Beyond three and four act story structure, lies the Hero's Journey.
The Hero's Journey is the most usable story structure consisting of at least 106 stages and the template for successful contemporary stories, from Star Wars to Al Pacino Scarface to The Incredibles to War of the Worlds to The Dirty Dozen to Midnight Cowboy.
The Hero's Journey is a valuable template because:
a) It attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.
b) It gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.
c) Interpreted metaphorically and symbolically, it allows an infinite number of varied stories to be created.
One interesting stage of the Hero's Journey is that of the Herald, not the Hero.
Once the Call to Adventure is realised, a Herald sets off to find a Hero.
It is likely that the Herald may not want to embark on the journey and may resist somehow. There will be debates between Hawks and Doves about he value of sending the Herald, but nevertheless, the Herald will be pulled into the journey, or pushed into it in some way.
The Herald will set off in the dead of night and aware that the antagonist may be displeased, if he finds out. The antagonists may send his armies to prevent the Herald from seeking the Hero.
The Herald's Journey is naturally dangerous (being pursued by the antagonist's armies may add to the danger). If the Herald's are more than one, they will normally conflict along the way, may be separated and one may perish.
Not long into the story (as this is about the Hero), the Herald's will find themselves in the Hero's Ordinary World ? this could be totally down to chance ? and it is not unusual for the Hero not to recognise the Herald's as bringers of a message that will alter his future.
In fact, it is likely that certain obstacles will interfere with the Sacred Meeting between the Hero and Herald...
The 106 stage Hero's Journey and other story structure templates can be found at http://www.managing-creativity.com/
You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.
Kal Bishop, MBA
**********************************
You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made and the author's name and site URL are retained.
Kal Bishop is a management consultant based in London, UK. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached on http://www.managing-creativity.com/
shuttle from Midway Glen Ellyn ..9 out of 10 professionals and small business owners have... Read More
Some writers are just too kind.They hate to put their... Read More
Has the thought run across you mind that you might... Read More
If you either want to write a book to help... Read More
What is this annoying, insidious angst that permeates my psyche?... Read More
What do people expect when they join a writing group?The... Read More
Pictures they say are worth a thousand words, but many... Read More
Great business writers combine narrative skills with sound judgment to... Read More
If your cash is running out fast and you have... Read More
Dr. Phil's Life Strategies, #1 New York Times Bestseller catches... Read More
How to Come Up with Fresh Story Ideas When Your... Read More
1. What Is A Premise?A premise is the point you... Read More
Everybody knows writing a story is not easy. Like the... Read More
My dad was wrong. I just discovered that I am... Read More
To capitalize on ways to make extra income you can... Read More
I???ve spoken to hundreds of editors, employers, and project managers... Read More
Structure in the form of frameworks, work processes and goals... Read More
Mindmapping is better than linear outlining because authors can use... Read More
Congratulations on writing your first book. That is quite an... Read More
Simply put, it is the art of writing scripts for... Read More
When we think of writing it triggers many thoughts and... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?For a theme to work and the... Read More
You sink back into your favourite chair with a new... Read More
You know you've got writing talent. Others enjoy your work... Read More
Beginner's Blues: How to Collect Samples, Testimonials, and References as... Read More
shuttle from O'Hare North Chicago ..Okay. So I'm not David Letterman. But I doubt if... Read More
Writing for the web is very different from writing for... Read More
Connectors -- conjunctions, punctuation, and transitional phrases -- allow readers... Read More
Our Freelance Writing Needs DefinedWe must make freelance niche types... Read More
Griselda spent hours polishing up her resume. No detail was... Read More
You've finished your story, and you're pretty happy with it.... Read More
It's clich?, but true-a picture does paint a thousand words.... Read More
Despite the widespread use of e-mail in commerce today, traditional... Read More
If you have an online home based business you know... Read More
Style manuals are all well and good, and in fact,... Read More
Do you want to publish something? An article, a non-fiction... Read More
Want to write your book? But, need a blueprint on... Read More
Balance your life ... Read More
Tips for your writing journeySo, you'd like to be a... Read More
Often, time is an enemy of writers. Sales seem slow... Read More
Having trouble finding a solution to a nagging problem? Try... Read More
"If you're like me, than I'm sure you're pretty familiar... Read More
What a lack of research could do to you.When creating... Read More
Writing is a personal and introspective process. To share with... Read More
The Big IdeaOkay. So youve figured out that you would... Read More
If you are like most writers, you're constantly searching for... Read More
Writing technical articles is a challenge. There you sit, surrounded... Read More
Editorial guidelines, also known as writer's guidelines, are the rules... Read More
To capitalize on ways to make extra income you can... Read More
You can turn your $200 fee to write a press... Read More
Writing |