Hero on a Mission

Author: Donald Miller

What I’ve learned over time, and what this book is about, is that heroism dramatically improves our stories. If we want to take control of our lives and change the course of our story to make it meaningful, we can draw more on our heroic energy by moving away from victim and villain mentalities.

I am grateful for this wisdom because it saved my life and improved the quality of the life I live.

What is the essence of heroic energy? A hero wants something from life and is willing to accept challenges to transform into someone capable of getting what they want.

When we read a story or watch a film, we subconsciously want the hero to rise to the occasion.

This is one of the questions I ask myself when editing any unsuccessful story: How does the hero respond to the challenge they face? How do they react when someone insults them? When they are ostracized, how do they treat the person who ostracized them? When they feel all is lost, can they find a glimmer of light in the heart of darkness? Do they try? Do they move forward against all odds, and do they get back on their feet after taking blows and falling?

If the hero responds with purposeful action and a sense of hope, our story will move forward and become interesting. But if they respond with despair like a victim, or if they criticize others like a villain, the story will collapse.