The Heroine’s Journey by Gail Carriger is about the ancient mythic Heroine’s Journey, what it is, how it differs from the more studied Hero’s Journey, and why it’s important for both writers and readers/pop culture consumers to know about, all told in a witty and snarky manner.
Gail Carriger is one of my very favorite fiction authors and in The Heroine’s Journey she goes into what makes her books, and many other stories, so popular and beloved. Topics include The Heroine’s Journey itself, of course, some of it’s foundational myths, it’s messages and themes; why the Heroine’s Journey is important; specific points in how and where it differs from the Hero’s Journey; how the Gothics got involved and what effect they had; how to play with archetypes and tropes (neither of which make a story bad—they’re just patterns); and a practical guide to How To Write Like A Heroine.
The Heroine’s Journey is written not just for writers, but also for readers/watchers/listeners, so people can recognize better what they like and crave out of a story. It’s an easy, fast, informative, and fun read. I’m going to re-read The Heroine’s Journey several times, after my sister gets done reading it. I also bought a copy for my best friend. Go read it and enrich your life.