Dan Harmon’s Story Circle: 8 Steps to A Compelling Story

Every great story is a journey. But in the hands of modern storytellers like Dan Harmon, that journey becomes a clean, repeatable, and emotionally resonant framework.

Known as the creator of Community and co-creator of Rick and Morty, Harmon wasn't just a TV writer; he was a systems thinker. He wanted a way to make sure every episode, every season, and every character arc followed a structure that felt right without being overly complex.

The result? The Story Circle is an eight-step narrative structure inspired by Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey, but refined for modern storytelling and screenwriting. Whether you're writing for television, outlining a novel, or crafting a short story, the Story Circle helps you anchor your characters in emotional truth while keeping your plot moving forward.

What makes it so powerful is its circular nature: the protagonist starts in a place of comfort, ventures into the unknown, transforms through struggle, and returns changed. It’s a blueprint that balances inner and outer conflict, structure and creativity.

In this guide, you’ll learn what Dan Harmon’s Story Circle is, how to use it in your writing, how it compares to other structures, and how tools like AuthorFlows can help you visualize it all.

1) What Is Dan Harmon’s Story Circle?

If you’ve ever struggled to keep your story emotionally grounded or felt your plot lacked rhythm, Dan Harmon’s Story Circle might be exactly what you need.

Building on the foundations of Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey, Harmon simplified and modernized the concept into eight essential steps that could be applied to nearly any story, from animated sitcoms to epic dramas.

Unlike the linear structure of the traditional three-act format, the Story Circle emphasizes transformation through motion. It’s not just about beginning, middle, and end, it’s about leaving, changing, and returning. Harmon believed that a well-told story mirrors the human experience, and he designed this structure to reflect that cycle.

The circle begins with a character in their comfort zone, introduces a need or problem, takes them through conflict and consequence, and finally brings them back home, fundamentally changed.

Here's how Dan Harmon himself described it:

“A character is in a zone of comfort. But they want something. They enter an unfamiliar situation, adapt to it, get what they wanted, pay a heavy price for it, then return to their familiar situation having changed.”

This isn’t just theory. Harmon used the Story Circle to shape nearly every episode of Community and Rick and Morty, and countless writers now apply it to novels, screenplays, short stories, and even games.

In the next section, we’ll walk through each of the eight transformative steps in the Story Circle and show you exactly how to use them in your work.

2) Breakdown of the 8 Steps in Dan Harmon’s Story Circle

At the heart of the Story Circle is a character’s journey of transformation. Each of the eight stages plays a specific role in crafting a compelling narrative emotionally, structurally, and thematically.

Let’s walk through each point on the circle.

1. YOU – The Character in a Zone of Comfort

We meet the protagonist in their normal world, their daily boring routine, job, personality, and relationships. Everything is familiar, but often flawed or incomplete.

For Example: ======> In Finding Nemo, Marlin lives a cautious life, protecting his son at all costs.

Image: AuthorFlows/ Finding Nemo/ Marlin and his son Nemo together

The Purpose: Establish empathy. The audience must know who the character is before they change.

2. NEED – Something Isn’t Right

A problem appears, or a desire awakens. The character feels tension between where they are and where they want (or need) to be. The status quo is no longer sustainable.

========> For Example: Marlin’s son Nemo is taken now Marlin needs to venture beyond his safe world.

Image: AuthorFlows/ Finding Nemo/ Marlin worried after losing his son, Nemo

Purpose: Introduce stakes. Without need, there’s no story, just observation.

3. GO – Crossing the Threshold

The character makes the choice (or is forced) to leave their comfort zone. This is the true beginning of the journey. The world changes often in scale, intensity, or rules.

Example: ======> Marlin leaves the reef and enters the unpredictable ocean.

Image: AuthorFlows/ Finding Nemo/ Marlin entered a whole different environment

Purpose: Shift the environment. This movement creates narrative drive.

4. SEARCH – Trials, Growth, and Exploration

Here, the protagonist faces challenges, learns lessons, meets allies or enemies, and begins evolving. They may still be far from their goal, but they’re changing as they move.

======> Example: Marlin teams up with Dory, faces sharks, jellyfish, and loses control learning to trust others.

Image: AuthorFlows/ Finding Nemo/ Marlin teams up with Dory

Purpose: Build tension. This is the emotional training ground of the story.

5. FIND – The Thing Is Found (or Revealed)

The character discovers what they were seeking or believes they’ve found it. This is the moment of apparent success, clarity, or revelation.

======> Example: Marlin finally finds Nemo.

Image: AuthorFlows/ Finding Nemo/ Marlin Finally found his lost son, Nemo

Purpose: Deliver the payoff but beware: this moment often comes with a twist or false hope.

6. TAKE – Pay the Price

There’s always a cost. The character sacrifices something, faces consequences, or is hit with a reality check. This is the most emotionally charged moment of the story.

======> For Example: Marlin must risk losing Nemo again in order to let him grow and make his own decisions.

Image: AuthorFlows/ Finding Nemo/ Marlin with his son, Nemo, putting more confidence in his son, but still unsure

Purpose: Test the character. Are they truly ready to change?

7. RETURN – Back to the Known World

The character begins to return physically or emotionally to where they came from. But things are not the same. The world might be unchanged, but they are not.

For Example=======>Marlin returns home with Nemo, but now allows him to explore and take risks.

AuthorFlows/ Finding Nemo/ Marlin with his son, Nemo. This time, Marlin relaxed and was more trusting

Purpose: Close the physical journey while preparing for emotional closure.

8. CHANGE – Transformation Achieved

The character has been fundamentally changed by the journey. They act differently, make new choices, or see the world in a new way. This is the point of storytelling: transformation.

=======> Example: Marlin is no longer a fearful father he’s become trusting, open, and brave.

Image: AuthorFlows/ Finding Nemo/ Marlin with his son, Nemo. With a whole different personality

Purpose: Show growth. Without change, there’s no payoff for the journey.

Tip: When outlining your next novel or screenplay, you can map your scenes directly to these eight steps using AuthorFlows. It helps keep your structure clear while allowing your creativity to guide the details.

3) How to Use the Story Circle in Your Writing Process

Dan Harmon’s Story Circle isn’t just a theory; it’s a hands-on plotting method that helps you write stronger, more emotionally resonant stories. Whether you're a planner, discovery writer, or somewhere in between, this eight-step framework gives you a clear story spine to build around.

Here’s how to use it, step-by-step:

Step 1: Brainstorm Your Character's “You”

Start by identifying who your main character is at the beginning of the story. What’s their comfort zone? What are they avoiding? This anchors your story emotionally.

Note: Write this as a character sketch, mood board, or simple paragraph.

Step 2: Identify the “Need”

Ask: What’s missing in their life? What tension will force them to move and change from the routine to adventure? This can be an internal desire or an external event, but it must challenge the status quo.

This is your inciting incident or emotional push.

Step 3: Map the Journey (Go, Search, Find)

This is where the middle of your story comes to life:

GO: Plot the moment your character crosses into the unknown
SEARCH: Brainstorm major obstacles, allies, or dilemmas
FIND: Decide what they think they want and how they find it

Note: Use this to pace your second act (especially in long-form fiction), Also To Master Act II since it's the most difficult part of your story refer to our guide for act II secrets.

Step 4: Define the Price (“Take”)

What does your character have to give up to grow? This could be a moral sacrifice, a moment of truth, or a complete breakdown. It’s often the emotional climax.

Don’t skip this the power of the Story Circle lies in transformation, and transformation needs cost.

Step 5: Write the Return & Change

Finally, sketch how your character returns and what’s different about them. Don’t just say “they changed,” show it in their choices, tone, and relationships.

Show, don’t tell this is what makes endings satisfying.

Finally, how does AuthorFlows help in this stage?

Keeping track of all eight steps, especially across scenes and drafts, can get messy. That’s why many writers use AuthorFlows to:

Map each act or beat visually
Connect scenes to character growth stages
Track emotional pacing and plot tension
Rearrange moments using a clean drag-and-drop editor

4) Examples of the Story Circle in Action

Dan Harmon’s Story Circle isn’t just a writing tool; it’s the backbone of some of the most emotionally effective and commercially successful stories in modern entertainment. Writers use it to give structure to character growth, unify sprawling plots, and ensure their narratives resonate from start to finish.

Let’s look at real examples where this 8-step formula has been used often without the audience even realizing it.

Rick and Morty: Harmon’s Own Test Lab

As co-creator of Rick and Morty, Harmon used the Story Circle as a writing template for nearly every episode. He famously insisted that the writers' room follow the eight steps not as a restriction, but as a compass for keeping wild plots emotionally grounded.

Example From: Season 1, Episode 2 “Lawnmower Dog”

YOU: Morty wants a better school life
NEED: Rick offers a way to improve it
GO: They enter multiple dream worlds
SEARCH: Morty faces surreal, unstable logic
FIND: Morty “solves” the problem by confronting fears
TAKE: He experiences trauma from what he sees
RETURN: They come back to normal life
CHANGE: Morty’s perception of Rick, school, and reality shifts permanently

Even in absurd, sci-fi chaos, the emotional beats still follow the circle.

Finding Nemo: The Backbone Example of this blog

You may not think of Pixar as using the Story Circle, but their storytelling team deeply understands character transformation. Finding Nemo follows the circle beat for beat, wrapped in ocean adventure.

Marlin’s Story Circle

YOU: Anxious, overprotective father
NEED: Nemo is taken — Marlin must act
GO: Leaves the reef
SEARCH: Battles sharks, jellyfish, and his own fear
FIND: Reaches Nemo
TAKE: Must let Nemo act independently
RETURN: Comes home with a new perspective
CHANGE: Allows freedom, trusts his son

Note that the “TAKE” stage here is subtle, but it’s what makes the ending satisfying.

Breaking Bad's massive transition from Walter to Heisenberg

Breaking Bad is often cited for its incredible character arc, and you’ll find the Story Circle repeated over and over in Walter White’s transformation.

Each season acts as a circle:

YOU: Chemistry teacher
NEED: Cancer diagnosis creates financial desperation
GO: Begins cooking meth
SEARCH: Faces the drug underworld
FIND: Power, money, respect
TAKE: Innocents suffer, morality decays
RETURN: Still home, but barely the same
CHANGE: Fully becomes Heisenberg

Multiple characters Jesse, Skyler, Hank each go through their own variations of the Story Circle across the series.

Other Notable Mentions

Here's a takeaway: Even when stories vary in tone, style, or format from dark drama to animated comedy, they often succeed because they honor the emotional movement of the Story Circle.

5) Dan Harmon’s Story Circle vs. Other Story Structures

Writers today have no shortage of storytelling frameworks to choose from, so how does Dan Harmon’s Story Circle stack up against the more traditional structures like the Hero’s Journey or the Three-Act Structure?

So let’s compare them side by side and explore when to use each.

First: Story Circle vs. The Hero’s Journey

Similarly, Harmon openly based his circle on Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey, refining it into a more practical model for screenwriting and episodic storytelling.

Note: Use the Hero’s Journey when you’re crafting myth-like, epic adventures (e.g., fantasy, sci-fi).
Use the Story Circle for everyday heroes and tighter, character-driven plots.

Second: Story Circle vs. Three-Act Structure

The Three-Act Structure is simple and widely used, but can sometimes feel too broad for stories that need emotional nuance or psychological realism.

Use the Three-Act Structure if you’re writing commercial screenplays, thrillers, or high-paced stories.
Use the Story Circle for slow-burn development, moral conflict, or transformational narratives.

The Key Differences between the Three Structures

So... Which One Should You Use?

There’s no “best” structure, only what fits your story and audience.
But many modern writers find the Story Circle more flexible, especially when blending genres or juggling internal conflict.

Rememeber: Harmon’s structure isn’t just about what happens it’s about how your characters feel as it happens.

6) The Importance of Teaching the Story Circle

Dan Harmon’s Story Circle has become a favorite among writing instructors, story coaches, and workshop leaders not just for its simplicity, but for its power to make complex storytelling feel accessible.

Unlike some academic story models that can feel overly theoretical, the Story Circle offers clarity without rigidity. It gives students a tangible framework to work with while still allowing creativity to thrive.

Why Teachers Love It So Much?

In classrooms, whether it’s a college-level creative writing course or an online novel-writing bootcamp, the Story Circle helps students in four stages

Understand the emotional rhythm of a story
Focus on transformation, not just events
Avoid saggy middles or rushed endings
Map arcs for both short fiction and full-length novels

How Coaches And Editors Use It?

Story coaches and developmental editors often use the Story Circle to:

Diagnose structure problems in manuscripts
Help writers “see” where the change hasn’t happened
Create coaching plans for revisions based on weak steps (like missing a clear “Take” moment)

Whether you’re self-editing or working with a professional, it serves as a narrative diagnostic tool.

Story Circle Exercises for Students

Here are a few practical ways teachers and coaches use the Story Circle in workshops:

Circle Mapping: Students draw their 8-step arc before writing their story

Scene Alignment: Compare scenes to specific circle steps

Reverse Engineering: Deconstruct popular films or books using the 8 points

Character Change Tracker: Track what the protagonist learns at each stage

These activities build story awareness and help beginners avoid plot without purpose.

7) FAQ: Dan Harmon’s Story Circle Explained

1. What are the 8 steps of Dan Harmon’s Story Circle?

The Story Circle is an 8-step narrative structure developed by Dan Harmon. The steps are:

You

Need

Find

Take

Return

Change
It mirrors the character’s transformation journey, from stability to disruption, through conflict, and back changed.

2. Is Dan Harmon’s story structure based on the Hero’s Journey?

Yes. Harmon created the Story Circle as a simplified, modernized version of Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey. While the Hero’s Journey has 12+ stages, Harmon condensed it into 8 steps that are more practical for screenwriters and novelists alike.

3. How do you apply the Story Circle to character development?

Each step of the Story Circle forces the character to make decisions, face challenges, and grow. By aligning plot events with emotional shifts (especially during “Take” and “Change”), the writer can craft deeper, more resonant arcs that feel authentic and earned.

4. What is the difference between the Story Circle and the Three-Act Structure?

The Three-Act Structure divides a story into: Setup, Confrontation, and Resolution. The Story Circle adds internal transformation as a requirement and splits the middle into more detailed stages, offering better pacing and more emotional depth.

5. Can I use Dan Harmon’s Story Circle for short stories?

Yes, but you’ll need to compress the beats. In short stories, the steps often overlap or happen quickly. However, even a flash fiction piece can benefit from the structure’s emphasis on desire, conflict, and change.

6. Is the Story Circle useful for novel writing?

Absolutely. The Story Circle works well for both short and long-form fiction. Novelists often use it to outline emotional arcs, structure subplots, and ensure each chapter contributes to the protagonist’s overall transformation.

With AuthorFlows, you can map each of the 8 steps visually, connect them to scenes or chapters, and rearrange your structure without losing clarity.

In Conclusion

Dan Harmon’s Story Circle is more than a structure; it’s a storytelling mindset. It helps you write stories that feel natural, satisfying, and transformative.

From novels to TV scripts, coaching sessions to classrooms, the Story Circle keeps your story grounded in one powerful idea:

The character Defenitly must change.No Room for Stability.