The Story Circle is Not for Squares

Dan Harmon's distillation of the Hero's Journey is a tidy heuristic for good storytelling and could help win you funding from Human Respect Labs.

Stories of liberation must also be stories of violence, compulsion, or confinement. Otherwise, there’s no story. Tension or conflict makes a tale interesting. That means the writer has either to destroy a more ideal situation or have a character escape an unideal situation. But, more significantly, how does the experience change the character? How does it change us?

If you’ve got a story of liberation to tell, let’s see what you’ve got! (Apply here.)

Dan Harmon, the creator of Community and co-creator of Rick and Morty, developed a streamlined storytelling framework called the Story Circle. Adapted from Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey, the Story Circle distills narrative structure into eight steps that guide a character through a transformative arc.

What I love about the Story Circle is that it’s an effort to distill that arc. No shade on the Hero’s Journey, of course. The Story Circle is just tidier. Because Harmon’s approach emphasizes emotional resonance and character-driven plots, it makes for a versatile tool for writers in television, film, and beyond.

The Story Circle: The Eight Steps

Below, we explore the Story Circle’s steps and illustrate its application with examples. First, we’ll go through the steps and then through some examples.

1. A Character is in a Zone of Comfort. The protagonist starts in a familiar world.

2. But They Want Something. A desire or need disrupts their comfort.

3. So, They Enter an Unfamiliar Situation. The character ventures into a new world.

4. They Adapt to It. They learn to navigate the challenges of this new environment.

5. They Get What They Wanted. The character achieves their goal.

6. But Pay a Heavy Price for It. Success comes with cost, consequences, or sacrifices.

7. Then Return to Their Familiar World. The character goes back to the old world.

8. Having Changed. They are transformed by the experience, for better or worse.

Now, let’s explore some examples to help you with your storytelling.

Source: Filmdaft.com

Example: The Lord of the Rings

J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic also fits the Story Circle.

1. Zone of Comfort. Frodo Baggins lives a peaceful life in the Shire.

2. Wants Something. He desires to protect the Shire and destroy the One Ring to prevent Sauron’s domination.

3. Unfamiliar Situation. Frodo leaves the Shire, embarking on a perilous quest across Middle-earth.

4. Adapt to It. He learns to survive dangers, rely on allies like Aragorn and Sam, and resist the Ring’s corrupting influence.

5. Get What They Wanted. Frodo reaches Mount Doom and destroys the Ring.

6. Pay a Heavy Price. The journey leaves Frodo physically and emotionally scarred, unable to fully enjoy the peace he fought for.

7. Return to Familiar Situation. Frodo returns to the Shire.

8. Having Changed. Unable to find contentment, Frodo departs for the Undying Lands, forever altered by his ordeal (PTSD).

Frodo’s arc illustrates how the Story Circle can structure a sprawling narrative while focusing on personal transformation.'

Let’s do one more.

Example: The Exodus

This time, I’ll set out the story without the eight prompts. See if you remember them.

1. The Israelites are in Egypt, initially living normally under Joseph's favor (before the story's main timeline). Moses, the central figure, begins as a Hebrew raised in Pharaoh's palace, relatively secure but unaware of his true identity.

2. The Israelites are enslaved and oppressed by a new Pharaoh, crying out for freedom. Moses, after discovering his Hebrew identity, feels a need to address his people’s suffering, sparked by witnessing an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave.

3. Moses flees Egypt after killing an Egyptian and lives as a fugitive in Midian. Later, called by God at the burning bush, he returns to Egypt to confront Pharaoh, entering a perilous and unfamiliar role as both leader and prophet.

4. Moses, with Aaron, navigates the challenges of convincing Pharaoh to release the Israelites. This involves demands, plagues, and negotiations, as Moses adapts to his role as God's intermediary. The Israelites grapple with fear and doubt.

5. After the ten plagues, culminating in the Passover, Pharaoh relents, and the Israelites are freed. They leave Egypt, crossing the Red Sea, which God parts to ensure their escape, symbolizing their complete liberation.

6. But the Israelites still face the Egyptian army's pursuit, the destruction of Pharaoh’s forces in the Red Sea, and the daunting journey ahead in the wilderness. Moses bears the burden of leadership, facing constant complaints and rebellion from the people.

7. The Israelites, now free, begin their journey toward the Promised Land, returning to a covenantal relationship with God (echoing their ancestors’ connection to Him). They receive the Law at Mount Sinai and become God’s chosen people.

8. The Israelites are transformed from slaves into a nation under God’s covenant, though their journey involves ongoing struggles (e.g., wandering for 40 years due to disobedience). Moses grows from a reluctant fugitive to a steadfast leader, guiding the people despite their challenges.

Why the Story Circle Works

Harmon’s Story Circle resonates because it mirrors the human experience: comfort, desire, struggle, and growth. Its simplicity allows writers to adapt it to any genre, from sitcoms to epics, while ensuring the stories remain emotionally engaging.

By balancing external action with internal change, the Story Circle helps craft narratives that feel satisfying and meaningful to viewers. And don’t forget: People remember stories better than syllogisms.