You've got a story idea you love, and somewhere along the way you heard that the hero's journey

is the way to structure it. There's 12 stages, you have a hero who leaves home, faces trials,

and comes back changed. It sounds very clean, it sounds very doable, and it seems like it'll

make writing a whole novel feel less like an impossible dream and more like a series of steps you can actually

follow. But here's the thing nobody tells you. Knowing the 12 stages and actually using them to

outline your novel are two very different things. So today I'm going to walk you through exactly

how to do it, how to divide your word count into acts where each of the 12 stages lands,

right down to the percentage

marks and rough scene numbers for your big turning points, as well as the part that most guides

on the hero's journey skip entirely. And that is what this framework can't do on its own,

so you know what your story still needs underneath the hero's journey to hold it all together.

Welcome to the Fiction made easy podcast. My name is Savannah Gilbo and I'm here to help you write a story that works.

I want to prove to you that writing a novel doesn't have to be overwhelming. So each week,

I'll bring you a brand new episode with simple, actionable, and step-by-step strategies that you can

implement in your writing right away. So whether you're brand new to writing or more of a seasoned

author looking to improve your craft, this podcast is for you. So pick up a pen and let's get started.

Okay, so let me paint a picture and tell me if this is you. You've got the hero's journey diagram saved somewhere. You know the one I'm talking about. It's the circle with the 12

stages arranged around it like numbers on a clock. Maybe you have it pinned on Pinterest or

screenshot it on your phone or print it out and taped above your desk. And you've studied it.

You could probably recite the stages right now if I put you on the spot or at least name a handful of them.

You've got the ordinary world, the call to adventure, the refusal of the call, and so on and so on.

And yet, if you're anything like a lot of the writers I talk to, when you sit down to outline your book, you freeze.

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