7 newbie questions
Posted: Feb 12, 2009 3:53 pm
I ran across an article in the old Dramatica website about how to get to a storyform quickly in Dramatica (I understand that the Writer's Dreamkit doesn't have all the features of Dramatica). I had some trouble understanding what the article is doing, having to learn both how to use the program and the vocabulary. The first 5 questions deal with what was done in Dramatica, were the Writer's Dreamkit equivalents correct? If they won't work, what settings in Writer's Dreamkit have the same effect (to get to a storyform quickly)?
The 6th question is about part of a Dramatica report. The 7th question is can the reports be used to determine the Signposts, Journeys, and Plot Dynamics.
The 6th question is about part of a Dramatica report. The 7th question is can the reports be used to determine the Signposts, Journeys, and Plot Dynamics.
- 1. OS Goal
- Dramatica: Now, click on "Obtaining" and go to the last level of the Theme Browser. Here we will find our OS problem. Now the secret for doing this will be looking at the OS problem in relation with the OS focus and the OS Direction. This is very important, your focus is what will be troubling your characters all throughout the story, the Direction is what they all be doing throughout the story. Your problem will be felt all through the story and will generate the story climax and the solution is the end.
Writer’s Dreamkit: In StoryEngine select Obtaining for Main Character Concern; not located in StoryGuide
2. OS Problem
- Dramatica: So, looking at our vampire story... I like "Disbelief" as the problem: we can encode it with some "The Centinel" stuff and "Temptation" can be it"s focus, so we can get some good looking vampire women in there...
Writer’s Dreamkit: In StoryGuide or StoryEngine select Disbelief for Main Character Problem
3. OS Goal
- Dramatica: Now, let"s go to the Theme Browser top evel to see how this is working: Ok, "Universe" is our MC Domain, and Future is his concern. Nice!
Writer’s Dreamkit: In StoryGuide or StoryEngine the MC Domain is not listed, select The Future for Overall Story Concern
4. Use IC instead of MC
- Dramatica: (What if this happens to you: "I like my Goal, OS problem and OS focus appreciations, but I wanted the guy who goes into the building to be a quiet Be-er surrounded by luscious vampire women, and the Story Engine says my MC must be a Do-er" If this is your case, do this: Don"t tell the story from your protagonist (the guy in the building) view. Create a Do-er -how about an active girlfriend?- from where we could watch the quiet Be-er story unfold. For our example ongoing let"s asume the MC is the Protagonist)
Writer’s Dreamkit: Instead of Goal, OS problem and OS focus there’s no Goal listed, there’s a Main Character Problem, and no Overall Story focus listed. MC Approach is Do-er , the same as Dramatica so story is told with MC watching Impact Character treated as a Be-er
5. MC Focus
- Dramatica: Now, go into the "Future" concern to choose the MC problem and Focus. (Go to the last level) Do you like "Disbeleif" for a problem? (This will make it a Change story), then your MC focus will be "Reconsider" and "Consider" will be his Direction. He"ll be considering stuff throughout the story. I don"t like it. How about "Feeling" as his problem (he could be a heartless S.O.B, or maybe have troubles when confronting someone emotional) and his Focus could be also "Temptation" (remember the vampire women)... "Feeling" it is! (So this is a Steadfast story)
Writer’s Dreamkit: Future concern and Focus not listed only the MC problem. MC problem same as Dramatica, in StoryGuide or StoryEngine select Disbelief.
6. Reports: the DOMAIN, CONCERN, ISSUE, PROBLEM, SOLUTION, FOCUS, and DIRECTION
- Dramatica: Armed with your "Story Engine Settings Report" re-read your "Brief synopsis": "A guy moves to a new apartment without realizing all the other tenants are vampires." Now look at your report settings for the Domain, Concern, Issue (and Counterpoint), Problem, Solution, Focus and Direction. They look like this:
DOMAIN: Physics CONCERN: Obtaining ISSUE: Morality vs. Self Interest PROBLEM: Disbelief SOLUTION: Faith FOCUS: Temptation DIRECTION: Conscience
Writer’s Dreamkit: Didn’t see the above paragraph (DOMAIN: Physics CONCERN …) in any of the reports. Was this made by using the headings and corresponding settings in the StoryGuide report?
7. Signposts, Journeys, and Plot Dynamics
- Dramatica: Here you go with your heart, this isn"t really important, but sometimes the right Signpost order could fire a creative spark. Open all signpost windows and look at your choices until you find something that fires a spark. Check all your choices with the story engine to see if you are happy with the results. (if all this confuses you, just go back to the Story Engine window and choose your Plot Dynamics)
Writer’s Dreamkit: There’s no signpost or journeys window or Plot Dynamics in the StoryEngine. How can the reports be used for a workaround or a method to determine the signpost, journeys and Plot Dynamics?