The Hero's Journey: A Template for Writers

Joseph Campbell's "monomyth" identified a universal story pattern found in myths across cultures. From Star Wars to Harry Potter, the Hero's Journey continues to shape modern storytelling.

The 12 Stages of the Hero's Journey

Act One: Departure

1. The Ordinary World: We meet the hero in their everyday life. This establishes what's normal—and what the hero stands to lose or change. Luke Skywalker on the farm. Frodo in the Shire. Harry under the stairs.

2. The Call to Adventure: Something disrupts the ordinary world. An invitation, a challenge, or a crisis demands the hero's attention. The droids arrive. Gandalf appears. The letters come.

3. Refusal of the Call: The hero hesitates. They're comfortable in their ordinary world, afraid of the unknown, or feel unworthy. This refusal shows the stakes and makes the hero relatable.

4. Meeting the Mentor: A guide appears to prepare the hero. The mentor provides training, equipment, advice, or confidence. Obi-Wan. Gandalf. Hagrid. The mentor often represents what the hero could become.

5. Crossing the Threshold: The hero commits to the adventure and leaves the ordinary world behind. This is the point of no return. The journey truly begins.

Act Two: Initiation

6. Tests, Allies, and Enemies: The hero navigates the new world. They face challenges, make friends, identify enemies, and learn the rules of this unfamiliar territory. Skills are tested and relationships form.

7. Approach to the Inmost Cave: The hero prepares for the major challenge. This is often a literal or metaphorical dangerous place where the object of the quest is hidden. Tension builds. Plans are made.

8. The Ordeal: The hero faces their greatest challenge—often a death and rebirth (literal or symbolic). This is the central crisis of the story. The hero must use everything they've learned.

9. The Reward: Having survived the ordeal, the hero claims their reward. This might be a physical object, knowledge, reconciliation, or internal transformation.

Act Three: Return

10. The Road Back: The hero must return to the ordinary world with their reward. But the journey isn't over—there may be pursuit, temptation to stay, or reluctance to return.

11. The Resurrection: A final test where the hero must prove they've truly changed. This is often the climax—a final confrontation that forces the hero to demonstrate their growth. Death and rebirth echoes again at the climax.

12. Return with the Elixir: The hero returns home transformed, bringing something to improve the ordinary world. This might be treasure, knowledge, love, or simply a wiser perspective.

Using the Hero's Journey

The Hero's Journey is a template, not a formula. You don't need every stage, and stages can be compressed, reordered, or subverted. Use it as:

• A diagnostic tool when your story feels incomplete
• A brainstorming framework when planning
• A revision checklist for character arcs
• Inspiration, not prescription

The Inner Journey

The Hero's Journey isn't just about external events—it's about internal transformation. Ask yourself:

• What flaw or fear does my hero start with?
• What truth do they need to learn?
• How does each stage challenge or change them internally?
• Who are they at the end that they couldn't be at the start?

Common Variations

Modern stories often play with the template:

• The reluctant hero: Extended refusal that continues throughout the story
• The anti-hero: A protagonist whose journey leads to corruption rather than redemption
• The heroine's journey: Maureen Murdock's adaptation focusing on different psychological patterns
• Multiple heroes: Ensemble stories where different characters are at different stages

Related Resources

• Three-Act Structure Explained →
• Character Development Questions →
• Writing Tools for Novelists →