Technique

The Hero (and Heroine)’s Journey–Hero’s Journey in romance

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This entry is part 14 of 24 in the series The plot thickens (Mwahahaha)

by Faye Hughes

Thanks, Jordan, for allowing me to join you on your blog today. It’s such a pleasure to be here.

I’m going to be talking about plotting a romance novel using the hero’s journey paradigm. Now, first, a disclaimer: This approach works for a lot of romance novelists but it may not work for you. We’re all individuals so we all approach the plotting process from a different viewpoint . . . and you know what? That’s just fine.

The hero’s journey is based on the work of screenwriter Christopher Vogler, whose book The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers was in turn based upon his interpretation of the archetypes described by Joseph Campbell in his seminal work on mythology, The Hero with a Thousand Faces. Romance author and lecturer Debra Dixon used Vogler’s interpretations in her fabulous—and when I say, “fabulous,” I mean you REALLY need to get a copy of this if you’re writing a romance novel—book, Goal, Motivation, and Conflict.

everythingguideBasically, Vogler suggested that all fictional heroes—whether in a novel or a screenplay—would follow a similar path during the course of the story. When Vogler’s insights regarding the hero’s journey are applied to the traditional three-act paradigm for writing a romance novel, the result can flesh out the plot and give insight into character.

It can also ensure that you’ll avoid the saggy middle and other plot pitfalls.

The hero’s journey paradigm includes:

I. Act One

a. Ordinary World: The H/H (hero and heroine) are in their normal world before story begins.
b. Call to Adventure: The H/H learn of the problem, receive a challenge or the call to adventure that can lead to their romance.
c. Refusal of the Call: The hero or heroine (or both) refuses the call (due to their respective internal conflicts).
d. Meeting with the Mentor: The H/H meet with a mentor who offers advice or training.
e. Crossing the First Threshold: The H/H take the first step toward the romance (the first kiss, perhaps).

II. Act Two

a. Tests, Allies, Enemies: The H/H face and resolve their numerous non-primary conflicts and meet the secondary characters who will hinder or help them on their path to true love.
b. Approach to the Inmost Cave: The H/H encounter numerous obstacles while pursuing their primary goal (an HEA [Happily Ever After]).
c. Supreme Ordeal: A major plot point where an important secondary conflict seems to doom the romance (could also include the primary conflict peripherally, though not always).
d. Reward: The H/H overcome their secondary conflict.

III. Act Three

a. The Road Back: The H/H begin the return to their ordinary world, although the primary conflict is still unresolved.
b. Resurrection: The Dark Moment where the H/H face the loss of their romance and must use every lesson they have learned along their journey to resurrect their love.
c. Return with Elixir: The H/H return from their journey with the “elixir”—their HEA.

The reason I like using The Hero’s Journey paradigm for writing a romance is that it ensures we have all of the elements needed for a successful romance novel in our book.

One final thing, I’m offering a copy of mine and Christie’s book, The Everything Guide to Writing a Romance Novel, to one commenter, so please leave a comment. [Update: we have a winner, thanks everyone for commenting!]

Happy Writing!

About the author
Faye Hughes, a Mississippi native currently living in New York, is the award-winning author of seven highly-acclaimed novels of romantic fiction published by Bantam, Zebra and Meteor. Heralded as one of the rising stars of contemporary romantic fiction during the 1990s, Faye received two W.I.S.H. (Women In Search of a Hero) awards for her work from Romantic Times BOOKLovers Magazine. Two of her romance novels have been optioned for television movies. Her website is at www.FayeHughes.net. She and nonfiction co-author Christie Craig have a joint website at www.WritewithUs.net.

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Series NavigationArchetypal characters in the Hero’s JourneyCons of the Hero’s Journey (and a winner!)

30 thoughts on “The Hero (and Heroine)’s Journey–Hero’s Journey in romance”

  1. I was quite skeptical of the whole “Hero’s Journey” concept until I took a close look at my current outline. To my horror, I found many of the steps are there! I need to rethink my position. 😉

    Thank you Faye and Jordan.

  3. Great post, Faye!

    What I find amazing with all different methods of writing is that many are so similar. Some people just do better following one path more than the other. Tami Cowden did a great workshop at Moonlight & Magnolias on the different archetypes. She wrote a book about it and it’s great. I never use the archetypes when creating my characters, but I could see the different archetypes in my work. And I think using these to help brainstorm could be a useful tool.

    Again great post.

    CC

  4. Hi, Deb,

    Isn’t it amazing what we can learn about our writing – and ourselves for that matter – when we gain new knowledge?

    Thanks for dropping by.

    Faye

  6. Hi, Eileen,

    I know what you mean about being a little scared of the word “formula.” But, honestly, just because you know the hero and heroine will have a Happily Ever After in a romance or the killer will get caught in a mystery doesn’t mean the book will be predictable. Every writer takes his or her own unique talents and perspectives and makes the work as individual as they are.

    Thanks for dropping by.

    Faye

  7. Hey, Christie,

    Excellent point. I totally agree about Tami Cowden. She’s a fabulous speaker, a great writer and one smart lady!

    Thanks for dropping by.

    Faye

  9. Interesting. I do think your analysis focuses more on the Heroine’s Journey, because I feel like the Male Hero’s Romantic Journey is a bit different. No matter tho, my current WIP revolves around a classic romantic triangle with a Heroine. (btw I’m a guy)

    My “Call To Adventure” is the heroine meeting the Big Good Guy.
    My “Crossing the Threshold” is the Ball where we meet Big Bad Guy who cunningly sweeps her off her feet.
    My “Supreme Ordeal”, however, is an encounter with Big Good Guy, which gives her second thoughts about continuing with Big Bad Guy.
    My “Resurrection” is when she has to make final choice between Big Bad Guy and Big Good Guy. And stick with that choice.

    It’s also an Adventure novel so there are bombs and splosions involved. (I’m not going to write a mushy romance, folks. :p ) But the Main Story Question is about her getting the right guy.

    Your books sounds interesting. This is my first romance-based novel, so I’m not sure if I’m doing it “right.”

  10. Hi, Iapetus999,

    Interesting points but I think it does apply to both the H&H. After all, for a romance novel to work, both the hero and heroine need to have internal conflicts and conflicting goals. Something such as . . . in order for the heroine to succeed, the hero must lose.

    Best of luck with your romance, and thanks for dropping by.

    Faye

  13. Thanks Faye,

    I haven’t seen this laid out for a romance story before. I used a similar 3-act Hero’s Journey structure on my WIP. Going in to my story, I knew what the Call to Adventure and the Ordeal/Resurrection would be. But the ideas for the other aspects helped me develop the middle, which was a big blank spot when I first started.

    The structure I used broke things down like this:
    Act I: Inciting Incident
    Promises, Prophecies, and Predicaments
    Embracing Destiny
    Act II: New World
    Initial Plan
    Failure
    Lessons
    Achievement & Atonement
    The Black Moment
    Act III: The Coming Storm
    The Showdown
    Denouement

    I didn’t follow it exactly, but it really helped give a structure to things. My WIP is not a genre romance, but it does have a strong romance element (i.e. the Embracing Destiny falls in line with your Crossing the Threshold, and my Black Moment can be defined exactly as your Supreme Ordeal).

    Thanks!
    Jami G.

  14. Hi, Jami,

    Great job. Modifying all of the tools we have in our writers’ toolbox until they work for us a smart idea. It definitely sounds as though your WIP is on the right track. Best of luck!

    And thanks for dropping by.

    Faye

  16. I’ve never thought of using the hero’s journey as a map for my books. I’ll have to consider it with the books I’m planning to rip apart and start over with and see if it’ll help. Thanks!

  17. Thanks for this post. It will really help with the novel I’m revising right now. An editor asked me to add a few chapters at the beginning of the book and this post has given me some fresh ideas about where to start.

  24. I’ve frequently used this pattern with basic story structure, but I hadn’t thought about using it for developing the romance between my characters. Thanks for this insight and PLEASE add me to the drawing.

  25. @Ronda—Oh, I’m so sorry—I just posted the winner ten minutes ago! I’ll update the post to reflect that. Thanks for commenting, though 😀 .

  26. I’m a little late to this post, but find it extremely useful. It will sure help with the love story I intend to write. It’s given me a reason to write it sooner and I can’t wait to start.

    Thanks, Fay and Jordan. 🙂

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