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)

*****Journey to the Atonement*****

The Atonement is the At-One-Ment, the confrontation and conquest of the Inner Challenge. Now that the Hero has gained an Expansion of Consciousness and been Reborn, there is no delay in confronting it [the Inner Challenge]. This is where the Hero travels to now, consciously or unconsciously. Certain characteristics are common:

Resistance. There is resistance to it.

Obstacles. Real or perceived obstacles prevent the Hero facing up to it.

Time Pressure. There is a need to Atone quickly, for some reason or other.

Pushed to the Atonement. Mentors or Antagonists push the Hero to Atone.

*****Transcendental Powers Remain Behind*****

Previous to the Crossing of the Return Threshold, all Transcendental Powers must remain behind. The Hero must fight his (or her) final battle alone - how else will he or she know that the Antagonisms (which in no small part are psychological) have certainly been overcome. In Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Buck is shot and Blanche captured.