A Basic Model for Creative Storytelling

The theologian Joseph? Campbell once specialized in studying the myths of the world's nations, and eventually discovered that there is a basic model for human storytelling implicit in all of these myths.

Christopher Vogler, the "first Hollywood screenwriter," summarized this model as follows. Christopher Vogler summarized this model as the "Heroic Adventure" model, which is divided into "three acts" and "twelve scenes.

Act 1 (The Beginning): The Hero's Decision

Scene 1: Everyday Life

Scene 2: The Call to Adventure

Scene 3: The Rejection of Adventure

Scene 4: The Encounter with the Magi

Act 2 (The Process): The Hero's Tests and Rewards

Scene 5: Breaking the First Test

Scene 6: The Tests and Rewards of the Hero

Scene 7: The Hero's Journey through the First Passage

Scene 6: Friends, Enemies

Scene 7: Approaching More Dangerous Places

Scene 8: The Greatest Test

Act III (Epilogue): The Result of the Act

Scene 9: The Reward

Scene 10: The Journey Home

Scene 11: The Resurrection

Scene 12: Returning with Treasures

Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Harry? Potter, The Queen Wears Prada, and other Hollywood movies utilize this story model.

Some of the best speeches and books also use this "three-act play" narrative structure.

You can use your own memorable movie or TV show narratives to validate the applicability of the model.