admin” tag whenever we add something or change something, so if you subscribe to the RSS feed, you’ll be sure to keep up to date as we continue to bloom.