19 AI Prompts for Crafting a Hero’s Journey Story

Jan 29, 2025

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Want to write stories that captivate readers? Learn 19 AI Prompts to help write your hero’s journey! ✍️📖 #WritingTips #AmWriting

Hey there, 👋

The Hero’s Journey is one of the most well-known and powerful storytelling structures in fiction. It has shaped myths, novels, and films across cultures and generations. From ancient legends to modern blockbusters, this framework taps into deep human psychology, making stories feel both familiar and transformative.

In this article, we will explore the origins of the Hero’s Journey, how it evolved into a widely used structure for fiction, and why it resonates so deeply with readers. By understanding these patterns, writers can craft stories that captivate and inspire.

I also share 19 AI prompts to help you develop your own Hero’s Journey-based stories across different genres [Plus I sneak in a bonus prompt!]

The Origins of the Hero’s Journey

The concept of the Hero’s Journey was first outlined by Joseph Campbell, an American mythologist, in his 1949 book The Hero with a Thousand Faces. Campbell studied myths and stories from different cultures and discovered that they followed a similar structure—a pattern of trials, transformation, and return. He called this structure the monomyth, arguing that humans are naturally drawn to these types of stories because they mirror the challenges we face in life.

Campbell’s original Hero’s Journey had 17 stages, divided into three major sections:

Departure – The hero is called to adventure, leaves the ordinary world, and crosses into an unknown realm.
Initiation – The hero faces trials, meets allies and enemies, and experiences a transformation.
Return – The hero returns to the ordinary world, changed by their journey and often bringing newfound wisdom.

While Campbell’s ideas were influential, they were later adapted to make them more accessible for writers.

Christopher Vogler’s 12-Step Hero’s Journey

In 1992, Christopher Vogler, a Hollywood screenwriter and story consultant, refined Campbell’s complex model into a simplified 12-step version designed for modern storytelling. His book The Writer’s Journey became a staple in screenwriting and novel writing.

Vogler’s 12-step Hero’s Journey follows the same arc but breaks it down into clearer, more practical beats. These include:

The Ordinary World – The hero’s normal life before the adventure begins.
The Call to Adventure – Something disrupts their world, prompting change.
Refusal of the Call – The hero hesitates due to fear or doubt.
Meeting the Mentor – A guide appears to help them prepare.
Crossing the First Threshold – The hero steps into a new, unknown world.
Tests, Allies, and Enemies – Challenges force the hero to grow.
Approach to the Inmost Cave – The hero nears their biggest challenge.
The Ordeal – A major test that leads to transformation.
The Reward – The hero gains new knowledge, power, or an object.
The Road Back – They begin their return journey.
The Resurrection – A final test that proves their change.
Return with the Elixir – The hero returns home with something valuable.

Vogler’s model is now widely used in novels, movies, and video games, from The Lord of the Rings to Star Wars, from The Matrix to Harry Potter.

Why the Hero’s Journey Resonates with Readers

The Hero’s Journey is a powerful story structure because it connects with people on a deep level. Psychologists say we relate to these stories because they reflect the challenges we face in life. Everyone, at some point, goes through a call to adventure—whether it’s starting a new school, dealing with a big change, or taking on a difficult task. The struggles and obstacles that heroes face in stories are similar to the ones we go through in real life, which is why these stories feel so meaningful.

Also, the Hero’s Journey builds strong emotions in a story. Readers feel excited when the hero struggles and satisfied when they succeed. This structure makes storytelling more engaging, which is why so many writers and filmmakers use it.

The Power of the Hero’s Journey

The Hero’s Journey isn’t just a writing tool—it’s a way to understand how we grow and change. Whether you’re writing fantasy, science fiction, romance, or thrillers, learning this structure will

In the next section, I’ll share 19 AI prompts to help you develop your own Hero’s Journey-based stories across different genres, making it easier than ever to create engaging and well-structured narratives.