creative writing description of a hero

How to Write a Hero: The 12 Stages of the Hero’s Character Arc

by Lewis / September 17, 2019 / Character Development

Heroes are integral to the history of storytelling.

Not only are heroes beloved, but they’re practically required for many stories. Classic heroes such as Robin Hood and King Arthur mix with modern variations like Simba and Shane to form a formidable pantheon. However, perhaps more interesting than who we consider a hero is what all heroes have in common: the hero’s character arc.

This hero’s character arc demands that the hero leave home, sent away to prove themselves and grow into the leader their community needs. Their journeys are always ones of service and self-sacrifice. Most importantly, this hero’s character arc is something you can use to write memorable, compelling heroes all your own!

How to Write a Classic Hero: The Hero’s Journey

• 1 How to Write a Classic Hero: The Hero’s Journey
• 2 Understanding the Hero’s Inner Journey
• 3.1 Starting in the Ordinary World:
• 3.2 Entering the Unknown:
• 3.3 Returning Home:
• 4.1 Starting in the Ordinary World:
• 4.2 Entering the Unknown:
• 4.3 Returning Home:
• 5 Writing a Hero’s Character Arc for Your Story

After all, we can’t talk about heroes without first talking about the Hero’s Journey.

At its most basic, the Hero’s Journey is a common pattern all hero characters follow, popularized by Campbell.

It follows a character as they’re called on an adventure, face a series of trials, and undergo a final challenge where they prove they’ve grown into the hero’s archetype. However, unlike similar story structures like the Three Act Structure , the Hero’s Journey doesn’t stop there.

You see, the success of society is just as important as the success of the hero themself.

This is why the Hero’s Journey requires the hero to return home and share their new skills and knowledge, helping their society heal and prosper as the final phase of their journey. Without that crucial step, their hero’s character arc is incomplete.

“Heroes are symbols of the soul in transformation, and of the journey each person takes through life. The stages of that progression, the natural stages of life and growth, make up the Hero’s Journey.”  — Christopher Vogler

While Campbell’s legacy may be complex these days (especially because of his rather toxic views of women), the basic structure he outlined in The Hero with a Thousand Faces remains one of the best explanations of the journey characters must go on to be considered a hero.

You can find his Hero’s Journey at work in nearly every myth, novel, movie, and play out there—and, despite Campbell’s views, there’s absolutely no requirement for the hero character to be male or female.

Understanding the Hero’s Inner Journey

Despite how useful Campbell’s work is on its own, there have been some important additions that have not only clarified his ideas, but added new and unique interpretations. Most notably is The Writer’s Journey by Christopher Vogler, which turned the Hero’s Journey into a more usable guide for writers.

In particular, Vogler helped create the idea of the hero’s character arc by separating the Hero’s Journey into two halves:

The Outer Journey (story structure) and the Inner Journey (character development).

This Outer Journey is all about the plot of the Hero’s Journey, which we discussed above, while the Inner Journey focuses on the growth and psychological state of the hero. This Inner Journey is the foundation of the hero’s character arc, and you can see it at work in any of the three different primary character arcs . It’s this journey that takes a standard character arc and turns it into a hero’s arc, even if the hero fails at the end.

This understanding of the hero’s Inner Journey is incredibly valuable, because almost all writers will wonder how to write a hero at some point. Heroes are an integral part of our storytelling language, and this pattern of the hero’s character arc provides a guide to help you create the type of memorable, compelling heroes readers can’t get enough of.

The 12 Stages of the Hero’s Character Arc

Starting in the ordinary world:.

In every hero’s character arc, the hero begins in their ordinary world. This is their home and community, and it gives the reader a baseline from which to judge their later growth.

At this stage the hero is often ignorant of the outside world, but still feels a certain level of discontent. Something about their ordinary world isn’t right, and this something will slowly push them to venture into the unknown in hopes of solving this problem.

#1: The Call to Adventure:

The Call to Adventure is a pretty well know plot point within the hero’s Outer Journey. Here they’re introduced to the conflict and pushed to engage with it. However, there’s another side to this.

In the hero’s Inner Journey, the Call to Adventure marks the first time they’re asked to come face to face with the flaws of themselves and their world. Until now they’ve lived a life sheltered from the outside, even if only through their own naivety.

#2: Refusing the Call:

The Refusal of the Call is the immediate follow up from the Call to Adventure. Here, most heroes will refuse to believe the flaws they saw through the Call. They’ll be unwilling to answer the Call at this stage.

#3: Meeting the Mentor:

To clear their mind, the hero will need to meet with a mentor figure . This could be another character, a spiritual guide, or even an aspect of the hero’s own mind. Whatever it is, this stage helps push the hero to recognize reality by showing them another example of the conflict, both Inner and Outer, that they’re being called to face.

#4: Finding Allies:

Before the hero can set out on their journey, they need allies to support them. These allies help the hero mentally prepare for the massive change they’re about to experience by giving them a lasting connection to their community and their old self.

#5 Facing the First Threshold:

This much like the traditional First Plot Point of the Three Act Structure . At the First Threshold, the hero begins their Outer Journey, setting off from their community into the unknown world. In their Inner Journey, the hero finally recognizes the Call and sets out hoping to find answers. At this stage, most heroes still believe their lives can return to normal, and it is often this belief that propels them forward—even though they’ll soon find it isn’t true.

Entering the Unknown:

Once the hero has faced the first threshold and stepped outside their ordinary world, they’ve begun the next phase of the hero’s character arc.

This portion of their journey is all about learning.

Here they suddenly come face to face with the truth of what the outside world is—and often, the truth about their own community as well. They’ll likely be beat down a lot at this stage as the story shows them their weaknesses and forces them to grow. They can no longer remain naive if they’re to survive here.

#6: The Road of Trials:

The hero has entered the unknown, and will now have to face the many new challenges and tests of that world. Here they’ll learn a lot about themselves, and will come face to face with the conflict they were warned about in the Call. In their Inner Journey, they’re likely holding on to hopes of returning home, but slowly they will recognize that things were never as simple as they seemed.

#7: Approaching the Cave:

Here the hero will approach a major showdown (The Ordeal), both in their Outer and Inner Journeys. For their Inner Journey in particular, the hero will need to face their old beliefs in new ways and will be tempted to abandon their quest.

In many traditional stories, this manifested as the hero meeting with a goddess or being tempted by an evil female figure—though again, there are no gendered requirements when creating a hero’s character arc. If they overcome this challenge, they’ll have passed a critical test of the hero’s character arc.

#8: The Ordeal:

Here the hero will have to prove all they’ve learned thus far. They’ve overcome their temptation, and now must show that through action. The conflict of the Outer Journey will reach a turning point, and the psychological conflict of the Inner Journey will as well. The hero will need to make a choice here; either embrace their role in healing the wounds of their world, or abandon their quest and their role as the hero.

#9: A Reward:

If the hero succeeded during The Ordeal, they’ll receive a reward. This reward is key both to the conflict of their Outer Journey, and the wounds they’re struggling to heal in their Inner Journey. Their reward could be anything, but it must have both plot and character related aspects. It should reveal the answer they set out to find after the First Threshold.

Returning Home:

The final phase of the hero’s character arc sees them return to their community.

It’s finally time for them to share their newfound knowledge and skills.

The hero has learned the secrets of the outside world, but their community is still suffering. This is when the self-sacrifice of the hero’s character arc really comes into play, as the hero often has to risk losing their newfound life and allies to return home.

They’re no longer the person they once were, but that doesn’t free them from their responsibility to their community. Returning home and healing society is integral to the hero’s character arc, and the final stage in the hero’s development.

#10: The Road Back:

The Road Back is, in many ways, a mirror of the first five stages of the hero’s character arc. The hero will refuse to return home, unwilling to give up their new life (or sometimes unwilling to jeopardize up their old life, depending on the Inner Journey of the hero). This is the hero’s darkest moment, when they’re unsure what all of this has been for and if they’re really capable of fulfilling the hero’s role.

Eventually, if they’re to succeed in the hero’s character arc, they’ll realize they must return. From there, they’ll often receive aid from a spiritual guide or from another powerful source that helps transport them home, often in the nick of time before the conflict of the Outer Journey reaches its head.

#11: Resurrection:

Here the hero crosses the “return threshold,” returning to their community and using all of their skills and knowledge to help heal their world and overcome the conflict of the story. This is the Climax of their story, where all the threads of both the Outer and Inner Journey meet.

#12: Returning With the Elixir:

Finally the hero has returned. They’ve resolved the story’s conflict and put their reward to work, helping their society proper. They’ve overcome the flaws of their world and of themselves, and will help steer their community on a new and better path.

This also comes with the freedom for the hero to live their own life at last, often with a foot in both the outside world and their own community. This resolution is often bittersweet, but triumphant, and it what sets the hero apart from other protagonists.

Ashitaka: The Hero’s Arc of Princess Mononoke

While working on the first draft of this article, I was watching Princess Mononoke by Hayao Miyazaki. It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Miyazaki’s work, and this movie is no exception, but this time I saw the movie in a new light.

You see, the protagonist of Princess Mononoke , Ashitaka, perfectly follows the hero’s character arc.

If you’re not familiar with it, Princess Mononoke follows Ashitaka as he journeys west, searching for a way to lift the curse placed on him when he defeated the demon boar Nago. What he finds outside his isolated village is a world torn by violence.

On one side feudal lords wage war against each another, and on the other the spirits of nature struggle to survive against encroaching humans. As you might imagine, Ashitaka gets caught up between these wars, both sympathetic to the humans but deeply reverent towards the spirits.

Ashitaka’s time in his ordinary world is short.

He begins the story when the demon boar Nago arrives at his village (The Call to Adventure) . At first he avoids it, watching from afar (Refusal of the Call) , and an older village guard warns him not to let the demon touch him or risk being cursed himself.

As the demon approaches the village, it traps a group of girls in front of it, and Ashitaka dives in to kill the demon and protect them. In the process he enters the demon’s path and it touches his arm. Though he kills the boar, he is now cursed.

That evening, Ashitaka meets with the elders of his village (Meeting with the Mentor) and they tell him the curse will eat away at him, eventually killing him. The elders talk about how their bloodline is weakening, and how all the human kingdoms outside their isolated village are in decay as well. They mourn Ashitaka’s loss, but know he cannot stay.

However, before he goes they tell him to journey west in hopes of lifting his curse. Ashitaka leaves under the cover of night, bringing his loyal elk, Yakul, with him (Finding Allies) . He and Yakul disappear into the darkness of the forest (Facing the First Threshold) .

Having officially left home, Ashitaka makes the long journey west, facing a variety of challenges along the way. He gets caught up in a battle with samurai and discovers his cursed arm gives him increased strength, and a traveling monk tells him to seek the mountain of the Deer God to find answers.

Later, he helps rescue two men who were thrown from a cliff, and they warn him about the war between the people of the Ironworks and the nature gods that live in the Deer God’s mountains. Ashitaka even sees the Deer God while traveling through their woods, and discovers that his cursed arm moves on its own, still imbued with the raging spirit of the demon boar (Road of Trials) .

The plot of the story moves more quickly when Ashitaka finally reaches the Ironworks. There he discovers the humans have been clearing the forests and killing the local gods to mine more iron. When he finds out their leader, Lady Eboshi , personally killed Nago and turned him into a demon, he feels enraged by her cruelty.

However, Lady Eboshi shows him another side of the Ironworks; not only is it a shelter for the sick, but it provides safe haven for people who otherwise would face terrible abuse from those more powerful than them. Still, Lady Eboshi is bent on killing the Deer God once and for all. Ashitaka isn’t sure what to think (Approaching the Cave) .

At first, Ashitaka helps around the Ironworks, unsure if he should stay or go. When he is about to leave, however, the wolf-princess Mononoke arrives intent on killing Lady Eboshi. Ashitaka knows Eboshi will kill her if he doesn’t stop them and fights to protect Mononoke, getting shot in the process.

He carries Mononoke out of the Ironworks and back to the wolf gods who raised her, before passing out from his wound (The Ordeal) . At first Mononoke wants to kill him, but realizes he is on nature’s side. She and the wolves take him to the Deer God’s forest, where the Deer God heals him. However, the curse remains; it seems the Deer God won’t save him after all (A Reward) .

Ashitaka struggles with the fact that he is still cursed and is unsure what he should do next. Meanwhile, the war between the humans of the Ironworks, the opposing samurai, and the nature gods escalates into a massive battle. Ashitaka goes to the wolf gods and tries to explain that humans and nature can coexist, but they refuse to believe him. Eventually Ashitaka gives up, leaving the Deer God’s forest and Mononoke behind.

However, Ashitaka won’t surrender so easily. When he passes the Ironworks and sees that it’s under attack, he steps in to protect it—Ashitaka races to find Lady Eboshi so she can send reinforcements to protect the people at the Ironworks.

In the process he realizes Mononoke has gone to war with the humans, and that one of the other leaders of the nature spirits is horribly wounded. They’re heading for the Deer God’s forest, and Ashitaka must stop Lady Eboshi from following them (The Road Back) .

Upon reaching the forest, Ashitaka saves Mononoke from certain death, but cannot stop Lady Eboshi, who kills the Deer God and steals his head. As soon as he loses his head the Deer God becomes a massive demon, consuming and killing everything it touches.

Ashitaka and Mononoke race to retrieve the head and warn the Ironworks of the coming calamity. Eventually, they force Eboshi’s allies to relinquish the head and return it to the Deer God, seeming to die in the process (Resurrection) . However, when the Deer God regains his head, a divine wind blows across the mountains.

Not only are the forests healed, but the sick people of the Ironworks are as well. Ashitaka and Mononoke are both alive and Ashitaka’s cursed arm is healed. While Mononoke is unwilling to come live at the Ironworks with him, she promises to live in peace alongside the humans. Ashitaka returns to the Ironworks, forging a new balance between nature and humanity (Returning With the Elixir) .

Writing a Hero’s Character Arc for Your Story

If you’re wondering how to write a hero of your own, Ashitaka’s journey is a great example of the hero’s character arc in action.

Not only does he follow every beat of the hero’s character arc, but he shows how the Outer and Inner Journeys of the hero interact and weave together into a powerful story. When you sit down to write a hero of your own, start by considering what flaw, sickness, or weakness their society has. What does their society need to grow and prosper? Most importantly, what does their society need to learn to become better?

With that information you can build the basic framework of your hero.

The world around Ashitaka was decaying because humans and nature were at war, so his Hero’s Journey ties into a quest to unite the two. While Ashitaka was a flat arc character , your hero can follow any of the three primary character arcs —positive, negative, or flat—as long as the ending wraps around to them solving the problems of their community.

This defines them as a classic hero, though it’s possible for them to be a failed hero (negative arc) that not only fails to grow into a better character, but fails to lift up their society.

Of course, there are plenty of other archetypes beyond the hero archetype, and Campbell and Vogler discuss many of them. If you want to learn more about the Hero’s Journey and the characters you can find within it, check out these articles next:

• 9 Stages of the Hero’s Journey and How to Use Them
• 8 Key Archetypes of the Hero’s Journey

—–

As you can see, the hero’s character arc follows many of the common patterns seen in the three primary character arcs all characters—regardless of hero status—follow. However, what sets it apart is its focus on the hero’s return to their community.

To truly be a hero, it seems we have to not only grow into a better person, but into a leader as well. 🙂

What journey does your story’s hero go on? Let me know in the comments!

Thoughts on how to write a hero: the 12 stages of the hero’s character arc.

The best description yet! Or is it because it confirms that without knowing this my character arc is right on track!

Thank you Marta. 🙂 I’m glad to hear you were already ahead of the curve. I’ve found that many writers pick up on these character arcs subconsciously over the years, and many are shocked it’s actually an official structure when they find out!

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How to Write a Story About a Hero

Last Updated: December 15, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Grant Faulkner, MA . Grant Faulkner is the Executive Director of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and the co-founder of 100 Word Story, a literary magazine. Grant has published two books on writing and has been published in The New York Times and Writer’s Digest. He co-hosts Write-minded, a weekly podcast on writing and publishing, and has a M.A. in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University.  There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 157,439 times.

Whether you want to write a story about a super hero , an epic hero, or some other type of hero, you can write an engaging character with a little time and effort. Develop a hero character by incorporating specific traits and considering your hero's goals. Then, arrange your story according to the Hero's Journey format developed by Christopher Vogler. This will help to ensure that your hero is likable and that your hero's story engages your readers.

Developing Your Hero

• For example, perhaps your hero has to find a special resource that will allow them to repair a machine that cleans all of the water for their village. Or, perhaps someone the hero loves has been kidnapped and they need to seek out and fight the villain who took this person from them.

• For example, your hero might be the son of a blacksmith who is skilled at sword fighting, but incredibly humble about their abilities and unwilling to enter competitions.
• Or, your hero might be a beautiful young princess who prefers blue jeans to ball gowns and who isn't above working alongside her own staff when there's a crisis.

• For example, your hero might be clumsy, gullible, hot-tempered, or impatient.

Tip : Try to avoid giving your hero flaws that might make them seem evil. For example, don't portray your hero's flaw as making fun of other people or being physically abusive to someone. This will make them seem more like a villain than a hero.

• For example, perhaps your hero needs to gain self-confidence and overcome a fear of public speaking. To give them practice, they might have a couple of opportunities where they will have to get the attention of a small crowd or a room full of people. This could be leading up to a scene where they have to speak in front of thousands of people to achieve their objective.

Organizing the Hero's Journey

• For example, the ordinary world in Toy Story is Andy's bedroom when the toys are alone and come to life. Woody serves as Andy's toy when Andy wants to play with him, and Woody also conducts toy meetings when Andy is not around. [8] X Research source

Tip : You don't need to include every single component of the Hero's Journey to create a solid story, and you can also include the elements in a different order if that makes more sense for your story.

• The conflict or call to adventure in Toy Story is when Woody is replaced by Buzz Lightyear. Woody feels rejected and his visible hurt feelings add to his likeability, but he is also very jealous of all of the attention Buzz is getting. Woody's jealousy is one of his flaws. [10] X Research source

• In Toy Story , Woody refuses the call to adventure by denying that Buzz is Andy's new favorite toy. He also denies his own feelings and that he is jealous of Buzz. Woody's fear of no longer being the favorite is what drives him to deny what is actually happening. [12] X Research source

• In Toy Story , Woody's mentor is Buzz. Even though Buzz is new to Woody's world, he has different abilities than Woody does. Woody learns new things from Buzz while they are in the outside world.
• Another good example of a hero's guide or mentor in a story is Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars. He teaches Luke the ways of the Jedi so that Luke can go on his adventure. [14] X Research source

• For example, in Toy Story , Woody is forced to go on his adventure after Buzz falls out the window. Buzz falling out the window and Woody encountering him in the car after that happens is when they are over the threshold. [16] X Research source

• For example, in Toy Story , Woody and Buzz are tested when they have to work together to find Andy in the arcade. In the arcade, they also meet some new friends, such as the aliens in the claw machine. They also face off with an enemy: Sid, the kid next door who tortures toys. [18] X Research source

• For example, in Toy Story , Woody and Buzz end up in Sid's bedroom and Woody can see his home from where they are. However, the other toys are still leery of him and he cannot return home until he lets go of his jealousy and works with Buzz to get back.

• This is a great opportunity to show how your hero has grown through their adventures. [19] X Research source For example, your hero might demonstrate a skill that their mentor tried to teach them, but they struggled to master until this moment.
• In the example of Toy Story , Woody's greatest challenge is teaming up with Buzz and the other toys in Sid's room to stop Sid from hurting any more toys. They come up with a plan together and work as a team to scare off Sid. [20] X Research source

• For example, in Toy Story , Woody and Buzz escape from Sid's home and Woody has overcome his jealousy of Buzz. They've developed a meaningful friendship as a result of their adventures.

• For example, in Toy Story , Woody's final test is when he has to trust in Buzz and accept his help to get back to Andy. Buzz uses his special skills to get them to the car, and Woody shows that he is no longer jealous of Buzz. He is amazed by him and gladly accepts his help. [21] X Research source

• For example, Woody compliments Buzz rather than poking fun at him showing that he has grown from the beginning of the story when he was jealous of Buzz and picking fights with him.
• In some stories, such as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows , the hero actually dies temporarily. Harry Potter dies, has a vision or visits a place between life and death, and then he is resurrected with new strength to defeat Lord Voldemort.

• For example, in Toy Story , the new normal is much like the beginning of the story. However, instead of Woody running the toy meeting on his own, he is co-running it with Buzz. This shows that their friendship is still intact and that there is peace and harmony in Andy's room.

Community Q&A

• Outline your story and use your outline as a guide when you draft your story. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

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• ↑ Grant Faulkner, MA. Professional Writer. Expert Interview. 8 January 2019.
• ↑ http://inkandquills.com/2015/12/24/writing-101-creating-a-successful-hero-and-villain/
• ↑ https://jerryjenkins.com/character-development/
• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUMSfhWLpnc&feature=youtu.be&t=59
• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUMSfhWLpnc&feature=youtu.be&t=73
• ↑ https://learning.hccs.edu/faculty/sandy.jordan/sandy.jordan/the-heros-journey
• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUMSfhWLpnc&feature=youtu.be&t=95
• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUMSfhWLpnc&feature=youtu.be&t=115
• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUMSfhWLpnc&feature=youtu.be&t=135
• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUMSfhWLpnc&feature=youtu.be&t=154
• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUMSfhWLpnc&feature=youtu.be&t=195
• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUMSfhWLpnc&feature=youtu.be&t=219

About This Article

You can write a story about a hero by creating a hero with specific traits and goals that they must accomplish. Start by identifying who your hero is and what they want so their driving motivation is clearly defined. Then, add traits that will make your hero more likable and interesting. For instance, you could make your hero a humble farmer who develops the ability to move things with his mind. Introduce the world your hero lives in so you can set the scene. Include an initial conflict or call to action that your hero is hesitant to respond to. As your hero goes on their journey, they’ll have tests and challenges to overcome before they’re able to make it back home. For tips about how to use freewriting to develop a story about a hero, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Hero's Journey 101: How to Use the Hero's Journey to Plot Your Story

By Dan Schriever

How many times have you heard this story? A protagonist is suddenly whisked away from their ordinary life and embarks on a grand adventure. Along the way they make new friends, confront perils, and face tests of character. In the end, evil is defeated, and the hero returns home a changed person.

That’s the Hero’s Journey in a nutshell. It probably sounds very familiar—and rightly so: the Hero’s Journey aspires to be the universal story, or monomyth, a narrative pattern deeply ingrained in literature and culture. Whether in books, movies, television, or folklore, chances are you’ve encountered many examples of the Hero’s Journey in the wild.

In this post, we’ll walk through the elements of the Hero’s Journey step by step. We’ll also study an archetypal example from the movie The Matrix (1999). Once you have mastered the beats of this narrative template, you’ll be ready to put your very own spin on it.

Sound good? Then let’s cross the threshold and let the journey begin.

What Is the Hero’s Journey?

The 12 stages of the hero’s journey, writing your own hero’s journey.

The Hero’s Journey is a common story structure for modeling both plot points and character development. A protagonist embarks on an adventure into the unknown. They learn lessons, overcome adversity, defeat evil, and return home transformed.

Joseph Campbell , a scholar of literature, popularized the monomyth in his influential work The Hero With a Thousand Faces (1949). Looking for common patterns in mythological narratives, Campbell described a character arc with 17 total stages, overlaid on a more traditional three-act structure. Not all need be present in every myth or in the same order.

The three stages, or acts, of Campbell’s Hero’s Journey are as follows:

1. Departure. The hero leaves the ordinary world behind.

2. Initiation. The hero ventures into the unknown ("the Special World") and overcomes various obstacles and challenges.

3. Return. The hero returns in triumph to the familiar world.

Hollywood has embraced Campbell’s structure, most famously in George Lucas’s Star Wars movies. There are countless examples in books, music, and video games, from fantasy epics and Disney films to sports movies.

In The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers (1992), screenwriter Christopher Vogler adapted Campbell’s three phases into the "12 Stages of the Hero’s Journey." This is the version we’ll analyze in the next section.

For writers, the purpose of the Hero’s Journey is to act as a template and guide. It’s not a rigid formula that your plot must follow beat by beat. Indeed, there are good reasons to deviate—not least of which is that this structure has become so ubiquitous.

Still, it’s helpful to master the rules before deciding when and how to break them. The 12 steps of the Hero's Journey are as follows :

• The Ordinary World
• The Call of Adventure
• Refusal of the Call
• Meeting the Mentor
• Crossing the First Threshold
• Tests, Allies, and Enemies
• Approach to the Inmost Cave
• Reward (Seizing the Sword)
• The Road Back
• Resurrection
• Return with the Elixir

Let’s take a look at each stage in more detail. To show you how the Hero’s Journey works in practice, we’ll also consider an example from the movie The Matrix (1999). After all, what blog has not been improved by a little Keanu Reeves?

#1: The Ordinary World

This is where we meet our hero, although the journey has not yet begun: first, we need to establish the status quo by showing the hero living their ordinary, mundane life.

It’s important to lay the groundwork in this opening stage, before the journey begins. It lets readers identify with the hero as just a regular person, “normal” like the rest of us. Yes, there may be a big problem somewhere out there, but the hero at this stage has very limited awareness of it.

The Ordinary World in The Matrix :

We are introduced to Thomas A. Anderson, aka Neo, programmer by day, hacker by night. While Neo runs a side operation selling illicit software, Thomas Anderson lives the most mundane life imaginable: he works at his cubicle, pays his taxes, and helps the landlady carry out her garbage.

#2: The Call to Adventure

The journey proper begins with a call to adventure—something that disrupts the hero’s ordinary life and confronts them with a problem or challenge they can’t ignore. This can take many different forms.

While readers may already understand the stakes, the hero is realizing them for the first time. They must make a choice: will they shrink from the call, or rise to the challenge?

The Call to Adventure in The Matrix :

A mysterious message arrives in Neo’s computer, warning him that things are not as they seem. He is urged to “follow the white rabbit.” At a nightclub, he meets Trinity, who tells him to seek Morpheus.

#3: Refusal of the Call

Oops! The hero chooses option A and attempts to refuse the call to adventure. This could be for any number of reasons: fear, disbelief, a sense of inadequacy, or plain unwillingness to make the sacrifices that are required.

A little reluctance here is understandable. If you were asked to trade the comforts of home for a life-and-death journey fraught with peril, wouldn’t you give pause?

Refusal of the Call in The Matrix :

Agents arrive at Neo’s office to arrest him. Morpheus urges Neo to escape by climbing out a skyscraper window. “I can’t do this… This is crazy!” Neo protests as he backs off the ledge.

#4: Meeting the Mentor

Okay, so the hero got cold feet. Nothing a little pep talk can’t fix! The mentor figure appears at this point to give the hero some much needed counsel, coaching, and perhaps a kick out the door.

After all, the hero is very inexperienced at this point. They’re going to need help to avoid disaster or, worse, death. The mentor’s role is to overcome the hero’s reluctance and prepare them for what lies ahead.

Meeting the Mentor in The Matrix :

Neo meets with Morpheus, who reveals a terrifying truth: that the ordinary world as we know it is a computer simulation designed to enslave humanity to machines.

#5: Crossing the First Threshold

At this juncture, the hero is ready to leave their ordinary world for the first time. With the mentor’s help, they are committed to the journey and ready to step across the threshold into the special world . This marks the end of the departure act and the beginning of the adventure in earnest.

This may seem inevitable, but for the hero it represents an important choice. Once the threshold is crossed, there’s no going back. Bilbo Baggins put it nicely: “It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.”

Crossing the First Threshold in The Matrix :

Neo is offered a stark choice: take the blue pill and return to his ordinary life none the wiser, or take the red pill and “see how deep the rabbit hole goes.” Neo takes the red pill and is extracted from the Matrix, entering the real world .

#6: Tests, Allies, and Enemies

Now we are getting into the meat of the adventure. The hero steps into the special world and must learn the new rules of an unfamiliar setting while navigating trials, tribulations, and tests of will. New characters are often introduced here, and the hero must navigate their relationships with them. Will they be friend, foe, or something in between?

Broadly speaking, this is a time of experimentation and growth. It is also one of the longest stages of the journey, as the hero learns the lay of the land and defines their relationship to other characters.

Wondering how to create captivating characters? Read our guide , which explains how to shape characters that readers will love—or hate.

Tests, Allies, and Enemies in The Matrix :

Neo is introduced to the vagabond crew of the Nebuchadnezzar . Morpheus informs Neo that he is The One , a savior destined to liberate humanity. He learns jiu jitsu and other useful skills.

#7: Approach to the Inmost Cave

Time to get a little metaphorical. The inmost cave isn’t a physical cave, but rather a place of great danger—indeed, the most dangerous place in the special world . It could be a villain’s lair, an impending battle, or even a mental barrier. No spelunking required.

Broadly speaking, the approach is marked by a setback in the quest. It becomes a lesson in persistence, where the hero must reckon with failure, change their mindset, or try new ideas.

Note that the hero hasn’t entered the cave just yet. This stage is about the approach itself, which the hero must navigate to get closer to their ultimate goal. The stakes are rising, and failure is no longer an option.

Approach to the Inmost Cave in The Matrix :

Neo pays a visit to The Oracle. She challenges Neo to “know thyself”—does he believe, deep down, that he is The One ? Or does he fear that he is “just another guy”? She warns him that the fate of humanity hangs in the balance.

#8: The Ordeal

The ordeal marks the hero’s greatest test thus far. This is a dark time for them: indeed, Campbell refers to it as the “belly of the whale.” The hero experiences a major hurdle or obstacle, which causes them to hit rock bottom.

This is a pivotal moment in the story, the main event of the second act. It is time for the hero to come face to face with their greatest fear. It will take all their skills to survive this life-or-death crisis. Should they succeed, they will emerge from the ordeal transformed.

Keep in mind: the story isn’t over yet! Rather, the ordeal is the moment when the protagonist overcomes their weaknesses and truly steps into the title of hero .

The Ordeal in The Matrix :

When Cipher betrays the crew to the agents, Morpheus sacrifices himself to protect Neo. In turn, Neo makes his own choice: to risk his life in a daring rescue attempt.

#9: Reward (Seizing the Sword)

The ordeal was a major level-up moment for the hero. Now that it's been overcome, the hero can reap the reward of success. This reward could be an object, a skill, or knowledge—whatever it is that the hero has been struggling toward. At last, the sword is within their grasp.

From this moment on, the hero is a changed person. They are now equipped for the final conflict, even if they don’t fully realize it yet.

Reward (Seizing the Sword) in The Matrix :

Neo’s reward is helpfully narrated by Morpheus during the rescue effort: “He is beginning to believe.” Neo has gained confidence that he can fight the machines, and he won’t back down from his destiny.

#10: The Road Back

We’re now at the beginning of act three, the return . With the reward in hand, it’s time to exit the inmost cave and head home. But the story isn’t over yet.

In this stage, the hero reckons with the consequences of act two. The ordeal was a success, but things have changed now. Perhaps the dragon, robbed of his treasure, sets off for revenge. Perhaps there are more enemies to fight. Whatever the obstacle, the hero must face them before their journey is complete.

The Road Back in The Matrix :

The rescue of Morpheus has enraged Agent Smith, who intercepts Neo before he can return to the Nebuchadnezzar . The two foes battle in a subway station, where Neo’s skills are pushed to their limit.

#11: Resurrection

Now comes the true climax of the story. This is the hero’s final test, when everything is at stake: the battle for the soul of Gotham, the final chance for evil to triumph. The hero is also at the peak of their powers. A happy ending is within sight, should they succeed.

Vogler calls the resurrection stage the hero’s “final exam.” They must draw on everything they have learned and prove again that they have really internalized the lessons of the ordeal . Near-death escapes are not uncommon here, or even literal deaths and resurrections.

Resurrection in The Matrix :

Despite fighting valiantly, Neo is defeated by Agent Smith and killed. But with Trinity’s help, he is resurrected, activating his full powers as The One . Isn’t it wonderful how literal The Matrix can be?

#12: Return with the Elixir

Hooray! Evil has been defeated and the hero is transformed. It’s time for the protagonist to return home in triumph, and share their hard-won prize with the ordinary world . This prize is the elixir —the object, skill, or insight that was the hero’s true reward for their journey and transformation.

Return with the Elixir in The Matrix :

Neo has defeated the agents and embraced his destiny. He returns to the simulated world of the Matrix, this time armed with god-like powers and a resolve to open humanity’s eyes to the truth.

If you’re writing your own adventure, you may be wondering: should I follow the Hero’s Journey structure?

The good news is, it’s totally up to you. Joseph Campbell conceived of the monomyth as a way to understand universal story structure, but there are many ways to outline a novel. Feel free to play around within its confines, adapt it across different media, and disrupt reader expectations. It’s like Morpheus says: “Some of these rules can be bent. Others can be broken.”

Think of the Hero’s Journey as a tool. If you’re not sure where your story should go next, it can help to refer back to the basics. From there, you’re free to choose your own adventure.

Are you prepared to write your novel? Download this free book now:

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Writing Advice & Epic Fiction

How to Write Better Heroes and Protagonists

In a sea of books and heroes… how do you write one that stands out?

How do you write a hero who is unique, unforgettable, and so addicting your readers will beg for more?

There is no “one formula” for writing truly incredible characters , but once you’ve seen the main writing techniques, crafting your heroes becomes easier and ridiculously fun .

This guide will show you how to immediately create more interesting heroes and protagonists. Let me show you how:

3 Questions to Craft Better Heroes

If you were to stop reading this blog in the next 10 seconds …then at least read this:

There are only three questions you must answer to flesh out your hero:

• What does she want?
• What will she do for it?
• How will she change over the course of your story?

That’s it. That’s all that your readers actually care about.

In the rest of this post, we’re going to see how the best authors answer these questions, but if you want to get started writing your hero now…

Get the answers to those questions and your readers will be glued to the page.

Question #1 – What Does Your Hero Want?

I don’t care if it’s a hot pocket from the break room…

…or if it’s a meat pie made by Volcano-dwelling monks who cook only in the toxic, sulfuric gas that rises from an active Caldera…

Your hero must have a powerful motivation.  The right motivation will:

• Push your Hero (and the story) forward
• Create dramatic conflict for your Hero
• Give your readers a reason to empathize with your Hero

That last one is important for readers. We’ve all felt desire. Most of us have wanted something so badly, we took a risk in going after it.

While desire leads to risk, it’s also an empowering feeling. Heroes with strong motivations are addicting to read about – even if their goals aren’t “noble and good.”

The Secret to Motivation(s)

Problem: your hero feels too “one-dimensional.”

Here’s a trick that will turn her into a complex person (I say trick, but really this is a healthy strategy for writing any main character)…

Give your hero multiple motivations with varying degrees of importance and immediacy. These goals can do many things:

• Tempt and distract your hero
• Guide them toward their main goal
• Or simply sit in the background, to flesh out your hero more

For example, Frodo seeks to destroy the ring…

…but along his journey, he may also wish for a soft bed, and a fresh-cooked meal to warm his hobbit belly.

How does this make Frodo a more engaging hero?  Everyone wants to save Middle Earth.

But Frodo, despite his small and hobbity ways, is the only one who actually steps up to the challenge. The strength of his motivation reveals the golden core of his character by showing us what other desires he’s willing to sacrifice.

Want to develop instantly fascinating characters? This book is for you:

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Find the Conflict between Desires

I recently read a novel called The Goblin Emperor (which you will adore if you enjoy courts and intrigue, dangerous power plays, and a good person turning into a great leader).

First chapter spoilers ahead.

Maia is an inconsequential heir to the throne, trapped by circumstance. childhood is overshadowed by a man who is supposed to be his friend and mentor but instead takes every opportunity to torment Maia…

…that is until Maia finds himself suddenly thrust into a position of power.

Now, his old “mentor” must beg Maia to be admitted into the court.

Our hero has two choices:

• Take revenge and refuse his mentor…
• …or be the better man, and make use of this old mentor.

Conflicting desires like this demand attention. They force your reader to ask questions, and therefore, remain gripped by the story:

• What are the consequences?
• What are the benefits of each choice?
• What will the consequences of his choice be?

It’s like throwing a gallon of gasoline on the fire. Motivations that conflict create a drastic amount of internal tension that cut quickly to the core of your hero. These are opportunities for you to show how noble (or ignoble) your hero is.

Here’s a MUCH more in-depth guide on writing characters with multiple motivations.

A Quick Guide to Villains and Other Obstacles

Your villain should be as developed as your hero.

To write deeply complex and engaging villains, remember the three questions:

• What do they want?
• What will they do to get it?
• How do they change (or refuse to change)?

One nice thing about writing villains:

They don’t have to be bound by heroism. Villains can range from “heroes on the other side…” to misguided souls trying to do the right thing… or they can be outright vile.

In most cases, your villain should stand in the way of your Hero. A compelling villain not only keeps us grounded in the story, it also gives us another character to get addicted to.

Most importantly, your villain’s actions will work to expose the flaws and shortcomings of your hero in the most targeted way.

Certain villains actually help your hero grow… by hitting them where it hurts most.

Not Every Story Needs a Villain, but…

…a hero without obstacles is no hero at all.

A great hero sharpens themselves on conflict. Look at the plot structure of the Hero’s Journey . The obstacles are designed to allow the hero to surge ahead in strength, both in mind and body.

Use your world and it’s various denizens to keep your hero from getting what they want. The obstacles that naturally arise will sharpen your hero, and prove to your readers how dedicated your hero is to their main goal.

Unless you’re writing a tragic hero… then the obstacles should erode them or shatter their goals.

Question #2 – What Will Your Hero Do?

Does the world happen to your hero?

Or does your hero happen to it ?

Once a hero knows what they want, they act on it. High-agency heroes are far more engaging than characters who sit around and wish while the world wanders moves on.

My favorite theory on character agency comes from the Writing Excuses episode on Character Proactivity .  Here’s a short version of the theory:

• Every character has an agency “lever.”
• Move that lever, and your character will attempt more (or fewer 0actions to reach their goal.
• Most characters start or stay at different levels of agency.
• Your hero’s agency will probably change over the course of the story.

Captain Kirk from Star Trek and  Leslie Knope from Parks and Recreation are both extremely active characters.

Both heroes always…

• have a plan
• are thinking of a plan
• Are in the middle of watching a plan fail… miserably.

Sometimes, they lose hope. Their agency drops… they realize trying is hopeless.  But here is the key moment where we fall in love with them:  they don’t  do  hopeless. Neither Leslie nor Kirk every stay down.

This gives us something to cheer for. It gives us hope, and it keeps us turning the pages to find out  will they figure something out?

Speaking of things readers love…

Create “Instant Likeability”

Not every hero must be sympathetic…

However, if you want your readers to fall in love with your Heros, give them some likable traits. Yes , even the grimmest, gloomiest anti-heroes should have redeeming qualities.

Check out these  26 ways to create instant sympathy with your hero .

That list includes actions like…

• Your “pet the dog” moment
• The unexpected brush of kindness
• How to make your hero a “light in the dark.”

Remember What They Used to Do

Where did your hero start?

Under the stairs, in a broom cupboard…

Tied to a wooden post in the middle of a thunderstorm…

In a medical laboratory, bitten by a radioactive spider…

Without a backstory, you are asking your characters to appear, fully formed, from the aether. Forgive the crude analogy – that’s like telling someone to give birth to themself.

How Much Backstory Should You Write?

This is a two-part answer.

As the writer, you only need to know enough to tell the emotional core of your story. That’s it.

You can (and probably should) write more, but don’t get infected by worldbuilder’s disease . That’s where you get stuck writing backstory forever, and never actually write your story.

Don’t include all of the hero’s backstory in one book.

In fact, I would show hardly any of it.

To write an amazing backstory for your hero , you must only show just the tip of the iceberg.

By dropping hints and leaving references to your characters past, you can hint at a much larger (and fuller) history… without having to plant infodumps all over your story.

Remember: your most powerful tool is the reader’s imagination.

Don’t explain every detail of the iceberg. Show them the tip, and let them imagine that massive, creaking mountain of ice lurking below the water.

How to Create a Defining Moment

What are the most emotional moments in your hero’s life?

We call these “defining moments,” because they define the way your Hero interacts with the world.

Defining moments are the scars or the precious memories they keep secret from everyone else.

Here are some questions to get you started:

• When were they betrayed? What did they feel?
• What was a time they were overcome with joy?
• What was the most hope-filled moment of their life?
• The most desperate?
• Who can make them cry the hardest?

If nothing else, understanding a handful of your hero’s defining moments will allow you to get closer to the character, and figure out what makes them tick.

How to Hear Your Hero’s Voice

This is one of the most frustrating things I see from amateur writers – and even a fair number of bestselling authors.

Your characters should not sound like clones of each other.

Is your character’s voice unique?

• Isolate all lines of dialogue
• Remove all dialogue tags (he said, she said)
• Can you tell who is saying which lines?

It’s especially important to have a unique, engaging voice for your protagonist , because we’re probably going to hear them the most.

Writing tip:  this might sound crazy, but… sometimes you need to find a quiet place to sit down and have a conversation with your character. This article explains how your character’s voice is expressed in two main ways:

External Expression

• Language/Dialect
• Word choice and sentence structure
• Tone and body language

Internal Expression

• What are they thinking?
• What emotions do they feel?
• What kind of lies to they tell themselves?

Character voice get really interesting when we watch their feelings, lies, and motivations transform over the course of your story…

Question #3 – How Does Your Hero Change?

Every story is a journey. Sometimes, the destination changes. Sometimes, the hero never makes it to the destination at all.

No matter what, your hero should also make a personal journey – one that involves a deep, resounding, internal change.

• Most heroes will grow, or make some grand discovery about themselves.
• Tragic heroes will change for the worse.
• Even static, iconic heroes (think Thor, James Bond, or Sherlock Holmes) go through character arcs in every story… with the caveat that these character arcs reset at the beginning of every story.

What kind of changes will they make? What should happen to your heroes?

Let’s start with your hero’s imperfections:

Flaws that Beg for Growth

No character is perfect…

…and if they are, your readers probably hate them.

Flaws are critical for creating a believable (and empathetic) hero. Without flaws, your character has no ability to grow.

Heroes who can recognize their flaws – and attempt to overcome or compensate for them – are extremely attractive. Why? Because everyone knows they need to improve themselves. Doing it is the hard part. So when we see someone (even a fictional character) finding ways to improve, we feel inspired.

You can break down character flaws into three main categories:

• Psychological
• Ideological or Moral

Note: Ideological flaws tend to be the most difficult to overcome. Anti-heroes are often embroiled in a conflict because of their ideological flaws.

Another note: Physical flaws are one of the easiest ways to get readers fall in love with your character, because everybody loves an underdog.

What Should Your Arc Look Like?

Character arcs are a massive topic because there are so many directions you can go. While I will try my my best to guide you in this small section, I want to strongly suggest you check out K. M. Weiland’s book, Creating Character Arcs . Or, check out her Character Arc article here .

Both are excellent resources that will help you internalize the “Arc-ing” process until you can start creating your own arcs from scratch.

OK, here’s the quick overview:

There are three basic character arcs:

• Growth – a character metamorphosizes into a hero capable of overcoming the central conflict
• Flat – internally, the character changes very little (or not at all). This arc revolves around external realizations that change the course of the story – but not the course of the Hero.
• Fall – You can see this as the reverse of the hrowth arc. Instead of improving, the hero deteriorates, and succumbs to the central conflict.

Your hero will likely dip into all of these arcs at some point in your story, but the determining factor is where their arc ends.

Which Character arc should you choose?

I usually start by looking at my character’s motivation:

• What do they think they need?
• What does your hero actually need?

Most characters (and pretty much every living person) are in a state of ignorance – or denial – about something they need.

Generally, a changing arc will revolve around that character discovering… or refusing to accept what really matters.

Example: Scrooge from A Christmas Carol thinks he only cares about money. It takes several nights of near-death hallucinations to help him realize there is something far more important than money…

The Truth about Character Relationships

Relationships are never a static entity. Every relationship should go through it’s own arc (though you don’t need to explicitly write it down).

Instead, as your Hero progresses through their journey…

As they learn, and grow…

Remember to let their personal changes affect the ones closest to them.

When Frodo returns to the Shire, he realizes he can no longer live in the carefree world of the Hobbits. He has to leave his old life, and Samwise, behind.

It’s Addicting to Watch Relationships Grow.

As your character progresses through their arc, the relationships with their friends, allies, and enemies should change.

Relationships are ripe with conflict, unexpected dialogue, and emotionally charged moments.

If your hero is also your protagonist, then her relationships – and especially the change in her relationships – will keep your readers glued to your story.

Want to get your audience addicted?

Create an enthralling hero.

You don’t need a master’s degree in creative writing to write an addicting hero. There are only a few things you need to get right…

• What will they do?
• How will they change?

With these questions, you will be able to craft the kind of hero (or anti-hero) that will inspire your readers…

…and make them beg you for sequels.

What is your process for writing heroes? Do you have any tips or tricks that I didn’t mention in this post?

More Articles

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How to Write High Agency Characters

6 thoughts on “how to write better heroes and protagonists”.

Having your protagonist fail but continue to try is essential. This is something many new writers overlook.

Thanks for writing this! It’s certainly a full article! I thought a strong motivation was only needed in the hero’s story… and I write romance, so I didn’t think I’d have to worry about it. I’m learning (through rejections… and the pleasure of reading my genre) that a powerful motivation is key in every good story (romance too! who knew?). I need to figure out my protagonist’s strong motivator and backstory. I need him to come alive. Become likeable. 🙂 Great article! Thanks!

tanks for this write up am having issues creating a voice for my hero in my write up which is driving me nut

I’ve written an article here about crafting your character’s distinct voice: https://pshoffman.com/blog/how-to-write-unique-character-voices/

It’s easier than you think. The key is to focus on a few unique aspects of their dialogue, and not to over-exaggerate it. Read the link above for more thoughts =)

Thanks for this article! Very helpful. My main character is too motivated (and rather dark, like The Punisher) when you first meet him. His growth arc needs quite a bit of work. I could either have him hit a big disappointment or failure and lose his sense of purpose/motivation, then journey towards recovery, or I need to dampen the fire in his belly and have it emerge throught his trials. Not sure what to do yet. Also, he isn’t that likeable as, at the moment, he is all about retribution!

Sounds like you have a great foundation for a character, DL. Without having read your story, I’d still go with the first option. Having your main character smack into a huge pitfall (disappointment, failure, or a twist that turns his world upside down) could lead to a vastly more interesting journey, because he’s already at maximum investment (and therefore, so is the reader)–so the pitfall only heightens the stakes. I probably wouldn’t pull back on the very thing that makes your character so interesting from page one. I’d rather grip the reader right out of the gate, and keep them hooked, instead of trusting that the reader will “just stick with the story” while you build up your character’s investment.

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The Hero’s Journey Ultimate Writing Guide with Examples

by Alex Cabal

What do Star Wars , The Hobbit , and Harry Potter have in common? They’re all examples of a story archetype as old as time. You’ll see this universal narrative structure in books, films, and even video games.

This ultimate Hero’s Journey writing guide will define and explore all quintessential elements of the Hero’s Journey—character archetypes, themes, symbolism, the three act structure, as well as 12 stages of the Hero’s Journey. We’ll even provide a downloadable plot template, tips for writing the Hero’s Journey, and writing prompts to get the creative juices flowing.

What is the Hero’s Journey?

The Hero’s Journey is a universal story structure that follows the personal metamorphosis and psychological development of a protagonist on a heroic adventure. The protagonist goes through a series of stages to overcome adversity and complete a quest to attain an ultimate reward—whether that’s something tangible, like the holy grail, or something internal, like self confidence.

In the process of self-discovery, the archetypal Hero’s Journey is typically cyclical; it begins and ends in the same place (Think Frodo leaving and then returning to the Shire). After the epic quest or adventure has been completed by overcoming adversity and conflict—both physical and mental—the hero arrives where they once began, changed in some as they rose to meet the ultimate conflict or ordeal of the quest.

Joseph Campbell and Christopher Vogler

The Hero’s Journey has a long history of conversation around the form and its uses, with notable contributors including Joseph Campbell and the screenwriter Christopher Vogler , who later revised the steps of the Hero’s Journey.

Joseph Campbell’s “monomyth” framework is the traditional story structure of the Hero’s Journey archetype. Campbell developed it through analysis of ancient myths, folktales, and religious stories. It generally follows three acts in a cyclical, rather than a linear, way: a hero embarks on a journey, faces a crisis, and then returns home transformed and victorious.

Campbell’s ideation of the monomyth in his book The Hero With a Thousand Faces was influenced by Carl Jung’s perspective of psychology and models of self-transformation , where the Hero’s Journey is a path of transformation to a higher self, psychological healing, and spiritual growth.

While Campbell’s original take on the monomyth included 17 steps within the three acts, Christopher Vogler, in his book The Writer’s Journey , refined those 17 steps into 12 stages—the common formula for the modern structure many writers use today.

It’s also worth checking out Maureen Murdock’s work on the archetype, “The Heroine’s Journey.” This takes a look at the female Hero’s Journey, which examines the traditionally masculine journey through a feminist lens.

Hero’s Journey diagram: acts, steps, and stages

Below, you can see the way Volger’s Hero’s Journey is broken into twelve story beats across three acts.

Why is the Hero’s Journey so popular?

The structure of the Hero’s Journey appears in many of our most beloved classic stories, and it continues to resonate over time because it explores the concept of personal transformation and growth through both physical and mental trials and tribulations. In some sense, every individual in this mythic structure experiences rites of passage, the search for home and the true authentic self, which is mirrored in a protagonist’s journey of overcoming obstacles while seeking to fulfill a goal.

Additionally, the Hero’s Journey typically includes commonly shared symbols and aspects of the human psyche—the trickster, the mother, the child, etc. These archetypes play a role in creating a story that the reader can recognize from similar dynamics in their own relationships, experiences, and familiar world. Archetypes allow the writer to use these “metaphorical truths”—a playful deceiver, a maternal bond, a person of innocence and purity—to deeply and empathetically connect with the reader through symbolism. That’s why they continue to appear in countless stories all around the world.

Hero’s Journey character archetypes

Character archetypes are literary devices based on a set of qualities that are easy for a reader to identify, empathize with, and understand, as these qualities and traits are common to the human experience.

It should be noted that character archetypes are not stereotypes . While stereotypes are oversimplifications of demographics or personality traits, an archetype is a symbol of a universal type of character that can be recognized either in one’s self or in others in real life.

The following archetypes are commonly used in a Hero’s Journey:

The hero is typically the protagonist or principal point-of-view character within a story. The hero transforms—internally, externally, often both—while on their journey as they experience tests and trials and are aided or hindered by the other archetypes they encounter. In general, the hero must rise to the challenge and at some point make an act of sacrifice for the ultimate greater good. In this way, the Hero’s Journey represents the reader’s own everyday battles and their power to overcome them.

Heroes may be willing or unwilling. Some can be downright unheroic to begin with. Antiheroes are notably flawed characters that must grow significantly before they achieve the status of true hero.

The mentor often possesses divine wisdom or direct experience with the special world, and has faith in the hero. They often give the hero a gift or supernatural aid, which is usually something important for the quest: either a weapon to destroy a monster, or a talisman to enlighten the hero. The mentor may also directly aid the hero or present challenges to them that force internal or external growth. After their meeting, the hero leaves stronger and better prepared for the road ahead.

The herald is the “call to adventure.” They announce the coming of significant change and become the reason the hero ventures out onto a mysterious adventure. The herald is a catalyst that enters the story and makes it impossible for the hero to remain in status quo. Existing in the form of a person or an event, or sometimes just as information, they shift the hero’s balance and change their world.

The Threshold Guardian

This archetype guards the first threshold—the major turning point of the story where the hero must make the true commitment of the journey and embark on their quest to achieve their destiny. Threshold guardians spice up the story by providing obstacles the hero must overcome, but they’re usually not the main antagonist.

The role of the threshold guardian is to help round out the hero along their journey. The threshold guardian will test the hero’s determination and commitment and will drive them forward as the hero enters the next stage of their journey, assisting the development of the hero’s character arc within the plot. The threshold guardian can be a friend who doesn’t believe in the hero’s quest, or a foe that makes the hero question themselves, their desires, or motives in an attempt to deter the hero from their journey. Ultimately, the role of the threshold guardian is to test the hero’s resolve on their quest.

The Shape Shifter

The shape shifter adds dramatic tension to the story and provides the hero with a puzzle to solve. They can seem to be one thing, but in fact be something else. They bring doubt and suspense to the story and test the hero’s ability to discern their path. The shape shifter may be a lover, friend, ally, or enemy that somehow reveals their true self from the hero’s preconceived notion. This often causes the hero internal turmoil, or creates additional challenges and tests to overcome.

The shadow is the “monster under the bed,” and could be repressed feelings, deep trauma, or festering guilt. These all possess the dark energy of the shadow. It is the dark force of the unexpressed, unrealized, rejected, feared aspects of the hero and is often, but not necessarily, represented by the main antagonist or villain.

However, other characters may take the form of the shadow at different stages of the story as “foil characters” that contrast against the hero. They might also represent what could happen if the hero fails to learn, transform, and grow to complete their quest. At times, a hero may even succumb to the shadow, from which they will need to make sacrifices to be redeemed to continue on their overall quest.

The Trickster

The trickster is the jester or fool of the story that not only provides comic relief, but may also act as a commentator as the events of the plot unfold. Tricksters are typically witty, clever, spontaneous, and sometimes even ridiculous. The trickster within a story can bring a light-hearted element to a challenge, or find a clever way to overcome an obstacle.

Hero’s Journey themes and symbols

Alongside character archetypes, there are also archetypes for settings, situations, and symbolic items that can offer meaning to the world within the story or support your story’s theme.

Archetypes of themes, symbols, and situations represent shared patterns of human existence. This familiarity can provide the reader insight into the deeper meaning of a story without the writer needing to explicitly tell them. There are a great number of archetypes and symbols that can be used to reinforce a theme. Some that are common to the Hero’s Journey include:

Situational archetypes

Light vs. dark and the battle of good vs. evil

Death, rebirth, and transformation in the cycle of life

Nature vs. technology, and the evolution of humanity

Rags to riches or vice versa, as commentary on the material world and social status

Wisdom vs. knowledge and innocence vs. experience, in the understanding of intuition and learned experience

Setting archetypes

Gardens may represent the taming of nature, or living in harmony with nature.

Forests may represent reconnection with nature or wildness, or the fear of the unknown.

Cities or small towns may represent humanity at its best and at its worst. A small town may offer comfort and rest, while simultaneously offering judgment; a city may represent danger while simultaneously championing diversity of ideas, beings, and cultures.

Water and fire within a landscape may represent danger, change, purification, and cleansing.

Symbolic items

Items of the past self. These items are generally tokens from home that remind the hero of where they came from and who or what they’re fighting for.

Gifts to the hero. These items may be given to the hero from a mentor, ally, or even a minor character they meet along the way. These items are typically hero talismans, and may or may not be magical, but will aid the hero on their journey.

Found items. These items are typically found along the journey and represent some sort of growth or change within the hero. After all, the hero would never have found the item had they not left their everyday life behind. These items may immediately seem unimportant, but often carry great significance.

Earned rewards. These items are generally earned by overcoming a test or trial, and often represent growth, or give aid in future trials, tests, and conflicts.

The three act structure of the Hero’s Journey

The structure of the Hero’s Journey, including all 12 steps, can be grouped into three stages that encompass each phase of the journey. These acts follow the the external and internal arc of the hero—the beginning, the initiation and transformation, and the return home.

Act One: Departure (Steps 1—5)

The first act introduces the hero within the ordinary world, as they are—original and untransformed. The first act will typically include the first five steps of the Hero’s Journey.

This section allows the writer to set the stage with details that show who the hero is before their metamorphosis—what is the environment of the ordinary world? What’s important to the hero? Why do they first refuse the call, and then, why do they ultimately accept and embark on the journey to meet with the conflict?

This stage introduces the first major plot point of the story, explores the conflict the hero confronts, and provides the opportunity for characterization for the hero and their companions.

The end of the first act generally occurs when the hero has fully committed to the journey and crossed the threshold of the ordinary world—where there is no turning back.

Act Two: Initiation (Steps 6—9)

Once the hero begins their journey, the second act marks the beginning of their true initiation into the unfamiliar world—they have crossed the threshold, and through this choice, have undergone their first transformation.

The second act is generally the longest of the three and includes steps six through nine.

In this act, the hero meets most of the characters that will be pivotal to the plot, including friends, enemies, and allies. It offers the rising action and other minor plot points related to the overarching conflict. The hero will overcome various trials, grow and transform, and navigate subplots—the additional and unforeseen complexity of the conflict.

This act generally ends when the hero has risen to the challenge to overcome the ordeal and receives their reward. At the end of this act, it’s common for the theme and moral of the story to be fully unveiled.

Act Three: Return (Steps 10—12)

The final stage typically includes steps 10—12, generally beginning with the road back—the point in the story where the hero must recommit to the journey and use all of the growth, transformation, gifts and tools acquired along the journey to bring a decisive victory against their final conflict.

From this event, the hero will also be “reborn,” either literally or metaphorically, and then beginning anew as a self-actualized being, equipped with internal knowledge about themselves, external knowledge about the world, and experience.

At the end of the third act, the hero returns home to the ordinary world, bringing back the gifts they earned on their journey. In the final passages, both the hero and their perception of the ordinary world are compared with what they once were.

The 12 steps of the Hero’s Journey

The following guide outlines the 12 steps of the Hero’s Journey and represents a framework for the creation of a Hero’s Journey story template. You don’t necessarily need to follow the explicit cadence of these steps in your own writing, but they should act as checkpoints to the overall story.

We’ll also use JRR Tolkien’s The Hobbit as a literary example for each of these steps. The Hobbit does an exemplary job of following the Hero’s Journey, and it’s also an example of how checkpoints can exist in more than one place in a story, or how they may deviate from the typical 12-step process of the Hero’s Journey.

1. The Ordinary World

This stage in the Hero’s Journey is all about exposition. This introduces the hero’s backstory—who the hero is, where they come from, their worldview, culture, and so on. This offers the reader a chance to relate to the character in their untransformed form.

As the story and character arc develop, the reader is brought along the journey of transformation. By starting at the beginning, a reader has a basic understanding of what drives the hero, so they can understand why the hero makes the choices they do. The ordinary world shows the protagonist in their comfort zone, with their worldview being limited to the perspective of their everyday life.

Characters in the ordinary world may or may not be fully comfortable or satisfied, but they don’t have a point of reference to compare—they have yet to leave the ordinary world to gain the knowledge to do so.

Step One example

The Hobbit begins by introducing Bilbo in the Shire as a respectable and well-to-do member of the community. His ordinary world is utopian and comfortable. Yet, even within a village that is largely uninterested in the concerns of the world outside, the reader is provided a backstory: even though Bilbo buys into the comforts and normalcy of the Shire, he still yearns for adventure—something his neighbors frown upon. This ordinary world of the Shire is disrupted with the introduction of Gandalf—the “mentor”—who is somewhat uncomfortably invited to tea.

2. Call to Adventure

The call to adventure in the Hero’s Journey structure is the initial internal conflict that the protagonist hero faces, that drives them to the true conflict that they must overcome by the end of their journey.

The call occurs within the known world of the character. Here the writer can build on the characterization of the protagonist by detailing how they respond to the initial call. Are they hesitant, eager, excited, refusing, or willing to take a risk?

Step Two example

Bilbo’s call to adventure takes place at tea as the dwarves leisurely enter his home, followed by Gandalf, who identifies Bilbo as the group’s missing element—the burglar, and the lucky 14th member.

Bilbo and his ordinary world are emphasized by his discomfort with his rambunctious and careless guests. Yet as the dwarves sing stories of old adventures, caverns, and lineages, which introduce and foreshadow the conflict to come, a yearning for adventure is stirred. Though he still clings to his ordinary world and his life in the Shire, he’s conflicted. Should he leave the shire and experience the world, or stay in his comfortable home? Bilbo continues to refuse the call, but with mixed feelings.

3. Refusal of the Call

The refusal of the call in the Hero’s Journey showcases a “clinging” to one’s original self or world view. The initial refusal of the call represents a fear of change, as well as a resistance to the internal transformation that will occur after the adventure has begun.

The refusal reveals the risks that the protagonist faces if they were to answer the call, and shows what they’ll leave behind in the ordinary world once they accept.

The refusal of the call creates tension in the story, and should show the personal reasons why the hero is refusing—inner conflict, fear of change, hesitation, insecurity, etc. This helps make their character clearer for the reader.

These are all emotions a reader can relate to, and in presenting them through the hero, the writer deepens the reader’s relationship with them and helps the reader sympathize with the hero’s internal plight as they take the first step of transformation.

Step Three example

Bilbo refuses the call in his first encounter with Gandalf, and in his reaction to the dwarves during tea. Even though Bilbo’s “Tookish” tendencies make him yearn for adventure, he goes to bed that night still refusing the call. The next morning, as Bilbo awakes to an empty and almost fully clean hobbit home, he feels a slight disappointment for not joining the party, but quickly soothes his concerns by enjoying the comfort of his home—i.e. the ordinary world. Bilbo explores his hesitation to disembark from the ordinary world, questioning why a hobbit would become mixed up in the adventures of others, and choosing not to meet the dwarves at the designated location.

4. Meeting the Mentor

Meeting the mentor in the Hero’s Journey is the stage that provides the hero protagonist with a guide, relationship, and/or informational asset that has experience outside the ordinary world. The mentor offers confidence, advice, wisdom, training, insight, tools, items, or gifts of supernatural wonder that the hero will use along the journey and in overcoming the ultimate conflict.

The mentor often represents someone who has attempted to overcome, or actually has overcome, an obstacle, and encourages the hero to pursue their calling, regardless of the hero’s weaknesses or insecurities. The mentor may also explicitly point out the hero’s weaknesses, forcing them to reckon with and accept them, which is the first step to their personal transformation.

Note that not all mentors need to be a character . They can also be objects or knowledge that has been instilled in the hero somehow—cultural ethics, spiritual guidance, training of a particular skill, a map, book, diary, or object that illuminates the path forward, etc. In essence, the mentor character or object has a role in offering the protagonist outside help and guidance along the Hero’s Journey, and plays a key role in the protagonist’s transition from normalcy to heroism.

The mentor figure also offers the writer the opportunity to incorporate new information by expanding upon the story, plot, or backstory in unique ways. They do this by giving the hero information that would otherwise be difficult for the writer to convey naturally.

The mentor may accompany the hero throughout most of the story, or they may only periodically be included to facilitate changes and transformation within them.

Step Four example

The mentor, Gandalf, is introduced almost immediately. Gandalf is shown to be the mentor, firstly through his arrival from—and wisdom of—the outside world; and secondly, through his selection of Bilbo for the dwarven party by identifying the unique characteristics Bilbo has that are essential to overcoming the challenges in the journey. Gandalf doesn’t accompany Bilbo and the company through all of the trials and tribulations of the plot, but he does play a key role in offering guidance and assistance, and saves the group in times of dire peril.

5. Crossing the Threshold

As the hero crosses the first threshold, they begin their personal quest toward self-transformation. Crossing the threshold means that the character has committed to the journey, and has stepped outside of the ordinary world in the pursuit of their goal. This typically marks the conclusion of the first act.

The threshold lies between the ordinary world and the special world, and marks the point of the story where the hero fully commits to the road ahead. It’s a crucial stage in the Hero’s Journey, as the hero wouldn’t be able to grow and transform by staying in the ordinary world where they’re comfortable and their world view can’t change.

The threshold isn’t necessarily a specific place within the world of the story, though a place can symbolize the threshold—for example a border, gateway, or crossroads that separate what is safe and “known” from what is potentially dangerous. It can also be a moment or experience that causes the hero to recognize that the comforts and routine of their world no longer apply—like the loss of someone or something close to the hero, for example. The purpose of the threshold is to take the hero out of their element and force them, and the reader, to adapt from the known to the unknown.

This moment is crucial to the story’s tension. It marks the first true shift in the character arc and the moment the adventure has truly begun. The threshold commonly forces the hero into a situation where there’s no turning back. This is sometimes called the initiation stage or the departure stage.

Step Five example

The threshold moment in The Hobbit occurs when the party experiences true danger as a group for the first time. Bilbo, voted as scout by the party and eager to prove his burglar abilities, sneaks upon a lone fire in the forest where he finds three large trolls. Rather than turn back empty-handed—as he initially wants to—Bilbo chooses to prove himself, plucking up the courage to pickpocket the trolls—but is caught in the process. The dwarves are also captured and fortunately, Gandalf, the mentor, comes to save the party.

Bilbo’s character arc is solidified in this threshold moment. He experiences his first transformation when he casts aside fear and seeks to prove himself as a burglar, and as an official member of the party. This moment also provides further characterization of the party as a whole, proving the loyalty of the group in seeking out their captured member.

Gandalf’s position as the mentor is also firmly established as he returns to ultimately save all of the members of the party from being eaten by trolls. The chapter ends with Bilbo taking ownership of his first hero talisman—the sword that will accompany him through the rest of the adventure.

6. Tests, Allies, Enemies

Once the hero has crossed the threshold, they must now encounter tests of courage, make allies, and inevitably confront enemies. All these elements force the hero to learn the new ways of the special world and how it differs from the hero’s ordinary world—i.e. how the rules have changed, the conditions of the special world vs. the ordinary world, and the various beings and places within it.

All these elements spark stages of transformation within the hero—learning who they can trust and who they can’t, learning new skills, seeking training from the mentor, and overcoming challenges that force and drive them to grow and transform.

The hero may both succeed and fail at various points of this stage, which will test their commitment to the journey. The writer can create tension by making it clear that the hero may or may not succeed at the critical moment of crisis. These crises can be external or internal.

External conflicts are issues that the character must face and overcome within the plot—e.g. the enemy has a sword drawn and the hero must fight to survive.

Internal conflicts occur inside the hero. For example, the hero has reached safety, but their ally is in peril; will they step outside their comfort zone and rise to the occasion and save their friend? Or will they return home to their old life and the safety of the ordinary world?

Tests are conflicts and threats that the hero must face before they reach the true conflict, or ordeal, of the story. These tests set the stage and prime the hero to meet and achieve the ultimate goal. They provide the writer the opportunity to further the character development of the hero through their actions, inactions, and reactions to what they encounter. The various challenges they face will teach them valuable lessons, as well as keep the story compelling and the reader engaged.

Allies represent the characters that offer support to the protagonist along the journey. Some allies may be introduced from the beginning, while others may be gained along the journey. Secondary characters and allies provide additional nuance for the hero, through interactions, events, and relationships that further show who the hero is at heart, what they believe in, and what they’re willing to fight for. The role of the allies is to bring hope, inspiration, and further drive the hero to do what needs to be done.

Enemies represent a foil to the allies. While allies bring hope and inspiration, enemies will provide challenges, conflicts, tests, and challenges. Both allies and enemies may instigate transformative growth, but enemies do so in a way that fosters conflict and struggle.

Characterization of enemies can also enhance the development of the hero through how they interact and the lessons learned through those interactions. Is the hero easily duped, forgiving, empathetic, merciful? Do they hold a grudge and seek revenge? Who is the hero now that they have been harmed, faced an enemy, and lost pieces of their innocent worldview? To answer that, the hero is still transforming and gestating with every lesson, test, and enemy faced along the way.

Step Six example

As the plot of The Hobbit carries on, Bilbo encounters many tests, allies, and enemies that all drive complexity in the story. A few examples include:

The first major obstacle that Bilbo faces occurs within the dark and damp cave hidden in the goblin town. All alone, Bilbo must pluck up the wit and courage to outriddle a creature named Gollum. In doing so, Bilbo discovers the secret power of a golden ring (another hero talisman) that will aid him and the party through the rest of the journey.

The elves encountered after Bilbo “crosses the threshold” are presented as allies in the story. The hero receives gifts of food, a safe place to rest, and insight and guidance that allows the party to continue on their journey. While the party doesn’t dwell long with the elves, the elves also provide further character development for the party at large: the serious dwarf personalities are juxtaposed against the playful elvish ones, and the elves offer valuable historical insight with backstory to the weapons the party gathered from the troll encounter.

Goblins are a recurring enemy within the story that the hero and party must continue to face, fight, and run from. The goblins present consistent challenges that force Bilbo to face fear and learn and adapt, not only to survive but to save his friends.

7. Approach to the Inmost Cave

The approach to the inmost cave of the Hero’s Journey is the tense quiet before the storm; it’s the part of the story right before the hero faces their greatest fear, and it can be positioned in a few different ways. By now, the hero has overcome obstacles, setbacks, and tests, gained and lost allies and enemies, and has transformed in some way from the original protagonist first introduced in the ordinary world.

The moment when the hero approaches the inmost cave can be a moment of reflection, reorganization, and rekindling of morale. It presents an opportunity for the main characters of the story to come together in a moment of empathy for losses along the journey; a moment of planning and plotting next steps; an opportunity for the mentor to teach a final lesson to the hero; or a moment for the hero to sit quietly and reflect upon surmounting the challenge they have been journeying toward for the length of their adventure.

The “cave” may or may not be a physical place where the ultimate ordeal and conflict will occur. The approach represents the momentary period where the hero assumes their final preparation for the overall challenge that must be overcome. It’s a time for the hero and their allies, as well as the reader, to pause and reflect on the events of the story that have already occurred, and to consider the internal and external growth and transformation of the hero.

Having gained physical and/or emotional strength and fortitude through their trials and tests, learned more rules about the special world, found and lost allies and friends, is the hero prepared to face danger and their ultimate foe? Reflection, tension, and anticipation are the key elements of crafting the approach to the cave.

Step Seven example

The approach to the cave in The Hobbit occurs as the party enters the tunnel of the Lonely Mountain. The tunnel is the access point to the ultimate goal—Thorin’s familial treasure, as well as the ultimate test—the formidable dragon Smaug. During this part of the story, the party must hide, plot, and plan their approach to the final conflict. It’s at this time that Bilbo realizes he must go alone to scout out and face the dragon.

8. The Ordeal

The ordeal is the foreshadowed conflict that the hero must face, and represents the midpoint of the story. While the ordeal is the ultimate conflict that the hero knows they must overcome, it’s a false climax to the complete story—there’s still much ground to cover in the journey, and the hero will still be tested after completing this, the greatest challenge. In writing the ordeal phase of the Hero’s Journey, the writer should craft this as if it actually were the climax to the tale, even though it isn’t.

The first act, and the beginning of the second act, have built up to the ordeal with characterization and the transformation of the hero through their overcoming tests and trials. This growth—both internal and external—has all occurred to set the hero up to handle this major ordeal.

As this stage commences, the hero is typically faced with fresh challenges to make the ordeal even more difficult than they previously conceived. This may include additional setbacks for the hero, the hero’s realization that they were misinformed about the gravity of the situation, or additional conflicts that make the ordeal seem insurmountable.

These setbacks cause the hero to confront their greatest fears and build tension for both the hero and the reader, as they both question if the hero will ultimately succeed or fail. In an epic fantasy tale, this may mean a life-or-death moment for the hero, or experiencing death through the loss of an important ally or the mentor. In a romance, it may be the moment of crisis where a relationship ends or a partner reveals their dark side or true self, causing the hero great strife.

This is the rock-bottom moment for the hero, where they lose hope, courage, and faith. At this point, even though the hero has already crossed the threshold, this part of the story shows how the hero has changed in such a way that they can never return to their original self: even if they return to the ordinary world, they’ll never be the same; their perception of the world has been modified forever.

Choosing to endure against all odds and costs to face the ordeal represents the loss of the hero’s original self from the ordinary world, and a huge internal transformation occurs within the hero as they must rise and continue forth to complete their journey and do what they set out to do from the beginning.

The ordeal may also be positioned as an introduction to the greater villain through a trial with a shadow villain, where the hero realizes that the greatest conflict is unveiled as something else, still yet to come. In these instances, the hero may fail, or barely succeed, but must learn a crucial lesson and be metaphorically resurrected through their failure to rise again and overcome the greater challenge.

Step Eight example

Bilbo must now face his ultimate challenge: burgle the treasure from the dragon. This is the challenge that was set forth from the beginning, as it’s his purpose as the party’s 14th member, the burglar, anointed by Gandalf, the mentor. Additional conflicts arise as Bilbo realizes that he must face the dragon alone, and in doing so, must rely on all of the skills and gifts in the form of talismans and tokens he has gained throughout the adventure.

During the ordeal, Bilbo uses the courage he has gained by surmounting the story’s previous trials; he’s bolstered by his loyalty to the group and relies upon the skills and tools he has earned in previous trials. Much as he outwitted Gollum in the cave, Bilbo now uses his wit as well as his magical ring to defeat Smaug in a game of riddles, which ultimately leads Smaug out of the lair so that Bilbo can complete what he was set out to do—steal the treasure.

The reward of the Hero’s Journey is a moment of triumph, celebration, or change as the hero achieves their first major victory. This is a moment of reflection for both the reader and the hero, to take a breath to contemplate and acknowledge the growth, development, and transformation that has occurred so far.

The reward is the boon that the hero learns, is granted, or steals, that will be crucial to facing the true climax of the story that is yet to come. The reward may be a physical object, special knowledge, or reconciliation of some sort, but it’s always a thing that allows for some form of celebration or replenishment and provides the drive to succeed before the journey continues.

Note that the reward may not always be overtly positive—it may also be a double-edged sword that could harm them physically or spiritually. This type of reward typically triggers yet another internal transformation within the hero, one that grants them the knowledge and personal drive to complete the journey and face their remaining challenges.

From the reward, the hero is no longer externally driven to complete the journey, but has evolved to take on the onus of doing so.

Examples of rewards may include:

A weapon, elixir, or object that will be necessary to complete the quest.

Special knowledge, or a personal transformation to use against a foe.

An eye-opening experience that provides deep insight and fundamentally changes the hero and their position within the story and world.

Reconciliation with another character, or with themselves.

No matter what the reward is, the hero should experience some emotional or spiritual revelation and a semblance of inner peace or personal resolve to continue the journey. Even if the reward is not overtly positive, the hero and the reader deserve a moment of celebration for facing the great challenge they set out to overcome.

Step Nine example

Bilbo defeats the dragon at a battle of wits and riddles, and now receives his reward. He keeps the gifts he has earned, both the dagger and the gold ring. He is also granted his slice of the treasure, and the Lonely Mountain is returned to Thorin. The party at large is rewarded for completing the quest and challenge they set out to do.

However, Tolkien writes the reward to be more complex than it first appears. The party remains trapped and hungry within the Mountain as events unfold outside of it. Laketown has been attacked by Smaug, and the defenders will want compensation for the damage to their homes and for their having to kill the dragon. Bilbo discovers, and then hides, the Arkenstone (a symbolic double edged reward) to protect it from Thorin’s selfishness and greed.

10. The Road Back

The road back in the Hero’s Journey is the beginning of the third act, and represents a turning point within the story. The hero must recommit to the journey, alongside the new stakes and challenges that have arisen from the completion of the original goal.

The road back presents roadblocks—new and unforeseen challenges to the hero that they must now face on their journey back to the ordinary world. The trials aren’t over yet, and the stakes are raised just enough to keep the story compelling before the final and ultimate conflict—the hero’s resurrection—is revealed in the middle of the third act.

The hero has overcome their greatest challenge in the Ordeal and they aren’t the same person they were when they started. This stage of the story often sees the hero making a choice, or reflecting on their transformed state compared to their state at the start of the journey.

The writer’s purpose in the third act is not to eclipse the upcoming and final conflict, but to up the stakes, show the true risk of the final climax, and to reflect on what it will take for the hero to ultimately prevail. The road back should offer a glimmer of hope—the light at the end of the tunnel—and should let the reader know the dramatic finale is about to arrive.

Step Ten example

What was once a journey to steal treasure and slay a dragon has developed new complications. Our hero, Bilbo, must now use all of the powers granted in his personal transformation, as well as the gifts and rewards he earned on the quest, to complete the final stages of the journey.

This is the crisis moment of The Hobbit ; the armies of Laketown are prepared for battle to claim their reward for killing Smaug; the fearless leader of their party, Thorin, has lost reason and succumbed to greed; and Bilbo makes a crucial choice based his personal growth: he gives the Arkenstone to the king as a bargaining chip for peace. Bilbo also briefly reconnects with the mentor, Gandalf, who warns him of the unpleasant times ahead, but comforts Bilbo by saying that things may yet turn out for the best. Bilbo then loyally returns to his friends, the party of dwarves, to stand alongside them in the final battle.

11. Resurrection

The resurrection stage of the Hero’s Journey is the final climax of the story, and the heart of the third act. By now the hero has experienced internal and external transformation and a loss of innocence, coming out with newfound knowledge. They’re fully rooted in the special world, know its rules, and have made choices that underline this new understanding.

The hero must now overcome the final crisis of their external quest. In an epic fantasy tale, this may be the last battle of light versus darkness, good versus evil, a cumulation of fabulous forces. In a thriller, the hero might ultimately face their own morality as they approach the killer. In a drama or romance, the final and pivotal encounter in a relationship occurs and the hero puts their morality ahead of their immediate desires.

The stakes are the highest they’ve ever been, and the hero must often choose to make a sacrifice. The sacrifice may occur as a metaphoric or symbolic death of the self in some way; letting go of a relationship, title, or mental/emotional image of the self that a hero once used as a critical aspect of their identity, or perhaps even a metaphoric physical death—getting knocked out or incapacitated, losing a limb, etc.

Through whatever the great sacrifice is, be it loss or a metaphoric death, the hero will experience a form of resurrection, purification, or internal cleansing that is their final internal transformation.

In this stage, the hero’s character arc comes to an end, and balance is restored to the world. The theme of the story is fully fleshed out and the hero, having reached some form of self-actualization, is forever changed. Both the reader and the hero experience catharsis—the relief, insight, peace, closure, and purging of fear that had once held the hero back from their final transformation.

Step Eleven example

All the armies have gathered, and the final battle takes place. Just before the battle commences, Bilbo tells Thorin that it was he who gave the Arkenstone to the city of men and offers to sacrifice his reward of gold for taking the stone. Gandalf, the mentor, arrives, standing beside Bilbo and his decision. Bilbo is shunned by Thorin and is asked to leave the party for his betrayal.

Bilbo experiences a symbolic death when he’s knocked out by a stone. Upon awakening, Bilbo is brought to a dying Thorin, who forgives him of his betrayal, and acknowledges that Bilbo’s actions were truly the right thing to do. The theme of the story is fully unveiled: that bravery and courage comes in all sizes and forms, and that greed and gold are less worthy than a life rich in experiences and relationships.

12. Return with the Elixir

The elixir in the Hero’s Journey is the final reward the hero brings with them on their return, bridging their two worlds. It’s a reward hard earned through the various relationships, tests, and growth the hero has experienced along their journey. The “elixir” can be a magical potion, treasure, or object, but it can also be intangible—love, wisdom, knowledge, or experience.

The return is key to the circular nature of the Hero’s Journey. It offers a resolution to both the reader and the hero, and a comparison of their growth from when the journey began.

Without the return, the story would have a linear nature, a beginning and an end. In bringing the self-actualized hero home to the ordinary world, the character arc is completed, and the changes they’ve undergone through the journey are solidified. They’ve overcome the unknown, and though they’re returning home, they can no longer resume their old life because of their new insight and experiences.

Step Twelve example

The small yet mighty hero Bilbo is accompanied on his journey home by his mentor Gandalf, as well as the allies he gathered along his journey. He returns with many rewards—his dagger, his golden ring, and his 1/14th split of the treasure—yet his greatest rewards are his experience and the friends he has made along the way. Upon entering the Shire Bilbo sings a song of adventure, and the mentor Gandalf remarks, “My dear Bilbo! Something is the matter with you, you are not the hobbit you were.”

The final pages of The Hobbit explore Bilbo’s new self in the Shire, and how the community now sees him as a changed hobbit—no longer quite as respectable as he once was, with odd guests who visit from time to time. Bilbo also composes his story “There and Back Again,” a tale of his experiences, underlining his greatest reward—stepping outside of the Shire and into the unknown, then returning home, a changed hobbit.

Books that follow the Hero’s Journey

One of the best ways to become familiar with the plot structure of the Hero’s Journey is to read stories and books that successfully use it to tell a powerful tale. Maybe they’ll inspire you to use the hero’s journey in your own writing!

The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J. R. R. Tolkien.

The Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling.

The Earthsea series by Ursula K. Le Guin.

The Odyssey by Homer.

Siddhartha by Herman Hesse.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

Writing tips for the Hero’s Journey

Writing a Hero’s Journey story often requires planning beforehand to organize the plot, structure, and events of the story. Here are some tips to use the hero’s journey archetype in a story:

Use a template or note cards to organize and store your ideas. This can assist in ensuring that you tie up any loose ends in the plot, and that the cadence of your story is already outlined before you begin writing.

Use word count goals for writing different sections of your story. This can help you keep pace while you plan and write the first draft. You can always revise, edit, and add in detail at later stages of development, but getting the ideas written without bogging them down with details can assist in preparing your outline, and may perhaps provide additional inspiration and guidance along the way.

Lean into creativity and be flexible with the 12 steps. They don’t need to occur in the exact order we’ve listed above, but that ordering can offer great checkpoint moments for your story.

Invest in characterization and ensure that your main character is balanced with credible strengths and weaknesses. A perfect, pure hero has no room to grow. A one-dimensional villain who relies on the trope of “pure evil” without any motivations for their actions is boring and predictable.

Ensure tension and urgency is woven into the story. An epic tale to the grocery store for baby formula may still be fraught with danger, and the price of failure is a hungry child. Without urgency, tension, and risk, a Hero’s Journey will fall flat.

Be hard on your characters. Give them deep conflicts that truly test their nature, and their mental, physical, and spiritual selves. An easy journey isn’t a memorable one.

Have a balance of scenes that play on both positive and negative emotions and outcomes for the hero to create a compelling plot line that continues to engage your reader. A story that’s relentlessly positive doesn’t provide a pathway for the hero to transform. Likewise, a story that’s nothing but doom, strife, and turmoil, without a light at the end of the tunnel or an opportunity for growth, can make a story feel stagnant and unengaging.

Reward your characters and your reader. Personal transformation and the road to the authentic self may be grueling, but there’s peace or joy at the end of the tunnel. Even if your character doesn’t fully saved the world, they—and the reader—should be rewarded with catharsis, a new perspective, or personal insight at the end of the tale.

Hero’s Journey templates

Download these free templates to help you plan out your Hero’s Journey:

Download the Hero’s Journey template template (docx) Download the Hero’s Journey template template (pdf)

Prompts and practices to help you write your own Hero’s Journey

Use the downloadable template listed below for the following exercises:

Read a book or watch a movie that follows the Hero’s Journey. Use the template to fill in when each step occurs or is completed. Make note of themes and symbols, character arcs, the main plot, and the subplots that drive complexity in the story.

When writing, use a timer set to 2—5 minutes per section to facilitate bursts of creativity. Brainstorm ideas for cadence, plot, and characters within the story. The outline you create can always be modified, but the timer ensures you can get ideas on paper without a commitment; you’re simply jotting down ideas as quickly as you can.

Use the downloadable template above to generate outlines based on the following prompts.

A woman’s estranged mother has died. A friend of the mother arrives at the woman’s home to tell her that her mother has left all her belongings to her daughter, and hands her a letter. The letter details the mother’s life, and the daughter must visit certain places and people to find her mother’s house and all the belongings in it—learning more about her mother’s life, and herself, along the way.

The last tree on earth has fallen, and technology can no longer sustain human life on Earth. An engineer, having long ago received alien radio signals from a tower in their backyard, has dedicated their life to building a spaceship in their garage. The time has come to launch, and the engineer must select a group of allies to bring with them to the stars, on a search for a new life, a new home, and “the others” out there in the universe.

A detective is given a new case: to find a much-talked-about murderer. The twist is, the murderer has sent a letter to the detective agency, quietly outing a homicidal politician who is up for re-election and is a major financial contributor to the police. In the letter, the murderer states that if the politician doesn’t come clean about their crimes, the murderer will kill the politician on the night of the election. The detective must solve the case before the election, and come to terms with their own feelings of justice and morality.

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Defining A Hero In Writing & Screenwriting: Evolution & Archetypes

In the realm of storytelling, a hero is the heartbeat of any gripping tale.

They’re the characters we root for, the ones whose journeys captivate us from page one.

Our heroes are more than just central figures; they embody the themes and challenges that resonate with us on a deeply human level.

They’re the engines driving the plot forward, often reflecting our own aspirations and fears.

Definition Of Hero In Writing

A hero in writing serves as the cornerstone of a compelling story.

They represent more than just a main character; they personify the journey that captivates and engages the audience.

From a screenwriting standpoint, writing a hero involves crafting a character arc that audiences can identify with and cheer for.

Heroes confront challenges and evolve, thereby echoing the human experience.

In storytelling, whether it’s film or literature, the hero often follows a path known as the hero’s journey.

This framework outlines a transformative quest that leads the hero from the ordinary world into an extraordinary one where they must overcome obstacles.

Some key aspects of the hero’s journey include:

• Departure – the hero leaves the familiar behind,
• Initiation – the hero faces trials and tribulations,
• Return – the hero comes back transformed.

Each stage of the hero’s journey offers rich opportunities for character development and thematic exploration.

Effective heroes enrich the story by embodying its themes through their decisions and growth.

They’re not flawless individuals; their imperfections are vital in creating a believable and relatable protagonist.

It is these flaws and the overcoming of them that endear heroes to our hearts.

In analyzing iconic films like The Shawshank Redemption and The Matrix , it’s clear how heroes such as Andy Dufresne and Neo capture audiences.

They start as ordinary characters but grow into extraordinary figures that symbolize hope and change.

Their victories are not just about vanquishing villains but about personal triumph and growth.

Understanding the qualities that make a hero allows us to construct narratives that resonate deeply with our viewers.

The emotional connection between the hero and the audience is the driving force behind a story’s enduring impact.

Through the hero, we see our fears, our hopes, and the potential for greatness within us all.

Heroes in writing fulfill a quintessential role by bringing a narrative to life and providing a vessel for the audience’s journey.

The Importance Of A Hero In Storytelling

We can’t emphasize enough how critical a hero is to the fabric of storytelling.

A hero serves as the emotional anchor for the audience – guiding them through the narrative and fostering a deep, relatable connection.

It’s their struggles and triumphs that inspire and resonate.

In many ways, the hero is the story.

The journey we see our heroes embark upon mirrors our own aspirations and fears.

As viewers, we’re drawn into the plot through their experiences, learning valuable lessons alongside them.

Characters like Andy Dufresne from The Shawshank Redemption and Neo from The Matrix illustrate how heroes can profoundly impact our worldview and leave a lasting impression.

Heroes inject vitality into storytelling by acting as catalysts for action.

Their choices propel the plot forward, often leading to game-changing revelations or showdowns.

When we think about the gripping dynamics of conflict and resolution, the hero’s actions are central to the ebb and flow of tension.

• Heroes create empathy,
• They drive the plot,
• Their growth reflects our own.

Our connection with the hero’s plight makes their journey our journey.

Through them, we explore complex themes of love, sacrifice, and redemption.

This exploration allows for the emergence of timeless tales that cross cultural boundaries and speak to universal human experiences.

In filmmaking, heroes aren’t just meant to entertain but also to serve as touchstones of human expression.

Our crafted stories depend on these central figures to convey messages of resilience, courage, and hope.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that heroes are the cornerstone of narrative success.

Their development, the stakes they face, and their ultimate journey not only define the plot but also ensure the story’s place in the hearts and memories of its audience.

Hence, in the stories we cherish most, the hero’s role is indispensable.

Key Characteristics Of A Hero

Heroes are not just central to the narrative in filmmaking.

They embody the qualities that audiences aspire to, making them relatable and compelling.

A hero’s journey is lined with attributes that are universally admired, and understanding these traits helps writers create characters that resonate deeply with viewers.

Bravery and courage are cornerstones of many heroic characters.

From Luke Skywalker in Star Wars to Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games, their willingness to face danger and stand up against adversity is what often makes us root for them.

These traits are essential as they set the context for the hero’s journey and the obstacles they will overcome.

Heroes usually possess a moral compass that guides their decisions.

This alignment with ethical values shapes the plot and steers their interactions with other characters.

It’s their sense of justice that often propels them into action, compelling us to invest emotionally in their story.

The capacity to grow is another defining feature.

We’ve seen Tony Stark in Iron Man transform from a self-absorbed industrialist into a selfless hero.

This evolution is critical – it allows the audience to witness character development that mirrors our own potential for change.

Heroes often have a unique skill or ability –

• Exceptional intelligence,
• Strength or agility,
• Special powers or gadgets.

These abilities differentiate them from the average person and equip them to face extraordinary challenges.

It’s this uniqueness that captures our imagination and keeps us engaged.

We recognize a hero’s resilience in the face of setbacks.

Their determination to rise again after each fall teaches us about perseverance and the human spirit.

This quality not only develops the character but also reinforces the theme of persistence throughout the narrative.

Finally, heroes often carry emotional depth .

It’s their vulnerability, love, and sacrifice that create a multi-dimensional character.

Emotions drive the hero’s motivations and anchor the audience’s connection to their journey.

Archetypes And Stereotypes Of Heroes

In exploring the depths of heroic characters, it’s crucial to understand both archetypes and stereotypes that permeate storytelling.

Archetypes serve as blueprints for characters, offering audiences a familiar framework within which heroes often operate.

The archetypes of heroes are foundational models that writers can adapt and mold.

They’re not just old tales; they resonate because they are baked into our collective consciousness.

Some of the most recognized archetypes in film and literature include:

• The Chosen One – think Luke Skywalker in Star Wars or Harry Potter,
• The Catalyst – such as Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games,
• The Anti-Hero – like Walter White in Breaking Bad,
• The Reluctant Hero – Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings personifies this type.

Conversely, stereotypes often reduce heroes to a collection of predictable and superficial traits.

They are the cookie-cutter figures that come with a clear set of expectations – a cut-out rather than a character fully fleshed out.

Stereotypes stifle creativity.

They box characters into predefined roles that lack depth and growth, offering little variation or surprise to the audience.

The hero who always wins, the muscular savior, or the damsel-saving knight are examples that have been overused to the point of becoming tropes.

But, the innovative storyteller knows how to balance archetype and stereotype.

They leverage familiar traits so that viewers have a grounding in the character yet break away from overdone tropes to craft unique, memorable heroes.

Films like The Matrix revolutionized the role of the hero by mixing archetype and stereotype.

Neo is the Chosen One, yet he also challenges the traditional views of what a savior looks like, effectively reshaping the archetype.

Making use of character archetypes doesn’t mean a writer has to fall into the trap of stereotypes.

It’s about picking the mold and then breaking it to unveil a hero that both feels familiar and refreshingly new.

Our aim is to create heroes who can inspire, shock, and move the audience in ways they never expected.

The Evolution Of Heroes In Literature

Throughout history, the concept of the hero has undergone a remarkable transformation.

From early epics like The Odyssey to modern novels and cinema, heroes have evolved to reflect the changing values and norms of society.

In ancient texts, heroes were often demigods or warriors possessing superhuman strength and courage.

These characters, like Achilles and Hercules, set the bar for heroism with their extraordinary physical prowess and noble birth.

As time progressed, the definition of a hero broadened, embracing more nuanced and complex characteristics.

The Renaissance period brought characters with a keen intellect and a strong moral compass, like Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

This shift highlighted the importance of the mind and spirit over sheer physical strength.

The Industrial Revolution later introduced heroes who combined intellect with the drive for social reform or innovation.

In the 20th century, literature pushed the boundaries even further.

Characters like Jay Gatsby from The Great Gatsby and Frodo from The Lord of the Rings presented a blend of traditional heroism with deeply flawed, relatable human traits.

The complexity of these characters allows readers to see themselves within the narrative.

Today’s heroes in literature and film often defy convention and challenge societal norms.

They embody the current era’s struggles and aspirations – from Katniss Everdeen fighting a corrupt system in The Hunger Games to Miles Morales swinging through the streets in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse .

– Reinvention – Heroes today often break traditional molds, presenting diverse backgrounds and unique skill sets

• Relatability – Modern heroes reflect readers’ real-life experiences and concerns,
• Complexity – Now more than ever, characters show that being heroic does not mean being perfect.

We’ve witnessed a steady move away from the ‘chosen one’ narrative, opting instead for stories that reflect collective effort and community-driven achievements.

This evolution mirrors our understanding that heroism is not solitary; it’s a collective attribute that thrives in community and diversity.

Defining A Hero In Writing: Evolution & Archetypes – Wrap Up

We’ve explored the dynamic essence of heroes in writing and how they’ve transformed to mirror our evolving world.

Today’s heroes don’t just stand out for their courage or superhuman feats; they resonate with us through their complexities and the relatable struggles they navigate.

They’re not just figures to admire from afar but are reflections of our own potential for greatness.

As storytellers, we have the power to shape these characters into beacons of inspiration that both honor tradition and break new ground.

Let’s continue to craft heroes who not only leap off the page but also leave a lasting imprint on the hearts and minds of readers everywhere.

Frequently Asked Questions

What defines a hero in storytelling.

A hero in storytelling is characterized by qualities such as bravery, resilience, and an aspiration to achieve greatness or goodness which are admired by audiences.

They are often central figures in plots that involve conflict and personal growth.

How Do Archetypes And Stereotypes Affect Hero Narratives?

Archetypes serve as a familiar blueprint for heroes, while stereotypes can limit them to predictable traits.

Balancing these elements is vital for crafting unique and memorable heroes.

What Can The Matrix Teach Us About Hero Storytelling?

The Matrix exemplifies a hero’s journey where the protagonist, Neo, discovers his inner greatness, challenging the notion of predetermined roles and showcasing the transformation from an ordinary individual into a liberated hero.

How Have Heroes In Literature Evolved Over Time?

Heroes in literature have evolved to mirror society’s changing values and norms.

They have transitioned from one-dimensional paragons of virtue to complex characters who defy conventions and embody the diverse concerns and experiences of modern audiences.

Are Today’s Heroes Different From Past Heroes?

Yes, today’s heroes are often more relatable and complex, reflecting real-life issues.

They tend to challenge societal norms instead of upholding traditional values and frequently represent collective struggles rather than the journey of a ‘chosen one.

Byronic Hero In Literature & Film: Crafting Compelling Heros

What Is The Gothic Double Motif In Literature & Film? [Guide With Examples]

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25 Hero’s Journey Story Ideas to Start an Epic Adventure

by Sue Weems | 0 comments

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The hero's journey is one of the most beloved and popular story frameworks in books and film. Today we have 25 prompts with hero's journey story ideas, so you can write your own epic adventure tale!

If you've watched any one of George Lucas's Star Wars films, read or watched any of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings books or films then you've experienced the hero's journey. I've walked my creative writing classes through these stories numerous times, helping them identify and emulate the story principles. 

Part of what makes these stories so compelling is that they follow a character from their ordinary life into an adventure they couldn't have imagined, leading to personal transformation.

You can see David Stafford's (our resident expert on Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey Story Structure) Ultimate Guide to the Hero's Journey here if you want to see a complete breakdown of the heroic journey that creates these character arcs. 

While there are twelve stages or phases in a traditional hero's journey story, I've organized these prompts in the three essential stages: the departure, the initiation, and the return. You can combine these into a story or use them individually to fuel just one section of your larger story. 

Try one and see how it pushes your character out of their normal life and into a hero venture! 

Hero's Journey Story Ideas for the Departure

This opening stage is all about establishing a would-be hero's everyday life, revealing the status quo, and then disrupting it. What's expected of this character in their current state? What do they believe about themselves? 

The departure stage requires the hero to leave that mundane life, that familiar world behind to begin their adventure that will happen in a series of stages. The departure includes: the Ordinary World , the Call to Adventure and Refusal of the Call , Meet the Mentor , and the Crossing of the Threshold .

1. Create a scene where your character is frustrated or in trouble at their current workplace or home. Avoid a wake-up scene unless you can make it compelling.

2. Show your character doing their favorite activity when it gets interrupted with something inconsequential.

3. Show your character interacting with a pesky sibling, challenging family member, or sometimes friend. 

4. What problem will arise in your character's community that will necessitate them leaving home to solve it? 

5. Create a major threat to your character's favorite place or person , preferably one that could be extended to the entire community. 

6. Describe the insecurities that plague your character, focusing on ones that will inform their refusal of the call to adventure. 

7. Create a mentor (or two or three!) that will inspire your character to think beyond their current limitations and plant a seed of inspiration. What kind of person or being will best speak into your character's specific fears?

8. Write the scene where the character accepts the call and leaves home to begin the adventure. 

Hero's Journey Story Ideas for the Initiation Stage

The initiation stage includes Trials, Allies, and Enemies ; Approach to the Inmost Cave ; The Ordeal ; and The Reward .

This next part, the initiation, is usually the longest in a story, loosely from the inciting incident to the end of the climax (and immediate repercussions). This is a place to play—get creative with the trials, the complications, and the ultimate battle.

9. Make a list of your hero's strengths and weaknesses. Now, create a trial or an antagonist that can challenge each of those traits. 

10. Write a scene where your hero meets an unexpected ally on their journey . 

11. Create a fantastical challenge or physical obstacle in the world where your story is set. Drop your hero and one other character into the situation and force them to fight their way through it. 

12. Write a scene where the hero faces something they think will be easy, but it challenges them in an unexpected (and humbling way).

13. How will your character take on a new physical look during the initiation phase? How will their build, clothing, features change? Write the description , including an outline of how it happens. 

14. Create a creature who the hero will approach as a threat. What happens in the face-off? Will the creature remain foe? or become a friend?

15. The character archetype of the shadow (sometimes called the villain) appears during the approach to the inmost cave. The villain is the dark side of the hero. Write a scene where the hero misuses their power and prowess—then see if you can adapt it for the shadow OR use it to help the hero grow. 

16. Write a scene where the hero faces their toughest foe, the scene where they are not sure they can beat evil.

17. Consider how the fight has become even more personal for the hero. Write about what they believe they are fighting for now. Make sure the stakes are high.

Hero's Journey Story Ideas for the Return

Finally, the Return stage shows off how our hero has changed, how the internal transformation has now manifested as an external change as the hero fully embraces their new status and learning.

It includes the final stages of the journey structure: The Road Back , The Resurrection , and the Return with the Elixir . 

18. Write a scene (or a list!) where the hero recounts what they have lost on the journey. 

19. Write a scene where the hero has achieved what they hoped, but somehow it falls short of what they thought it would be to them.

20. Write out the worst thing that could happen on the hero's way back home. How will they face it?

21. Describe (or draw!) a map of the hero's way home. Will they return the same way or go a new direction? What have they learned? 

22. Write a scene where your hero makes a significant sacrifice to defeat evil, preferably on behalf of their community.

23. Write a scene where the hero encounters a setback on their way home, either physical or relational. Make sure they are using their newfound confidence to solve the problem. 

24. Make a list of possible “elixirs” or rewards your hero could bring back from their adventure. Think about what is broken or important to their community and what that physical object will mean to them. Choose one elixir and write the moment the hero presents it. 

25. Write a hero's celebration feast scene. 

Now you try! 

The hero's journey structure can push you as a writer to focus on character development in addition to its opportunities for action and world building. Try one of these prompts today in your writing time and see where it leads!

Choose one of the prompts above. Set your timer for fifteen minutes and write. When finished, post your practice in the Pro Practice Workshop here , and I hope you'll share feedback and encouragement with a few other writers. Help those heroes shine! 

Sue Weems is a writer, teacher, and traveler with an advanced degree in (mostly fictional) revenge. When she’s not rationalizing her love for parentheses (and dramatic asides), she follows a sailor around the globe with their four children, two dogs, and an impossibly tall stack of books to read. You can read more of her writing tips on her website .

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Award-winning instructor and writer of 20+ years, book coach, and editor. Sue Weems specializes in working with Children's, Memoir, Middle Grade, Mystery, Nonfiction, Romance, and Thriller books. Sound like a good fit for you?

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The Gigantic List of Character Descriptions (70+ examples)

The vast majority of character descriptions are simply lazy.

They recycle typical ideas about hair, eye color, and build, giving you more information about the character’s fitting for a dress or suit than the type of information you need to know them intimately.

The first thing you should do when describing a character is to pick a category that isn’t so overused. Such as trying to describe: 

Describing your character in an innovative way will help retain the reader’s interest. You want your reader to be asking questions about this character, to not only learn something about them but to create mystery. What made them like this? How long have they been this way? Is there someone currently after them or is this paranoia because of a past experience?  Questions like these are what keeps the reader reading. 

Not only physical descriptions are needed. Consider: “How is this person viewed by another character?” Do they seem dangerous, alluring, secretive, suspicious? The way another character views someone else gives insight about them as well. Are they attracted? Repulsed? Curious? 

Another thing to take notice of is the type of person they are, despite their appearance.

• How do they think?
• What do they feel?
• How do they view/react to certain situations compared to how others would?
• What is their mental state?

Here is a list of examples of brilliant character descriptions to give you an idea and help you come up with your own:

3 Categories: Modern Literary, Literature, Popular

Modern Literary

1. vladimir nabokov, lolita.

” … Her skin glistening in the neon light coming from the paved court through the slits in the blind, her soot-black lashes matted, her grave gray eyes more vacant than ever.”

2. Marilynne Robinson, Housekeeping

” … in the last years she continued to settle and began to shrink. Her mouth bowed forward and her brow sloped back, and her skull shone pink and speckled within a mere haze of hair, which hovered about her head like the remembered shape of an altered thing. She looked as if the nimbus of humanity were fading away and she were turning monkey. Tendrils grew from her eyebrows and coarse white hairs sprouted on her lip and chin. When she put on an old dress the bosom hung empty and the hem swept the floor. Old hats fell down over her eyes. Sometimes she put her hand over her mouth and laughed, her eyes closed and her shoulder shaking.” 

3. Jeffrey Eugenides, The Marriage Plot

“Phyllida’s hair was where her power resided. It was expensively set into a smooth dome, like a band shell for the presentation of that long-running act, her face.”

4. China Miéville, This Census-Taker

“His hand was over his eyes. He looked like a failed soldier. Dirt seemed so worked into him that the lines of his face were like writing.”

5. Mikhail Bulgakov, The Master and Margarita

“And then the hot air congealed in front of him, and out of it materialized a transparent man of most bizarre appearance. A small head with a jockey cap, a skimpy little checked jacket that was made out of air … The man was seven feet tall, but very narrow in the shoulders, incredibly thin, and his face, please note, had a jeering look about it.”

6. Barbara Kingsolver, The Poisonwood Bible

“Mama BekwaTataba stood watching us—a little jet-black woman. Her elbows stuck out like wings, and a huge white enameled tub occupied the space above her head, somewhat miraculously holding steady while her head moved in quick jerks to the right and left.”

7. John Kennedy Toole, A Confederacy of Dunces

“A green hunting cap squeezed the top of the fleshy balloon of a head. The green earflaps, full of large ears and uncut hair and the fine bristles that grew in the ears themselves, stuck out on either side like turn signals indicating two directions at once. Full, pursed lips protruded beneath the bushy black moustache and, at their corners, sank into little folds filled with disapproval and potato chip crumbs. In the shadow under the green visor of the cap Ignatius J. Reilly’s supercilious blue and yellow eyes looked down upon the other people waiting under the clock at the D.H. Holmes department store, studying the crowd of people for signs of bad taste in dress. Several of the outfits, Ignatius noticed, were new enough and expensive enough to be properly considered offenses against taste and decency. Possession of anything new or expensive only reflected a person’s lack of theology and geometry; it could even cast doubts upon one’s soul.”

8. A.S. Byatt, Possession

“He was a compact, clearcut man, with precise features, a lot of very soft black hair, and thoughtful dark brown eyes. He had a look of wariness, which could change when he felt relaxed or happy, which was not often in these difficult days, into a smile of amused friendliness and pleasure which aroused feelings of warmth, and something more, in many women.”

9. Jonathan Safran Foer, Everything is Illuminated

“He did not look like anything special at all.”

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10. Henry Lawson, The Bush Girl

“ Grey eyes that grow sadder than sunset or rain, f ond heart that is ever more true F irm faith that grows firmer for watching in vain —  She’ll wait by the sliprails for you.”

11. Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man

“I am an invisible man. 
No I am not a spook like those who haunted Edgar Allen Poe: 
Nor am I one of your Hollywood movie ectoplasms.
 I am a man of substance, of flesh and bone, fiber and liquids -
- and I might even be said to possess a mind. 
I am invisible, simply because people refuse to see me.”

12. F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

“He smiled understandingly-much more than understandingly. It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life. It faced–or seemed to face–the whole eternal world for an instant, and then concentrated on you with an irresistible prejudice in your favor.”

13. Thomas Wolfe, Look Homeward, Angel

“My brother Ben’s face, thought Eugene, is like a piece of slightly yellow ivory; his high white head is knotted fiercely by his old man’s scowl; his mouth is like a knife, his smile the flicker of light across a blade. His face is like a blade, and a knife, and a flicker of light: it is delicate and fierce, and scowls beautifully forever, and when he fastens his hard white fingers and his scowling eyes upon a thing he wants to fix, he sniffs with sharp and private concentration through his long, pointed nose…his hair shines like that of a young boy—it is crinkled and crisp as lettuce.”

14. Rudyard Kipling, The Jungle Books

“A black shadow dropped down into the circle. It was Bagheera the Black Panther, inky black all over, but with the panther markings showing up in certain lights like the pattern of watered silk. Everybody knew Bagheera, and nobody cared to cross his path, for he was as cunning as Tabaqui, as bold as the wild buffalo, and as reckless as the wounded elephant. But he had a voice as soft as wild honey dripping from a tree, and a skin softer than down.”

15. Charles Dickens, Great Expectations

“[Miss Havisham] had shut out infinitely more; that, in seclusion, she had secluded herself from a thousand natural and healing influences; that, her mind, brooding solitary, had grown diseased, as all minds do and must and will that reverse the appointed order of their Maker…”

16. John Knowles, A Separate Peace

“For such and extraordinary athlete—even as a Lower Middler Phineas had been the best athlete in the school—he was not spectacularly built. He was my height—five feet eight and a half inches…He weighed a hundred and fifty pounds, a galling ten pounds more than I did, which flowed from his legs to torso around shoulders to arms and full strong neck in an uninterrupted, unemphatic unity of strength.”

17. Ambrose Bierce, Chickamauga

“-the dead body of a woman—the white face turned upward, the hands thrown out and clutched full of grass, the clothing deranged, the long dark hair in tangles and full of clotted blood. The greater part of the forehead was torn away, and from the jagged hole the brain protruded, overflowing the temple, a frothy mass of gray, crowned with clusters of crimson bubbles—the work of a shell.”

18. Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

“…your manners, impressing me with the fullest belief of your arrogance, your conceit, and your selfish disdain of the feelings of others, were such as to form the groundwork of disapprobation on which succeeding events have built so immovable a dislike; and I had not known you a month before I felt that you were the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry.”

19. Mark Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

“He was most fifty, and he looked it. His hair was long and tangled and greasy, and hung down, and you could see his eyes shining through like he was behind vines. It was all black, no gray; so was his long, mixed-up whiskers. There warn’t no color in his face, where his face showed; it was white; not like another man’s white, but a white to make a body sick, a white to make a body’s flesh crawl – a tree-toad white, a fish-belly white. As for his clothes – just rags, that was all. He had one ankle resting on t’other knee; the boot on that foot was busted, and two of his toes stuck through, and he worked them now and then. His hat was laying on the floor – an old black slouch with the top caved in, like a lid.”  

20. William Golding, Lord of the Flies

“Inside the floating cloak he was tall, thin, and bony; and his hair was red beneath the black cap. His face was crumpled and freckled, and ugly without silliness.”

21. Jane Austen, Persuasion

“Vanity was the beginning and end of Sir Walter Elliot’s character: vanity of person and of situation. He had been remarkably handsome in his youth, and at fifty-four was still a very fine man. . . .”

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22. Andrew Lang, The Crimson Fairy Book

“When the old king saw this he foamed with rage, stared wildly about, flung himself on the ground and died.”

23. Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness

“He was commonplace in complexion, in feature, in manners, and in voice. He was of middle size and of ordinary build. His eyes, of the usual blue, were perhaps remarkably cold, and he certainly could make his glance fall on one as trenchant and heavy as an axe… Otherwise there was only an indefinable, faint expression of his lips, something stealthy — a smile — not a smile — I remember it, but I can’t explain.” 

24. Anne Bronte, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

“His heart was like a sensitive plant, that opens for a moment in the sunshine, but curls up and shrinks into itself at the slightest touch of the finger, or the lightest breath of wind.”

25. Max Beerbohm, Zuleika Dobson

“He followed with his eyes her long slender figure as she threaded her way in and out of the crowd, sinuously, confidingly, producing a penny from one lad’s elbow, a threepenny-bit from between another’s neck and collar, half a crown from another’s hair, and always repeating in that flute-like voice of hers: “Well, this is rather queer!””

26. Aldous Huxley, Brave New World

“He had a long chin and big rather prominent teeth, just covered, when he was not talking, by his full, floridly curved lips. Old, young? Thirty? Fifty? Fifty-five? It was hard to say.”  

27. Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

“Her skin was a rich black that would have peeled like a plum if snagged, but then no one would have thought of getting close enough to Mrs. Flowers to ruffle her dress, let alone snag her skin. She didn’t encourage familiarity. She wore gloves too.  I don’t think I ever saw Mrs. Flowers laugh, but she smiled often. A slow widening of her thin black lips to show even, small white teeth, then the slow effortless closing. When she chose to smile on me, I always wanted to thank her.”

28. D.H. Lawrence, Lady Chatterley’s Lover

“But her will had left her. A strange weight was on her limbs. She was giving way. She was giving up…”

29. Henry James, The Aspern Papers

“Her face was not young, but it was simple; it was not fresh, but it was mild. She had large eyes which were not bright, and a great deal of hair which was not ‘dressed,’ and long fine hands which were–possibly–not clean.”   

30. Edward Bulwer-Lytton, Zanoni Book One: The Musician

“She is the spoiled sultana of the boards. To spoil her acting may be easy enough,—shall they spoil her nature? No, I think not. There, at home, she is still good and simple; and there, under the awning by the doorway,—there she still sits, divinely musing. How often, crook-trunked tree, she looks to thy green boughs; how often, like thee, in her dreams, and fancies, does she struggle for the light,—not the light of the stage-lamps.”

31. Gustave Flaubert, Madame Bovary

“Living among those white-faced women with their rosaries and copper crosses…” 

32. Charles Dickens, Great Expectations

“Though every vestige of her dress was burnt, as they told me, she still had something of her old ghastly bridal appearance; for, they had covered her to the throat with white cotton-wool, and as she lay with a white sheet loosely overlying that, the phantom air of something that had been and was changed, was still upon her.” 

33. Rudyard Kipling, Many Inventions

“He wrapped himself in quotations – as a beggar would enfold himself in the purple of Emperors.”

34. Mark Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

“He was sunshine most always-I mean he made it seem like good weather.” 

35. Hugh Lofting, The Story of Doctor Dolittle

“For a long time he said nothing. He kept as still as a stone. He hardly seemed to be breathing at all. When at last he began to speak, it sounded almost as though he were singing, sadly, in a dream.”

36. Charles Dickens, Great Expectations

“I loved her against reason, against promise, against peace, against hope, against happiness, against all discouragement that could be.”

37. Edwin A. Abbott, Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions

“He is himself his own World, his own Universe; of any other than himself he can form no conception; he knows not Length, nor Breadth, nor Height, for he has had no experience of them; he has no cognizance even of the number Two; nor has he a thought of Plurality, for he is himself his One and All, being really Nothing.”

38. Jamie McGuire, Beautiful Oblivion

“Her long platinum blond hair fell in loose waves past her shoulders, with a few black peekaboo strands. She wore a black minidress and combat boots.”

39. N.K. Jemisin, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms

“His long, long hair wafted around him like black smoke, its tendrils curling and moving of their own volition. His cloak — or perhaps that was his hair too — shifted as if in an unfelt wind.” 

40. M.L. LeGette, The Orphan and the Thief

“A creature–a frightfully, awful creature–was mere feet from her. Its eyes were enormous, the size of goose eggs and milky white. Its gray, slippery skin was stretched taut upon its face. Its mouth was wide and full of needle teeth. Its hands rested on the rock, hands that were webbed and huge with each finger ending in a sharp, curved nail. It was as tall as a human man, yet oddly shrunken and hunched.”  

 41. Amber Dawn, Sub Rosa

“When he did appear his eyes were as brown as I remembered, pupils flecked with gold like beach pebbles.” 

 42. Julia Stuart, The Tower, The Zoo, and The Tortoise

“His hair had been grown to counteract its unequivocal retreat from the top of his head, and was fashioned into a mean, frail ponytail that hung limply down his back. Blooms of acne highlighted his vampire-white skin.” 

43. James Lee Burke, The Neon Rain

“His khaki sleeves were rolled over his sunburned arms, and he had the flat green eyes and heavy facial features of north Louisiana hill people. He smelled faintly of dried sweat, Red Man, and talcum powder.” 

44. Stephenie Meyer, Twilight

“I vividly remembered the flat black color of his eyes the last time he glared at me – the color was striking against the background of his pale skin and his auburn hair. Today, his eyes were a completely different color: a strange ocher, darker than butterscotch, but with the same golden tone.” 

45. Brian Malloy, Twelve Long Months 

“Whith her hair dyed bright red, she looks like Ronald McDonald’s post-menopausal sister. Who has let herself go.”     (This is one of my favorites, because I find it ridiculously funny)

46. Joan Johnston, No Longer A Stranger

“Actually, Reb had the same flawless complexion as her sister– except for the freckles. Her straight, boyishly cut hair fell onto her brow haphazardly and hid beautiful arched brows that framed her large, expressive eyes. She had a delicate, aquiline nose, but a stubborn mouth and chin.” 

47. Brian Morton, Breakable You

“Without her glasses Vivian did look a little frightening. She had tight sinewy strappy muscles and a face that was hardened and almost brutal – a face that might have been chiseled by a sculptor who had fallen out of love with the idea of beauty.”

48. Anne Rice, The Vampire Armand

“I saw my Master had adorned himself in a thick tunic and beautiful dark blue doublet which I’d hardly noticed before. He wore soft sleek dark blue gloves over his hands, gloves which perfectly cleaved to his fingers, and legs were covered by thick soft cashmere stockings all the way to his beautiful pointed shoes.” 

49. Becca Fitzpatrick, Black Ice

“His brown hair was cropped, and it showed off the striking s ymmetry of his face. With the sun at his back, shadows marked the depressions beneath his cheekbones. I couldn’t tell the color of his eyes, but I hoped they were brown…The guy had straight, sculptured shoulders that made me think swimmer …” 

50. E.C. Sheedy, Killing Bliss

“He stood, which put him eye to eye with the dark-haired woman whose brilliant, burning gaze poured into his worthless soul like boiling tar, whose mouth frothed with fury–and whose hand now curled, knuckles white, around a steak knife.”  (The author gives a lot of details about the characters emotions, but there is not one specific detail about neither of their appearances. Use this as an example of how physical appearances aren’t always the most important thing.)

51. James Lee Burke, The Neon Rain

“His wiry gray and black hair was dripping with sweat, and his face was the color and texture of old paper. He looked up at me from where he was seated on his bunk, and his eyes were hot and bright and moisture was beaded across his upper lip. He held a Camel cigarette between his yellowed fingers, and the floor around his feet was covered with cigarette butts.”  

52. Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games

“She has bright, dark eyes and satiny brown skin and stands tilted up on her toes with arms slightly extended to her sides, as if ready to take wing at the slightest sound.”

53. Becca Fitzpatrick, Hush, Hush

“He was abominable…and the most alluring, tortured soul I’d ever met.”   (This isn’t describing him physically, but it is giving insight to how the main character views him)

54. J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

“A giant of a man was standing in the doorway. His face was almost completely hidden by  a long, shaggy mane of hair and a wild, tangled beard, but you could make out his eyes,  glinting like black beetles under all the hair.” 

55. Anne Rice, Violin

“I deliberately thought of him, my violinist, point by point, that with his long narrow nose and such deep-set eyes he might have been less seductive to someone else–perhaps. But then perhaps to no one. What a well-formed mouth he had, and how the narrow eyes, the detailed deepened lids gave him such a range of expression, to open his gaze wide, or sink in cunning street.”

56. Kevin Brooks, Lucas

“As I’ve already said, the memory of Lucas’s walk brings a smile to my face. It’s an incredibly vivid memory, and if I close my eyes I can see it now. An easygoing lope. Nice and steady. Not too fast and not too slow, Fast enough to get somewhere, but not too fast to miss anything. Bouncy, alert, resolute, without any concern and without vanity. A walk that both belonged to and was remote from everything around it.” 

57. Anne Rice, Violin

“And she looked the way he had always hated her–dreamy and sloppy, and sweet, with glasses falling down, smoking a cigarette, with ashes on her coat, but full of love, her body heavy and shapeless with age.” 

58. Kevin Brooks, Lucas

“As we drew closer, the figure became clearer, It was a young man, or a boy, dressed loosely in a drab green T-shirt and baggy green trousers. He had a green army jacket tied around his waist and a green canvas bag slung over his shoulder. The only non-green thing about him was the pair of scruffy black walking boots on his feet. Although he was on the small side, he wasn’t as slight as I first thought. He wasn’t exactly muscular, but he wasn’t weedy-looking either…there was an air of hidden strength about him, a graceful strength that showed in his balance, the way he held himself, the way he walked….” 

59. Iris Johansen, The Face of Deception

“Kinky tousled curls, only a minimum of makeup, large brown eyes behind round wire-rimmed glasses. There was a world of character in that face, more than enough to make her fascinating-looking instead of just attractive.” 

60. Dennis Lehane, A Drink Before the War

“Brian Paulson was rake thin, with smooth hair the color of tin and a wet fleshy handshake…. His greeting was a nod and a blink, befitting someone who’d stepped out of the shadows only momentarily.” 

61. Gena Showalter, The Darkest Night

“Pale hair fell in waves to his shoulders, framing a face mortal females considered a sensual feast. They didn’t know the man was actually a devil in angel’s skin. They should have, though. He practically glowed with irreverence, and there was an unholy gleam in his green eyes that proclaimed he would laugh in your face while cutting out your heat. Or laugh in your face while you cut out his heart.”

62. Sam Byers, Idiopathy 

“Now here he was: sartorially, facially and interpersonally sharpened; every inch the beatific boffin.”

63. Maggie Stiefvater, The Raven Boys

“As always, there was an all-American war hero look to him, coded in his tousled brown hair, his summer-narrowed hazel eyes, the straight nose that ancient Anglo-Saxons had graciously passed on to him. Everything about him suggested valor and power and a firm handshake.” 

64. J.R.R. Tolkien, Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

“The face of Elrond was ageless, neither old nor young, though in it was written the memory of many things both glad and sorrowful. His hair was dark as the shadows of twilight, and upon it was set a circlet of silver; his eyes were grey as a clear evening, and in them was a light like the light of stars.” 

65. Fredrik Backman, A Man Called Ove

“People said Ove saw the world in black and white. But she was color. All the color he had.”  

66. Frank Herbert, Dune

“…a girl-child who appeared to be about four years old. She wore a black aba, the hood thrown back to reveal the attachments of a stillsuit hanging free at her throat. Her eyes were Fremen blue, staring out of a soft, round face. She appeared completely unafraid and there was a look to her stare that made the Baron feel uneasy for no reason he could explain.” 

67. Orson Scott Card, Ender’s Game

“Ender did not see Peter as the beautiful ten-year-old boy that grown-ups saw, with dark, tousled hair and a face that could have belonged to Alexander the Great. Ender looked at Peter only to detect anger or boredom, the dangerous moods that almost always led to pain.”

68. Caitlin Moran, How to Build a Girl

“He had his head in his hands, and his tie looked like it had been put on by an enemy, and was strangling him.”

69. Graham Joyce, Some Kind of Fairy Tale

“Peter was a gentle, red-haired bear of a man. Standing at six-four in his socks, he moved everywhere with a slight and nautical sway, but even though he was broad across the chest there was something centered and reassuring about him, like an old ship’s mast cut from a single timber.”

70. Brad Parks, The Girl Next Door

“…in addition to being fun, smart, and quick-witted—in a feisty way that always kept me honest—she’s quite easy to look at, with never-ending legs, toned arms, curly brown hair, and eyes that tease and smile and glint all at the same time.” 

71. Dennis Lehane, A Drink Before the War

“Sterling Mulkern was a florid, beefy man, the kind who carried weight like a weapon, not a liability. He had a shock of stiff white hair you could land a DC-10 on and a handshake that stopped just short of inducing paralysis.”

72. Philip Pullman, The Golden Compass

“Lord Asriel was a tall man with powerful shoulders, a fierce dark face, and eyes that seemed to flash and glitter with savage laughter. It was a face to be dominated by, or to fight: never a face to patronize or pity. All his movements were large and perfectly balanced, like those of a wild animal, and when he appeared in a room like this, he seemed a wild animal held in a cage too small for it.”

73. Sherman Alexie, The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven

“I thought she was so beautiful. I figured she was the kind of woman who could make buffalo walk on up to her and give up their lives. She wouldn’t have needed to hunt. Every time we went walking, birds would follow us around. Hell, tumbleweeds would follow us around.”

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29 comments

woowwwwwwwwie

Love the compilation. Thank you for doing this

This is a great compilation! My students are working on writing characters right now, so I’m having them look through your list to see examples of a job well done 🙂 Thanks!

Thanks I’m using these for students to make character drawings from

This is really helpful ! Love it !

Do you have a way, where you could put the characters physical traits in this website?

Thank you for the awesome list. You should add this one; it’s from Robert Louis Stevenson’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: “Mr. Utterson, the lawyer, was a man of rugged countenance, that was never lightened by a smile; cold, scanty and embarrassed in discourse; backward in sentiment; lean, long, dusty, dreary, and yet somehow lovable.” There’s more after, but I thought this was a good description.

And this one: “Mr. Hyde was pale and dwarfish, he gave an impression of deformity without any nameable malformation, he had a displeasing smile, he had borne himself to the lawyer with a sort of murderous mixture of timidity and boldness, and he spoke with a husky, whispering, and somewhat broken voice: all these were points against him, but all of them together could not describe the hitherto unknown disgust, loathing, and fear with which Mr. Utterson regarded him.”

The quote that stood out to me the most was the quote from ‘The Census Taker’. That quote captured the characters feelings so well. The author was able to compare in self worth by saying it was as dirt, so much so that the dirt was written in his skin. I have never seen self worth and failure described as part of a person’s face.

Thank you. I echo Chris’s comment Wowwwwww and add a few!!!!

Wonderful! Reading these enabled me to rewrite the descriptions for my two leading characters.

Thank you for this, very helpful! I don’t know if this is really related, but I’m writing a story including a mean girl who bullies the main character (also a girl). I’m struggling to write what the mean girl uses to bully the main character – what I end up coming up with is way too mean or unreal, etc.

Blinded by tears, she could hear the haze of pink shout, “See, poor baby cries. Great actress, dear. Why do you waste your talent on us, here?”

great great any book for description of physical appearance in narrative

Great list. And I have one to add. It’s from Michael Moorcock, riding the new wave of British sci-fi back in the 1960s. He’s been a favorite of mine for decades. The passage is from “Elric of Melniboné:”

“It is the colour of a bleached skull, his flesh; and the long hair which flows below his shoulders is milk-white. From the tapering, beautiful head stare two slanting eyes, crimson and moody, and from the loose sleeves of his yellow gown emerge two slender hands, also the colour of bone, resting on each arm of a seat which has been carved from a single, massive ruby.”

Thanks for this – very useful compilation for teaching – makes life so much easier! And helps in my writing, to look at expressions and word arrangements… I notice how some writers seem so good in visual description, and some others seem to be much better at character expressions..

wowzers!!! this is so cool!

I planned to just read a few, but I couldn’t stop reading. These are awesome! Thank you.

“Character Description” on The John Fox’s blog is a treasure trove of valuable tips and techniques for crafting compelling characters. The blog explores the art of painting vivid and multi-dimensional personas, adding depth to storytelling. Aspiring writers will find this guide indispensable for creating memorable characters that resonate with readers.

holy MOLY, thank you!

I liked them

wow thanks you have really helped me but can you put something to describe a character that is a tyrant please? that would really help

Absolutely remarkable. So very helpful in every since of the word.

OH HELLL YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

A killer set of fine examples! Thanks for compiling it!

Please, add sentences that can apply to more characters.

Love it but should be more single sentences

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Essays About Heroes: 5 Examples And Topic Ideas

Here, we’ll look at examples of essays about heroes and questions that can be used as topics for essays about an imagined or real hero.

A few different images likely come to mind when you hear the word hero. You may imagine Superman flying above the world with his superpower of flight. You may imagine a personal hero, a real person who has made a significant impact on your life for the better. You might think of a true hero as someone who has shown heroic qualities in the public eye, working to help ordinary people through difficult situations.

When writing an essay about your life hero, it’s important to consider the qualities of that person that make them stand out to you. Whether you choose to write an essay about how your mom got you through tough times and became your role model or about a political figure who made a difference in the lives of people in history, it’s key to not just focus on the person’s actions—you’ll also want to focus on the qualities that allowed them to act heroically.

Here, we’ll explore examples of hero essays and potential topics to consider when writing about a hero.

For help with your essays, check out our round-up of the best essay checkers

Examples Of Essays About Heroes

• 1. These Are The Heroes Of The Coronavirus Pandemic By Ruth Marcus
• 2. Why Teachers Are My Heroes By Joshua Muskin
• 3. Martin Luther King Jr.—Civil Rights Activist & Hero By Kathy Weiser-Alexander

4. Steve Prefontaine: The Track Of A Hero By Bill O’Brian

5. forget hamilton, burr is the real hero by carey wallace, topic ideas for essays about heroes, 1. what makes a hero, 2. what are the most important characteristics of heroes in literature, 3. what constitutes a heroic act, 4. is selflessness required for heroism.

1.  These Are The Heroes Of The Coronavirus Pandemic  By Ruth Marcus

“Is this what they signed up for? There is some danger inherent in the ordinary practice of medicine, but not this much. I confess: I do not know that I would do the same in their circumstances; I am not sure I am so generous or so brave. If my child were graduating from medical school, how would I deal with her being sent, inadequately protected, into an emergency room? If my husband were a physician, would I send him off to the hospital — or let him back into the house in the interim?” Ruth Marcus

Healthcare workers have had no choice but to go above and beyond in recent years. In this essay, Marcus discusses the heroism of those in the healthcare field. He delves into the traits (including selflessness and courage) that make doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers heroes.

2.  Why Teachers Are My Heroes   By Joshua Muskin

“Teachers are my heroes because they accept this responsibility and try extremely hard to do this well even when the conditions in which they work are far from ideal; at least most do. Our jobs as society, education systems, and parents is to do our best to be strong allies to teachers, since their success is essential to ours.” Joshua Muskin

In this essay, Dr. Muskin discusses the many challenges teachers face and what parents, administrators, and education researchers can do to help teachers support students. Muskin explains that most teachers go above and beyond the call of duty to serve their classrooms.

3.  Martin Luther King Jr.—Civil Rights Activist & Hero   By Kathy Weiser-Alexander

“During this nonviolent protest, activists used boycotts, sit-ins, and marches to protest segregation and unfair hiring practices that caught the attention of the entire world. However, his tactics were put to the test when police brutality was used against the marchers, and King was arrested. But, his voice was not silenced, as he wrote his “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” to refute his critics.” Kathy Weiser-Alexander

In this essay, Weiser-Alexander details both the traits and the actions of Dr. King before and during the civil rights movement. The author touches on King’s commitment to justice, persistence, and willingness to stand for his beliefs despite difficult circumstances.

“I remember this so vividly because Prefontaine was a hero to me, a hero in a way that no one was before, or really has been since. A British commentator once called him “an athletic Beatle.” If so, his persona was much more Lennon than McCartney. Actually, I thought of him more as Mick Jagger — or ultimately James Dean.” Bill O’Brian

A hero to many in the running world, Prefontaine’s confidence, unique style, and unmatched athletic ability have been heralded for decades. In this essay, O’Brian shares how he, as a distance runner during the era of Pre, related to his struggles and ambition.

“Burr fought against an ugly tide of anti-immigrant sentiment in the young republic, led by Hamilton’s Federalist party, which suggested that anyone without English heritage was a second-class citizen, and even challenged the rights of non-Anglos to hold office. In response, Burr insisted that anyone who contributed to society deserved all the rights of any other citizen, no matter their background.” Carey Wallace

In this essay, Wallace explains why Aaron Burr, the lifelong nemesis of founding father Alexander Hamilton, should be considered a historical hero. This essay exposes someone seen as a villain but much of society with a different take on their history. 

It can be interesting to think about your definition of a hero. When describing what the term hero means to you, you may want to choose a person (or a few people) you look up to as a hero to solidify your point. You might want to include fictional characters (such as those in the Marvel universe) and real-life brave souls, such as police officers and firefighters.

A word of caution: stay away from the cliche opening of describing how the dictionary defines a hero. Instead, lead-in with a personal story about a hero who has affected your life. While talking about a public figure as a hero is acceptable, you may find it easier to write about someone close to you who you feel has displayed heroic qualities. Writing about a family member or friend who has shown up as a heroic main character in your life can be just as exciting as writing about a real or imagined superhero.

From Beowulf to Marvel comics, heroes in literature take on many different traits. When writing an essay on what trait makes a hero come alive in a short story, novel, or comic, choose a few of your favorite heroes and find common themes that they share.

Perhaps your favorite heroes are selfless and are willing to put themselves last in the name of sacrifice for others. Perhaps they’re able to dig deep into the truth, being honest even when it’s hard, for the greater good. There’s no need to list endless heroes to make your point—choosing three or four heroes from literature can be a great way to support your argument about what characteristics define heroism in literature.

When someone is named a hero in real life, we often picture them saving people from a burning building or performing a difficult surgical operation. It can be difficult to pin down exactly what constitutes a heroic act. When writing about what constitutes a heroic act, think about people who go above and beyond, performing feats of courage, honesty, and bravery to support themselves or others. When writing about what constitutes a heroic act, discuss real-life or literary examples of heroes at work.

To many people, being a hero means giving back to others. While giving something away or trading in one’s well-being for others can certainly be seen as a heroic act, many people wonder if selflessness is required for heroism or if a hero can serve the greater good in a way that also supports their happiness. When writing about whether selflessness is required for heroism, choose examples from literature and real-life to support your point.

Tip: If writing an essay sounds like a lot of work, simplify it. Write a simple 5 paragraph essay instead.

If you’re still stuck, check out our available resource of essay writing topics .

Ignite Your Superhero Storyline with 80+ Writing Prompts

By: Author Hiuyan Lam

Posted on Last updated: October 20, 2023

Categories Writing Prompts

  Whether you’re a teacher looking to inject some fun and excitement into your writing curriculum, or an English Language Learners (ELL) instructor aiming to provide a relatable context for your students, superhero writing prompts can be a dynamic educational tool. The familiar and exciting themes offer a platform where students can freely express their ideas while improving their language skills.   Dive into this collection of handpicked superhero writing prompts, carefully curated to cater to various age groups and writing stages. So grab your pens, put on your creative capes, and discover the engaging narratives waiting to unfold, one prompt at a time.

How to use our superhero writing prompts for your students

Superhero writing prompts for primary school students

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100 Superhero Writing Prompts

December 16, 2023 by Richard Leave a Comment

Here are 100 Superhero Writing Prompts to get you writing and dreaming. Have you ever dreamed of soaring over buildings, stopping villains with your bare hands, or unveiling your secret identity to your shocked colleagues? If so, you’re not alone – humans have been fascinated by superheroes and their extraordinary abilities for decades. I recently came across an epic list of 100 writing prompts centered around the exciting world of superheroes and thought it would make great fodder for aspiring writers looking to flex their creative muscles. In this blog post, I’ll share some of my favorite prompts from the list that take you inside the minds of superheroes and supervillains alike. They range from humorous to dramatic story ideas featuring new superpowers, heroic origins, romantic revelations between heroes, ethical dilemmas, heroic legacies passed down generations, gadget designs, and more. Whether you’re looking to write a personal narrative, comic series, short story, or just entertain some radical daydreams, these dynamic prompts will help kickstart all sorts of superhuman adventures in your imagination. So polish off your utility belt, tune up the Batmobile, and get ready to battle some wicked writer’s block!

Here are 100 Superhero Writing Prompts:

• You wake up one morning with a superpower – what is it and how do you use it?
• Create a brand new superhero complete with background story, powers, weaknesses etc.
• You’re a sidekick who feels underappreciated – how do you prove your worth to your super powered partner?
• The villain captures the hero and knows their true identity. Now what?
• Two heroes who don’t get along are forced to team up against a common enemy. How do they overcome their differences?
• Create your own version of Avengers with 7 super powered individuals trying to save the planet. Describe each one.
• A shapeshifting super villain is among the heroes but they don’t know who. How will they uncover the truth?
• Choosing to be a hero led to you losing your loved one. Do you regret the choice?
• You have no powers but want to help fight crime. How do you become a hero without superpowers?
• How does an average family deal with having a superhero as a member?
• Batman is overconfident heading into a fight and quickly realizes he has underestimated his opponent…
• A powerful new villain emerges with a personal vendetta against one particular hero – why does this villain hate them?
• Describe a day in the life of a retired or aging superhero adjusting to ordinary life.
• You discover your best friend secretly has superpowers but doesn’t want anyone to know. Now what?
• Design a new original superhero costume and explain your choices.
• A robot or AI gains super powers and decides to become a hero. Does it understand humanity enough?
• An alien crash lands on earth and gains powers. Do they use them for good or evil?
• Redraw and reimagine an iconic hero giving them a dramatic new style and twist.
• A villain who previously seemed unstoppable suddenly loses their powers. What happens next?
• An everyday unsuspecting citizen suddenly gains powers. Do they embrace becoming a hero or try to live normally?
• Two romantic interests discover each other’s secret identities. How does this change their relationship?
• A superhero grows tired of always having to rescue citizens who don’t appreciate them. Do they snap or rise above it?
• Who pays for all the property damage from epic battles between supers? Does insurance even cover “acts of heroism”?
• You discover as a teen you come from a long line of magical heroes dating back centuries. You’re the next champion.
• You gain the power to bring fictional heroes to life. Who do you pick and what real threat do they help overcome?
• An embittered normal human gains powers and takes revenge against heroes who ignored his previous cries for help.
• Superhero teams always fight super villains…but what threat requires teaming up multiple hero teams like Justice League & Avengers?
• Bruce Wayne retires from being Batman after decades of service. Who takes over the mantle?
• Peter Parker decides to finally reveal he is Spiderman. How does the public and his closest loved ones react?
• Two figures who were enemies discover a shared interest or cause bringing them to work together. What cause bridges the gap?
• You discover as a historian magic artifacts that give superpowers. Who do you choose to take on the responsibility?
• You are a magic user who gives someone powers to be a hero. Eventually they go rogue abusing abilities – do you take responsibility for creating them?
• Design your own Batmobile or superhero vehicle loaded with cool features and weaponry. What’s it capable of?
• The government passes legislation regulating superpowered beings. How do heroes respond? Do they comply, resist or protest?
• You discover a way to take powers away from dangerous supers. The process can’t be reversed. When would this be justified, if ever?
• A close friend discovers your powers. Are you obligated to reveal your abilities to them? How would they reasonably react?
• Super strength and invulnerability are awesome on paper…but what everyday issues would they realistically cause you? Think through a day in that life.
• Batman gets supernatural abilities rivaling Superman. Does acquiring such power jeopardize his ethos and principles?
• Design your own utility belt for Batman or a supersuit for Iron Man. What defensive and offensive tools are you installing?
• Who cleans up the city and conducts repairs after epic clashes like Avengers vs Thanos bring massive destruction?
• You discover as an ordinary citizen you can temporarily “borrow” a hero’s powers. Without permission, when if ever would you use them?
• Figure out the tax implications of becoming a vigilante hero acquiring expensive vehicles, weaponry, hideouts/lairs…IRS may get suspicious!
• You’re a new hero protecting your city when a much-beloved hero comes out of retirement. Do they upstage you or can you cooperate?
• Scientists develop a “cure” to remove superpowers. Some welcome being normal again while others protest losing abilities.
• You gain powers by accident that you can’t control. Create your own hero support group meeting with others dealing with similar problems.
• An AI you helped create to battle evil itself gains powers exceeding your own. Did you take enough precautions during development?
• As a magic user you cast a spell allowing people to meet alternate reality versions of themselves. How would supers react encountering their doppelgängers?
• Explain the steps needed for someone to safely become a costumed vigilante like Batman – skills, resources, physical/mental preparation etc.
• Design your own Hall of Justice or Avengers tower with key features all good hero headquarters need.
• You’re a villain defeating heroes worldwide one by one when you discover a prophecy saying a farm boy in Kansas will defeat you…
• You discover your archenemy is actually your father. How does this family revelation impact your hero work?
• Explain the euphoria of discovering you have powers and can actually fly.
• Design your own secret lair complete with defenses against villains discovering and attacking you.
• Come up with a Credo or Code of Honor good supers should adopt covering rules of engagement, collateral damage etc.
• You’re a hero but your best friend becomes a powerful villain. Do you take responsibility for not preventing their turn towards evil?
• Figure out how a hero from the distant past transported to modern times would adapt both their persona and crime fighting abilities.
• Is using a secret identity too risky with modern surveillance and hacking threats? Could staying anonymous as Spiderman prove impossible today?
• As a magic wielder you must bestow powers to an average citizen for one week. Who seems worthy and how do their new abilities affect them?
• You discover a way for people to briefly gain any power they want. How much money could someone make letting others “fantasy live” as supers for a day?
• Design specialty gadgets or vehicles for disabled heroes wanting to still regularly fight crime or join large scale battles.
• You gain a powerful amulet during a museum heist which gives control over the weather. Will authorities see you as a threat even if using it for good?
• Come up with a list of basic training every wannabe hero should complete before putting on a costume and confronting criminals.
• Design high tech glasses allowing heroes to scan a city locating crimes as they occur. What other abilities would they have?
• How does an idealistic rookie hero react when told by veterans he’ll inevitably have to kill deadly villains to protect the innocent?
• As a police officer would you feel comfortable teaming up with a vigilante hero to solve crimes? Where’s the partnership line as to what help they should provide official law enforcement?
• Figure out how to make classic comic book hero capes practical in reality (ex – fire proof, tear resistant, stealth mode capabilities etc).
• You discover Batman’s secret identity and location of Batcave but swear to never reveal it. Soon after a villain captures and tortures you for information. Then what…
• Describe an epic battle scene between two of your favorite good and evil supers but inject humorous events happening throughout the brawl.
• Design Daredevil’s radar and spatial awareness system allowing detailed mental visualization of environments well beyond normal human sensory capabilities.
• You’re an antihero doing good but through violent, extreme methods. Explain your moral justification and how you choose targets.
• Describe the learning curve in trying to fly. What milestones mark your progress towards graceful airborne navigation mastery?
• Design your own Iron Man suit focused on stealth rather than weapons and strength. What capabilities would it have?
• Tony Stark loses everything and becomes an angry Punisher style vigilante hunting super criminals. Would the more aggressive methods be justified?
• Explain how you’d safely imprison super villains in specialized containment facilities tailored towards their unique powers and capabilities.
• Professor X feels Magneto’s experiences justify his anger and radical stances. How could the Professor persuade him to channel frustrations for good?
• You’re a technology based hero. Explain your unique gear and abilities using plausibly realistic concepts rather than vague comic book science.
• Figure out a way power dampening collars could humanely restrain prisoners in super max facilities without being too degrading.
• If needing a secret Lair, would living off the grid in remote wilderness or hiding out anonymously among bustling city crowds provide better concealment?
• Design specialty non-lethal weaponry police could use against rogue supers without excessively aggressive or militaristic capabilities.
• You gain Superman’s powers for 24 hours. After testing abilities, what global threats or disasters would you focus your temporal near omnipotence on fixing quickly?
• As Marvel’s Sorcerer Supreme you must choose the next heir to be your magical apprentice carrying on Dr. Strange’s legacy. What qualities would make someone worthy?
• Design your own mystic artifact – whether weapon, transport device like Mjolnir, or otherwise. Provide background on it and key attributes.
• You’re a villain who battles a hero matching your capabilities resulting in stalemates. How would you strategically shift the dynamic to finally defeat them?
• Are superpowers gifts to protect the vulnerable or would intentional biological weaponization be unethical? How might extremists twist ethics to weaponize humans?
• Design a superhero mask accommodating vision enhancement technology while still concealing identity and allowing display of facial expressions.
• Though heroes defeat villains, the judicial system struggles prosecuting evildoers with unnatural abilities or secretly housing them humanely longterm. Explain dilemmas and solutions.
• You discover abandoned alien technology. Mastering its biomechanical interface grants you powerful battle armor with assorted capabilities. How do you use it?
• Figure out Peter Parker’s yearly expenses as Spiderman between web fluid materials, costume damage/repair and paying to fix places thugs wreck during fights.
• A zombie virus outbreak occurs but infected retain personalities/intelligence creating undead “zombie heroes” battling living evildoers.Could heroic impulses overcome infection?
• What should the policy be regarding heroes utilizing secret labs actively developing experimental technologies enabling their crime fighting abilities? Any reasonable oversight?
• If becoming a costumed vigilante, develop your own distinct symbol etched at crime scenes claiming responsibility for stopping the criminals.
• Figure out the tax status for a freelance superhero operating independently without government affiliation. Are there any legal ways to get tax write offs for hideouts/gear?
• Design a Hall of Heroes museum to inspire the next generation and highlight famous deeds. What artifacts, information displays etc should it include?
• Civil War erupts again between heroes supporting government regulation vs rebels upholding liberties by any means. What side do you fall on and why?
• You’re a lawyer specializing in defending accused vigilante heroes who clash with authorities. Explain unique legal complexities superhuman clients introduce.
• Design your own boot camp for turning average joes into highly trained vigilante urban soldiers fighting street crime whatever it takes. What’s your intense curriculum?
• As an aging Superman assess options to avoid endangering others if powers fluctuate due to health issues during later years. Appoint successors? Solar rejuvenation?
• Journalists have strongest ethics codes keeping identities secret if learning them. As Daily Planet reporter would you ever reveal Superman’s if critical for a bigger story?
• Design high tech therapists for heroes managing trauma and mental health impacts from violence exposure. What treatment methods would you provide?
• With great power comes great responsibility. But also great controversy for collateral damage and extreme actions. Persuade authorities your good outweighs bad.

And there you have it – 100 super-powered story ideas to fuel your writing for days to come! Whether you’re an aspiring comic book writer thinking up your first masked crusader or just looking to tap into your imagination, these prompts cover it all. You’ve got plot lines featuring dramatic reveals, ethical dilemmas, gadget designs, romantic twists, and even a few humorous scenarios (a retired hero struggling with everyday tasks – who can’t relate!?). I had a blast going through this list and daydreaming up potential backgrounds, powers, weaknesses, relationships and more for each unique hero that came to mind. So pull out your cape and cowl, let your creativity loose and see what epic adventures, harrowing battles or heartwarming moments unfold as you work through these prompts. And who knows, you may just discover an idea captivating enough to turn into a series! What superhuman stories can you imagine tackling first? Let me know in the comments! And as always, happy writing! Excelsior! 

If you enjoyed these 100 Superhero Writing Prompts, please leave us a comment, and we have many more writing prompts on our site you may enjoy.  

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About Richard

Richard Everywriter (pen name) has worked for literary magazines and literary websites for the last 25 years. He holds degrees in Writing, Journalism, Technology and Education. Richard has headed many writing workshops and courses, and he has taught writing and literature for the last 20 years.  

In writing and publishing he has worked with independent, small, medium and large publishers for years connecting publishers to authors. He has also worked as a journalist and editor in both magazine, newspaper and trade publications as well as in the medical publishing industry.   Follow him on Twitter, and check out our Submissions page .

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200+ Superhero Ideas for Storytellers (Massive List)

Creating superhuman characters has always been a thrilling challenge for me.

In this article, I’ll share over 200 superhero ideas to inspire your storytelling.

Whether you’re crafting a comic book, writing a novel, or scripting a screenplay, these ideas will fuel your creativity and help bring your superhuman characters to life.

20 Superhero Power Ideas

Table of Contents

Every superhero starts with a unique ability that sets them apart.

Here are 20 power ideas to kickstart your imagination:

• Time Manipulation – The ability to slow down, speed up, or reverse time.
• Elemental Control – Mastery over elements like fire, water, earth, and air.
• Telepathy – The power to read minds and project thoughts.
• Super Strength – Extraordinary physical strength.
• Invisibility – The ability to become unseen to the naked eye.
• Flight – The power to defy gravity and soar through the skies.
• Healing – The ability to heal oneself or others at an accelerated rate.
• Telekinesis – Moving objects with one’s mind.
• Shape-shifting – Altering one’s physical form or appearance.
• Energy Manipulation – The ability to control and manipulate various forms of energy.
• Intangibility – Passing through solid objects.
• Super Speed – Moving at speeds much faster than a normal human.
• Animal Communication – The ability to understand and communicate with animals.
• Precognition – Seeing events before they happen.
• Weather Control – The ability to influence weather patterns.
• Teleportation – Instantly moving from one location to another.
• Immortality – The ability to live forever.
• Super Intelligence – Exceptional intellectual and cognitive abilities.
• Gravity Control – Manipulating gravity’s pull.
• Regeneration – The power to regenerate body parts or heal at an accelerated pace.

20 Superhero Origin Story Ideas

A compelling origin story is crucial for adding depth to your superhero.

Check out these 20 ideas:

• Alien Heritage – Born on another planet and sent to Earth.
• Scientific Accident – Gained powers after a lab experiment went wrong.
• Mystical Awakening – Powers awakened through an ancient ritual or artifact.
• Technological Enhancement – Abilities gained through advanced technology or cybernetics.
• Divine Intervention – Granted powers by a deity or through divine heritage.
• Tragic Loss – Powers emerged in the aftermath of a personal tragedy.
• Genetic Mutation – Born with unique abilities due to genetic anomalies.
• Military Experiment – Powers developed as part of a secret government program.
• Cosmic Event – Exposure to cosmic rays or other celestial phenomena.
• Ancient Prophecy – Destiny foretold by an ancient prophecy.
• Parallel Universe – Originating from an alternate dimension or universe.
• Evolutionary Leap – The next step in human evolution.
• Gifted Artifact – Powers derived from a mystical or alien artifact.
• Heroic Sacrifice – Gained powers through a selfless act.
• Dark Pact – Powers granted by a pact with a dark entity.
• Mythical Bloodline – Descendant of mythological beings or heroes.
• Accidental Discovery – Stumbled upon a source of power accidentally.
• Environmental Influence – Powers developed in response to environmental factors.
• Supernatural Encounter – Gained powers after encountering a supernatural being.
• Alien Abduction – Abducted and experimented on by aliens.

20 Superhero Name Ideas

The right name captures the essence of your superhero.

Here are 20 names to inspire:

• Crimson Shadow
• Quantum Knight
• Mystic Fury
• Thunderbolt
• Solar Flare

20 Superhero Costume Ideas

Designing a superhero costume is a fantastic journey into the heart of a character’s identity.

It’s not just about looking cool – it’s about symbolism, functionality, and storytelling.

Through my own trials and errors in story creation, I’ve learned the importance of a costume that speaks volumes.

A well-thought-out costume can convey a hero’s powers, origins, and intentions without a single word.

Here’s a list of 20 innovative costume ideas to inspire your next caped crusader:

• The Elemental Robe – Combines fabrics that shift color and texture to match the hero’s elemental powers (fire, water, earth, air).
• Nano-Tech Suit – Made from advanced nanotechnology that adapts and transforms according to the hero’s needs, enhancing their powers.
• The Shadow Cloak – A cape that allows the hero to blend into shadows, becoming nearly invisible in low light.
• Eco-Armor – A suit made from sustainable materials, it grows stronger in natural environments and can harness the power of nature.
• The Vintage Vanguard – A costume that harks back to the golden age of heroes, blending classic style with modern technology.
• Galactic Gear – Space-age armor with a built-in life support system, designed for cosmic adventures.
• Urban Camo – A costume designed to blend into the cityscape, perfect for stealth missions in urban environments.
• The Light Suit – Emits bright, disorienting light to blind foes, with colors that change based on the hero’s emotions.
• Mirror Mail – Armor that reflects attacks and can create illusions to confuse enemies.
• Dragon Scale Armor – Made from mythical material, it offers unmatched protection and intimidation factor.
• Sonic Suit – Harnesses the power of sound waves, allowing the hero to fly, create shields, and attack with sonic blasts.
• Quantum Quilt – A suit that plays with the probabilities of quantum mechanics, offering unpredictable advantages.
• The Time Tapestry – A costume with time-altering abilities, allowing the hero to manipulate speed.
• Astral Attire – Allows astral projection and travel to other dimensions, shimmering with celestial energy.
• The Phantom Fabric – A suit that phases through solid objects, giving its wearer ghost-like abilities.
• Bioluminescent Bodysuit – Glows with vibrant patterns, used for communication, intimidation, and illumination.
• The Wind Walker – A costume designed for high-speed travel, reducing air resistance and enhancing agility.
• The Nature Knight – Armor that can summon and control plant life, blending into natural settings seamlessly.
• Arcane Apparel – Infused with magical properties for spell-casting superheroes, glowing with runes of power.
• The Techno Tunic – Embedded with gadgets and gizmos, it’s the ultimate toolkit for the tech-savvy hero.

20 Superhero Story Ideas

Every hero needs a compelling story, one that captivates the reader’s imagination and keeps them hooked.

Below, I’ve listed 20 superhero story ideas that promise adventure, conflict, and transformation:

• The Reluctant Hero – A story about an average Joe who inherits powers he never wanted, leading him on a path of self-discovery and heroism.
• Time-Travel Turmoil – A superhero with the ability to time travel fights to correct a timeline gone awry, facing the moral dilemmas of changing history.
• Dimensional Drifter – Follows a hero who can hop between dimensions, uncovering a plot to merge them all into chaos.
• The Last of Their Kind – Centers on a superhero who is the last survivor of an alien race, struggling to find their place on Earth.
• Powerless – In a world where everyone has superpowers, the protagonist is the only one without, using intelligence and courage to save the day.
• The Hero’s Shadow – Explores the life of a sidekick stepping out from the hero’s shadow to forge their own legacy.
• The Villain’s Redemption – A former villain seeks redemption, battling against their dark past and society’s unwillingness to forgive.
• Age of Heroes – Set in a futuristic society where heroes are manufactured, one hero starts to question the morality of their creation.
• The Forgotten Realm – A superhero discovers a hidden realm on Earth, filled with magical creatures and ancient secrets.
• Dual Identity Crisis – A hero with split personalities, each with different powers, fights crime while grappling with their own identity.
• The Unseen War – Invisible forces of good and evil battle in secret, with the fate of humanity hanging in the balance.
• Echoes of the Past – A hero with the power to see the past unravels a centuries-old mystery to prevent a future disaster.
• The Mind Meld – A superhero who can merge minds with others to share knowledge and skills faces a unique ethical dilemma.
• Rise of the Underdog – A story of a hero with seemingly insignificant powers proving that heart and determination can overcome any challenge.
• The Cosmic Custodian – A guardian of the galaxy faces threats from the cosmos, safeguarding planets and civilizations from extinction.
• Nature’s Fury – A hero connected to the Earth’s elements fights to stop an environmental apocalypse.
• The Artificial Avenger – An AI with superhero abilities questions its own existence and fights for its right to live.
• Legacy of Heroes – The descendants of legendary heroes are forced to live up to their ancestors’ legacy, finding their own path to heroism.
• The Anomaly – A hero whose powers defy the laws of physics becomes the target of a government that fears what it cannot control.
• Crossroads of Destiny – A team of heroes from different timelines and universes come together to fight a threat to all reality.

20 Superhero Weakness Ideas

Every superhero’s strength is as compelling as their vulnerability.

Crafting a hero’s weakness is crucial for adding depth and tension to your story. It humanizes them, making their journey more relatable and their battles more suspenseful.

Here are 20 ideas for superhero weaknesses that could challenge your characters in unique ways:

• Elemental Dependency – Their power wanes or strengthens based on their proximity to certain elements, like water, fire, or earth.
• Emotional Trigger – Powers that are linked to emotional states, making control difficult during emotional turmoil.
• Energy Limitation – A finite internal energy source that needs time to recharge after use, leaving them vulnerable.
• Specific Material Vulnerability – Similar to Superman’s weakness to kryptonite, a common or rare substance that weakens them or nullifies their powers.
• Power Overload – Using their abilities to their maximum potential risks severe physical or mental damage.
• Moral Compass – A strong ethical code that prevents them from taking the easiest or most effective action against villains.
• Memory Burden – Powers tied to memories, where using them risks losing those memories forever.
• Sound Sensitivity – A vulnerability to certain frequencies or volumes of sound, which can incapacitate or disorient them.
• Power Transference – Their abilities temporarily weaken or disappear when transferred to another being or object.
• Dual Existence – Their power is split between two personas or bodies, and they are weakened when separated.
• Light Dependency – Their strength varies with the level of ambient light, making them weaker at night or in darkness.
• Quantum Uncertainty – Powers that become unreliable or unpredictable under certain conditions, based on quantum mechanics.
• Psychic Feedback – Using mental powers causes painful feedback, limiting their use.
• Technological Interference – Reliance on technology that can be hacked, jammed, or otherwise tampered with by enemies.
• Natural Cycle – Powers that wax and wane with natural cycles, such as lunar phases or tides.
• Symbolic Weakness – A weakness tied to a symbol or artifact, which can control or limit their powers when present.
• Age Regression – Using their powers accelerates aging or causes them to become younger, affecting their physical or mental capacities.
• Power Imbalance – The more they use one power, the weaker another becomes, forcing them to balance their abilities carefully.
• Dimensional Displacement – Overuse of powers risks stranding them in alternate dimensions or realities.
• Aura Disruption – Their powers falter in the presence of specific individuals or creatures with auras that disrupt their abilities.

20 Superhero Weapon Ideas

Superhero weapons are extensions of the characters themselves, embodying their essence, history, and the source of their powers.

Let’s get you started with 20 superhero weapon ideas to arm your champions of justice:

• Photon Blades – Swords that can cut through almost any material, powered by concentrated light energy.
• Gravity Hammer – A hammer that can manipulate gravity, making objects or enemies heavier or weightless with a swing.
• Quantum Whip – A whip with the ability to alter its physical state, from solid to energy, adapting to any situation.
• Temporal Gun – A firearm that shoots bullets causing temporal displacement, aging targets or reverting them to a previous state.
• Molecular Gauntlets – Gloves that can rearrange molecular structures, allowing the hero to transform matter with a touch.
• Echo Shield – A shield that not only protects but can replicate and return any force or energy directed at it.
• Dimensional Bow – A bow that shoots arrows capable of opening portals to different dimensions.
• Cosmic Lasso – A lasso that can control cosmic energy, binding anything it wraps around with unbreakable force.
• Sonic Boomerangs – Boomerangs that emit debilitating sonic frequencies on impact, disorienting foes.
• Psychic Staff – A staff that amplifies psychic abilities, enabling the wielder to project illusions or control minds at a distance.
• Nebula Nunchaku – Nunchaku infused with star energy, capable of unleashing devastating cosmic blasts with each strike.
• Ether Daggers – Daggers that phase through solid matter, striking at the essence of an opponent.
• Windscythe – A scythe that can command the winds, slicing through air with such force it creates vacuums.
• Plasma Pistols – Dual handguns that fire concentrated plasma, melting or vaporizing targets on contact.
• Arcane Amulet – An amulet that channels magical energy, casting spells or summoning creatures to aid in battle.
• Tidal Trident – A trident that controls water, capable of summoning tidal waves or creating whirlpools.
• Void Cannon – A cannon that fires blasts of dark energy, absorbing anything in its path into a void space.
• Inferno Whip – A whip made of fire, able to ignite anything and control the shape and intensity of flames.
• Lightning Rod – A rod that can summon and direct lightning strikes, harnessing the power of storms.
• Harmonic Harp – A harp whose music can manipulate emotions, heal allies, or cause disarray among enemies.

20 Superhero Sidekick Ideas

Sidekicks are more than just secondary characters; they often provide critical emotional support, have intriguing backstories, and sometimes grow to heroes in their own right.

Here are 20 sidekick concepts:

• Echo – The sidekick who can mimic any sound or voice perfectly.
• Shade – A master of shadows, able to blend into darkness.
• Glimmer – Can manipulate light to become invisible or create dazzling displays.
• Tinker – A genius with technology, crafting gadgets and vehicles.
• Rift – Has the ability to open portals for quick escapes or surprise attacks.
• Flicker – Can move at high speeds for very short bursts, almost teleporting.
• Tempest – A young weather manipulator, still learning to control their powers.
• Quark – Can alter the size of objects, including themselves.
• Muse – Inspires others, boosting their abilities or healing them.
• Pulse – Generates powerful energy waves from their body.
• Scribe – Can bring anything they draw to life.
• Wisp – A spirit-like sidekick who can phase through walls.
• Guardian – A protective figure with a shield that can absorb any attack.
• Bolt – Harnesses electricity, both as a weapon and a power source.
• Haven – Can create protective bubbles around others.
• Rune – Uses ancient symbols to cast spells or summon creatures.
• Glitch – Can manipulate digital and electronic systems.
• Charm – Uses luck-based powers to cause improbable events to occur.
• Echo – Specializes in sonic attacks and communication.
• Legacy – Inherits a minor version of the hero’s powers, eager to prove themselves.

20 Superhero Catchphrases

A great catchphrase can capture the essence of a superhero, their mission, and personality in just a few words.

Here’s a list of 20 catchy and iconic sayings:

• “Justice, at the speed of light!”
• “Shadows fear me.”
• “In brightness or darkness, I stand ready.”
• “For the future we forge!”
• “No evil goes unseen.”
• “Beyond the impossible!”
• “Silence speaks louder than words.”
• “Time waits for no hero.”
• “Nature’s fury, unleashed!”
• “From the ashes, we rise.”
• “The last line of defense.”
• “Courage, in the face of darkness.”
• “The balance must be maintained.”
• “Technology is a tool, not a tyrant.”
• “Beware the silent strike.”
• “A storm is coming.”
• “The past is prologue.”
• “Every end has a new beginning.”
• “Innovation for inspiration.”
• “Unity is our strength.”

20 Superhero Hideout Locations

The hideout or headquarters of a superhero is not just a place to hang their cape — it’s a sanctuary, a lab, a strategic meeting place, and sometimes, a character in its own right.

Check out these 20 hideout ideas:

• Beneath a bustling city, in abandoned subway tunnels.
• A high-tech lab hidden in plain sight as a common storefront.
• An ancient temple in a remote jungle, concealed by illusion.
• A mobile base in the form of an innocuous vehicle.
• A refurbished missile silo, deep underground.
• An arctic fortress, accessible only by air or sea.
• A floating island, kept aloft by advanced technology or magic.
• A disguised bunker within a mountain’s heart.
• An invisible space station orbiting Earth.
• A secret room within a bustling museum.
• A serene garden hidden within a city’s chaos, shielded from prying eyes.
• A castle ruin on a fog-shrouded hilltop.
• Underwater domed city in the depths of the ocean.
• A mirrored tower in the desert, reflecting the sky and sand to remain unseen.
• An old lighthouse, harboring secrets beyond its light.
• A dimensional pocket, accessible through a hidden door.
• A sprawling library, with more than books hidden in its shelves.
• A ghost town, reclaimed and refurbished.
• Inside an active volcano, harnessing its power.
• A network of interconnected safe houses across the globe.

20 Superhero Team Dynamics

The chemistry between team members can make or break a superhero squad.

Let’s go over 20 dynamics that can add depth and conflict to your team’s story:

• The Mentor and the Protégé – A veteran hero guides the new generation, offering wisdom and occasionally tough love.
• The Rival Turned Ally – Former enemies who must learn to trust each other for the greater good.
• The Brains and the Brawn – One member supplies the muscle, while another devises the plans, highlighting their complementary skills.
• The Moral Compass and the Realist – Ethical debates arise between the idealist who believes in doing right at all costs and the pragmatist who focuses on outcomes.
• The Secret Keeper – One member has a secret that could change everything, creating tension and potential betrayal.
• The Odd Couple – Polar opposites in personality and method, they somehow make an effective team.
• The Lone Wolf – Prefers to work alone but is undeniably part of the team, struggling with their need for independence versus the strength found in unity.
• The Heart – The emotional center who keeps the team’s spirits up and maintains peace.
• The Sibling Rivalry – Actual or figurative siblings who compete but deeply care for each other.
• The Old Flame – Past romantic history adds complexity to teamwork and decision-making.
• The Comic Relief – Uses humor to diffuse tension, sometimes hiding deeper insecurities or pain.
• The Mysterious Past – A member with a hidden background that slowly unfolds, affecting team trust and cohesion.
• The Tech Support – Relies on gadgets and intelligence, often saving the day from the sidelines.
• The Natural Leader – Charismatic and wise, often shouldering the burden of decision-making.
• The Doubter – Questions the team’s actions and purpose, pushing them to justify their mission.
• The Newbie – Fresh and eager, their learning curve is steep but brings new energy and perspective.
• The Redeemed Villain – Their path to heroism is fraught with challenges, both internal and from those who can’t forget their past.
• The Unwilling Hero – Pulled into the fray against their will, they often question if the hero’s life is for them.
• The Powerhouse – The most physically powerful member, whose strength is both an asset and a potential threat.
• The Strategist – Plans several moves ahead, often acting as the team’s unofficial leader in battle situations.

20 Superhero Gadgets and Tech

In a world where superpowers are the norm, technology and gadgets can level the playing field or give heroes the edge they need.

Here are 20 innovative gadgets and pieces of tech for your hero’s arsenal:

• Grav Boots – Allow the wearer to defy gravity, enabling them to walk on walls or ceilings.
• Holo-Disguiser – Projects holographic disguises, perfect for undercover missions.
• Nano-Med Kit – Uses nanotechnology to heal injuries at an accelerated pace.
• Quantum Communicator – Enables secure communication across dimensions or through time.
• Energy Shields – Portable devices that project protective barriers.
• Memory Stick – A device that can download and store human memories for later viewing.
• EMP Grenades – Temporarily disable electronic devices and enemy tech.
• Spectral Visor – Allows the wearer to see in various spectrums, including infrared and ultraviolet.
• Molecular Printer – Creates objects by assembling them at the molecular level, from weapons to food.
• Teleportation Pad – A portable pad that allows for instant travel to pre-set locations.
• Cloaking Device – Renders the user invisible to the naked eye and radar.
• Time Dilation Watch – Slows down or speeds up time within a small bubble.
• Atmospheric Adapter – A device that allows the wearer to survive in any environment, from underwater to space.
• Psychic Dampener – Protects the wearer from psychic attacks and mind reading.
• Gravity Gun – Manipulates gravity, allowing objects to be made lighter or heavier.
• Portable Wormhole Generator – Creates small wormholes for quick escapes or as a weapon.
• Sonic Blaster – Emits powerful sound waves capable of stunning or incapacitating foes.
• AI Assistant – A wearable AI that provides real-time data analysis and tactical advice.
• Magnetic Gauntlets – Can attract or repel metal objects, useful for both offense and defense.
• Regenerative Armor – Armor that repairs itself and adapts to counteract the last damage source.

20 Superhero Allies and Supporters

Behind every great hero stands a network of allies and supporters who provide essential aid, whether through information, resources, or moral encouragement.

These characters enrich the narrative and offer heroes additional dimensions of interaction and growth.

• The Tech Genius – Offers cutting-edge gadgets and technological support.
• The Wise Mentor – Provides guidance and trains the hero in combat or control of their powers.
• The Government Liaison – A link to official agencies, navigating the bureaucracy for the hero.
• The Informant – Delivers crucial information about villain activities or plots.
• The Medical Miracle – A doctor or scientist capable of treating injuries that defy conventional medicine.
• The Financial Backer – Funds the hero’s activities, ensuring they have the resources they need.
• The Librarian – Guards ancient texts and knowledge, assisting with research on mystical threats.
• The Mechanic – Keeps the hero’s vehicles and equipment in top condition.
• The Publicist – Manages the hero’s public image and deals with media relations.
• The Diplomat – Helps navigate intergalactic politics and alien cultures.
• The Streetwise Friend – Provides insight into the city’s underworld and helps gather street-level intelligence.
• The Legal Eagle – Offers legal assistance, helping to navigate the complexities of law as a superhero.
• The Cosmic Guide – An ally from another planet or dimension, offering wisdom and perspective on cosmic threats.
• The Supernatural Expert – Specializes in occult and mystical threats, providing guidance and protection.
• The Hacker – Can infiltrate any system, gathering digital intelligence and disrupting enemy communications.
• The Trainer – Specializes in physical and mental conditioning, helping heroes reach their peak potential.
• The Spy – Operates in the shadows, conducting surveillance and covert operations.
• The Peacekeeper – Works to resolve conflicts without violence, offering solutions that preserve peace.
• The Historian – Provides context and insight into ancient evils or long-forgotten lore.
• The Inventor – Creates new technologies and solutions, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.

20 Superhero Rivalries

Rivalries add a dynamic tension to the superhero narrative, challenging the protagonist and providing compelling conflicts that drive personal growth and plot advancement.

• Mirror Match – A rival with similar powers, challenging the hero’s uniqueness.
• The Antithesis – Represents everything the hero opposes, challenging their morals and beliefs.
• The Prodigy – A younger, more reckless version of the hero, challenging their methods and legacy.
• The Old Friend – A former ally turned rival, creating emotional conflict and moral dilemmas.
• The Superior – A more powerful, experienced opponent, challenging the hero to exceed their limits.
• The Shadow – Operates from the darkness, challenging the hero’s ability to protect those they love.
• The Nemesis – A personal villain, intertwined with the hero’s backstory and motivations.
• The Copycat – Mimics the hero’s identity, challenging their public image and legitimacy.
• The Mercenary – A neutral force, offering challenges for hire, complicating the hero’s missions.
• The Unpredictable – Chaotic and random, making it hard for the hero to anticipate their moves.
• The Ideologue – Driven by a conflicting ideology, offering intellectual and moral challenges.
• The Relentless – Never gives up, constantly challenging the hero’s endurance and determination.
• The Betrayer – Once trusted, now a foe, revealing weaknesses and secrets.
• The Underdog – Lacks power but compensates with cunning and determination, challenging the hero’s underestimation.
• The Juggernaut – Unstoppable force, challenging the hero’s ability to find innovative solutions.
• The Mastermind – Always several steps ahead, challenging the hero’s intelligence and strategic thinking.
• The Natural Disaster – Represents an elemental or natural force, challenging the hero’s ability to protect civilians.
• The Doppelgänger – A clone or exact replica, challenging the hero’s sense of self and identity.
• The Outcast – Rejected by society, challenging the hero’s understanding of justice and redemption.
• The Legacy – Inherits a vendetta or mission from the past, challenging the hero’s future.

20 Superhero Secret Identities

The dual life of a superhero adds complexity and intrigue to their character, challenging them to balance heroics with normalcy.

Here are 20 ideas for secret identities that offer unique challenges and storytelling opportunities:

• The Investigative Journalist – Always close to the action, seeking the truth while hiding their own.
• The High School Teacher – Molding young minds by day, protecting the city by night.
• The Corporate Executive – Uses their wealth and influence for good, all while leading a double life.
• The Small-Town Sheriff – Upholds justice in both their public role and as a masked hero.
• The Medical Doctor – Saves lives in the hospital and on the streets, blending their two callings.
• The Struggling Artist – Channels their observations of humanity into art, while secretly fighting to protect it.
• The Freelance Programmer – Behind their computer screen, they’re just another coder, but their skills serve a greater cause.
• The Professional Athlete – Uses their physical prowess for sport and justice, balancing fame with secrecy.
• The Retired Veteran – A past filled with service continues in a new, covert way.
• The Social Worker – Dedicated to helping the vulnerable by day and by night.
• The Urban Explorer – Their hobby provides the perfect cover for scoping out the city’s secrets.
• The Librarian – Quietly curating knowledge while fighting ignorance on a grand scale.
• The Farmer – Grounded in the earth they protect, their simple life belies their heroic deeds.
• The Barista – Serving up justice along with coffee, keeping their ear to the ground in the community.
• The Antique Dealer – A collector of secrets and relics, some of which are key to their heroics.
• The Environmental Scientist – Fighting to save the planet in more ways than one.
• The Travel Blogger – Their adventures hide the true purpose of their global travels.
• The Taxi Driver – Has an ear to the ground and a deep knowledge of the city’s streets.
• The Kindergarten Teacher – Nurtures the next generation while protecting the world they’ll inherit.
• The Dog Walker – Their unassuming job provides the perfect cover for daytime reconnaissance.

20 Superhero Training Regimens

The path to becoming a superhero often requires rigorous training, both physical and mental.

Here are 20 training regimen ideas that can help shape your characters into the heroes they’re destined to be:

• Virtual Reality Combat – Advanced simulations that prepare heroes for any battle scenario.
• Meditation and Mind Control – Techniques to enhance mental fortitude and control powers.
• Parkour and Urban Navigation – Training in agility and movement for city-based heroes.
• Intergalactic Survival Skills – Preparing heroes for threats and environments beyond Earth.
• Ancient Martial Arts – Mastering old fighting styles that complement their powers.
• Elemental Control – Harnessing and refining control over natural elements or their specific power source.
• Stealth and Espionage – Moving unseen and gathering information without detection.
• Power Limitation – Learning to scale back their abilities to avoid collateral damage.
• Dimensional Awareness – Training to navigate and survive in alternate dimensions or realities.
• Enhanced Senses Training – Sharpening their natural senses to superhuman levels.
• Psychic Defense – Protecting their minds from invasion and psychic attacks.
• Gadget and Tech Mastery – Becoming proficient with a range of technological tools and weapons.
• Disaster Scenario Planning – Preparing for and managing large-scale emergencies or catastrophes.
• Teamwork and Leadership – Fostering cooperation and leadership skills within superhero teams.
• Cultural Etiquette – Learning to navigate different societies and cultures, on Earth and beyond.
• Ethical Decision Making – Wrestling with the moral implications of their actions and powers.
• Public Speaking – Managing their image and communicating effectively with the public.
• First Aid and Field Medicine – Providing care in the heat of battle when no one else can.
• Energy Management – Learning to conserve and effectively use their power over long battles.
• Time Management – Balancing their dual identities and responsibilities without burning out.

20 Superhero Public Perception Scenarios

Public perception plays a critical role in a superhero’s effectiveness and the challenges they face.

Read through these 20 scenarios exploring the complex relationship between heroes and the societies they protect:

• Celebrated Hero – Adored by the public, this hero must navigate fame while maintaining their secret identity.
• Misunderstood Vigilante – Seen as a menace, they struggle to prove their intentions are good.
• Symbol of Hope – Represents a beacon of hope in troubled times, carrying the weight of public expectation.
• Feared Powerhouse – Their immense power makes the public uneasy, despite their heroic deeds.
• Government Sanctioned – Officially recognized and regulated, they face bureaucracy and political games.
• Underground Legend – Known only in certain circles, they become a folk hero to the marginalized.
• Corporate Hero – Sponsored by corporations, they must balance public relations with genuine heroism.
• International Diplomat – Works across borders, dealing with various cultural perceptions of heroism.
• Media Darling – A hero who’s frequently in the spotlight, facing the challenges of fame and public scrutiny.
• Reluctant Celebrity – Thrust into the limelight unwillingly, struggling with the responsibilities of influence.
• Anonymous Guardian – Operates in the shadows, with the public unaware of their guardian angel.
• Discredited Hero – Once revered, now doubted, they work to rebuild trust and clear their name.
• Fallen Idol – A hero who made a public mistake, dealing with the fallout and seeking redemption.
• Divisive Figure – Polarizes public opinion, hailed as a hero by some and a villain by others.
• Mythic Entity – Considered more legend than reality, they work from the fringes of society.
• Youth Icon – Appeals to the younger generation, becoming a role model and symbol of the future.
• Enemy of the State – Viewed as a threat by authorities, they operate outside the law for the greater good.
• Champion of the Oppressed – Fights for the downtrodden, challenging societal norms and injustice.
• Forgotten Hero – Once celebrated, now overshadowed by new heroes, they strive to remain relevant.
• The Protector – Known for their unwavering defense of the city, they’re a fixture of local lore and pride.

20 Superhero Moral Dilemmas

Moral dilemmas test a hero’s character, presenting them with choices where the right path isn’t always clear.

These scenarios deepen the story’s thematic elements and challenge both the hero and the reader:

• Save the Villain – Choosing between saving a villain from certain death or letting them perish.
• Collateral Damage – Deciding whether to stop a disaster that would save thousands but harm a few.
• Secret Identity Exposure – Risking their secret identity to save someone they love.
• The Greater Good – Whether to sacrifice an innocent to prevent a greater evil.
• Justice vs. Revenge – Struggling with the desire for personal revenge versus upholding the law.
• Loyalty or Duty – Torn between allegiance to a friend or their duty as a hero.
• Power Abuse – The temptation to use powers for personal gain or to manipulate outcomes.
• Mercy or Punishment – Deciding a villain’s fate, balancing justice with mercy.
• Freedom vs. Security – Supporting measures that increase security but limit personal freedoms.
• Truth or Peace – Revealing a painful truth that could destroy peace or keeping silent for harmony’s sake.
• Civilian Safety – Choosing to prioritize civilian safety or capturing a dangerous villain.
• Resource Allocation – Deciding where to focus efforts in a crisis with multiple threats.
• Forgiveness – Choosing whether to forgive those who have wronged them or their loved ones.
• The Lesser Evil – Aligning with a lesser villain to defeat a more significant threat.
• Obedience to Authority – Following orders that conflict with personal morals or taking a stand.
• Protecting the Guilty – Defending someone who’s guilty of a crime to uphold the principle of justice.
• Sacrificing Freedom – Giving up their freedom or powers to ensure the safety of others.
• Legacy vs. Present – Upholding the legacy of a mentor or making decisions that contradict their teachings but are necessary for the current situation.
• Personal Happiness vs. Duty – The hero faces a choice between pursuing personal happiness or continuing their duties as a hero, understanding the sacrifices involved.
• Inaction as a Choice – Deciding whether to intervene in a situation where their involvement could make things worse, weighing the consequences of action versus inaction.

20 Superhero Villain Confrontations

The confrontations between heroes and villains are pivotal moments that define both characters.

Below, I’ve collected some of the best superhero ideas for villain confrontations:

• The Final Standoff – A climactic battle that decides the fate of the city, testing the hero’s limits.
• The Ideological Debate – A confrontation where words are the weapons, challenging each other’s beliefs and motivations.
• The Public Showdown – A fight that unfolds in front of the city’s citizens, influencing public perception.
• The Personal Duel – A battle driven by personal vendettas, adding emotional weight to the confrontation.
• The Trap – The hero walks into a well-laid trap, requiring cunning and resourcefulness to escape.
• The Team-Up – Temporarily joining forces with a villain to combat a greater threat, testing trust and morals.
• The Rescue Mission – The hero must save hostages or a loved one from the villain’s clutches.
• The Stealth Operation – A covert mission to thwart the villain’s plans without direct confrontation.
• The Race Against Time – Both hero and villain racing to secure an object or location of power.
• The War of Attrition – A prolonged battle that tests the hero’s endurance and resolve.
• The Psychological Battle – A confrontation that targets the hero’s mind, exploiting fears and doubts.
• The Dimensional Rift – A fight that spans different dimensions or timelines, adding complexity to the battle.
• The Power Struggle – A clash that revolves around gaining or losing control over their powers.
• The Unlikely Alliance – Teaming up with a lesser villain to take down a mutual threat, navigating uneasy alliances.
• The Moral Quandary – A situation where the hero must make a difficult moral choice during the confrontation.
• The Public Betrayal – The villain reveals the hero’s secrets or true identity to the world during their clash.
• The Underdog Fight – The hero is significantly outmatched, relying on wits and strategy over strength.
• The Redemption Arc – A confrontation that leads to the possibility of redemption for the villain.
• The Environmental Hazard – A battle that takes place in a dangerous setting, adding natural obstacles to the fight.
• The Sacrifice – A confrontation that requires the hero to make a significant sacrifice to ensure victory or protect others.

20 Superhero Legacy Issues

The concept of legacy plays a significant role in the superhero genre, addressing the weight of past achievements and the responsibility of carrying on a mantle.

Here are ideas to spark your own creativity:

• Assuming the Mantle – A new hero takes up the legacy of a retired or fallen hero, struggling with comparisons and expectations.
• The Worthy Successor – Proving themselves as a worthy successor to a legendary hero or family legacy.
• The Tarnished Legacy – A hero must cleanse the tarnished reputation of their predecessor or mentor.
• Legacy of Villainy – Born into a legacy of villainy, a hero fights to make their own name for good.
• The Forgotten Hero – Rediscovering and reviving the legacy of a forgotten hero from the past.
• The Reluctant Heir – Inheriting a heroic mantle they never wanted, a character grapples with their destiny.
• The Divided Legacy – Siblings or relatives contest the right to carry on a heroic legacy.
• The Stolen Identity – A villain assumes a hero’s identity, challenging the original to reclaim their legacy.
• The Legacy Weapon – A weapon or item of great power passed down through generations, central to the hero’s power.
• The Historical Hero – A hero from the past is resurrected or time-travels to the present, confronting a world that has moved on.
• The Legacy of Power – Powers passed down through a family, with each generation facing new challenges and threats.
• The Cross-Generational Team – Heroes of different eras unite, blending old and new approaches to heroism and facing challenges that span time.
• The Legacy Curse – A hero is burdened with a family curse, struggling to use their powers for good while combating the curse’s drawbacks.
• The Mentor’s Shadow – Living up to the expectations set by a mentor’s legendary deeds, while trying to forge a unique path.
• The Reclaimed Honor – After a family or team’s name is dragged through the mud, a hero strives to restore honor and prove their true intentions.
• The Unwilling Torchbearer – A character who never aspired to be a hero is thrust into the role by circumstance, carrying on a legacy they never sought.
• The Secret Legacy – Uncovering a hidden family legacy of heroism or villainy, prompting a journey of self-discovery.
• The Legacy Wars – Conflicting legacies vie for dominance or recognition, leading to battles that test the heroes’ resolve and principles.
• The Evolving Legacy – As society changes, the hero’s legacy must adapt, facing challenges that previous generations could never have imagined.
• The Eternal Guardian – A hero who has become a timeless legacy, facing the challenges of maintaining their ideals in an ever-changing world.

Before you go, watch this video about how to create a superhero story:

Final Thoughts: Superhero Ideas for Storytellers

For even more information about writing superheroes, check out our other writing guides below.

• How To Write a Superhero Story (Ultimate Guide + Examples)
• 200 Ideas for a Country Song (Cool, Creative, Unique)
• 150+ Christmas Story Ideas, Tips & Prompts (Fun & Festive)
• What Are the 3 Best Ways To Generate Ideas for a Writing Project? (Solved)

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Heroes and Villains: Creative/Imaginative Writing (Describe and Narrate)

Subject: English

Age range: 7-11

Resource type: Lesson (complete)

Last updated

27 January 2023

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An action packed adventure lesson based on heroes and villains. Key Elements:

• Recognition of key character traits and how to apply a range of language features to describe.
• Designing a superhero or villain, using the various resources provided.
• Crafting an imaginative description, focusing on how to use a range of sentence types for effect, using the resources provided.

Resources include:

• ‘Guess Who’ Heroes and Villains worksheet with images.
• A female superhero template.
• A male superhero template.
• A captivating 21 page PowerPoint.

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Walking by the Way

the road to inspired learning

Save the Day with These Super Hero Writing Prompts

November 15, 2021 by ami Leave a Comment

Do you need a new  creative writing activity  for your students?

Motivate your students to think and write creatively with these  super hero writing prompts .

Superhero Creative Writing Prompts

The superhero writing prompt cards include these twelve imagination-boosting writing prompts:

• You can choose ONE super power. What would it be? Why?
• Design your superhero costume. Draw and label the different parts of it and explain why you made the choices you made.
• Write a silly story about a superhero whose powers don’t work correctly.
• Everyone you know has a super power except for your friend, Mandy. Why doesn’t Mandy have a superpower yet? When will she get it? What will it be?
• Write a letter to your favorite superhero.

• Pretend you are a superhero. Write about the day you lost your superpowers (or had them stolen)!
• Write five rules that all superheroes should live by.
• Some superheroes have sidekicks (like Batman and Robin). Imagine one of your pets as your sidekick. Write about an adventure you have together.
• An evil villain is plotting to take over the world. Describe his sinister plan. Use details.

• Make a list of five things you would do if you were a superhero.
• Poll the people you know and ask them who their favorite superhero is. Who was the most popular choice? Why do you think that is?
• Make a list of ten unlikely superpowers. (Example: I once knew a superhero who could eat 532 hotdogs in two seconds!)

How to Use the Superhero Writing Prompts

You can use these superhero writing prompt cards with a variety of ages.

Directions:

• Print the prompt cards and word bank. Cut out the cards.
• Laminate the cards for durability. If desired, hole punch the cards and add them to a metal ring .
• Consider reading a superhero themed book (or books) to your student.
• Let your student choose a card. (If you are homeschooling, you could add a bit of mystery by putting the cards in a jar and letting your student draw a card.)
• If your student has a hard time writing, ask questions and dialogue ideas together before your student begins.
• Decide if you want to give your student a guideline (This needs to be at least four sentences.) If you do, be clear about your expectation.

Inspire Creative Writing with These Superhero Themed Books

To give your students extra inspiration for their responses to the superhero writing prompts, try reading some of these picture books before writing time.

• Dex: The Heart of a Hero by Caralyn Buehner
• Super Stan by Matt Robertson
• Superhero Instruction Manual by Kristy Dempsey
• The Three Little Superpigs by Claire Evans
• Ten Rules of Being a Superhero by Deb Pilutti

Download Your Free Superhero Writing Prompts

Subscribe to Walking by the Way’s Newsletter in order to grab this free creative writing activity.

More Creative Writing Lessons and Activities for Your Student

If you are looking for additional creative writing lessons for your student, try some of these:

• Use a Picture Book Teach the Story Element of Conflict
• Write Backstories for Fairy Tale Characters
• Mystery Writing Prompts

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creative writing: from greek gods to modern superheroes.

Subjects

Grade

Brief Description

Students use critical thinking to compare Greek gods, goddesses, heroes and myths to modern superheroes. Then they create and write about special characters who aid the modern world.

Objectives

Students will:

• Explore Greek myths and associated heroes, gods and goddesses
• Consider the take-away lessons from these stories
• Compare the themes and messages of Greek myths with those of modern superheroes
• Write descriptions of new characters to add to the Greek “pantheon”

Keywords

Greek, gods, goddesses, Olympus, Titans, heroes, myths, mythology, superheroes, writing

Materials Needed

• Computers with Internet access or texts on Greek mythology (teachers should preview all sources for age-appropriateness or print out selected sources in advance of the lesson)
• Computers with word processing or a Gods and Heroes Profile sheet printed out for each student, along with pens or pencils  

Lesson Plan

Greek gods and heroes are the subjects of some of the great myths in history. Their exploits have been shared for centuries through spoken word, written poetry and prose, and even stage and film productions. The classic tales of good versus evil are timeless, as is the public’s thirst for exciting narratives about heroes and their triumphs. The Titans (the most well-known of the Greek gods and goddesses) laid the foundation for the superheroes we enjoy today.

Start by introducing the religion of ancient Greece.

The ancient Greeks were polytheistic , meaning they worshiped multiple gods. They also told many stories (myths) about the gods, which were meant to guide human behavior and teach about the relationship between gods and humans.

Some of the main characters in the Greek “pantheon” (collection of gods and goddesses) include:

Zeus , the thunder god and ruler of the gods Poseidon , sea god Hades , god of the underworld Persephone , queen of the underworld Hephaestus , god of fire (blacksmithing) Hermes , messenger Ares , god of war Apollo , god of light, linked to Helios, the sun Dionysus , god of wine and fertility Hera , wife of Zeus, queen of the gods Aphrodite , goddess of love In addition to gods and goddesses, the Greeks included many heroes in their myths. Heroes were either human or demigods (the offspring of a human and a god or goddess).

Since the Greek pantheon is large and complex, you might want to have students explore a “family tree” of gods and heroes to see how they are all related.

Here is another student-friendly source for basic information about Greek gods .

Separately, teachers may want to reference History.com for more information, and the videos below provide a quick rundown of the more noteworthy gods and some of their achievements.  

Once you feel students have a good handle on “who’s who” in the world of Greek gods, consider playing a Greek god bingo game as a form of review.

Next, introduce selected myths.

A good source written for young people is Kidipede: Greek Myths .

NOTE : Even when written for children, Greek myths contain mature content such as violence and death; curses; sexuality, polygamy and infidelity; slavery and human sacrifice. It is highly recommended that you preview myths to assess their appropriateness for your students.

The following myths are recommended choices, since they have clear take-away lessons, and because violent elements and other mature content are a bit less prominent (though certainly still present). Decide whether you will allow students to access these links themselves, or whether you will print out the stories ahead of time.

Pandora   – With hardship comes hope Daedalus and Icarus  – Plan ahead and don’t take unreasonable risks Medusa  – The importance of respect Judgment of Paris   – What should you value most -- wisdom, power or beauty? Arachne   – Pride comes before the fall Kleobis and Biton  – Being selfless Arion and the Dolphins  – No bad deed goes unpunished Achilles  – Everybody has a weakness; be careful what you wish for Phaedra   – The importance of self-control Theseus   – Bravery can accomplish great things

Discuss the following:

• How are male characters different from female characters? (Do males and females have comparable powers and status?)
• How are heroes different from gods and goddesses?
• What lesson is each god, goddess or hero’s story meant to teach humans?
• What themes do you find are common to various myths?
• What weaknesses do the characters have, and what mistakes do they make?
• Do any of the characters redeem themselves after making mistakes?

Next, discuss how themes present in Greek myths are echoed by modern superheroes and associated fiction, comic books and movies.

NOTE: As students discuss and research popular movies and comic-book characters, they are likely to encounter mature material including violent content and skimpy superhero attire. Before proceeding, preview content and consider whether direct Internet access is appropriate for your students.

Consider superhero films from the past few years that have been based on DC Comics and Marvel Comics characters:

Batman Begins (2005); The Dark Knight (2008) Fantastic Four (2005); Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007) Superman Returns (2006) X Men: The Last Stand (2006); X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009); X-Men: First Class (2011) Ghost Rider (2007); Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2012) Spider-Man 3 (2007) Iron Man (2008); Iron Man 2 (2010) Incredible Hulk (2008) Watchmen (2009) Jonah Hex (2010) Green Lantern (2011) Green Hornet (2011) Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Have students guess how much money these 19 films have grossed in total ( according to Wikipedia , which it should be noted may not be 100% accurate, the total figure is $7,272,851,573—that’s over 7 billion dollars). What does this dollar figure tell us about the modern popularity of “Greek god-like” superheroes?

NOTE : The list of recent superhero movies will change rapidly, and new box-office figures will continue to be added. You might ask students to choose a particular span of years and calculate an updated dollar figure.

Have students guess the highest-grossing and lowest-grossing movie on the above list. (The highest-grossing was the Batman movie Dark Knight [2008], which brought in over a billion; Spider-Man 3 was a close second with about 890 million. The lowest-grossing film was Jonah Hex [2010], which brought in a little over 10 million.) Ask students to speculate regarding the reasons behind the popularity of the highest-grossing movies. Obviously the production quality of a film and its level of critical acclaim have a lot to do with its commercial success, but do you think the characters and stories of Batman and Spider-Man are more compelling than the stories of the other superheroes featured on film? If so, why?

Superheroes almost always begin as ordinary humans who later acquire special powers. In their pre-superhero lives, these humans often are outcasts or “nerds.” Many have also experienced personal tragedies, challenges or setbacks. Superheroes are known for fighting evil, whether in the form of human criminals or supervillains, so gaining superhero status allows tragic individuals to redeem themselves and/or avenge wrongs. Good examples of outcasts-turned-superheroes are Spider-Man, Rogue (from X-Men) and Captain America. Batman does not have special powers per se, but prior to taking on his superhero persona, he witnesses the murders of his parents. Are the themes of redemption and vengeance also present in Greek myths? How are the motivations of superheroes similar to, or different from, those of Greek gods, goddesses and heroes?

Consider the role of female superheroes in the above movies. Although certainly fewer in number than male characters, a few noteworthy ones include Sue Storm Richards ( The Invisible Girl/Woman from the Fantastic Four), Natasha Romanova ( Black Widow , one of the Avengers, appeared in Iron Man 2 ), Rogue and Storm (X-Men), and the Silk Spectre (Watchmen). How are these characters different from their male counterparts?

Finally, ask each student to create his/her own modern character (god, goddess or hero) to add to the Greek pantheon. (For a longer, essay-style assignment, give students computer/word processing access. For a shorter assignment, print out a Gods and Heroes Profile for each student to fill out by hand.)

The new god, goddess or hero should fall into the hierarchy of the Greek pantheon but rule an aspect of modern life (think about things that didn’t exist in ancient Greece, such as cars and electronic devices). Might the modern world need a new god or goddess to control highway traffic, keep kids off drugs, prevent cyber-bullying, govern television broadcasts, influence fashion trends, promote healthy eating, bring white-collar criminals to justice, promote human rights in developing countries, or help working mothers?

Students should come up with a name for the character, as well as a list of special abilities such as super speed, mental telepathy, etc. You might want to challenge male students to create female characters, and female students to create male characters.

Each character’s profile should include:

• Character name
• Is s/he a god, goddess or hero?
• If s/he is a god, what does s/he rule?
• What is his/her primary weapon, symbol or tool?
• What special abilities (super speed, able to control electricity, etc.) does s/he have?
• How/why did s/he come into being, and how does s/he help in the modern world?
• What weaknesses does s/he have, or what challenges does s/he face?
• What lesson does s/he teach humans?

Extend the lesson:

• Ask students to present their character profiles to the class. Take it a step further by having students use a comparison chart template or Venn Diagram to guide discussion of the following:  How is your character similar to, or different from, a particular Greek god, goddess or hero? How is your character similar to, or different from, a particular superhero?
• Have students write an essay comparing a recent superhero movie with a Greek myth that shares similar themes. Plot synopses for superhero movies can be found at IMDB .
• Have each student illustrate his/her character or create a short comic strip featuring the character. Post character profiles and illustrations on a bulletin board.
• Scan students’ illustrations and post them on a class Web page. Or, hold a contest where other classes vote on their favorite new character created by your students. Feature the winning illustration and character profile on your school’s Web site.

Assessment

Evaluate students in terms of the following:

• Participation in class discussion
• Writing quality
• Knowledge gained about the Greek pantheon
• Creativity in creating new characters
• (If applicable) Effort put into character illustration  

Lesson Plan Source

EducationWorld

Submitted By

Jason Tomaszewski, EducationWorld Associate Editor

National Standards

English Grades K-12 NL-ENG.K-12.4 Communication Skills NL-ENG.K-12.5 Communication Strategies NL-ENG.K-12.6 Applying Knowledge NL-ENG.K-12.9 Multicultural Understanding NL-ENG.K-12.12 Applying Language Skills

World History Grades 5-12 NSS-WH.5-12.1 Era 1: The Beginnings of Human Society NSS-WH.5-12.2 Era 2: Early Civilizations and the Emergence of Pastoral Peoples 4000-1000 BCE NSS-WH.5-12.3 Era 3: Classical Traditions, Major Religions, and Giant Empires 1000 BCE-300 CE

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Sign up for our free weekly newsletter and receive top education news, lesson ideas, teaching tips and more! No thanks, I don't need to stay current on what works in education! COPYRIGHT 1996-2016 BY EDUCATION WORLD, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. COPYRIGHT 1996 - 2024 BY EDUCATION WORLD, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. SchoolNotes.com The Educator's Network BRYN DONOVAN tell your stories, love your life Writing Inspiration Semi-Charmed Life Reading & Research Works In Progress. Master List of Physical Description for Writers I created this list of ways to describe people because physical description, when done well, helps the readers see characters in their minds. But sometimes when you’re in the middle of writing, it can be hard to think of physical adjectives and distinguishing features for characters. I find that describing facial features can be especially tricky! This long list of physical characteristics is kind of like a character description generator, and it’ll help you when you’re trying to think of how to describe a character’s appearance. Eyes – General  For all the words about describing facial features, I’m focusing more on physical descriptions rather than emotional expressions, though there’s a little crossover! You can also check out my long list of facial expressions. heavy-lidded fringed with long lashes with sweeping eyelashes with thick eyelashes By the way, this post on how to describe (and not describe) the eyes of an Asian character  is really great. Check it out. Eyes – Color Brown is the most common eye color by far. Green is quite rare. chocolate brown cocoa brown coffee brown sienna brown Support My Site If you like what I do, please support me on Ko-fi! cornflower blue Arctic blue glacial blue crystal blue electric blue slate blue / slate gray storm blue / storm gray silver / silver gray concrete gray gunmetal gray Skin – Color Josh Roby made a great chart of skin tones and descriptor words, and I got a lot of these words from him. You can get that here . The quote from N.K. Jemisin interested me: “I get really tired of seeing African-descended characters described in terms of the goods that drove, and still drive, the slave trade—coffee, chocolate, brown sugar. There’s some weird psychosocial baggage attached to that.”  cream / creamy rose / rosy Skin – General Some of these are better for the face, and some are better for other parts of the body. translucent luminescent with large pores weather-beaten Face – Structure heart-shaped high forehead broad forehead prominent brow ridge protruding brow bone sharp cheekbones high cheekbones angular cheekbones hollow cheeks jutting chin pointed chin receding chin double chin dimple in chin visible Adam’s apple People don’t write much about noses, but they can be distinguishing features for characters! Cupid’s bow straight teeth gap between teeth gleaming white teeth Facial Hair (or lack thereof) clean-shaven smooth-shaven mutton-chop sideburns a few days’ growth of beard five o’ clock shadow Hair – General I threw a few hairstyles in here, though not many. shoulder-length neatly combed slicked down / slicked back buzzed / buzz cut widow’s peak Hair – Color There are some repeats here from the eye color section! salt and pepper charcoal gray brown sugar tawny brown toffee brown Titian-haired strawberry blonde butterscotch sandy blond fair-haired Body Type – General average height barrel-chested heavy / heavy-set pot-bellied full-figured leggy / long-legged broad-shouldered sloping shoulders stubby fingers long fingers ragged nails grimy fingernails ink-stained This list and many more are in my book Master Lists for Writers: Thesauruses, Plot Ideas, Character Traits, Names, and More . Check it out if you’re interested! And if you don’t want to miss future writing posts, follow the blog, if you aren’t already — there’s a place to sign up on the lefthand side of the blog. Thanks for stopping by, and happy writing! Related Posts Share this: 127 thoughts on “ master list of physical description for writers ”. Thanks, Bryn! This list has sparked a spark in my brain. I haven’t seen one of those for a while. I was getting worried I’d lost my flint! I’m so glad you like it! I love this, do you mind if we share on our blog WritersLife.org ? Thanks for the positive feedback! You can’t reproduce it on your blog, but you can share an excerpt of 200 words or less plus a link to my site. As a new novel writer all I can say is thank very much for sharing with us this wonderful list. Ah you’re welcome! Thanks for visiting! This is amazing! Thank you very much! Thanks for the kind words–glad it seems helpful! Reblogged this on looselyjournalying. Reblogged this on Of Fancy & Creativity . Pingback: Bryn Donovan | Shadows Publishing Aw thank you for this it helped so much! I’m 15 and I’m trying to write a novel and this was sooooo helpful so thank you a billion 🙂 Best wishes. Ah you’re welcome! Thanks for stopping by. Good for you for working on a novel, and good luck–I bet it will go great! Hi, Bryn Thank you for doing these lists. They helped me a lot. Can you make a list on how to describe emotions like sadness or anger. It’s funny you should ask 🙂 There’s a list like that in my book MASTER LISTS FOR WRITERS coming out this fall! I haven’t officially announced it yet, but hey 🙂 You can get a free copy when it comes out if you agree to give it an honest review. SIgn up for my newsletter if you’re interested! Reblogged this on Kalynn Bayron and commented: Yes! This is great! Was just looking for this type of lists.Great work. This is so helpful. I love your blog, btw. Your posts are informative and/or inspirational. Are you on any social medial where I can follow you? Oh, thank you so much! I just checked out your blog — I love the dream casting post! http://sbhadleywilson.com/blog/pull-ideal-cast-2/ I’m @BrynDonovan on Twitter, just followed you! VERY helpful. I need to get basic descriptions of people done and out of the way to move on with plot. This quickens any details that might have taken me a long time to think through, or strain a sentence. Yuck. I know my females characters would pay attention to lots of physical details. not so with the males. Thanks! Oh, so glad it’s helpful! That’s always what I’m trying to do with my lists — speed things up. I hate getting stuck on a detail and losing my momentum 🙂 Thanks for stopping by! godsent list! Bryn, I wish you more brains. Reblogged this on Jessica Louis and commented: This list is beyond helpful. Who knew there were so many eye colors!? Thanks Bryn your list was amazing. I’m an aspiring writer and it really helped me a lot. When I can I’m going to get a copy of your book. I think it would help me become a better writer. My genre of choice is erotic, but it is so hard to get out there, but I’m hopeful one day I will. It’s what I love to do and I’m going to keep trying. Hi Beth! Thank you so much for the kind words. If you do get the book, I hope you like it! And good luck on writing erotica — I’m doing a “WIP Wednesday” this Wednesday where you can share a bit of your work in progress, if you like 🙂 That would be great. I have some short stories publish on a site called Literotica. I have some editing issues that I’m trying to work out, nothing a few classes wouldn’t help. How do I share my work. I am so sorry! I missed this comment before. The next WIP Wednesday on the blog is Dec. 2… if you’re following the blog you’ll see the post! (The follow button is on the righthand side of this page.) Hope your writing’s going well 🙂 Pingback: A Great Resource for Writers | I Read Encyclopedias for Fun Pingback: MASTER LIST: Physical Descriptions | Reblogged this on PRINCE CHARMING ISN'T HERE and commented: what an amazing list! I always have a hard time describing features! words sometimes fail me! i loved this list! thank you so much for making it! 🙂 So glad it was helpful! Pingback: Describing People « Chestnut ESL/EFL Thank you! This is so helpful to have for reference. Occasionally I’ll have a particular word in mind and can’t think of it, and I can usually pop over here and find it right away! I absolutely love your master lists. They have helped me so much in diversifying the words I use when I’m writing. 🙂 Ohhh thank you! That is so great to hear. 🙂 Hope your writing projects are going great! Thank you, and they are. I’m just about to publish a works I’ve been working on for the past couple of months, which is so exciting. XD Hope all your writing projects are going great as well. 🙂 What a wonderful and thorough list Bryn. Thanks for sharing it! I will at some point ‘link back’ to this fabulous article (I’ll let you know when I do.) I’m new to your site, but will certainly be back for more! I’m fascinated to learn that you’re also a home-grown KC girl. =0) Although, I remarried and moved to California 9 years ago, KC still tugs my heart-strings. Hey, so glad you like it! Yeah, Kansas City is a special place. Come visit anytime 🙂 And thanks for visiting my blog! — I LOVE your username, by the way. Made me smile. thanks for following my blog! Reblogged this on A Bundle of Cute. Reblogged this on A Blissful Garden and commented: I find this very important! Pingback: List of Physical Descriptions » Mary M Cushnie-Mansour Pingback: The Perfect Character | Simply frannie Reblogged this on Insideamoronsbrain and commented: Wow!! Pingback: Writing Links Round Up 2/15-2/20 – B. Shaun Smith Thanks for sharing this list! It is amazing and so helpful ! I’m going to save this as a favorite. You always provide great information Bryn. Continue with your success. Oh, thank you so much, Christopher! I really appreciate the kind words. So glad you like this! This list is so complete! I haven’t worked on fiction in a long while, but lately I’ve been wanting to get back into it. I know this is going to be a great help when i sit down to create my characters! Pingback: 25 Holy Grail Resources For Writers! - NATASHA SOLAE Pingback: How Do You Describe a Character’s Looks In His or Her Point of View? – Bryn Donovan This is absolutely perfect for aspiring writers so that we don’t have to use Microsoft Word synonyms that tend to nit have what we’re searching for. Your introductory paragraph about readers falling in love with characters’ personalities and not theit physical attributes was spot on. Thank you thank you, thank you! Chunny! Thank you so very much for the kind words. I’m so glad you found it helpful!! Pingback: Sick of the same old descriptive words? | myislandofbooks Pingback: Character Details: Face – BUCK OFF BLOG This is amazing! Thank you! I hope it’s alright if I use this as a reference in a blog post for character development. Hi Jacquelyn! So glad you like it. That’s fine, just please link to the post! I read this over and over, thank you for creating this! Can I just ask, when thinking of clothing and how to describe it, what are some things you would put? (I’m making a book draft and have never needed clothing described to me as much as now) Thank you! It’s so important that we don’t reuse the same words too often, so this will help a lot with that problem. Pingback: Writing The Best Characters – LJBNovels Thanks for helping me. It really made a big difference of helping me come up with something. Hi Joseph! Sorry for the delayed reply! I’m so glad you liked it. Thanks for the kind words! Pingback: Prepping for Camp NaNoWriMo [2 days left] – Cayleigh Stickler Your book “Master Lists for Writers” has helped me incredibly. I’ve always wanted to be a romance writer but didn’t have the nerve until now. I am currently working on a short story about a college girl who is assaulted by a classmate. It was based on a dream I had a few nights ago. I haven’t developed how she gets her revenge on him. I know the story line seems dark but the dream stuck with me so much, I felt the urge to turn it into a story. Thank you again for your awesome book. What a great resource Rhonda! Thank you so much for the kind words. I am so happy that the book is helpful, and even gladder that you’re going for it and writing! Sending you best wishes on your story! Pingback: MASTER LIST of Physical Descriptions! | Written By Gigi Great advice in this post, Bryn! Thank you. Used this for school! It was really helpful! Oh yay! So glad it was helpful! Pingback: Best Writing Websites of 2017 – lmnelsonscorner This is a great list! So comprehensive, and just what I was looking for. I struggle with physical descriptions of people and have a tendency to write the same kins of attributes. So this list is fab! This is great! Pingback: Character Descriptions – Queer Sci Fi keep up the good work Hey thanks 🙂 This is so helpful!!!!! Pingback: Thursday Thoughts: On Writing – Bookish Book Nerd Tiptoeing out there to publish my first book (I’ve been writing a long time). This post helped so much. Thanks! oh my gosh, thank you! You have put a lot of effort in this list. I def appreciate it 🙂 Thank you I´m always using this when I´m creating new characters. Pingback: Listing Characteristics for Character – Newcomers Pingback: Characteristics of Character – ESOL II Incredibly helpful! Thanks a lot :3 Thank you for sharing this! Pingback: How do you introduce your character's appearance? Pingback: ? Writing Links Round Up 11/5-11/9 – B. Shaun Smith More extensive than my general list. My wizened goatee and elder Fu Manchu thank you for sharing your time and devotion to the craft. Pingback: NaNoWriMo Prep Resources – Quinn M. Nichols Very useful for ready reference. Thank you very much. Thanks, Mohan! So glad you liked it! Pingback: Clear-Cut Advice For Latinbridesworld – Where To Go | Bart De Clercq Pingback: Vital Aspects Of Latinbrides World – The Options – Construtora Colombo Pingback: Clarifying Programs Of Latinbrides world — SunHouseDOO Pingback: Selecting Painless Products In Latin brides world site – Bie-Usha (WA) Limited I’ve been writing for a while, mostly for fun, but this was the one thing I could never get down, but this list is great! all around solid, and incredibly useful, I see myself using it every time I need to make a new character, good job! You’re a legend! This is fantastic, thank you! Hahaha, thanks for the kind words! 🙂 Glad it’s helpful! I am following your prompts and valuable advice for writing a fantasy teen fiction novel. I think you are amazing. You might not know it but I was able to clear hundreds of my doubts through your help. Please keep up the good work and providing your valuable support to all of us upcoming writers. Hey, thank you so much for the kind words—you made my day! It’s wonderful to hear that you’re working on YA fantasy. I’m so glad I could help, and I wish you every success! I honestly would not recommend this as good writing advice. The focus is too much on describing someone’s physical features using analogies for food. That is not a good thing, it becomes trite and overdone. If used sparsely it’s okay but almost every word in this list is food related. Hi, Larissa! Thanks for taking your valuable time to share your opinion. You have done a great job preparing this Master List. Those who think such precise words for describing someone hurt their sensibilities, move on to another URL. I appreciate every bit of your effort. Hi, Pradeep! I am so glad you like the list. Thanks so much for commenting! Bryn, I love your master list book and use it all the time! Ohh, thank you so much! I’m so glad it’s helpful! Pingback: The Latest On No-Hassle Methods For latin brides world - Delta Hijau Abadi Pingback: Deciding Upon Quick Systems In latin brides world – Rasa estampación Pingback: Word Lists – Skymark Streets This is a godsend. I owe you my soul. I work 20 hours per day, (regular business and writing the memoir). Just ordered the Master List–seems like having my own research assistant. I may be able to get 5 hours sleep now. Thanks Pingback: Character Bio Template: 200+ Character Development Questions - SEO News Media Pingback: Character creator | Doug Weller Writer No jaw descriptions? ;( You saved my day with your wonderful, descriptive words! Now I’ve found the perfect features for my handsome male character. Thank you! 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I’m more than pleased I found you website. Thank u so much ❤️ that was so helpful Pingback: Appearance in English – wygląd zewnętrzny po angielsku - kapitanenglish.com Pingback: Ukraina a nie Rosja powinna gościć Euro 2028 - kapitanenglish.com Pingback: How to create a memorable non-player character - Skull RPG Pingback: Master Lists of Character’s Physical Description – Verbum Amoris Leave a Reply Cancel reply This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed . Discover more from BRYN DONOVAN Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive. Type your email… Continue reading 472 IMAGES Superhero Creative Writing Printable Pack Hero Writing Activity Adorable superhero character education posters, writing prompts The Ultimate Guide to Writing Extraordinary Heroes Free Superhero Writing Prompts and More to Boost Creativity in 2021 Superhero Writing Prompts (21 Fun and Easy Ideas) » JournalBuddies.com COMMENTS How to Write a Hero: The 12 Stages of the Hero's Character Arc In particular, Vogler helped create the idea of the hero's character arc by separating the Hero's Journey into two halves: The Outer Journey (story structure) and the Inner Journey (character development). This Outer Journey is all about the plot of the Hero's Journey, which we discussed above, while the Inner Journey focuses on the ... How to Write a Story About a Hero (with Pictures) Grant has published two books on writing and has been published in The New York Times and Writer's Digest. He co-hosts Write-minded, a weekly podcast on writing and publishing, and has a M.A. in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University. There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. The Hero's Journey: Step-By-Step Guide with Examples The Hero's Journey is a common story structure for modeling both plot points and character development. A protagonist embarks on an adventure into the unknown. They learn lessons, overcome adversity, defeat evil, and return home transformed. Joseph Campbell, a scholar of literature, popularized the monomyth in his influential work The Hero ... How to Write Better Heroes and Protagonists Give your hero multiple motivations with varying degrees of importance and immediacy. These goals can do many things: Tempt and distract your hero. Guide them toward their main goal. Or simply sit in the background, to flesh out your hero more. For example, Frodo seeks to destroy the ring…. How to Write Vivid Character Descriptions How to Write Vivid Character Descriptions. If you think about your favorite character in fiction, you probably have an immediate image that pops into your head. Though this image only exists in your imagination, it owes a lot to the way this character is described by the author. Populating a work of fiction with carefully described characters ... How To Write a Superhero Story (Ultimate Guide 13 Steps to Writing a Superhero Story that Readers Love. Now let's break down the superhero story template (see above) into 13 specific and practical steps. 1. Genesis Spark. Before our hero can soar, they need a beginning—this is the Genesis Spark. It's where we set the stage, introducing the world and the ordinary life of our protagonist. Writing the Hero's Journey: Steps, Examples & Archetypes The Hobbit does an exemplary job of following the Hero's Journey, and it's also an example of how checkpoints can exist in more than one place in a story, or how they may deviate from the typical 12-step process of the Hero's Journey. 1. The Ordinary World. This stage in the Hero's Journey is all about exposition. Writing 101: What Is the Hero's Journey? 2 Hero's ... This template is known as the "monomyth"—or, colloquially, the hero's journey. Hands up if you've heard this story before: A lonely hero who is trying to find himself. A sudden and unexpected journey, promising adventure and peril. A test of character, strength, and skill. An ultimate battle that tests the hero's resolve. A ... Narrative Structure: Writing a Story Using The Hero's ... Using The Hero's Journey is probably one of the most common frameworks that new writers gravitate toward. It's an easy-to-understand framework that hits twelve distinct points, allowing you to ... Defining A Hero In Writing & Screenwriting: Evolution & Archetypes A hero serves as the emotional anchor for the audience - guiding them through the narrative and fostering a deep, relatable connection. It's their struggles and triumphs that inspire and resonate. In many ways, the hero is the story. The journey we see our heroes embark upon mirrors our own aspirations and fears. What Is The Hero's Journey And Why Is It An Invaluable Writing Tool? Writing Skills Writing Tips Writing Fiction. The Hero's Journey is a popular framework for writing stories. It is a creative writing technique that's been whispered about for years. At times it can seem like a secret formula or a complex pattern, but it's a great tool that could help you get your story out of your head and onto the page. How to Write a Hero Who's Not a Total Cliché (or Derivative) If you want to know how to write a hero that isn't predicable or derivative, this is what you'll need to know (and avoid). ... 25 Hero's Journey Story Ideas to Start an Epic Adventure 9. Make a list of your hero's strengths and weaknesses. Now, create a trial or an antagonist that can challenge each of those traits. 10. Write a scene where your hero meets an unexpected ally on their journey . 11. Create a fantastical challenge or physical obstacle in the world where your story is set. The Gigantic List of Character Descriptions (70+ examples) 23. Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness. "He was commonplace in complexion, in feature, in manners, and in voice. He was of middle size and of ordinary build. His eyes, of the usual blue, were perhaps remarkably cold, and he certainly could make his glance fall on one as trenchant and heavy as an axe…. Essays About Heroes: 5 Examples And Topic Ideas A hero to many in the running world, Prefontaine's confidence, unique style, and unmatched athletic ability have been heralded for decades. In this essay, O'Brian shares how he, as a distance runner during the era of Pre, related to his struggles and ambition. 5. Forget Hamilton, Burr Is The Real Hero By Carey Wallace. Ignite Your Superhero Storyline with 80+ Writing Prompts Superhero writing prompts present a wonderful opportunity for these more mature students to test their skills, take on complex themes, craft intricate backstories, and bolster their character development and descriptive writing prowess. 1. Write a story about your superhero teaming up with Sherlock Holmes. 100 Superhero Writing Prompts Richard Everywriter (pen name) has worked for literary magazines and literary websites for the last 25 years. He holds degrees in Writing, Journalism, Technology and Education. Richard has headed many writing workshops and courses, and he has taught writing and literature for the last 20 years. 200+ Superhero Ideas for Storytellers (Massive List) A compelling origin story is crucial for adding depth to your superhero. Check out these 20 ideas: Alien Heritage - Born on another planet and sent to Earth. Scientific Accident - Gained powers after a lab experiment went wrong. Mystical Awakening - Powers awakened through an ancient ritual or artifact. Superhero Writing Prompts (21 Fun and Easy Ideas) 21 Creative and FREE Superhero Writing Prompts. A hero's sidekick turns against him and becomes the villain. "It was a quiet day in the town. On your way back home, you saw something terrible up ahead. It was…". Continue this story. The superhero's nemesis discovers his only weakness. Heroes and Villains: Creative/Imaginative Writing (Describe and Narrate ppt, 8.34 MB. docx, 93.79 KB. An action packed adventure lesson based on heroes and villains. Key Elements: Recognition of key character traits and how to apply a range of language features to describe. Designing a superhero or villain, using the various resources provided. Crafting an imaginative description, focusing on how to use a range of ... Save the Day with These Super Hero Writing Prompts You can use these superhero writing prompt cards with a variety of ages. Directions: Print the prompt cards and word bank. Cut out the cards. Laminate the cards for durability. If desired, hole punch the cards and add them to a metal ring. Consider reading a superhero themed book (or books) to your student. Creative Writing: From Greek Gods to Modern Superheroes Grade. 6-12. Brief Description. Students use critical thinking to compare Greek gods, goddesses, heroes and myths to modern superheroes. Then they create and write about special characters who aid the modern world. Objectives. Students will: Explore Greek myths and associated heroes, gods and goddesses. Master List of Physical Description for Writers For all the words about describing facial features, I'm focusing more on physical descriptions rather than emotional expressions, though there's a little crossover! You can also check out my long list of facial expressions. large. small. narrow. sharp. squinty. round. wide-set. essay homework paper phd project resume review speech study