Your Name:​_____Niyati Vyas__________

Directions​: Using the steps of the Hero’s Journey provided above, write a 1+ page story.
(Remember: Even a Trip to the Grocery Story can follow the Hero’s Journey)

You Must:
1. Fill out the PreWriting/Outline/Chart (below)
2. Incorporate at least one EPIC SIMILE (long simile)
3. Be at least ONE PAGE in length
4. Extra Credit for using additional steps correctly.

Story Writing 101:

● IMITATE​: Use some Hero’s Journey films as examples to imitate and steal ideas from (​Star
Wars, Indiana Jones, The Matrix, Harry Potter, The Lion King, Shrek, Beauty and the Beast​, ​Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Lord of the Rings,
Chronicles of Narnia​, etc).
● Get to the conflict quickly​ (first paragraph or even line). Ex: ​The Matrix​ ​begins​ with a phone call telling Neo to run away.
● Grover’s Golden Rule​: Make your readers want something and don’t tell them until the end. Ex: Darth Vader is Luke’s father- what will
he do?
● Use dialogue (have characters lie)​. Ex: Shrek lies about not liking Fiona and Fiona lies about being an ogre.
● Juggle​: Go from action to thought to action. (As he raised the knife, he thought about his mother cooking him dinner when he was a
child...).
● Have them DO things!​ Don’t just say it! Do it!
● 90/10 Kiss​: Never directly tell us what the theme is about, but EVERYTHING should hint at it.

 

The Hero’s Journey​ (Abbreviated)
The Ordinary World/Status Quo​:
Establish what this world is like, who
are the main characters, what is
their external/internal conflicts?
The Call To Adventure
Refusal of the Call
Assistance​/Supernatural Aid/
Magical Guide or Helper
Departure​/ Crossing the First
Threshold: The hero is not in their
safe home anymore.
Optional Additional Step(s):
PreWriting/Outline/Chart
Example of each step in ​Moana
Departure Act 1
“Where You Are” musical
number. All her people live on an
island and never leave. The island
is dying/ running out of food.
Moana is protagonist & wants to
explore, but also wants to help her
people and honor her father.
“See that line where the sky meets
the sea, it calls me!” Musical
number. She rejects at first and
does what dad wants because she
fails to cross the reef.
Grandmother Tala, The Ocean,
and later Maui all help her.
Moana tries to cross the reef again
and succeeds. Now she is on a
wide ocean- not an island.
Your Story
Every 25 years the Tests take place to determine the next ruler of
Navar. The participants are picked in a draw. 15 boys and girls
aged 16-21 from all throughout the kingdom. The Test measures
strength and wit.
Bryn is very poor and has to take care of her family because her
mother died and her father is useless. Bryn has never wanted the
crown and wants nothing to the Test, but she knows it would bring
her family out of poverty.
During the Choosing, Bryn’s name is drawn. So is Ajax, the wicked
son of a lord. She is upset and considers running away. She
eventually realises that she must participate for the good of her
family.
She is given a ring that belonged to her mother.
Bryn travels to the capitol and must now live in the palace with the
other Chosen.
 Initiation Act 2

Trials Convincing Maui to help, the For the test all 15 of them are placed in a maze and are told to get
Coconut Pirates & the Crab King to the middle. The first person who make it will be the winner. The
others will be sent home. If they survive at all. She faces many
difficulties in the maze.

Approach Moana & Maui attack the lava Now that it’s only Ajax and Bryn left, they must face off in a duel
monster Te Ka, are defeated, and to the death.
Maui cracks his hook and leaves.

Crisis Moana almost gives up, is visited Ajax is strong and has her cornered. She is gravely injured but
by spirit of Grandmother, sings “I won’t give up.
am Moana!” and goes back.

The Supreme Ordeal​/Treasure/ The
Ultimate Boon
Te Ka is defeated, with She defeats Ajax. She realises that she will be the next Queen of
understanding, and Te Fiti gives Navar.
Moana a boat = her dream of
exploration & Maui gets a new
hook.

Optional Additional Step(s): ​See Bryn meets Rowen, the Prince in the palace and he wants to help
options at bottom of this document. her win. He pours a magical potion on her necklace.

Meeting with the Goddess

Bryn is stabbed and she dies. The ring brings her back to life.
Apostasis

Return Act 3

 
 Return​/ Crossing the Return Moana sails her own boat home by Bryn returns to her village to see her brothers.
Threshold: The hero comes home herself = she is able to teach her
with wisdom gained. people how to sail again.

New Life/ ​Master of Two Worlds Moana puts the shell on the tower She brings her brothers to the palace. Bryn is crowned queen.
Hero finds a way to balance hero of rocks and becomes a leader of Rowen and Levi are royal advisors.
world and normal life. her people.

Resolution​/New Status Quo/ Moana and her people now She gives money to all the poor villages like hers and helps rebuild
Freedom to Live explore the ocean again. “We them.
Know the Way”.

Optional Additional Step(s): ​See Bryn’s father apologizes for all the years he was negligent. He
options at bottom of this document. promises to be better. She is willing to try to forgive him.

Atonement with Father

MY STORY:

We were all rounded up in the village square early that morning. The sun had just begun to rise on the horizon.
“Bryn, why do I need come?” Elijah, my ten year old brother, whined, rubbing his eyes.
“You know why, Elijah. Everyone has to be present for the Choosing,” my twin, Levi responded. “Besides, it might be Bryn or I on that
list.” It was true. We were both 19 which made us eligible for the Test.
“Hush you two. I think he’s starting,” I chided. A man in a ridiculous uniform that marked him as a palace guard started sprouting out
names that he read off the list in front of him.
“Jules Marks, Frets Province! Alek Bores, Trinten Province!” He continued reading from his list. Every name, another death sentence.
Then, “Bryn Aryas, Argons Province!” My heart stopped. Levi snapped his head around to look at me, all the blood drained from his face. He was
saying something, but I couldn’t hear anything over the roaring in my ears. I turned on my heel and ran. I ran until I reached the forest, finally
stopping to try and calm down the shaking of my body.
I couldn’t believe it. The chances were less than one in a million. I could run. Leave this village, go somewhere no one knows me. But then
what would happen to Elijah? Levi couldn’t take care of him on his own. Not when he was working three jobs just for us to have enough money for
food. And with my father, a gambling drunk, using whatever money he did bring in. No I had to do it. The Test. All anyone was talking about these
days.

 
 Every 25 years the Tests take place to determine the next ruler of our kingdom of Navar. Fifteen boys and girls, aged between 16 and 21,
from all over the kingdom are random picked during the Choosing to participate in a deadly trial of strength and wit. Most didn’t survive. 25 years
ago, the 20 year old girl who won killed three of the other Chosen during her trial to become queen. There was no way I would survive. At least I
knew how to hunt. It was me who kept my family alive all these years, providing them with the animals I caught in this forest.
The sun had finally fully risen. I’d been in the forest for hours. I got up heading back to our dilapidated cottage.
Once I finally walked into my home, I found another palace guard sitting at the table with my father and Levi.
“Please tell me you are Bryn Aryas,” the guard huffed exasperated. “I’ve been sitting here for hours and we were supposed to leave a while
ago.”
“Yes, I’m Bryn,” I muttered warily.
“Great! Now say goodbye and let’s go. You don’t need to bring anything. Everything you will need will be provided by the palace. Just
hurry up. I’ll be waiting outside. You have two minutes.” So soon? I thought I’d have a least a day with my family before they hauled me off. He
marched out before I could protest.
Elijah was sniffling, tears running down his little face. I engulfed him in a big hug. “I’ll see you soon, okay? It will only be a week. Then, it
will be over and we can go back to our normal lives.” He couldn’t say anything through the tears and just nodded. Before I knew what was
happening, Levi’s strong arms crushed me into his chest.
“Promise me you’ll try. You can do it you know. Win the whole thing. You are smart and great with a bow and arrow. Just don’t give up,” I
could hear in his voice how hard he was trying to be strong for Eli. There was an enormous chance that I wouldn’t survive the Test. I nodded, not
trusting myself to keep it together. Then I turned to my sorry excuse of a father. He just looked me over then tossed something at me. I caught it
and realised what it was. My mother’s ring.
“She would have wanted you to have it,” he said gruffly, then immediately walked into his room again.
Before I lost the courage, I turned on my heel and walked out without another word. I slipped into the carriage and off we went. I didn’t
look out the window as Eli came running after the carriage, calling my name. Finally, the I let the tears flow.
~
The ride to the capitol took most of the day. The sun was beginning to set as we rolled into the city. I couldn’t believe my eyes. The city
was full of light despite the late hour. It was disgusting seeing how these people lived in such luxury while the children in villages like mine were
starving to death.
Then, I saw it. The palace. Situated right in the center of the city, it was impossible to miss. It was the most beautiful building I had ever
seen in my whole life. I hated it. How could I live among these people? They didn’t even think to share some of this wealth with those who actually
needed it. I sighed. It was going to be a very long week.

 
 I exited the carriage and was escorted into the palace. I was greeted by a older maid who took me to my room―well it was more of a suite.
It was bigger than my entire cottage. She quickly led me to the enormous bathroom, stripped me, and scrubbed me raw. I had never felt so clean in
my life. Then she stuffed me into an elaborate grey gown and put gorgeous pins into my hair.
“Now, once we get to the throne room, you will curtsy to their majesties and walk to your place with the other Chosen,” she instructed
leading me down towards what must be the throne room. “Everyone will still be arriving, but not to attract too much attention to yourself. Okay?
You don’t want them to think you are a threat. You don’t talk much do you?”
“You wouldn’t either if you were heading toward your imminent death.” She gazed at me sadly and continued on towards the great big
doors. They swung opened easily and I beheld the vast cavernous space. Right in the middle were three thrones that held the royal family. I
immediately swooped into a deep curtsy. I tried to keep my head high as I stalked over to the other Chosen. They looked at me like I was an
insignificant ant and they were mighty beasts ready to destroy me at the first sign of weakness.
“Well, now that you are all here, we can begin,” Queen Adelaide announced. Beside her sat her husband, the prince consort, and her son,
Prince Rowen who couldn’t have been more than 20 years old. She explained how the Test would work. It would take place exactly one week from
today. We would live in the palace over the duration of the time. If we wanted to prepare, we were welcome to train with the guards. Under no
circumstances were we allowed to hurt any of the Chosen or we would face grave consequences. “Dinner will be sent to your rooms. You are
dismissed.” We all ambled out of the throne room, sizing each other up, trying to figure out the competition. The only one who really worried me
was Ajax, the son of a lord here in the capitol. He was built like a bear and was infamous for his brute strength and wickedness.
~
The week came and went. I spent most of my time in the training room. If I wanted any chance of surviving and beating Ajax, I had to get
in better shape. Watching him train was terrifying. Many of the Chosen had given up hope the first day once they saw him fight. His attitude was
no better. Narcissistic and rude.
The morning of the Test, I was in the training room when Prince Rowen came in and announced that we were to all meet in the throne room
for instructions for the Test.
I was again greeted by the queen and prince consort as I situated myself around the room waiting as the other Chosen ambled in.
“This year, the Test is a maze. All fifteen of you will be sent into the maze, with the goal being to get to the center. In the maze you will
happen upon many things that will try and stop you, or even kill you. Once you are in the maze, there are no longer any rules. Do whatever you
must to make it to the center. The first one of you to make it will be the champion and my successor. The rest will be sent home―if you survive. ” I
could read the fear that was written clearly on many of the Chosen’s faces. Although, Ajax had a feral grin on his face. I didn’t doubt that he would
take out many of them just for fun. I tried to keep my expression neutral. As if none of this effected me.
The same maid who greeted me the first day took me into a room I had never seen before and helped me into a skintight suit and knee high
boots. Then, she left me sitting there. The only weapon I was given was a short sword that I had trained with the past week. I waited for a few
minutes unsure of what to do. Then, I heard the door open again and expected to see the maid. Instead in walked Prince Rowen.

 
 “Your Highness!” I gasped, bowing.
“Oh, no need for all of that. Call me Rowen,” he said chuckling. “We don’t have much time before that maid is back. Take off your ring.”
He read the confusion on my face and clarified. “ I have a potion that will help you. I can’t tell you what it does. Give me your ring and I will dip it
in it.”
“Why are you helping me?”
“I’ve been watching all of you and I think that of all the Chosen, you would make the best ruler. You seem strong enough to beat Ajax, too.
I would not like to live in a world where he was King.” Rowen held out his hand for my ring. Hesitantly I slipped it off and handed it over to him.
He dipped it in a vile he had and quickly gave it back. “I have to run. She will back soon. Good luck!” Then he just left.
I was still stunned when the maid returned and ushered me outside to a huge dome. Inside the dome was an enormous maze. The hair on the
back of my neck stood up as I joined the other Chosen. Guards came and positioned us all around the maze near different entrances.
A shot fired and we all ran into the death trap. Instantly, the opening in which I entered from sealed shut. I heard what sounded like a growl
from a lion. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me. My heart was pounding as I turned left, then right, left, right, right again, left, dead end, turn
around, right. The walls kept shifting and changing, opening and closing paths. I still hadn’t encountered other Chosen or any of the terrors of the
maze. As I ran through the maze, I wondered what the potion on the ring would do to help me.
The growl came again, louder this time. I froze. It was so close. Slowly, I turned around and found myself looking right into the eyes of a
lion. I gripped my sword, spun around, and sprinted. There was no way I would outrun the beast. As I turned corner after corner something dawned
on me. The lion was blind. It had to rely completely on my scent to figure out which way I turned. There had to be some way to mask my scent
long enough for me to kill it. When I turned into the next path the maze shifted again and the lion was blocked behind the wall for the time being.
Looking around I realised the walls were made of mud. If I covered myself completely in the stench of it, the lion wouldn’t be able tell the
difference between me and the maze itself. I had to work fast. When you could see no more of me than the grey of my eyes, I heard the lion again. I
clung close to the wall as it stalked past me. Fast as lightning I jabbed my sword forward into the neck of the beast. It was dead in seconds.
My whole body was shaking as another pathway opened up. The air was knocked out of me. The middle of the maze. Less than 50 feet in
front of me. I sprinted down the path not believing my eyes.
An arm swung out throwing me against the maze wall. When I turned to my attacker, a sword swung out near my head. I ducked.
Ajax. He must have been behind me and saw the path open up.
He let out a deep laugh, crouching in front of me. “Did you really think that you would win? Beat me? A helpless little girl?” He laughed
again as I bared my teeth at him. “Well I guess I get to kill you now,” he purred in my ear. Before I could lift my sword, he stabbed me. Right in
the heart.
~
I could hear someone talking to me faintly. “Bryn. Bryn, open your eyes.” I knew that voice. My mother.
“Am I dead?” I asked. I had to be. My mother died 10 years ago giving birth to Elijah, so there was no way she could be talking to me
otherwise.
 
 “Yes but you can’t stay here. You need to go back. Just give me the ring and you will be able to travel back to your life,” She smiled at me.
I thought I would never see that smile again.
“I want stay with you. I don’t want to go back. Life is too hard.”
“I’ve been watching you, you know. You have done so good, but you can’t stay. Your brothers need you. Go back, love. We will meet
again another time. I promise.” She slipped the ring off my finger and kissed my forehead as I closed my eyes.
When I opened my eyes again, I was in the maze again. Ajax was walking toward the center of the maze, unaware that I was alive. Quietly,
I got up and picked up my sword. I crept up behind him and before he knew what was happening, my sword went through his back and into his
heart. I let go of the sword as he slumped to the ground.
Trembling, I stepped into the center of the maze.
~
I didn’t remember the hours after the Test. I knew there was cheering and the walls came down, but everything else was a blur. I somehow
ended up in a carriage heading for my village to see up my brothers. The news had already spread. Bryn Aryas, the next queen of Navar. It all felt
like a dream, like it wasn’t really happening.
As we rolled into my village, I saw that everyone was standing on the streets waving and cheering. We stopped in front of my home and my
brothers were suddenly there, engulfing me in a bone-crushing hug.
“You did it! You really did it! You are going to be the queen! Does that make me a prince?” I laughed as Elijah rambled on.
“Queen Bryn Aryas. It has a nice ring to it.” Levi pulled me into another hug. Over his shoulder I spotted my father standing near door of
our cottage. He walked over as I pulled out of Levi’s embrace. “The ring saved me, you know. If you even care.”
“I know I haven’t been a father to you all these years and I am so sorry. The second you left I realised what I had missed out on. Seeing you
grow into the amazing woman you are. I haven’t touched a single drink since then and I even got a job.” I looked at Levi for confirmation. He just
nodded. “I promise to be better. I know you no longer need me, but I want to be a part of your life and I want to be someone you can be proud to
call your father.”
“I don’t trust you. But thank you for taking care of Elijah while I was gone. For that alone, I am willing to try and see if forgiveness is
something I can do later.” He nodded, eyes gleaming with tears. I turned back to my brothers. “Let’s go. Time to see our new home.”
~
The coronation took place a month later. Queen Adelaide had been teaching me all about ruling a kingdom, along with Rowen. Honestly, it
seemed like a lot of work, but I knew that I would do well, because I genuinely cared about my kingdom.
I made Rowen and Levi my royal advisors. With their help, I was able to get food and supplies to villages like my own, to make their lives
less miserable. There was still a lot of work to do and I was glad to do it.

 
 
 
the hero's journey : summary of the steps

A. Departure

1. The Call to Adventure​: the point in a person's life when they are first given notice that everything is going to change, whether they know it or not.
2. Refusal of the Call​: Often when the call is given, the future hero refuses to heed it. This may be from a sense of duty or obligation, fear, insecurity, a sense of
inadequacy, or any of a range of reasons that work to hold the person in his or her current circumstances.
3. Supernatural Aid​: Once the hero has committed to the quest, consciously or unconsciously, his or her guide and magical helper becomes known.
4. The Crossing of the First Threshold​: This is the point where the person actually crosses into the field of adventure, leaving the known limits of his or her world
and venturing into an unknown and dangerous realm where the rules and limits are not known.
5. The Belly of the Whale​: The belly of the whale represents the final separation from the hero's known world and self. It is sometimes described as the person's
lowest point, but it is actually the point when the person is between or transitioning between worlds and selves. This experience is often symbolized by something
dark, unknown and frightening. By entering this stage, the person shows their willingness to undergo a metamorphosis.
B. Initiation
1. The Road of Trials​: The road of trials is a series of tests, tasks, or ordeals that the person must undergo to begin the transformation. Often the person fails one or
more of these tests, which often occur in threes.
2. The Meeting with the Goddess​: The point in the adventure when the person experiences a love that has the power and significance of the all-powerful, all
encompassing, unconditional love that a fortunate infant experiences with their mother. It is also known as the sacred marriage, the union of opposites, and may
take place entirely within the person. In other words, the person begins to see him or herself in a non-dualistic way. This is a very important step in the process and
is often represented by the person finding the other person that he or she loves most completely.
3. Woman as the Temptress​: At one level, this step is about those temptations that may lead the hero to abandon or stray from his or her quest, which as with the
Meeting with the Goddess does not necessarily have to be represented by a woman. Woman is a metaphor for the physical or material temptations of life, since the
hero-knight was often tempted by lust from his spiritual journey.
4. Atonement with the Father​: In this step the person must confront and be initiated by whatever holds the ultimate power in his or her life. In many myths and
stories this is the father, or a father figure who has life and death power. For the transformation to take place, the person as he or she has been must be "killed" so
that the new self can come into being. Sometime this killing is literal, but more often it is metaphorical.
5. Apotheosis​: This is a god-like state; the person is in “heaven” and beyond all strife. A more mundane way of looking at this step is that it is a period of rest, peace
and fulfillment before the hero begins the return.
6. The Ultimate Boon​: The ultimate boon is the achievement of the goal of the quest. It is what the person went on the journey to get. All the previous steps serve to
prepare and purify the person for this step, since in many myths the boon is something transcendent like the holy grail.
C. Return
1. Refusal of the Return​: So why come back to normal life with all its cares and woes?
2. The Magic Flight​: Sometimes the hero must escape with the boon, if it is something that the gods have been jealously guarding.
3. Rescue from Without​: Just as the hero may need guides and assistants to set out on the quest, often times he or she must have powerful guides and rescuers to
bring them back to everyday life, especially if the person has been wounded/weakened by the experience or doesn’t know it’s time to go.
4. The Crossing of the Return Threshold​: The trick in returning is to retain the wisdom gained on the quest, to integrate that wisdom into a human life, and then
maybe figure out how to share the wisdom with the rest of the world. This is usually extremely difficult.
5. Master of the Two Worlds​: For a human hero, it may mean achieving a balance between the material and spiritual. The person has become comfortable and
competent in both the inner and outer worlds.
6. Freedom to Live​: Mastery leads to freedom from the fear of death, which in turn is the freedom to live. This is sometimes referred to as living in the moment,
neither anticipating the future nor regretting the past.