Write On SC

How You Know You're Writing a Hero's Journey

Episode Summary

...and what to do about it. This episode is for our friend Abby who's working on a hero's journey novel and isn't entirely sure what to do about it.

Episode Notes

Full show notes are out on the blog here.

So let’s start with the basic outline of the Hero’s Journey and then we’ll do some examples and pick apart our favorite parts:

• The Call — being chosen to undertake the journey
• The Companions — who will accompany the hero?
• The journey itself — distance, obstacles, treachery
  • Monsters
  • Temptations
  • Deadly opposites or opposing dangers — think colliding armies
  • The underworld — death itself or a glimpse of the other side in the form of visions and insights gleaned by ghosts and spirits
  • The helpers — maintain posts along the path and assist the hero and companions in some way
• Arrival and frustration — within sight of the goal but a new and terrible series of obstacles presents
• The final ordeal — the last test of the hero’s personal transformation
• Achievement of the goal — life affirming, it was all worth it finale of the story.

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