Element 8 – Crossing the Threshold

Checklist time – you’ve introduced your MC, their starting situation, the main story problem, the MC has wrestled with whether or how to undertake the quest, and gotten some pointers/gear from a mentor. Now what?

Time to get to gettin’

There are several parts of this element. Pick and choose, mix and match as your story requires. Not every piece of The Hero’s Journey need be in your story, nor do they need to be in the order I’ve been discussing them.

So, let’s explore the parts of this one:

The threshold – this a physical boundary the MC must cross. It can be subtle, like leaving a room or obvious, like stopping at a border to make a production of taking the next step. Whatever form the threshold takes, consider how it can strengthen your story’s theme(s). A coming-of-age story might have your MC leaving a playground, symbolizing leaving behind their childhood. A romance might have your MC leaving the site of a failed relationship or entering an area where people pair up, such as a bar, speed dating event, or a shop full of Valentine’s Day wares.

The threshold guardian – a test or challenge to prove the MC’s commitment to the adventure. Up to this moment, the MC can be a passive – things are happening TO them, the world is changing AROUND them. Now the MC must take an active role. Sure, they agreed to the quest, but now they must do something to show, not just tell, the reader that they are willing to do what it takes.

Note: the threshold guardian doesn’t have to be a person – it can be an animal, a puzzle, an inanimate object, or difficult terrain.

Isolation – once the MC has crossed the threshold, they are alone, maybe only for a moment or two. Just long enough for them to realize: “There’s no going back now.”

Writing Exercise

Think back to a time in your life where you set off on a new chapter. What was it like? Butterflies in the tummy or stark terror? Did you leave slowly or suddenly?

Write the scene twice.

Start with the following line:

My adventures in [situation] started when I [way you crossed the threshold]…

First, write about your external surroundings and sensations. What did things look like? What familiar sounds did you hear for the last time? What new sounds did you notice? Smells? Touches? Tastes?

Next, write about your thoughts and feelings. Were you eager to get started? Reluctant to leave? A bit of both? Who were you going to miss the most? Why? Who were you going to miss least? Why? What were you looking forward to and why? What were you afraid of and why?

End with the following line:

Looking back I wish I had…