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How to Turn Your Life Events into a Story

Hi! This time I'll tell you about the basic mechanics of storytelling - the "hero's journey."

The "Hero's Journey" mechanic explains how life events transform into a story. This mechanic is universal: it will help you even if you just want to tell your friends about an incident in your office cafeteria. It's even more useful if you're making a narrative podcast.

The "Hero's Journey" mechanic benefits every podcast participant. For instance, the host uses this mechanic to choose the right interview questions. It helps the guest intrigue and engage listeners with their story. The editor uses this mechanic to select which story pieces will make the final cut.

In essence, the "Hero's Journey" is fundamental.

Convinced? Then let's go!

How Life Events Differ from History

In the morning, I leave the house and know what will happen next: I'll get in the car, go to the office, call the client, and renew the contract. This happens to each of us: we constantly perform actions and get the expected, deserved result - this is how most events in our lives unfold. But sometimes the unexpected happens - and at this moment, the story begins.

History always begins with the unexpected, even if it's small: maybe today Jennifer, the cafeteria employee in your office, will put 6 shrimp in your Caesar salad instead of 4? Such a small thing, but it will make you a hero, and all subsequent events in your life - story.

These two extra shrimp will create a rift between your expectations and reality - and you'll begin to doubt whether you understand everything correctly about the people around you. Maybe Jennifer is in love with you? This discrepancy won't leave you alone: you'll have to act. Maybe exchange a few words with her? Then you'll have to take more decisive steps, raise the stakes - and so on until the very end, until the final battle, which will decide what your life will be like now and what kind of person you'll become.

Yes, this is the most valuable thing in every story: while it lasts, the hero has to adjust their expectations, their picture of the world, and therefore - change. Thus, no one has yet managed to leave the story as the same person they were when they entered it.

So, this is how a story differs from other events in life:

  • It always begins with the unexpected,
  • It always leads the hero to changes, at least small ones.

It turns out that if you want to tell a story, just start with an unexpected event and unwind the consequences to the point where the hero has to change. In general, that's all.

And to make it easier for you to unwind, ensure that your hero goes through all the stages of the "Hero's Journey" one by one. Now I'll tell you which ones exactly.

What stages does each hero go through?

In every adventure, the hero goes through mandatory stages. It doesn't matter whether they’re handing in a school project, performing at the Olympics, or saving the world—the stages are always more or less the same. To verify this, write down the stages I'll provide below on a piece of paper and take this list with you to the cinema. Choose any movie, watch it, and check off each stage from the list. If the hero takes a completely different path in the movie, throw a tomato at me in the comments.

Here are the stages:

1. An unexpected provoking event. Something changes in the hero's world, which prompts the hero to move.

2. The hero sets a task. They devise a way to cope with the situation.

3. The hero collects information. They turn to experts, read books, or observe.

4. The hero decides what to do. On their own, with the help of friends, or following the leader's decision.

5. The hero acts. The do what they planned.

6. Failure. Something doesn't go as the hero planned.

7. Emotional delay. The hero experiences fear, grief, despair, or anger about this.

8. The hero gathers information. They again turn to experts, books, or their own observations to understand what needs to be done differently. Usually, this time the advisers are of a higher level than the last one.

9. The hero decides what to do. This time the decision is more difficult for them, because the stakes are higher.

10. The hero acts.

11. The battle. This is the scene in which it is decided whether the hero will win or lose. Usually, it requires a lot of effort from them.

If the story enters the third act, then instead of the final scene there will be an "imaginary victory," followed by a huge setback and the final battle. Take a look:

12. Imaginary victory: the hero believes they have succeeded.

13. The Great Failure: the imaginary victory turns into a terrible defeat - this time the hero loses more than in the previous failure.

14. Emotional delay: the hero is paralyzed by grief.

15. The hero decides what to do: this time there must be either an epiphany, advice from a sage (mother, Buddhist monk), or help from a savior. The stakes are raised again - the hero decides to go all-in, with their life at stake.

16. The hero acts: they carry out the plan despite obstacles.

17. The final battle: everything is ultimately decided here.

18. The afterparty: movie scriptwriters usually create several scenes after the final battle - allowing the audience to process their feelings and enjoy catharsis. They also scatter cliffhangers for the next season.

The magic of this mechanic is that it can be used to tell a story of any scale: from an office drama about two extra shrimp to an Odyssey. Use it as you see fit.

How the "Hero's Journey" Works in Narrative Podcasts

In creating a narrative podcast with a pre-written script, we rely heavily on the 11-17 stages of the "Hero's Journey." Whether the show focuses on a small coffee shop or investing in American stocks, you can be almost certain that the first episode will introduce a provoking event in the hero's life, and by episodes 4-6, they will face a significant failure. The mechanics of the "Hero's Journey" are akin to musical notes: just as a musician doesn't need to invent new notes to create a unique song, we don't need to break the structure of the "Hero's Journey" to tell a unique story.

Our process is straightforward: we devise the events that will comprise the podcast, write each event on a card, and arrange these cards according to the stages of the hero's journey. From this set of cards, we then create an episode-by-episode plan, bringing our narrative to life.
What we get in the end is this.

How the "Hero's Journey" Works in Interviews

Even if you don't produce complex narrative podcasts or reality shows, this technique remains valuable. Have you noticed how the simplest conversational format succeeds when guests tell stories? With the "Hero's Journey," you can help them do it effectively.

Imagine your hero begins their story:

"Everything was going well in our business until one day I discovered that my partner and I had completely different ideas about the future of the company. For example, she believes that..."

If you understand the "Hero's Journey" mechanics, you know that any story begins with an unexpected provoking event. Your hero experienced such an event—your job is to reveal it. The phrase "I discovered that we had different ideas" isn't enough. It's crucial to uncover HOW she discovered it—the story's provoking event. So you ask:

"How did this come to light? What happened? Do you remember a significant event? Can you describe the scene when she told you this?"

Now you're not just listening; you're mentally checking off each stage: "Okay, she described the actions and the failure, but there's not enough emotional delay. I'll ask about her feelings at that moment."

The "Hero's Journey" mechanics become your interview guideline, resulting in a recording rich with details. The editor then has all the elements to craft an intriguing, engaging story of the guest in post-production.

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That's it. Follow your curiosity, use the Hero's Journey mechanics and break them whenever you want. Experiment and write to me about your findings.

If you want to learn more about how reality shows based on the Hero's Journey mechanics work, read one of our case studies. There, desperate marketers whip up cappuccino foam, chase rats, and reach #2 by top-of-mind awareness.