What is The Hero's Journey?
Your primary school teacher taught you, stories have a beginning, middle, and end. But stories are more than that. Audiences have a story instinct, because there are distinctive patterns shaping the journey. They’ve learned that pattern, that shape, from the first telling of stories. The Hero’s Journey is that shape. It’s seen in best selling fiction and blockbuster movies.
By learning The Hero’s Journey, writers develop a sense of what happens in the beginning. They learn how to move through the middle. They know how to give the story a powerful, memorable ending. When readers step into these stories, they can trust the writer to tell an entertaining story.
What Are Character ArcHetypes?
A compelling story has a diverse cast of characters. There is always the “Hero” of the story. There is always someone who represents what they need to overcome. There is always someone who guides their growth. And there is a supporting cast that drive the story forward.
Character archetypes are the roles these characters play in the story. And by knowing a characters role writers can understand their importance. They can minimise the cast to keep the spotlight on the most important characters. They can add richness and diversity to their story.