Write Your Hero's Journey
Understanding The Hero's Journey
The Hero’s Journey is the path a main character takes as they go from an ordinary life into an extraordinary adventure. At the start, the hero is usually just a regular person with everyday problems. But then something happens that pulls them into danger, mystery, or magic. Along the way, they face challenges, make tough choices, and learn things about themselves they never knew before.
To explain what is needed to fulfill the requirement of a Hero's Journey, we will follow Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Percy Jackson and The Lightning Bolt, and Ella Enchanted.
Ordinary Start
The hero begins in a normal, everyday world. Other books may start right in the action without showing “ordinary life.”
- Harry lives with the Dursleys, unwanted and unaware of magic.
- Percy goes to school, struggling with dyslexia and feeling out of place.
- Ella grows up at home, cursed with obedience, but still living an ordinary childhood.
The Call to Adventure
Something happens that pulls the hero out of their normal life and into the story.
- Harry gets his Hogwarts letter.
- Percy is attacked by a Fury on a school trip.
- Ella loses her mother and begins to see how dangerous her curse really is.
Refusal or Hesitation
At first, the hero resists or doubts.
- Harry can’t believe he’s really a wizard.
- Percy doesn’t want to leave his mom or accept he’s a demigod.
- Ella doesn’t know if she can ever escape the curse that controls her.
Crossing the Threshold
The hero leaves their old world behind and steps into the unknown.
- Harry boards the Hogwarts Express.
- Percy enters Camp Half-Blood.
- Ella sets off on a quest to find a way to break her curse.
Tests, allies, and enemies
The hero faces challenges, makes friends, and meets foes.
- Harry learns magic with Ron and Hermione while battling trolls and Slytherins.
- Percy trains at camp and goes on a quest with Annabeth and Grover.
- Ella outsmarts ogres, makes allies, and faces her cruel stepsisters.
The Big Ordeal / Climax
The highest point of danger or conflict, when the hero faces their greatest challenge.
- Harry confronts Professor Quirrell/Voldemort in the dungeon.
- Percy battles Ares, god of war.
- Ella breaks her curse by refusing to obey, even under threat.
Return and Transformation
The hero returns changed, stronger than before.
- Harry goes back to the Dursleys but now knows he belongs in the wizarding world.
- Percy returns to camp, proud of who he is and the world he belongs to.
- Ella wins her freedom and is finally able to choose her own path.