Your Hero's Journey: 14 Steps to Help Develop Your Story

In our last blog, we talked about gathering the assets or different elements that go into writing your story. These assets include developing your characters and subplots as well as creating the space they live. These are essential parts of your story. 

Now that you are equipped with tools to help you build your story, it’s time to develop what you have created.

STORY DEVELOPMENT

Your hero(s) and narrator have stories that weave together. Each hero in your story has certain steps he/she needs to take. Typically there are 14 of them. No matter how you plan the story, these 14 steps happen to each of the heroes in your story in chronological and logical order. They are:

1. Ordinary World.

   The hero starts out in a familiar environment with life as usual. Who is the hero and what is his world like at the beginning?

2. Call to Action.

   What happens to change the balance forcing the hero to make a choice? How does this information come to him? What breaks the balance?

3. The anxiety of the Call.

   What does the hero fear? What happens to change his mind? Your hero might not accept being a hero. What convinces him?

4. Mentor's Aid.

   Who guides the hero? How does he help him?  The mentor guides his first steps into the new world. Mentors could be ex-heroes, older, or more experienced characters.

5. Through the Threshold.

   What does the hero lose? What is he hoping to gain? There is no turning back once the hero has chosen to enter the new world. Usually, the hero crosses a material boundary where the adventure begins.

6. New World.

   What does the hero find in the new world?  How is it different from his familiar environment? Who are his allies and enemies?

7. Trials.

   What does the hero learn? How is he doing in this new world? What new skills is he learning?

8. Fulfillment.

   The hero is ready. What has he learned or lost?  The development of the hero has ended, perhaps he suffered his first defeat/failure.

9. Nightfall. 

   What is the hero about to face?  How is he getting prepared for it?  How does he plan his actions? What does he understand is about to happen?

10. Central Trial.

    Facing the enemy in the hardest trial. How does it go? Is it the final success or the final defeat?

11. Outcome.

    What does the hero gain?  How did he change?  If successful, the hero gained something. What was it?  If he failed to overcome the trial, what did he lose?

12. Relapse.

    It's not over yet … what consequences does the hero have to face?  After the final battle, the hero often faces another attempt by the enemy. What is it?

13. Resurrection.

    What's the last trial?  How is he changed by it? How does he grow and learn? How does the hero face the abyss and survive? What did he learn during the adventure?

14. Conclusion or Resolution.

    What are the consequences of the events? What new balance was reached?

In our next blog, we’ll talk about the 3-Act Structure of a book and how to edit the flow of the story. 

If a book is wanting to come through you, we invite you to join our

December Writing Workshop: Unlock Your Potential Free Writing Workshop

These Writing Workshops are held three times a week (12 per month).

They are designed for writers working on the first draft of their book or in the revision process. Join other writers in a quantum space where big things happen and the content in you can flow.

We begin each workshop with a check-in, a writing tip, and a meditative centering. We end each session with time for Qs about anything related to your book. These workshops are designed for productive writing!

To learn more about our December Writing Workshop: Unlock Your Potential Free Writing Workshop - click here!

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