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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/q/31033
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

How many pages and chapters should cover the Ordinary World also known as the normal world of the Protagonist? Ordinary World is the term used in the Hero's Journey for the ordinary world the hero will leave. Otherwise, the 'homeland' of the protagonist.

As I recall J.R.R. Tolkien spent significant time on his protagonists Bilbo and later Frodo in the Shire before their departure on their journeys. I wonder if that is overdoing it though as he is well known for a very long style which does not always appeal to modern readers. GRRM seemed to spend more time on the royal visit to the North and then the journey to King's Landing which covered several chapters. I felt that journey dragged a bit.

For my fantasy story, my protagonist is living in his homeland in an isolated culture and is in training to be a shaman. His father is a chieftain. I would like the first few chapters to cover his training, his family, his homeland, and a journey within a journey when he travels with his father to the 'capital' or fort of the high chieftain/king of his homeland. While at the fort of the high chieftain his eyes open to the wider world beyond his home village including the wider world of their culture, and the rumors of the wider world beyond. This is going to happen later in the book as well as he ventures beyond his homeland.

In perhaps cliché fashion my protagonist's homeland is going to be invaded, his family killed or imprisoned, and everything he knew destroyed. I am also trying to determine how long the invasion and escape should last. I did not plan to dwell on the killing of his family during the invasion, but rather focus on him hearing the news while away from his village.

Original score: 2