This catalyst can take many forms, as Campbell points out in Hero with a Thousand Faces. In this stage, they are generally confronted with a problem or challenge they can't ignore. The call to adventure is all about booting the Hero out of their comfort zone. Importantly, it lets readers identify with the Hero as a “normal” person in a “normal” setting, before the journey begins. It’s up to this opening leg to set the stage, introducing the Hero to readers. Before our Hero discovers a strange new world, we must first understand the status quo: their ordinary, mundane reality. The hero heads home, triumphant.īelieve it or not, this story structure also applies across mediums and genres (and also works when your protagonist is an anti-hero!).
The Hero's Journey is a model for both plot points and character development: as the Hero traverses the world, they'll undergo inner and outer transformation at each stage of the journey. Click to tweet! The 12 Steps of the Hero’s Journey
