/lit/ - Literature

>good plot
>good world building
>good characters

pick only 2

I'd like to delve into literary theory. What books cover that the basics and which you would consider required reading for anyone interested in this subject could you recommend me?

>>14735391
Self-improvement has an element of self-destructivity of one's habitual being. Indeed it is a form of sacrificing the activity of the present self for a future self, for yourself as an other. What I do today I do to nourish tomorrow.

Well, if you haven't read Odyssey, you'll miss one of the most common structures used in literature and movies, being pic related. I mean, even the SpongeBob Movie has used it, it's now that commonplace.
Also, if you've not read Homer, all epic poems succeeding him won't make sense, be it Milton or Virgil or Tasso, since they all go from his foundation.

>>13582208
>>13582228
OK Xi Chung Li, we get the idea. Back to frogposting I go.

>>13554813
>>13554869
Odysseus, fuck damnit.

A bit ago someone brought up the new Heroine’s Journey. Might want to check that out

>>13435789
>>13435771
It is to SAVE another or many others from death or capture or something.
To slay the beast of capitalism is the predominant heroes quest of the age. Nothing wrong with getting specific

>>13384150
It’s a quest.
Do you need me to send you on my preferred quest?

(Back to work)

>>12097138
See: >>12096987

In a word, courage. To go over, one must go under.

>>8466379
>Sounds like a modern, more childish Oliver Twist.
I haven't read Oliver Twist, but now I'm intrigued so I'll bump it up my list. Based on skimming the plot and themes of Oliver Twist though I can't say the rest of acts 2-5 would carry much resemblance.

>I'd recommend you watch the film "Leon the Professional" if you haven't already.
I have seen that movie. I can't deny it wasn't an influence, but I only noticed the similarity after the fact.

>I'd also recommend changing your MC status from "infamous super assassin" to skilled, well known assassin to alleviate some of the Mary Sue you've got going on.
I never viewed him as a "super" assassin. even those magical powers aren't his, strictly speaking. In retrospect MC doesn't need to be an assassin, I only thought of that as a reason for why the mob would decide not to kill him for stealing their shit. MC could be taken in as a thief though, which would actually make more sense given that is why he got in the mess in the first place. Would also make some of the subplots, foreshadowing and world building easier.

>Maybe there could be some inner turmoil about how the MC is by and large well know not entirely for his skills, but his association with the mob. So basically, MC piggybacks on the mobs infamy.
I do have some ideas regarding how MC doesn't really like being a part of the mob. Especially how the mob boss is extremely brutal in how he tends to deal with those that cross him. MC has plenty of other inner turmoil issues to work with though. One is terribly cliche though, but I don't know how to avoid it.

>Not a bad idea for a YA novel, but I encourage you to try to rout some of the cliche. At least some.
The whole MC + daughteru cliche is actually not strictly speaking required for this story as it plays very little purpose after the first act.

I have been working on another story that crucially revolves around this theme. So, I have been thinking about removing this whole aspect from the first story and replacing it with something new. The only key part that needs to remain in the first act without having to change much of the rest of the story the awakening of the magical powers, but there are many other ways to achieve that.

>Good luck.
Thanks, your critique is appreciated. While I didn't plan to work on this when I posted the greentext, In all honesty since then I have started remembering more about the rest of the story and world I developed in my head, so I have started itching to work on it. Even if it is shit it might still be worthwhile to write simply to gain experience.

Do you always finish your book before starting a new one? Or do you read multiple books at once?

Personally, I always enjoy reading multiple books at a time. Never less than two and never more than five. I'm currently reading The Child Buyer, Moby Dick, New Moon, as well as doing a pass-through of a Latin edition of the Holy Bible.

I know for most people reading more than one book at a time is tough, but I have a rig that holds up to three of my books (as well as being able to hold two in my meaty hands). I also have very sharp vision and fast moving eyes which allows me to read from multiple texts simultaneously.

Pic unrelated (the image I planned to use was too large for this website's constraints).

What is /lit/ opinion on the Hero's Journey pattern?