To learn more about the FORGED series, visit the Table of Contents.
Heroes and Heroines aren't that different... are they?
To get to the purpose of this newsletter, jump down to the “Comparison Analysis” section.
First, a personal story…
Last week, I shared a bit about the trip my hubby and I took up to Seattle to see our son, attend WorldCon, and catch up with my cousin and his wife. If you missed it, check out part one HERE.
As promised in the comments to
, here is more about the weekend with our kiddo. He tricked us into walking straight up a mountain. Okay, so not exactly straight up. There were switchbacks. And there were long stretches of steep inclines. See map image below for proof.
The lesson that I learned was that 1,200-foot elevation gain hikes are steep. Moving up the inclines gave me a lot of practice in proper walking mechanics. I focused on pushing off the back big toe mound and squeezing my glutes to propel myself up the trail (instead of ‘pulling’ myself forward with the front foot). And the decline reminded me that my knees are 53 years old and should avoid 1,200 elevation gains.
However, I was the only one who did not need a nap after the hike to recover. Okay, not entirely true. I napped for part of the ride back into the city.
Now, onto the comparison analysis.
Last week, I spoke about the differences between the Hero’s Journey and the Heroine’s Journey. To recap, here are the major similarities and differences that I noticed:
Hero’s Journey VS. Heroine’s Journey
Both establish an Ordinary World
Catalyst = Call to Adventure VS. Catalyst = Betrayal or Loss
Both Venture to the Unknown
Faces tests & trials to learn how to stand alone VS. Faces tests & trials to bring people together
Both experience profound transformation
External prize or have his triumph publicly honored VS. Finds an inner wholeness, and her community enjoys a reconciliation
Hero’s Journey introduced by Joseph Campbell and further developed by Christopher Volger. Heroine’s Journey introduced by Maureen Murdock.
In other words, the greatest difference lies in the external versus internal nature of the two frameworks.
This post is public, so feel free to share it. (Someone in your community might be interested too!)
Framework for the Forged series
Once I realized that I was writing a full-length novel, I knew that I’d need some sort of structure to the story. I examined several books in the YA dystopian genre to determine the structure used or that could be applied. The most common format between them was the Hero’s Journey, so I dug into the structure to see if it felt right for Tessa’s story.
I also explored the Three-Act Structure (not enough structure or plot points for how my brain works), Freytag's Pyramid (more developmental points but still not detailed enough to give me a roadmap to get from points A to B), and even Save the Cat Beats (which I found too detailed for my plotting needs. Translate: overwhelming).
Hence, I returned to the Hero’s Journey as the framework to establish a story arc for Shattered, Merged, and Forged, the three books of the Forged series. In this earlier post, I spoke about the start of Tessa’s story within the framework of a Hero’s Journey.
Let’s compare
When we compare the external vs. internal nature of Tessa’s story, I’m curious if you think the Heroine’s Journey is a more apt description of the story’s structure?
From the Hero’s Journey, here are the first three stages:
Ordinary Life
At the beginning of Shattered, Tessa is on the cusp of a new chapter in her life. After the death of her family, she is forced to move from her home in the Wilds to live with an aunt and uncle in the urban center (external). She grieves the loss of her family (internal) and change in her way of life (internal). She must attend public high school (external) and navigate new social norms and expectations (internal). She faces bullying, social stratification, and regional prejudice (external and internal).
Within the framework of the Hero’s Journey, the introduction to Tessa’s Ordinary Life establishes her daily living inundated with external influences that create internal turmoil. The fundamental driver of her world is Loss.
Call to Adventure & Refusal of Call
When the director of a prestigious lab is a guest speaker in her class, she discovers that not only do her test scores place her among the most elite students in the school, but living with her uncle has given her immediate status—one she refuses to believe she deserves.
She further rejects the call to adventure by refusing to accept Zeke’s claim that she is special like him and the others in his circle.
Now, from the Heroine’s Journey, here are the first three stages:
Separation from the Feminine
The Heroine’s Journey defines the first stage as a separation from the feminine, or a rejection of traditional feminine roles and values. She strives to distance herself from characteristics that make her appear weak.
Tessa speaks about gathering her confidence to enter the school building, relief at not accepting the help of her uncle so as “not to appear weak” to her new classmates, and expresses frustration with herself for letting her nervousness show.
Identify with the Masculine
This stage finds the protagonist striving to embrace the traits, mindset, and external goals typical of a male-dominated society. She focuses on external success to prove her worth.
For Tessa, she is pleased that her placement exams validated her intelligence, placing her in upper-level classes for the majority of her subjects. She proves her physical capabilities (though unable to do some activities due to her immunocompromised health) by setting a new school record in PE baseline testing and nearly beating the school’s top athlete.
Road of Trial
Within the Heroine’s Journey format, the test, allies, and enemies take the external and physical aspects of the stage to draw upon the internal impacts on the protagonist.
For Tessa, she faces both the societal stereotypes of being from the Wilds with the internal effects of the bullying she faces while processing the death of her family. She struggles to define herself within the ethos of high school in a way she can accept her emerging self-identity.
Results
What do you think? Though I crafted the story along the Hero’s Journey template, can you see how the Heroine’s Journey emerges?
I invite you to read the novel and draw your own conclusions! And I look forward to hearing your assessment and comments!
What I’m reading
I’m still reading ongoing serials from (Tethered by Shadows), (Isla), (Darkly), (Assassin Roommate), and
(Mars Fires), to name a few. Here is what else has been drawing my attention (a.k.a. research for my next project) that you might also enjoy.The surprising similarity between rivers and trees - I was first introduced to the mycorrhizal networks of trees and plants when researching for my Future of Nature Substack Special Event submission for Earth Day 2025.
takes this a step further, challenging us all to understand how rivers are connected hierarchical dendritic networks and not merely linear—headwater to ocean—channels.Solar Panels lead to better…wool? - I’ve always been fascinated with the blend of ‘old’ and ‘new’ ways. Our world is not simple black and white, good and bad. Why not look at how new technology can be incorporated into existing practices to strengthen or improve both elements?
gives us one such example that allows for new technologies to complement the old ways.The next pandemic is 'a certainty’ -
provides chilling evidence that the Spanish Flu, COVID-19, and other pandemics are not anomalies. I incorporated the Perses Pandemic into the historical world-building of the Forged series. When considering my next project, I realize that some form of a pandemic will play a role in the world-building, and this essay provides me with more background to explore.The Environment - You know what is super cool? Discussing how to leverage Substack with your kiddo and then reading his work, only to realize that he will be a perfect developmental discussionist for your next project. In this essay,
lays the groundwork for his planned book, focusing on the food industry as a contributor to the climate crisis and how our choices about what we eat impact global warming. Plus, he plans to share his favorite recipes (many of which I made for him when he was growing up).Exiled - Off the ‘Stacks, I finished the debut novel from
. This story is a mash-up of Lord of the Flies, Lost, and Escape from New York (the cult classic movie with Kurt Russell). Watch for a future newsletter with my full review. Until then, you can pick up a copy for yourself at major online retailers, through your local indie bookstore, and on his website.
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Upcoming Events & Happenings
MAC PEEPS! TONIGHT! Thursday, September 4, 2025, 5-7pm - I’ll be at “Mac Inspired” (Glo Spa, 1300 NW Adams St, Suite A, McMinnville) with copies of Shattered and The Midnight Vault to sell and some bookish swag. Already have a copy? Bring it, and I’ll sign it! Ask me questions about the series. Talk about books we’ve read. Lament about the “end of summer…” — I’ll be there for it all! And joining me is author Rachel D. Russell. She will have copies of her Contemporary Romance books for sale.
BOISE PEEPS! Thursday, October 9th, 7-8:30pm - I’ll be at Rediscovered Books (1576 W Grove St, Boise). This will be a perfect time to pick up a copy and have it signed!!! More details to come.
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Thanks for the mention! Your continued comments on Darkly always make me want to keep writing! And I think I'd like "Exiled." I've got an Escape from NY/Snake Pussken poster on my wall. I don't think I can post a picture here, but I'll post it on Notes & tag you.
Thanks for the mention! Chapter IV of Mars Fires drops tomorrow - I trust you'll enjoy!