The Hero's Journey - Return with the Elixir

Today we reach the last step in the Hero's Journey: the Return with the Elixir. Your hero, having lived through and survived the worst of dangers, and having gone from death to resurrenction, now returns to home or continues his journey. But he always returns home with the knowledge that he is a different and a better person because of his journey.

A true hero returns with a gift for those he left behind. This gift, called "the elixir," represents the wisdom he has gained as a result of his journey. The elixir will serve to bring some sort of healing to the people in his hometown or home country.

Questions to ask as you write this step of your story include:

1) How will you show that your hero has indeed changed? In other words, how will you dramatize his change?

2) How will I tie up any loose ends in my story?

3) This step is your last opportunity to touch the emotions of your reader. How will you include emotional resonance as you close your story?

I now leave you with a question I've pondered about the Hero's Journey: In stories, many heroes do go home, but I wonder if we could say that, since they are no longer the same person, the home to which they are returning is no longer the same place in their eyes but, instead, it has been transformed by their personal transformation. What do you think?

The Hero's Journey - Resurrection

We have reached Step 11 of the Hero's Journey: Resurrection. In order for your story to satisfy your reader, he will need to experience another moment of death and resurrection, somewhat similar to the earlier ordeal and rebirth, but far more dangerous. This is called the climax and is the darkest moment of the story for your character. Your hero must endure another cleansing and purification before re-entering his ordinary world. At the same time, he must retain the wisdom he learned during the ordeal and get rid of anything bad that touched him during the ordeal.

So your hero again must change, and you, as the writer, must show this change. Here are some questions to ask at this point in your story:

1) What must your hero get rid of to return to his ordinary world?
2) In what way is your hero "cleansed" from any ill effects of the ordeal?
3) How does your hero choose to overcome the final obstacle of the climax?
4) How will you show that your hero has changed?

The hero has almost completed his journey. Next time, we will explore the final stage: The Return with the Elixir.

The Hero's Journey - The Road Back

Today we've reached Step 10 of the 12 steps of the Hero's Journey. This step is called "The Road Back" and follows the celebration of the reward. In Step 10, the hero faces a choice: Should he remain in his new and special world, or should he return to his ordinary one?

Most heroes choose to return to their ordinary world, but they do so as more mature people. Psychologically, the hero returns to his ordinary world but chooses to implement what he has learned in the special world. In this step, the hero recommits himself to completing his quest.

"The Road Back" marks the turning point from Act 2 to Act 3 in your story. At this point, you will very likely have to insert something to give your story another boost. Your hero must be motivated to return to his ordinary world. Also, he will face the re-emergence of the villain--or villains--as he crosses the threshold back to his ordinary world.

Ask yourself the following questions:

1) What motivates my hero to return to his ordinary world to complete his quest?
2) Does the villain retaliate?
2) If so, how? What happens? What effect does it have on your hero?

Sometimes the hero is chased out of the special world back into the ordinary world. If this happens, consider how your hero escapes. What effect does it have on him and those around him?

Next time we will explore Step 11: The Resurrection.

The Hero's Journey - The Reward

This step of the Hero's Journey occurs right after The Ordeal. The hero is now rewarded for having survived the ordeal. He or she lays claim to the reward and celebrates accordingly.

The reward can take the form of a meal, a marriage, or some other form of celebration. It is important to show the hero taking possession of the reward that he has worked so hard to attain.

As you write this scene, ask yourself the following questions:

1) What reward does my hero take possession of?
2) How does my hero take possession of this reward?
3) What does the reward mean to him?

Next time,, we'll explore The Road Back, Step 10 of the the 12 Steps of the Hero's Journey.

The Hero's Journey - The Ordeal

We have now reached the eighth step of the Hero's Journey. At this point in your plot, your heroine has reached the deepest point of the inmost cave. It is here that she will face her greatest crisis.

The point to remember about the Ordeal is that your heroine must die to herself in order to live. Sound familiar? :) She must face the death of a fear, of a relationship, of a career. In facing this thing in her life, she overcomes the ordeal.

When you analyze the concept of story, you realize that all great storytelling is based on the Greatest Story Ever Told. Amazing!

The Hero's Journey-Approach to the Inmost Cave

Well, we've reached Step Seven in the Hero's Journey: the Approach to the Inmost Cave. Having grown somewhat accustomed to his new world, your hero now wants to seek its heart, known as the inmost cave. As he continues his journey, he encounters new obstacles and dangers and maybe even a new threshold guardian or two.

As your hero approaches the inmost cave, he may prepare himself for what he will find. For example, in a Christian novel, he may go on a fast or spend time in prayer to prepare for the battle ahead. Or he may spend time gathering information he will need once he reaches the cave.

Here are some questions you can ask yourself in this phase of your story:

1) How does your hero prepare for his approach to the inmost cave?
2) What obstacles does he face?
3) How does he respond to those obstacles?
4) Does your hero encounter a seemingly impossible test along the way?
5) If so, what is this test and how does he handle it?

You are now getting closer to the crisis of your story. The stakes are increasing for your hero.

In our next segment, we will discuss this crisis, called The Ordeal.

The Hero's Journey-Tests, Allies, & Enemies

We have reached the halfway mark on our hero's journey. Step Six is called "Tests, Allies, and Enemies." If you are following the Three-Act Structure, this step initiates Act Two.

It is at this point that your heroine enters her new, exciting, and possibly scary new world. Your reader should know instantly that this new world is different from your heroine's Ordinary World. Ask yourself what those differences are and how you will illustrate them. If you've chosen to have your heroine remain in the same physical location, then ask how her situation in this same physical location has changed.

During this step of the journey, your hero will also develop allies. An ally could be a new person the hero meets or someone the hero already knows but sees in a new light. Ask yourself also who are your hero's enemies and how will he handle them.

Your heroine will have to learn the rules of this new world she has entered. What are those rules? How will you show them in your story? How will your heroine adapt to the new rules?

You are now getting into the meat of your story. If you're like me, you will discover that not only is your main character on a journey, so are you as a writer. Make the most of it and enjoy the trip. Although it may be bumpy at times, it is so worth it! :)

Our next post will cover "Approaching the Inmost Cave."