Summary of a Practical Guide

In the first chapter of "The Writer's Journey: A Practical Guide,” breaks down the "Hero's Journey." The author explains that the first step to a good story is to show the character in its original environment, a familiar place or area to the character which could possibly be known as home. The second step to a good story is "The Call To Adventure". This is where the problem/adventure is shown. Following this is the third step of the story known as the "Refusal Of The Call (The Reluctant Hero)" comes into play. This is when the hero does not want to step up top the challenge before them. This connects the character more to the audience.

Following the refusal, support comes a friend or mentor. This person helps the hero makes the decision to go forward with whatever decision is holding the hero back from taking action. This plays into the first threshold of the story. This is where the hero accepts the challenge or is shown the first stage of the adventure or journey. Once the hero crosses this threshold they will be tested and challenged, during this process they will either makes allies or make enemies that will support or attack them for he next act of the story. Following this is the buildup or setup to the main event. This is the stepping-stone for the main ordeal. Which leads to the main climax and challenge for the hero of the story.

Once the hero gets past this ordeal the hero generally receives a reward and begins there journey home. Along this journey they may have additional micro climax's that will support the story and add adventure. An example of this would be the final drag race in "Fast & the Furious". Here the story takes a turn towards the final threshold, this may be a stepping-stone on their journey home or a pause for compassion in a romantic comedy. Whatever it may be, it sets the tone for the conclusion, the point where the antidote is returned or the virus is cured. This is the closing point for all the future buildups or ties up in the storyline. That completes the 12 basic steps to great story-telling.