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[Pro Writer] Louis L'Amour's Hondo, Dissected - Table of Contents
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[Pro Writer] Louis L'Amour's Hondo, Dissected - Table of Contents

We are dissecting L'Amour's classic novel, using W. S. Campbell's approach - who L'Amour studied under. We've covered his "Gift of Cochise". This Table of Contents is here to cover all 24 lessons.

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Robert C. Worstell
Jul 02, 2025
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Writing While Farming
Writing While Farming
[Pro Writer] Louis L'Amour's Hondo, Dissected - Table of Contents
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The spread for “Gift of Cochise” as it appeared in Colliers (5 July 1952)

OUR WORK SO FAR: Hondo was L’Amour’s big break into novels. It was based on his “Gift of Cochise”. We’re continuing to work through this short story, following W. S. Campbell’s prescribed approach. (See this Dissection Part 1 post.) Last installment examined Scenes 4. Now we take scenes 3 and 2 and come full circle…Our Continuing Studies

The point of that first series out of Forgotten Bestseller Secrets is: Keep ‘Em Reading.

Find the rest of these lessons in their Table of Contents here:

Forgotten Bestseller Secrets - Keep 'Em Reading: Table of Contents

Forgotten Bestseller Secrets - Keep 'Em Reading: Table of Contents

Robert C. Worstell
·
Feb 8
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Our study of Hondo is also a comparative study of Compelling Characters and Riveting Storytelling lessons. You can jump ahead and study these lessons in advance at their own Table of Contents pages - as linked.

Forgotten Bestseller Secrets - Compelling Characters: Table of Contents

Forgotten Bestseller Secrets - Compelling Characters: Table of Contents

Robert C. Worstell
·
Feb 8
Read full story

Dissecting Gift of Cochise - Table of Contents

As this short story was dissected, here’s the list of those lessons in order.

[Pro Writing] Hondo by Louis L'Amour - Dissection, Part 1

[Pro Writing] Hondo by Louis L'Amour - Dissection, Part 1

Robert C. Worstell
·
May 14
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[Pro Writer] Hondo by Louis L'Amour - Dissection, Part 2

[Pro Writer] Hondo by Louis L'Amour - Dissection, Part 2

Robert C. Worstell
·
May 21
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[Pro Writer] Hondo by Louis L'Amour - Dissection, Part 3

[Pro Writer] Hondo by Louis L'Amour - Dissection, Part 3

Robert C. Worstell
·
May 28
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[Pro Writer] Hondo by Louis L'Amour - Dissection, Part 4

[Pro Writer] Hondo by Louis L'Amour - Dissection, Part 4

Robert C. Worstell
·
Jun 4
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[Pro Writer] Hondo by Louis L'Amour - Dissection, Part 5

[Pro Writer] Hondo by Louis L'Amour - Dissection, Part 5

Robert C. Worstell
·
Jun 11
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[Pro Writer] Hondo by Louis L'Amour - Dissection, Part 6

[Pro Writer] Hondo by Louis L'Amour - Dissection, Part 6

Robert C. Worstell
·
Jun 18
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[Pro Writer] Hondo by Louis L'Amour - Dissection, Part 7

[Pro Writer] Hondo by Louis L'Amour - Dissection, Part 7

Robert C. Worstell
·
Jun 25
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[Pro Writer] Hondo by Louis L'Amour - Dissection, Part 8

[Pro Writer] Hondo by Louis L'Amour - Dissection, Part 8

Robert C. Worstell
·
Jul 2
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[Pro Writer] Hondo by Louis L'Amour - Dissection, Part 9

[Pro Writer] Hondo by Louis L'Amour - Dissection, Part 9

Robert C. Worstell
·
Jul 9
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[Pro Writer] Hondo by Louis L'Amour - Dissection, Part 10

[Pro Writer] Hondo by Louis L'Amour - Dissection, Part 10

Robert C. Worstell
·
Jul 16
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For Paid Members

You can forge ahead on your own. I’ve attached everything you need for your own self-paced study.

I’ve extracted the Cochise story’s text and attached my epub file below. (Use Calibre or similar to convert it to plain text.) I’ve also recreated this short story with the scenes in reverse order - also attached.

Note: Hondo itself will only be excerpted chapter by chapter, as a review and study aid. You’ll need to get your own copy of this classic as part of this study.

Also included is the full Forgotten Bestseller Secrets book, which has the full mini-course, plus two additional mini-courses on characterization and plot building. We’re using those next two courses in dissecting L’Amour’s Hondo itself. All based on Campbell’s works and those of his instructors.

As well, I’ve included Campbell’s contemporaries, Foster Harris and Dwight V. Swain in “The Basic Formulas of Fiction”. This will explain more about the technical points we’ve covered above.

Needless to say, you ought to upgrade to paid in order to speed your progress as a professional writer.

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