I got an idea for a new story. It goes something like this: a young hero, trapped in the ordinary world, longs to get out. He's befriended by a gray-bearded mentor who helps him find adventure. After meeting both friends and enemies along the road, our hero eventually faces the Big Bad Guy in the final showdown. The hero defeats evil and everyone lives happily ever after.

Whatcha think?

About seventeen years ago, when I first got the crazy idea I wanted to write fiction, I immediately began thinking about what I wanted to write. I realize this is backwards: the fact that I desperately wanted to write before actually having something to write . . . a problem that stuck with me for . . . oh, I'd say about seventeen years now. But anyway, as I tried to come up with something new and different and gripping, I simply couldn't help but come back to Hero's Journey-based stories. It's like it was imprinted on my DNA.

"Why is this so hard?" I asked myself. "Why can't I come up with anything truly original?" But no matter what I tried, I ultimately failed.

So two years ago, when I came up with the idea for the current book, I decided enough time had passed (with nothing to show for it) and would instead outright embrace the idea. Who cares if it's all been done before, the approach is as popular now as it was when The Epic of Gilgamesh was written. And at least I'll be able to write finally.

I mean, it worked for these guys, right? Why not me?

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