e (1984), Mrs Irwin is rushing home. In Armageddon (1998), there is only so much time before the meteor strikes.

Pursued. The Heralds are often pursued. In Star Wars (1977), the 'droids are followed by stormtroopers.

Multiples and Death en route. It is not unusual for the Heralds to travel in pairs or groups. In Troy (2004), many riders seek him. Often this demonstrates the urgency and danger of the Journey, as not all Heralds survive.

*****Heroine's Journey*****

It is a mist

FORWARD

The 188 stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth) is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of the hundreds of Hollywood movies we have deconstructed (see URL below) are based on this 188+ stage template.

Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters. This is the template you must master if you are to succeed in the craft.

[The terminology is most often metaphoric and applies to all successful stories and screenplays, from The Godfather (1972) to Brokeback Mountain (2006) to Annie Hall (1977) to Lord of the Rings (2003) to Drugstore Cowboy (1989) to Thelma and Louise (1991) to Apocaplyse Now (1979)].

THERE IS ONLY ONE STORY

THE 188 STAGE HERO'S JOURNEY:

a) Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.

b) Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.

c) Gives you a tangible process for building and releasing dissonance (establishing and achieving catharses, of which there are usually four).

d) Tells you what to write. For example, at a certain stage of the story, the focus should be on the Call to Adventure and the micro elements within.

ABRIDGED TIPS, EXCERPTS AND EXAMPLES:

(simply go to http://www.heros-journey.info/ for full details)

*****Herald's Journey*****

The Herald is the bringer of the Call to Adventure or better, The Call to Transformation. But his (or hers) can be a minor story in itself. The Herald often demonstrates certain characteristics, including:

Sent by the Township. In Armageddon (1998), Nasa sends the special agents to bring back Bruce Willis.

Time Pressure. The Herald is usually under extreme Time Pressure to bring the Call to Adventure to the Hero. In Romancing the Stone (1984), Mrs Irwin is rushing home. In Armageddon (1998), there is only so much time before the meteor strikes.

Pursued. The Heralds are often pursued. In Star Wars (1977), the 'droids are followed by stormtroopers.

Multiples and Death en route. It is not unusual for the Heralds to travel in pairs or groups. In Troy (2004), many riders seek him. Often this demonstrates the urgency and danger of the Journey, as not all Heralds survive.

*****Heroine's Journey*****

It is a mista

l successful stories and screenplays, from The Godfather (1972) to Brokeback Mountain (2006) to Annie Hall (1977) to Lord of the Rings (2003) to Drugstore Cowboy (1989) to Thelma and Louise (1991) to Apocaplyse Now (1979)].

THERE IS ONLY ONE STORY

THE 188 STAGE HERO'S JOURNEY:

a) Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.

b) Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.

c) Gives you a tangible process for building and releasing dissonance (establishing and achieving catharses, of which there are usually four).

d) Tells you what to write. For example, at a certain stage of the story, the focus should be on the Call to Adventure and the micro elements within.

ABRIDGED TIPS, EXCERPTS AND EXAMPLES:

(simply go to http://www.heros-journey.info/ for full details)

*****Herald's Journey*****

The Herald is the bringer of the Call to Adventure or better, The Call to Transformation. But his (or hers) can be a minor story in itself. The Herald often demonstrates certain characteristics, including:

Sent by the Township. In Armageddon (1998), Nasa sends the special agents to bring back Bruce Willis.

Time Pressure. The Herald is usually under extreme Time Pressure to bring the Call to Adventure to the Hero. In Romancing the Stone (1984), Mrs Irwin is rushing home. In Armageddon (1998), there is only so much time before the meteor strikes.

Pursued. The Heralds are often pursued. In Star Wars (1977), the 'droids are followed by stormtroopers.

Multiples and Death en route. It is not unusual for the Heralds to travel in pairs or groups. In Troy (2004), many riders seek him. Often this demonstrates the urgency and danger of the Journey, as not all Heralds survive.

*****Heroine's Journey*****

It is a mist

r acts, plot points, mid point and so on.

c) Gives you a tangible process for building and releasing dissonance (establishing and achieving catharses, of which there are usually four).

d) Tells you what to write. For example, at a certain stage of the story, the focus should be on the Call to Adventure and the micro elements within.

ABRIDGED TIPS, EXCERPTS AND EXAMPLES:

(simply go to http://www.heros-journey.info/ for full details)

*****Herald's Journey*****

The Herald is the bringer of the Call to Adventure or better, The Call to Transformation. But his (or hers) can be a minor story in itself. The Herald often demonstrates certain characteristics, including:

Sent by the Township. In Armageddon (1998), Nasa sends the special agents to bring back Bruce Willis.

Time Pressure. The Herald is usually under extreme Time Pressure to bring the Call to Adventure to the Hero. In Romancing the Stone (1984), Mrs Irwin is rushing home. In Armageddon (1998), there is only so much time before the meteor strikes.

Pursued. The Heralds are often pursued. In Star Wars (1977), the 'droids are followed by stormtroopers.

Multiples and Death en route. It is not unusual for the Heralds to travel in pairs or groups. In Troy (2004), many riders seek him. Often this demonstrates the urgency and danger of the Journey, as not all Heralds survive.

*****Heroine's Journey*****

It is a mist

full details)

*****Herald's Journey*****

The Herald is the bringer of the Call to Adventure or better, The Call to Transformation. But his (or hers) can be a minor story in itself. The Herald often demonstrates certain characteristics, including:

Sent by the Township. In Armageddon (1998), Nasa sends the special agents to bring back Bruce Willis.

Time Pressure. The Herald is usually under extreme Time Pressure to bring the Call to Adventure to the Hero. In Romancing the Stone (1984), Mrs Irwin is rushing home. In Armageddon (1998), there is only so much time before the meteor strikes.

Pursued. The Heralds are often pursued. In Star Wars (1977), the 'droids are followed by stormtroopers.

Multiples and Death en route. It is not unusual for the Heralds to travel in pairs or groups. In Troy (2004), many riders seek him. Often this demonstrates the urgency and danger of the Journey, as not all Heralds survive.

*****Heroine's Journey*****

It is a mist

e (1984), Mrs Irwin is rushing home. In Armageddon (1998), there is only so much time before the meteor strikes.

Pursued. The Heralds are often pursued. In Star Wars (1977), the 'droids are followed by stormtroopers.

Multiples and Death en route. It is not unusual for the Heralds to travel in pairs or groups. In Troy (2004), many riders seek him. Often this demonstrates the urgency and danger of the Journey, as not all Heralds survive.

*****Heroine's Journey*****

It is a mistake to believe that the Heroine's Journey is separate and distinct from the Hero's Journey. The Journey is about pulling the Hero through a Process of Transformation, which is not gender (or culturally) specific. A good example is Million Dollar Baby (Academy Award Winner Best Film, 2004) - though Maggie and Frankie both have their challenges, the process towards Apotheosis and beyond is the same.