Writing in Rochester

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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 heros-journey.info/ heros-journey.info/ for full details)

*****Resisting the Physical Separation*****

There is always resistance to the Physical Separation. In Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Where&amp#8217;s the car? The car jams between the other two.

*****Ordinary Self*****

Whether the Hero et al arrive from an Ordinary World or arrive through the process of swift Exile, the Ordinary Self must be made explicit. This is because stories are all about Transformation and the Ordinary Self is an initial benchmark. In Straw Dogs (1971), David is a Mathematician.

Learn more…

WRITE THAT SCREENPLAY!

The Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and other story structure templates can be found at monomyth.info/ monomyth.info/

188 stages of the Hero’s Journey can also be reached from story-structure.org/ story-structure.org/

You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.

Kal Bishop, MBA

**********************************

You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made, the author’s name is retained and the link to our site URL remains active.

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 heros-journey.info/ heros-journey.info/ for full details)

*****Night Sea Journey subplot*****

Just as the Hero suffers a Near Death Experience, so do subplot characters. In Brokeback Mountain (2005), Alma runs from Ennis and the house and finda another postcard from Jack. Lureen doesn’t say anything when they insult Jake didn’t that piss ant used to ride bulls; he used to try.

*****Overcoming the Hero Guardians*****

Though the Heralds are blocked from the Hero by Guardians, overcoming them is not the most daunting task. In Brokeback Mountain (2005), Joe justtells Jack and Ennis to “get your scrawny asses in here, pronto.”

*****Trial 2 - Antagonising the Antagonism*****

One apsect of the Trial 2 is the Antagonism of the Antagonist. In Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Frank spits on Bonnie, Clyde beats him up and puts him in the boat.

*****Innate Suitability*****

Trial 2 often sees the Hero demonstrate innate suitability to the New World and Self. In Brokeback Mountain (2005), Jack Twist hits on the guy in the bar.

Learn more…

WRITE THAT SCREENPLAY!

The Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and other story structure templates can be found at monomyth.info/ monomyth.info/

188 stages of the Hero′s Journey can also be reached from story-structure.org/ story-structure.org/

You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.

Kal Bishop, MBA

**********************************

You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made, the author’s name is retained and the link to our site URL remains active.

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 heros-journey.info/ heros-journey.info/ for full details)

*****Secondary Character Challenges*****

It is common for major characters other than the Hero to have their own challenges (usually one or two, but definitely not four). For example, In Gladiator (Academy Award Winner Best Film, 2000), Proximo and Lucilla both have their own demons to overcome.

Archetypes that commonly have their own challenges to resolve include the Shape Shifter, Mentor (also known as the Supernatural Aid) and Romantic Challenge. Secondary Character Challenges are the basis of the sub-plot.

*****Confidence of the Antagonist*****

Post the Crossing of the Return Threshold and before the Master of Two Worlds and Selves, a hell of a lot happens that is rarely given mention. The Final Conflict (a metaphor for this stage) follows a distinct process. One element of the early stage of this part of the hero’s journey is the supreme confidence of the antagonist. In Straw Dogs (1971), Chawsey, Charlie and Ratman are playing on their bikes.

*****Push out of the first Near Death Experience*****

The Hero’s Journey often contains more than one Near Death Experience - each is designed to incrementally push the Hero through a Rebirth. Also, Pushes and Pulls are an underestimated part of storytelling - they push or pull the Hero from one stage and state to another. In Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Bonnie and Clyde steal the car and run.

*****Pushed out of the Cave*****

Pushes and Pulls are an underrated aspect of storytelling. Pushes and Pulls force the Hero et al from one stage of the journey to the next.

The Hero et al are pushed or pulled out of the Cave. In Dances with Wolves (1990), John Dunbar is pulled out of his solitary life in Fort Hayes by the arrival of the Indians. In Bonnie and Clyde (1967), both protagonists go on the run because they’ve killed someone.

Learn more…

WRITE THAT SCREENPLAY!

The Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and other story structure templates can be found at monomyth.info/ monomyth.info/

188 stages of the Hero’s Journey can also be reached from story-structure.org/ story-structure.org/

You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.

Kal Bishop, MBA

**********************************

You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made, the author’s name is retained and the link to our site URL remains active.