The Story Solution - 23 Actions All Great Heroes Must Take - Eric Edson [FULL INTERVIEW]

Introduction

This tutorial is designed to outline the essential actions that great heroes must take in storytelling, as per Eric Edson's insights in "The Story Solution." Understanding these actions can significantly enhance your screenwriting and storytelling skills, making your characters more relatable and dynamic. Whether you are a novice writer or a seasoned screenwriter, these steps will help you craft compelling narratives.

Step 1: Understand the Hero's Journey

• Familiarize yourself with the concept of the hero's journey, which outlines the transformative adventure of a protagonist.
• Recognize that every hero undergoes a series of challenges and growth throughout the story.

Step 2: Identify the 23 Essential Actions

• Review the 23 actions that heroes must take. These actions form the backbone of character development and plot progression. Here’s a brief overview of some key actions:
  1. Call to Adventure: The hero is presented with a challenge.
  2. Refusal of the Call: The hero initially hesitates to engage with the challenge.
  3. Meeting the Mentor: The hero encounters a guide who provides wisdom or tools for the journey.
  4. Crossing the Threshold: The hero commits to the adventure.
  5. Tests, Allies, and Enemies: The hero faces obstacles, meets friends, and encounters adversaries.
  6. Approach to the Inmost Cave: The hero prepares for a major challenge.
  7. Ordeal: The hero faces a significant trial that tests their resolve.
  8. Reward: The hero emerges from the ordeal with new knowledge or power.

Step 3: Develop Character Arcs

• Create character arcs that reflect the hero's growth through these actions.
  • Example: A character who starts as selfish may learn to be selfless by the end of their journey.
• Ensure that each action leads to a transformation, making the character's development believable and impactful.

Step 4: Build Tension and Conflict

• Incorporate tension and conflict through the hero's actions.
  • Each challenge should escalate in difficulty and stakes, engaging the audience.
• Use obstacles to highlight the hero’s weaknesses, which they must overcome to succeed.

Step 5: Craft a Satisfying Resolution

• Conclude your story by demonstrating the hero’s transformation through their actions.
• The resolution should reflect the journey, showing how the hero has changed and what they have learned.

Conclusion

By understanding and applying the 23 essential actions all great heroes must take, you can create deeper, more engaging stories. Focus on your characters' journeys, ensure their actions lead to significant transformations, and remember to build tension and conflict for a compelling narrative. As a next step, consider outlining your own story using these principles to see how they can enhance your writing.