Hi motormind.
I think you've asked very good questions. I'd like to share my initial hunch, and in advance acknowledge that what I share may contain some non-accuracies (because I'm still learning the theory).
Part 1 of my response addresses the order of Signposts and Journeys. Part 2 addresses your Dramatica for Screenwriters question.
PART 1As we look at the Plot Progression screen, there is a horizontal and vertical order of the signposts and journeys. The Objective Story (OS) Signpost (SP) 1 progresses to OS Journey 1, to OS SP2, to OS Journey 2, to OS SP3, to OS Journey 3, and to OS SP4. The same is true of the Subjective Story (SS) throughline, Main Character (MC) throughline, and Obstacle Character (OC) throughline.
All plot points within Signpost 1, that's OS SP1, SS SP1, MC SP1, and OC SP1 can be placed in any order. For example, they do not need to follow the order that was just described (as they also appear in the tool), but can also be arranged in this order:
MC SP1
SS SP1
OC SP1
OS SP1
That's only an example of a possible order.
Now, the same concept applies to journeys.
The journeys that follow SP1 follow the same initial order, OS J1, SS J1, MC J1, OC J1, but like the signposts, they can be told in any order as well, such as:
OC J1, OS J1, MC J1, and SS J1.
Signposts and Journeys may be grouped together, as long as the sequence number remains the same.
The order they appear in the Plot Progression tool is:
OS SP1
SS SP1
MC SP1
OC SP1
OS J1
SS J1
MC J1
OC J1
However, you may restructure the order of all Signposts 1 and Journeys 1 to best fit the telling of your story. For example, you may order them like this:
MC SP1
MC J1
SS J1
OS SP1
OC SP1
OS J1
OC J1
SS SP1
What's important is to keep the same group of signposts with the same set of journeys.
You may not use an order like this:
SS J1
OS SP4
MC SP2
OC J1
And the reason is simple. The story won't make sense.
PART 2Armando encourages one scene to be developed before the next, but he also encourages the development of a Brief Synopsis, Plot Synopsis, Character Arc, titles for each throughline, and throughline summaries to be created before scenes are developed. Those areas are developed with a single sentence.
For example, here's an outline I'm using to develop a story that uses Armando's suggestions as a development guide:
BRIEF SYNOPSIS:- 1st Sentence: Driver ( Action - Being within tolerances. ) + Consequence ( Becoming - Transforming one's nature. )
- 2nd Sentence: Goal ( Obtaining - Achieving or possessing something. ) + Requirements ( Doing - Engaging in a physical activity. )
- 3rd Sentence: Forewarnings ( Progress - The way things are going. ) + Limit ( Optionlock - The characters run out of options. )
- 4th Sentence: Driver ( Action - Being within tolerances. ) + Outcome ( Success - A plan to achieve one's purpose or a plan of response. )
PLOT SYNOPSIS- 1st Paragraph: Driver ( Action - Being within tolerances. ) + Consequence ( Becoming - Transforming one's nature. ) + Goal ( Obtaining - Achieving or possessing something. )
- 2nd Paragraph: Requirements ( Doing - Engaging in a physical activity. ) + Limit ( Optionlock - The characters run out of options. )
- 3rd Paragraph: Forewarnings ( Progress - The way things are going. )
- 4th Paragraph: Outcome ( Success - A plan to achieve one's purpose or a plan of response. )
THROUGHLINE TITLES- OS Throughline Title: Domain ( Physics - An activity or endeavor. ) + Concern ( Obtaining - Achieving or possessing something. ) + Problem ( Feeling - An emotional sense of how things are going. )
- SS Throughline Title: Domain ( Psychology - A manner of thinking or demeanor. ) + Concern ( Becoming - Transforming one's nature. ) + Problem ( Oppose - An indirect detraction from another's effort. )
- MC Throughline Title: Domain ( Universe - A situation or environment. ) + Concern ( The Future - What will happen or will be. ) + Problem ( Feeling - An emotional sense of how things are going. )
- OC Throughline Title: Domain ( Mind - A fixed attitude or outlook. ) + Concern ( The Subconscious - Basic drives and desires. ) + Problem ( Avoidance - Stepping around, preventing or escaping from a problem. )
CHARACTER ARC SYNOPSIS- 1st Sentence: Character Arc Synopsis MC Crucial ( Feeling - An emotional sense of how things are going. ) + OC Crucial ( Logic - A rational sense of how things are related. )
- 2nd Sentence: Character Arc Synopsis MC Growth ( Stop - One's true nature. )
- 3rd Sentence: Character Arc Synopsis MC Resolve ( Change - An alteration of a state or process. ) + OC Resolve ( Steadfast - One's true nature. )
- 4th Sentence: Character Arc Synopsis MC Judgment ( Good - The main character ultimately succeeds in resolving his personal problems. )
OS SUMMARY- 1st Sentence: Domain ( Physics - An activity or endeavor. ) + Concern ( Obtaining - Achieving or possessing something. )
- 2nd Sentence: Issue ( Approach - One's methodology of doing or being. ) + Counterpoint ( Attitude - Demeanor or outlook. )
- 3rd Sentence: Focus ( Reconsider - Thinking through again. ) + Direction ( Consider - Weigh pros and cons. )
- 4th Sentence: Problem ( Feeling - An emotional sense of how things are going. ) + Solution ( Logic - A rational sense of how things are related. )
SS SUMMARY- 1st Sentence: Domain ( Psychology - A manner of thinking or demeanor. ) + Concern ( Becoming - Transforming one's nature. )
- 2nd Sentence: Issue ( Rationalization - An alternative explanation used to mask the real reason. ) + Counterpoint ( Obligation - Accepting a task or situation in exchange for someone's earlier or potential favors. )
- 3rd Sentence: Focus ( Reconsider - Thinking through again. ) + Direction ( Consider - Weigh pros and cons. )
- 4th Sentence: ( Oppose - An indirect detraction from another's effort. ) + Solution ( Support - Indirect assistance given to another's efforts. )
MC SUMMARY- 1st Sentence: Domain ( Universe - A situation or environment. ) + Concern ( The Future - What will happen or will be. )
- 2nd Sentence: Issue ( Choice - Making a decision. ) + Counterpoint ( Delay - Putting off until later. )
- 3rd Sentence: Focus ( Temptation - The urge to embrace immediate benefits despite possible consequences. ) + Direction ( Conscience - Forgoing an immediate pleasure or benefit because of future consequences. )
- 4th Sentence: Problem ( Feeling - An emotional sense of how things are going. ) + Solution ( Logic - A rational sense of how things are related. )
OC SUMMARY- 1st Sentence: Domain ( Mind - A fixed attitude or outlook. ) + Concern ( The Subconscious - Basic drives and desires. )
- 2nd Sentence: Issue ( Dream - A desired future that does not fall within reasonable expectations. ) + Counterpoint ( Hope - A desired future that falls within reasonable expectations. )
- 3rd Sentence: Focus ( Reconsider - Thinking through again. ) + Direction ( Consider - Weigh pros and cons. )
- 4th Sentence: Problem ( Avoidance - Stepping around, preventing or escaping from a problem. ) + Solution ( Pursuit - The drive to seek after. )
So, to create the Brief Synopsis, I will write four sentences:
Driver + Consequence. Goal + Requirements. Forewarnings + Limit. Driver + Outcome.
Although it may seem to be natural to write the first sentence first, the second, second, the third, third, and the fourth, last, I prefer to write the last sentence first because it's the end of my story.
The end of my story is the answer, and everything before that is the
Grand Argument that is explored.
I expand the four sentences from the Brief Synopsis into sentences for everything below it in the order I figure it out.
Sometimes that involves writing a sentence for the Plot Synopsis, the OS Throughline, the OC Throughline, the SS Character Arc, whatever.
I write the sentences in whatever order comes to me before I begin to develop the scenes because that allows me to structure the scenes better than otherwise.
I have a much better idea of what to foreshadow where by creating a detailed step outline before I write the scenes, and that's saving me a tremendous amount of time rewriting old scenes to fit new scenes.
Basically, once I write a sentence as recommended by Armando, I write the scenes in any order--and that's usually the order they come to me in.
I hope this helps.