The Hero's Journey
Blueprint for compelling storytelling and character development
The hero’s journey is the storytelling framework found in myths, legends, and modern stories across cultures. It is the narrative structure of stories like The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Harry Potter, and many others.
This classic narrative structure was written about by mythologist Joseph Campbell in his book “The Hero with a Thousand Faces.” The journey involves a hero who goes out into the world to faces challenges, endure the odds, undergo transformation, and return a changed person, bringing back wisdom and greater perspective.
Let me give you the blueprint (the secret sauce) for compelling storytelling and character development.
Key stages of a hero's journey:
starting point: first establish the hero's life before the adventure
call to adventure: what is the event that prompts the hero to embark on a quest?
refusal of call: hesitation, delay, or declining the challenge
mentorship: hero encounters a guide/source of wisdom
cross threshold: commitment to the journey/challenge and entering a new, unfamiliar world
tests, allies, enemies: hero faces challenges, and makes friends and foes
incubation period: The hero prepares for a significant challenge
ordeal: major crisis/confrontation
reward (seizing the sword): hero gains the prize/insight
the road back: The hero prepares to return home
resurrection: A final test where the hero must apply what they've learned.
return with the elixir: hero returns transformed, often sharing newfound wisdom
Jerry Jenkins' 7 Deadly Sins of Writing
by Jerry Jenkins
Coming up on 50 years as both an author and a publisher, I still see over and over the mistakes that keep good stories from being great. There’s a reason for that: Writing is hard, especially when you don’t know what to avoid. That’s why I’ve compiled “The 7 Deadly Sins of Novel Writing,” so you can avoid them and create a strong, rich story you can be proud of. Today, let’s dive into the first 3.