Explore the heroine’s journey and learn how to craft deeper, more transformative character arcs.

Many writers are familiar with the hero’s journey—a narrative built around outward action, conquest, and achievement. But not every story hinges on slaying dragons or crossing literal thresholds. Some of the most powerful historical fiction centers on internal transformation: reckoning with trauma, reclaiming identity, or learning to inhabit one’s own power. For those stories, the heroine’s journey offers a vital—and often overlooked—framework.

In this interactive workshop, N.J. Mastro introduces the heroine’s journey and places it in conversation with the traditional hero’s journey. Using examples from well-known novels, participants will explore how each structure shapes character growth in different ways. Writers will be guided through examining their own works-in-progress to identify which journey they are using—and whether a different approach might unlock deeper emotional resonance.

This session is designed to help you move beyond plot mechanics and toward character arcs that feel earned, authentic, and transformative.

Session Goals:
• Clarify the key differences between the hero’s and heroine’s journeys
• Help writers identify narrative structures within their own stories
• Equip participants to revise or plot with greater emotional depth

Presenter:
N.J. Mastro

This Prologue Day workshop is available as a standalone Eventbrite ticket or included with virtual conference registration, which provides access to all Prologue Day events and recorded conference sessions.