The Simple Structure to Irresistible Storytelling

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away....

When Star Wars Episode IV arrived in cinemas in 1977 it was celebrated for (essentially) looking and sounding great. From the ground breaking visual effects and iconic character design, to the satisfying sounds of laser blasts and discharged lightsabers, Star Wars' look-and-feel branding is terrific. But there's something else going on there: with its special boy, wise mentor, magical weapon and dark father, what initially set out to become, in the words of John Williams, "a Saturday morning space movie" has bestrode generations. 

The Most Powerful Form of Persuasion

How has it done this? The answer lies in George Lucas' study of Joseph Campbell's 'The Hero with a Thousand Faces'. George Lucas came to see Joseph Campbell as "his Yoda" after his seminal book, relating the Hero's Journey narrative structure, or monomyth, inspired revisions of Star Wars that turned it from a Saturday morning space movie into a triple-trilogy franchise that has generated more than $10 billion in global box office revenue. Such has been the success of Star Wars that, today, the Hero's Journey is a ubiquitous industry standard across all movie genres, including, notably, biopics.

Imagine, then, the power of implementing the Hero's Journey narrative structure into your own stories. If it can mean the difference between a Saturday morning space movie and a $10 billion global phenomenon, for you, it can mean:

• Landing your dream job
• Winning that huge contract
• Securing your next round of funding
• Nailing that important presentation
• Building valuable professional relationships
• Gaining insight into, and mastery over, every aspect of your life

The Hero's Journey is a blueprint for the most powerful form of persuasion. Your audience may or may not know they're being persuaded, but they will love every minute of it.

The 12 Stages of The Hero's Journey

There are varying versions of the Hero's Journey but they all have the same shape and points of emotional resonance. The below version was first set out by Christopher Vogler, a Hollywood development executive, who distilled Joseph Campbell's work into a money-spinning formula for Hollywood screenwriters. Over the coming weeks, I will delve deeper into storytelling structures, archetypes, and emotional beats, and set out unique story templates, based on this formula, that will add an irresistible emotional journey to your professional narrative.

Stage 1: The Real World

The Hero's Journey usually begins in The Real World. This is the time and space that the Hero initially occupies. Life may be good but there is something amiss, leaving the Hero dissatisfied but procrastinating on much-needed change.

Stage 2: The Call to Adventure

An opportunity to disrupt the status quo; often (but not always) rejected through fear of change.

Stage 3: Refusal of the Call

Reinforces the malaise of the Hero or the scale of the task. This stage is an opportunity to provide context or add intrigue: we, the audience, think the Call sounds like a great idea; why turn it down?

Stage 4: Meeting the Mentor

The Mentor equips the Hero to complete the task ahead, usually by providing information or a physical object that becomes significant at a key point later in the story.

Stage 5: Crossing the 1st Threshold

The 1st major transition point in a story: a point of no return for the Hero, into new, uncharted territory.

Stage 6: Tests, Allies & Enemies

Introduces key characters, challenges and conflicts. Having entered into the unknown, the Hero is placed on a steep learning curve. Mistakes are made, lessons are learned and the seeds of growth are sewn.

Stage 7: Approach to the Inmost Cave

The main challenge or conflict has crystallised in the mind of the Hero and becomes the primary focus of the story. This is often a stage of planning for the challenges ahead and reflection on the lessons learned in the previous stage.

Stage 8: The Ordeal

This is the 1st major conflict or challenge the Hero faces - often the outcome of planning undertaken in the previous stage.

Stage 9: The Seizing of the Sword

The Hero is rewarded for surviving The Ordeal. The reward is usually riches, knowledge, power, friendship, or love, and equips the Hero to achieve her/his ultimate objective.

Stage 10: The Road Back

Involves more conflicts, challenges and setbacks - often a final obstacle to complete the Hero's character arc.

Stage 11: Resurrection

The primary emotional climax of the story. Realities are contemplated and changed, lovers are lost or reconciled, sacrifices are made and exonerated, exploding Death Stars are escaped from awesomely.

Stage 12: Return with Elixir

The final return of the Hero to her/his starting point, which is never as s/he left it; the events of the story have changed it, or the Hero's perception of it. The much-needed change at the start of the story has taken place: conflicts are resolved, obstacles overcome, desired outcomes either happen or become inevitable, and the Hero is completely satisfied with her/his life.

Happy to Help

Would you like to discuss how to apply a Hero's Journey structure to your stories? DM me and we can schedule a time to chat.