The 22 Steps (John Truby)

Percentages show roughly where each beat lands in the finished story — the midpoint of a 110-page screenplay is page 55. Write your version under each; it saves in your browser as you go.

1. 1.Self-Revelation, Need & Desire

   ~1%

   The end in miniature: the truth the hero will learn (self-revelation), the deep flaw they must overcome (need), and the concrete goal they'll chase (desire). Design the story backward from here.

2. 2.Ghost & Story World

   ~4%

   The wound from the past that haunts the hero (the ghost) and the world that expresses their initial state of servitude or slavery.

3. 3.Weakness & Need

   ~7%

   Show the hero's psychological and moral weakness - how they hurt themselves and others - before anything changes.

4. 4.Inciting Event

   ~10%

   The event that connects to the hero's desire and pushes them to act.

5. 5.Desire

   ~13%

   The specific goal the hero now pursues - the spine the audience follows.

6. 6.Ally or Allies

   ~18%

   The hero gains a helper who reflects theme and helps them pursue the desire.

7. 7.Opponent and/or Mystery

   ~22%

   The true opponent - who wants the same goal and attacks the hero's greatest weakness. In detective stories, the mystery stands in for the hidden opponent.

8. 8.Fake-Ally Opponent

   ~27%

   A character who appears to be a friend but is secretly working against the hero (or vice versa).

9. 9.First Revelation & Decision

   ~31%

   New information changes the hero's understanding, prompting a decision that adjusts their desire and motive.

10. 10.Plan

    ~35%

    The hero's strategy for defeating the opponent and reaching the goal.

11. 11.Opponent's Plan & Counterattack

    ~40%

    The opponent's own strategy and their first serious counterattack against the hero.

12. 12.Drive

    ~46%

    The escalating campaign of attacks and counterattacks as the hero pushes toward the goal.

13. 13.Attack by Ally

    ~52%

    The ally challenges the hero on the immoral or self-defeating way they're pursuing the goal.

14. 14.Apparent Defeat

    ~58%

    The hero's lowest point - it looks like the opponent has won.

15. 15.Second Revelation & Decision

    ~63%

    A new revelation drives an obsessive push: the hero's desire and motive change again as they redouble their efforts.

16. 16.Audience Revelation

    ~67%

    The audience learns a key piece of information the hero doesn't yet know - often the fake-ally's true identity.

17. 17.Third Revelation & Decision

    ~71%

    A final revelation and decision that sends the hero into the last battle.

18. 18.Gate, Gauntlet, Visit to Death

    ~76%

    The hero passes through a narrowing gauntlet toward the confrontation, brushing against death (literal or symbolic).

19. 19.Battle

    ~83%

    The final conflict - the climactic clash of the hero's and opponent's values, out in the open.

20. 20.Self-Revelation

    ~89%

    Through the battle, the hero sees the truth about themselves - the moral and psychological insight the whole story was built toward.

21. 21.Moral Decision

    ~93%

    Acting on the self-revelation, the hero makes a moral choice that proves they've changed.

22. 22.New Equilibrium

    ~97%

    The world settles at a higher (or tragically lower) level. Desire is gone; the hero is fundamentally changed.

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