adiator (2000), Maximus finds strength from a statuette. In American Beauty (1999), Ricky Fitts gives Lester Burnham a joint.

Magical Spells (again, most often metaphoric), are any competencies or capacities that the Hero acquires before embarking on the deeper transformation (Road of Trials; the Dissolution of the Old Self). In Spartacus (1960), Spartacus learns the gladiatorial arts. In The Godfather (1972), Michael learns how to fire the gun accurately and qu

The Hero's Journey (also known as the Monomyth) is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. It is upon this structure that situations are superimposed. This is why stories such as Alien (1979), Gladiator (2000), Godfather (1972), American Beauty (1999), Annie Hall (1977) and many others (all deconstructed at www.clickok.co.uk/index4.html) appear to be different but are all constructed, almost sequence by sequence, in the same way.

The following blockbusters have all been structured around the Hero's Journey template: Titanic, 1997 - grossed over $600,000,000; Star Wars, 1977 - grossed over $460,000,000; Shrek 2, 2004 - grossed over $436,000,000; ET, 1982 - grossed over $434,000,000; Spiderman, 2002 - grossed over $432,000,000. So how come you don't know it inside out?

For a number of very valid reasons, if you want to write (and sell) successful stories, whether they're Hollywood blockbusters, Indie successes, novels or other story forms, you need to master the Hero's Journey in a very detailed way...

EVERY HERO MAKES USE OF MAGICAL GIFTS AND SPELLS

Many writers hear of the Hero's Journey and associated terminology such as "Magical Gifts" and "Magical Spells" and dismiss it as a template for fairy tales, thinking "...how can this fit the gritty, real-world story I want to write?"

This is bad thinking.

For a start, the terminology is most often metaphoric and applies to all successful stories and screenplays, from The Godfather (1972) to Brokeback Mountain (2006) to Annie Hall (1977) to Lord of the Rings (2003) to Drugstore Cowboy (1989) to Thelma and Louise (1991) to Apocaplyse Now (1979).

The Magical Gift does not have to be Ruby Slippers or Harry Potter's Wand. In Wall Street (1987), Bud Fox visits his father, who simply provides advice and money. In Gladiator (2000), Maximus finds strength from a statuette. In American Beauty (1999), Ricky Fitts gives Lester Burnham a joint.

Magical Spells (again, most often metaphoric), are any competencies or capacities that the Hero acquires before embarking on the deeper transformation (Road of Trials; the Dissolution of the Old Self). In Spartacus (1960), Spartacus learns the gladiatorial arts. In The Godfather (1972), Michael learns how to fire the gun accurately and qui

sequence, in the same way.

The following blockbusters have all been structured around the Hero's Journey template: Titanic, 1997 - grossed over $600,000,000; Star Wars, 1977 - grossed over $460,000,000; Shrek 2, 2004 - grossed over $436,000,000; ET, 1982 - grossed over $434,000,000; Spiderman, 2002 - grossed over $432,000,000. So how come you don't know it inside out?

For a number of very valid reasons, if you want to write (and sell) successful stories, whether they're Hollywood blockbusters, Indie successes, novels or other story forms, you need to master the Hero's Journey in a very detailed way...

EVERY HERO MAKES USE OF MAGICAL GIFTS AND SPELLS

Many writers hear of the Hero's Journey and associated terminology such as "Magical Gifts" and "Magical Spells" and dismiss it as a template for fairy tales, thinking "...how can this fit the gritty, real-world story I want to write?"

This is bad thinking.

For a start, the terminology is most often metaphoric and applies to all successful stories and screenplays, from The Godfather (1972) to Brokeback Mountain (2006) to Annie Hall (1977) to Lord of the Rings (2003) to Drugstore Cowboy (1989) to Thelma and Louise (1991) to Apocaplyse Now (1979).

The Magical Gift does not have to be Ruby Slippers or Harry Potter's Wand. In Wall Street (1987), Bud Fox visits his father, who simply provides advice and money. In Gladiator (2000), Maximus finds strength from a statuette. In American Beauty (1999), Ricky Fitts gives Lester Burnham a joint.

Magical Spells (again, most often metaphoric), are any competencies or capacities that the Hero acquires before embarking on the deeper transformation (Road of Trials; the Dissolution of the Old Self). In Spartacus (1960), Spartacus learns the gladiatorial arts. In The Godfather (1972), Michael learns how to fire the gun accurately and qu

hether they're Hollywood blockbusters, Indie successes, novels or other story forms, you need to master the Hero's Journey in a very detailed way...

EVERY HERO MAKES USE OF MAGICAL GIFTS AND SPELLS

Many writers hear of the Hero's Journey and associated terminology such as "Magical Gifts" and "Magical Spells" and dismiss it as a template for fairy tales, thinking "...how can this fit the gritty, real-world story I want to write?"

This is bad thinking.

For a start, the terminology is most often metaphoric and applies to all successful stories and screenplays, from The Godfather (1972) to Brokeback Mountain (2006) to Annie Hall (1977) to Lord of the Rings (2003) to Drugstore Cowboy (1989) to Thelma and Louise (1991) to Apocaplyse Now (1979).

The Magical Gift does not have to be Ruby Slippers or Harry Potter's Wand. In Wall Street (1987), Bud Fox visits his father, who simply provides advice and money. In Gladiator (2000), Maximus finds strength from a statuette. In American Beauty (1999), Ricky Fitts gives Lester Burnham a joint.

Magical Spells (again, most often metaphoric), are any competencies or capacities that the Hero acquires before embarking on the deeper transformation (Road of Trials; the Dissolution of the Old Self). In Spartacus (1960), Spartacus learns the gladiatorial arts. In The Godfather (1972), Michael learns how to fire the gun accurately and qu

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For a start, the terminology is most often metaphoric and applies to all successful stories and screenplays, from The Godfather (1972) to Brokeback Mountain (2006) to Annie Hall (1977) to Lord of the Rings (2003) to Drugstore Cowboy (1989) to Thelma and Louise (1991) to Apocaplyse Now (1979).

The Magical Gift does not have to be Ruby Slippers or Harry Potter's Wand. In Wall Street (1987), Bud Fox visits his father, who simply provides advice and money. In Gladiator (2000), Maximus finds strength from a statuette. In American Beauty (1999), Ricky Fitts gives Lester Burnham a joint.

Magical Spells (again, most often metaphoric), are any competencies or capacities that the Hero acquires before embarking on the deeper transformation (Road of Trials; the Dissolution of the Old Self). In Spartacus (1960), Spartacus learns the gladiatorial arts. In The Godfather (1972), Michael learns how to fire the gun accurately and qu

adiator (2000), Maximus finds strength from a statuette. In American Beauty (1999), Ricky Fitts gives Lester Burnham a joint.

Magical Spells (again, most often metaphoric), are any competencies or capacities that the Hero acquires before embarking on the deeper transformation (Road of Trials; the Dissolution of the Old Self). In Spartacus (1960), Spartacus learns the gladiatorial arts. In The Godfather (1972), Michael learns how to fire the gun accurately and quickly assassinate Sollozzo and Captain McCluskey.