The Hero’s Journey 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.

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 catharsis).

d) Gives you a universal structural template upon which you can superimpose your situational story.

and more…

Most writers do not realize that the Hero’s backstory is an integral part of the Hero’s Journey / Transformation. It is more than an element of character and history.

The Hero’s Journey / Transformation should be viewed as a journey – not to gain illumination / balance / power etc – but to regain it. It is not the attainment of a capacity that helps the hero conquer his or her challenges but the REATTAINMENT of it.

The backstory should be viewed as the moment when that capacity was lost.

In The Wizard of Oz (1939), Dorothy already has the power to return; she had to find it [again].

In Midnight Cowboy (1969), Joe Buck’s backstory illustrated his challenges; his backstory was the moment when those challenges became real, when balance was lost.

In Silence of the Lambs (1991), Clarice’s backstory is all about the lambs, when her personal challenges became real; when balance was lost.