Into the Unknown: Bravely Navigating the Hero’s Journey
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For a few weeks, I’ve been somewhat obsessed with The Hero’s Journey. No, it’s not a new HBO miniseries. It’s the framework popularized by Joseph Campbell in 1949. It’s behind every story we love or hate: a hero ditches their cozy Ordinary World, navigates a bunch of challenges, somehow meets a wise mentor, and eventually heads home totally changed. Star Wars is the classic example.
But before all that, every hero gets a wake-up call, the Inciting Incident (or the Call to Adventure) that bursts into our everyday lives and forces us to make a move. I can’t help but picture poor Luke Skywalker returning to find his home in ruins, realizing there is simply no going back to the way things were.
Our own Hero’s Journeys never look or feel like a Star Wars movie, well, at least mine haven’t.
Mine, although physical, have been much tamer. One Inciting Incident was a simple 5K invitation that led me to find my running partner and mentor and eventually to finish over a dozen marathons. To say running changed my life is a massive understatement. Or my sister suggesting a pilgrimage on “The Way of St. Francis” for my 60th birthday. It is still a developing adventure. I’ll let you know if it changes me.
Creatively, however, my journey has been stuck. For almost a decade, I’ve been working on a novel. No, not every day, and I even lost the damn thing for several years. It is currently titled Molly’s Misadventure in 1816. I’ve kept it close to my chest, rarely sharing more than a tiny snippet with the outside world.
Well, you guessed it, friends, I’ve recently experienced an Inciting Incident, finally moving my creative journey forward. I barely recognized it for what it was. Now, I can’t unsee it.
A few weeks ago, I was sitting in on Sara Maurer’s keynote at the Upper Peninsula Publishers and Authors Association (UPPAA) Spring Conference. She described her own path in crafting her debut novel, A Good Animal. Hearing her story left me with a nagging question playing over and over in my head. “Could I get my novel to the finish line?”
Naturally, I did the next step in the Hero’s Journey: the Refusal of the Call. Who was I to try to publish a novel? Or better yet, finish writing one? But that nagging question wouldn’t go away, “Could I finally finish my novel?” Clearly, I needed help. I would need my own Mentors and a lot of Magic on this journey.
Yes, my friends, I Crossed the Threshold. I stepped out of my comfort zone and crossed my own Rubicon—metaphorically naked, of course. There was no going back: I shared my 20,000-word manuscript (the first 8 chapters) with a talented writer friend.
Immediately, I entered the Road of Trials. I found myself impulsively checking my computer, fretting, and consumed by fear. What if she hated it? Or worse, what if she offered a tactful, “Nice,” rather than the honest feedback I desperately needed? The trial wasn’t just waiting; it was also battling my own imposter syndrome.
Then, the Magic arrived. Her comments began to stream across the screen in the Google Doc. They were constructive, encouraging, and exactly the push I needed. “I’m loving it so far!!” she said in a text. (There were 2 exclamation points! OMG) By surviving the trial of feedback, I gained my Reward: a newfound confidence.
I have returned to my Ordinary World, my cozy nook, changed. I am slightly less afraid to share my novel. And more Helpers are already appearing—a friend I recently ran into at Hear.Say Brewing invited me to a local writers’ group, and I’ve found a non-profit dedicated to writing support, Ypsi Writes.
Our own Hero’s Journeys will never look like Luke Skywalker’s. That would be a bit freaky to find Yoda in my cozy nook. But all the same, the transformation is just as real. What about you? Have you experienced a Hero’s Journey that completely flipped your ordinary world upside down?
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Movie Recommendation
While I was out birding, desperately hoping to add the elusive Kirtland’s Warbler to my “Life List,” I experienced a minor Inciting Incident. (Yes, I know the whole Hero’s Journey is getting old.) I crossed paths with a fellow birder who suggested I check out the documentary “Listers”. It is a film about the wild world of extreme birding. Naturally, I did the usual Refusal of the Call and was a bit skeptical, but I made a note to check it out.
“Two brothers learn about competitive birdwatching by becoming birdwatchers—spending a year living in a used minivan, traveling the country to compete in a ‘Big Year’.”
Well, you guessed it, friends, it is absolutely hilarious! It’s the perfect Magic to brighten your week. Do yourself a favor and watch it tonight—or, better yet, right now. It definitely pairs well with a cold beer, so perhaps save it for a relaxing evening? It’s currently on YouTube and, amazingly, has no ads.
Have a great week!
Glad the talk was inspiring. I can't wait to hear your novel updates!
Great job, and get the novel done!