A hero’s journey is a timeless plot structure where the main character goes on an adventure and, during the course of his journey, faces challenges and hardships.
Writing a hero’s journey novel can be a rewarding experience but it comes with certain challenges. Since it is such a well-known form of narrative, you risk having a formulaic and predictable plot. Developing a relatable character and creating unique challenges can also be difficult.
If you are thinking of writing such a story, we invite you to explore the WordLayouts’ novel outline template developed specifically for writing a hero’s journey novel. The organized structure and helpful instructions in each section will bring focus to your thoughts, and you can create a fresh perspective with a main character who is genuine and relatable for your readers.
Plot Outline Template for Hero’s Journey Novel
A hero’s journey, or monomyth, is a story in which the protagonist embarks on an adventure, overcomes obstacles, and transforms before returning home. Homer’s Odyssey is a classic example of this type of storytelling.
A hero’s journey is not confined to fantasy or mythical writings only. Such stories are common in various genres where an individual is tested, and his resolve to overcome the difficulties leads to triumph.
This outline template features all 12 stages of the hero’s journey as analyzed by Joseph Campbell in The Hero with a Thousand Faces. After the sections describing the setting of your story and developing the main character, the template follows with details of the 12 stages divided across three acts.
We will now discuss each section and explain how you can use this template for writing your own novel:
Setting
Just like in any work of fiction, describing the setting of your story with vivid details makes the readers understand the circumstances and influences on the main character. It creates an immersive reading experience and adds more depth to the plot.
In this template, we have provided the following prompts: Place, Time Period, Historical Context, and Mood to define the setting for your novel. The physical environment (Place) influences the protagonist’s journey and their transformation. It can be a village, country, or even a fantastical town. Time period is important to define as it shapes the story’s events.
The influence of the time period is not just on the plot but also on how the protagonist behaves and thinks. It dictates their moral compass and their choices; just like in Odessy, the protagonist’s actions are driven by the values of ancient Greece.
The motivations of the hero and their journey are greatly affected by the historical context, such as periods of political unrest, wars, famine, etc. The historical context prompt allows you to elaborate on the broader events, societal structures, and political climates that influence your main character’s world.
Defining the mood of the story lets your readers resonate with the main theme and feelings of your story. It will help your readers to connect with the protagonist’s journey and understand their motivations and feelings.
By describing these elements, you can create a world for your novel that feels authentic. It establishes the groundwork for your hero’s growth and builds a narrative that resonates with the reader.
Hero
In literature, a hero is the protagonist or main character who undergoes a journey, either mental or physical, that changes him by the end of the narrative. Through their strength of character, physical strength, and mental capabilities, they overcome trials and hardships. In Les Misérables, Jean Valjean is a good example of a hero in a moral sense. His heroic actions are not physical; rather, the readers are more affected by his deep moral growth and the decisions he makes. His heroism is his willingness to sacrifice his safety, freedom, and happiness for others.
When you are developing the hero for your story, the prompts in the template will guide you to create a character who is well-rounded and engaging. We have included prompts for Name, Background, Physical Description, Personality Traits, Motivation, Goals, Strengths, Weaknesses and Internal Conflict.
With these prompts, you will be able to address all details of your hero’s character. By providing a visual anchor about the hero, elucidating their motivations, and creating a multifaceted character, the outline will assist you in creating a character that readers can identify with.
Act I
The first act, also called the Departure, is the foundation for the hero’s journey. In this stage of the story, we are introduced to the hero and their initial disruption and decision to take on the journey. The way you present the ordinary world of the protagonist, their character, their motivations, and the initial challenge will determine if the story is relatable. Writing this part of your novel carefully is the key to making your reader read further.
To help you with this stage of writing, the outline template has provided prompts for each stage. The prompts are Opening Scene, Inciting Incident, Call to Adventure, Refusal of the Call, Meeting the Mentor, and Crossing the Threshold. For each of these prompts, we have included brief explanations to guide you in structuring your ideas.
For each stage of the first act, we will discuss some examples from the literature for further clarity:
- Opening Scene: In The Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins is presented as a simple hobbit with a love for peace and order, which hints at his inner desire for a more exciting life.
- Inciting Incident: Katniss Everdeen’s sister, Prim, is chosen as a tribute in the Hunger Games. She volunteers to take her place, which sets the stage for her journey.
- Call to Adventure: Harry Potter receives his letter from Hogwarts. It invites him to leave the mundane world of the Dursleys and step into the magical world.
- Refusal of the Call: Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings initially refuses to leave the Shire, reluctant to take the One Ring and face the dangers ahead.
- Meeting the Mentor: In The Odyssey, the hero, Odysseus, receives guidance from the goddess Athena. She appears in various forms throughout the story and helps him with advice and protection.
- Crossing the Threshold: In Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Alice steps through the looking glass and finds herself in the Wonderland. Once she crosses the threshold, there’s no turning back, and her journey into the unknown begins.
Once you start writing the first act of your hero’s journey novel, these prompts and examples will guide you in properly framing each stage, building tension, and carrying the story forward.
Act II
Act II in a hero’s journey novel is also referred to as the “Initiation.” In this stage, the hero faces numerous struggles and grows stronger. They enter a “new world,” and their resolve and skills are tested.
This stage forms the core of the story, where we see how the hero overcomes the challenges and uses his skills, physical strength, and mental capabilities. This part of the novel is usually the longest and if not well written, the final act will lack the necessary buildup required for a meaningful climax.
As a writer, this stage is also an opportunity to show your craft and deepen the emotional connection between the hero and your readers. The outline template features step-by-step prompts for writing a coherent and ric second act of your novel. The prompts follow the stages from Cambell’s monomyth structure and are the following: Test, Allies and Enemies, Approach to the Cave, Ordeal, and Reward. For each stage, brief instructions are provided to guide you when you develop this stage.
Let us see some examples from classic works to gain more insights about these stages:
- Tests, Allies, and Enemies: Odysseus faces tests and trials that shape his character. His obstacles are defined by enemies like Poseidon, allies like Athena, and tests like the Cyclops.
- Approach to the Cave: In Moby Dick, Captain Ahab’s approach to the “Inmost Cave” comes as he prepares for the final confrontation with the whale. His obsession and the mounting dangers create internal and external tension.
- Ordeal: Odysseus’s ordeal occurs when he is trapped in the Underworld and must confront the spirits of the dead. He faces his own fears and regrets.
- Reward: Jean Valjean in Le Misérables receives peace and redemption after showing kindness, despite personal sacrifice, earning trust and forgiveness.
The prompts and these examples will guide you in creating an engaging second act where you can describe the growth and transformation of the hero convincingly.
Act III
The third act is the concluding part of the story, where you tie all loose ends and provide closure. This stage, also called the “Return”, is where the hero has overcome the challenges and is ready to return. He has evolved during the journey and reflects on his growth and newfound wisdom and power.
Proving a plausible resolution to all conflicts while maintaining a proper pace can be challenging as a writer. Moreover, you would want to make sure that the ending provides the maximum emotional impact. The outline template addresses all these roadblocks and helps you deliver a layered and rich end. The template features three stages following Cambell: Road Back, Resurrection, and Return with the Elixir with brief instructions for each.
In Moby Dick, the road back is when Captain Ahbab takes the crew to the whale and is obsessed with his pursuit. The resurrection is when he is confronted with the whale and fights it, which leads to his death. The return to Elixir is symbolic in the story, as Captain Ahbab has died. But the survival of Ishmael is the symbolism of nature’s power and humanity.
With the prompts for each stage in the outline template, you will be able to focus on each stage of the third act and write a cohesive conclusion to the story.
Writing a hero’s journey novel can be challenging since the story can easily become predictable. Moreover, if the main character is not developed properly, the readers will not be emotionally invested in their struggles and ordeals. This outline template provides a structured format for addressing each stage of the story while also focusing on the protagonist’s development and the story’s setting. It will help you map out key moments in your story, build tension, and lead to a satisfying ending for the readers.
The outline is grounded in the principles of literary writing and the template can be used for any genre of hero’s journey novel. It is available in multiple formats, like DOCX, DOTX, Google Docs, and ODT, and can be used in print or online.
Whether you are a seasoned writer facing writer’s block, an aspiring author writing a first novel, or working on a creative writing project for your school, this template will help you tell an original story with a hero whose struggles and strength will be remembered by readers for a long time.
