Chris Huntley wrote:Any thoughts?
LEGEND OF ACRONYMS
First I'd like to suggest that a Legend of Acronyms be created. The other day on Convore I asked what PSR was... my mind was racing through so many definitions that I simply didn't think of it as a reporting abbreviation. Several months ago on the list I used the terms OS, SS, MC and IC and Mike asked (paraphrased into my own words) "the what?".
I think that providing a Legend of Acronyms will also be helpful to the new user of Dramatica, because those of us who are familiar with it eventually begin to chat using abbreviated terms.
PROBLEM SOLVING STYLE
Logical / Linear
Intuitive / Holistic
I think the new terms are more user friendly and will be better received by new users.
MAIN VS. IMPACT THROUGHLINE and OBSTACLE/IMPACT CHARACTER
I see that the term Relationship has been around since at least 2004 (http://www.dramatica.com/theory/tip_of_month/tips/tip0504.html).
I feel that Relationship can be a good change if it is pluralized. When I have discussed the Impact Character role during meetings and emphasized the fact that it can be Impact Characters (IC), only the singular definition is accepted by most. If eyes have not already started to gloss over from having to think about their story to such a technical degree, I get looks of rejection when I explain that the IC can be more than one character... and usually a bit later in the meeting it has been followed by the question "what if I have more than one character functioning as the impact character?".
I feel that pluralizing it in the beginning will make understanding its use easier in the long run, probably because if one is told "it can be a lot" in the beginning and then being given permission to reduce it to one character is easier than adding new characters to the role.
BACKGROUND
Add definition for BACKGROUND.
http://www.dramatica.com/theory/tip_of_month/tips/tip0603.html
STORY TENDENCY
Add definition for STORY TENDENCY.
http://www.dramatica.com/theory/tip_of_month/tips/tip0999.html
ARGUMENT / INEQUITY
The Grand Argument Story is "A story that illustrates all four throughlines (Overall Story, Main vs. Impact Story, Main Character, and Impact Character) in their every story point so that no holes are left in either the passionate or dispassionate arguments of that story -- A Grand Argument Story covers all the bases so that it cannot be disproved...." - Dramatica Dictionary
I feel that once an aspiring or average writer hears the word "argument" with the definition of the word story, they think that if they are going to use Dramatica theory it means they will not sit down and write but rather sit down and fight. I've seen quite a few shoulders be drawn upwards in stress on hearing the word "argument" in the definition, so an alternative way to explain the concept would be great.
"According to Dramatica, every Complete Story is an analogy of a single human mind trying to deal with an inequity."
- Melanie Ann Phillips, Writing With The Story Mind.
Inequity is another word that seems to disrupt the creative flow and cause eyebrows to squeeze inwards towards the nose.
I feel that the term Inequity is perfect for the writer like me, who thinks technically, and screenwriters who plan to continue writing professionally, but definitely not the average creative writer. Although the definition of inequity is understood easily enough, it may be associated to math, chemistry, physics, and other academics that require a lot of technical thought rather than something that stimulates creative writing.
As with argument, I feel that if an additional definition is created to appease the average creative writer who doesn't want to think technically about their writing but use Dramatica would be useful.
I will be able to make additional/alternative definition suggestions by September or so.