RebelWriMo Week 4 November 2024 Road Back/Hero's Return

A cute underwater tableau for the Social Media Week 4 Graphic

Can you believe it's week 4 already, Sockmonkeys?

This month has been a bit of a blur, I think. And, it got even busier with a few extra work shifts for me, thus why the last theme post is a few days late.

In any case, at this point in a story, if we're following the Hero's Journey progression, our hero is either on their way back where they came from or they're already home. This may mean more obstacles, internal or external, as they attempt to circle back where they came from after the completion of their goal or quest (successful or otherwise). How will your character react to the world they used to know now that they've been through whatever task you sent them on? Has the journey changed them so much that the familiar people and places of home no longer feel comfortable? How will the people they used to know react to what may or may not have changed about them when they return? All of these can be a big part of this style of story ending and may be things you want to think about including in some way.

Since Road Back/Hero's Return was the story theme for week 4, it seemed appropriate to pick a Choose Your Own Adventure title that both spoke of an adventure and a return. That's why this week's chosen title is "Return to Atlantis".

I hope your writing or editing projects are going well and that you're all staying healthy!

Image: A two-tone aqua colored background with a border of seaweed and different coral across the bottom. In the center, from top to bottom is blue text in different sizes that read: "RebelWriMo Week 4"; "Return to Atlantis"; "Road Back/Hero's Return". Assorted fish frame the Return to Atlantis in the center with a small blue whale to the lower left of the text.

 

RebelWriMo Week 3 November 2024 Unification/Transformation

 

Social Media Graphic for RebelWriMo 2024 Week 3

Hard to believe that we're already at the start of week 3 isn't it, Sockmonkeys?

Week three is always the point where, if one is attempting a 50k novel (or longer), they hit what is often called the muddy middle. The initial excitement of both a new month and the start of a new project have worn off for many, and the characters we thought we could predict have now decided not to clue us in on where we should take them next. Or we're just busy with life and get tired, and the writing energy flags a bit. Maybe a bit of both.

In the Hero's Journey, this third stage is called Unification/Transformation. So we have our team and we need to get them to learn how to work together or our main character has hit something that has so challenged the lie they tell themselves that they must transform in some way in order to move forward. Both of these can be difficult when we're used to working with the members of the team individually or we were really in love with the character the way they were before, so we can often get stuck not knowing how to make those changes or not wanting to make those changes for fear it will turn the character into something we no longer connect with, but this is something that needs to happen to keep the story on track.

It is because of this stage, and that muddy middle feeling, that the title Through the Black Hole was chosen. 

I hope your writing or editing is going well, no matter where you are in the process at this point.

Image: Black sky with large photo of the moon in the center. White letters at the top read: RebelWriMo 2024 Week 3. In the center at the top of the moon in a smaller font are the words: Unification/Transformation. Those are above a larger white font that reads: Through the Black Hole. Under those words is a small progress bar in a pink and blue gradient over text in white that reads 75%.

RebelWriMo November 2024 Choose Your Own Adventure!

 

Image of Backpacker at sunset for November 2024 RebelWriMo

Since we're striking out on our own path, Sockmonkeys, it seemed only fitting that the theme for the month should be Choose Your Own (Writing) Adventure, inspired by the Choose Your Own Adventure book series. The image above shows a backpacker at sunset with the words "November 2024 - RebelWriMo - Choose Your Own (Writing) Adventure in black above a small photo of a map with a digital camera, sunglasses, an open compass and an open notebook with a pen scattered on top of it. Below that in a black box in yellow letters is #PCSockmonkeyWriters.

I'm not sure how many of you ever read any of the Choose Your Own Adventure stories, but we're truly doing that this month because there is more than one way to take part in our challenge. In a previous post, I mentioned our November Trackbear Leaderboard, which is one example of this, because you can participate on the leaderboard using whatever goal YOU decide. It then shows you on the graph based on your current percentage towards that chosen goal. We're still at the beginning of the month, and you can sign up at any time. Just choose your goal and have it end on November 30th to be included on the graph with other Sockmonkey writers.

Illustration of Sand dunes on a starry night for RebelWriMo Week One**

While the first full week of the month doesn't start until tomorrow, I wanted to consolidate this post to keep from posting too many things at once, so here is the graphic of our story theme for Week One of RebelWriMo. Each week is a Choose Your Own Adventure title, picked because it seemed to fit the type of act in story structure as we progress through the month. Week one is the Call to Adventure, where we're all settling into whatever we're working on and things often seem exciting and fast-paced, so the title chosen as the theme for this week is "Greed, Guns & Gold." (Hey, if you're stuck for some words, feel free to use that as a prompt!) If you (or your Main Character) haven't accepted the Call to Adventure yet, don't worry - there's still plenty of time.

Whether you're writing, editing, researching or any combination thereof, know you're welcome to join us for any of our online or in person events. We'd love to chat with you and cheer you on toward your goals, even if you decide not to participate in the Trackbear. Come take part in our writing community!

**Image shows an illustration of sand dunes on a black starry background with an orange planet in it. A beige curved bubble has the words RebelWriMo Week One in black above the words Call to Adventure in white on the black background in smaller letters. On the sand dune in the lower left is an illustrated cowboy hat next to a drawing of an old pistol with a bag of gold coins next to that and the words Greed, Guns & Gold under them in dark letters.