vogler 4

Vogler, Christopher. “The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers." Studio City, CA: Michael Wiese Productions, 1998 p. 83-105



In this rendition of Vogler, the author is now talking about shadows, shape shifters, heralds, allies, and tricksters. Theses are the characters that either get in the heroes way or help them out. The shadows are the characters that are the most danger to the hero in stories, while the shape shifters are next in line. Most shape shifters are women it seems. I thought it was equally surprising that heralds could be bad guys. The trickster is often a character not used as often, but a powerful character to have in your story.

In my opinion I like the trickster more than any other character. I have read books like “The Tricksters Choice” about a girl who is kidnapped by pirates an sold to a family that she has to protect for a summer; ordered by the Crow God. But then again allies are very useful. Having an animal sidekick is total kickass. In my story my sidekick is my dog Jojoe.




Why do heroes need sidekicks if they are everything we need in a hero?

Are the allies as smart as the hero?
If you were a hero, would you want a sidekick, or an animal c