04 Jul Instructions: The basic structure of a story can be well understood by the concept of a ‘Hero’s Journey’ as famously described by Joseph Campbell in the classic book ‘A Her
Instructions:
The basic structure of a story can be well understood by the concept of a "Hero's Journey" as famously described by Joseph Campbell in the classic book "A Hero with a Thousand Faces." Dan Harmon, creator of Rick and Morty, has created a popular, simplified version of this narrative structure that can help entrepreneurs write and share stories that get others engaged. This video does a great job of explaining how EVERY STORY follows a similar narrative structure.
You'll use Harmon's structure to write your story, and then share it with a few of your peers during our class session.
- Open and follow the instructions for completing this template – Startup Step 2 – What's your story.docx Download Startup Step 2 – What's your story.docx
- Complete your responses under each prompt, and allow the document to expand as you type (likely 2-3 pages total – including the prompts – when completed)
Starter Step #2 – What’s Your Story?
This assignment asks you to organize descriptions of your past and current experiences with imagined future experiences to create your own “hero’s story”.
Your story is yours to imagine, write, practice, and share. It should be authentic, reflecting your current situation (steps 1-3, perhaps) AND your hopes/plans for the future (steps 4-8, perhaps). Don’t worry about the size or character of your dreams – we’re not here to judge your goals, abilities, or ambition (as long as they’re legal!). We just want you to reflect on the kind of person you would like to become, the kind of legacy you’d like to create, and the kinds of regrets you’d like to avoid.
Please respond to the following prompts with brief 3-4 sentences offering thoughtful and vivid descriptions of the story you would like to share when people ask you “What’s your story?” REMEMBER THAT MOST OF YOUR STORY SHOULD REFLECT WHAT YOU HOPE AND IMAGINE WILL HAPPEN – DREAM BIG AND DESCRIBE WHAT YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU “GROW UP” (step #8)!
1. You – Describe your “comfort zone”, current situation, and routine experiences:
2. Frustration/Desire – Describe something in your past or current experiences that bothers you, a problem you noticed:
3. Go – Describe (or imagine) making a decision to enter an unfamiliar situation, do something new, leave your comfort zone, go on a quest to address the problem:
4. Search – Describe (or imagine) adapting to new challenges and trials, and lessons you learned from taking on those challenges:
5. Find – Describe (or imagine) getting what you wanted, discovering a critical insight, finding or creating a solution:
6. Pay a price – Describe (or imagine) what you gave up – a “heavy price” – to gain insight or create a solution:
7. Return – Describe (or imagine) what it was like to return to your familiar, home (comfort zone) situation after your trials, insights, sacrifices, and successes. How did that feel?
8. Change – Describe (or imagine) how you have changed, how you changed others, how you changed (some part of ) of the world? What is different at the end of the story?
9. What’s next? – This isn’t part of the story circle, but great stories with great characters beg for a sequel and your story won’t end until you stop writing it. What new frustrations/desires could arise at the end of your story (Volume I). What new adventures might ensue?
