Crucial Element of Non-Accurate

[zeitenflug]

Hi there, I have a storyfrom that includes a MC crucial element of Non-Accurate. My MC is a scientist. Can you think of any examples that illustrate what a CE of Non-Accurate in a scientist means? I need to fuel my imagination... Also, in the character's screen there is no "context" button as there is in the story guide.

[Chris Huntley]

Being the crucial element alone doesn't have any intrinsic meaning. How does Non-Accurate figure into the Overall Story throughline and the Main Character throughline? (e.g. OS Problem, MC Solution, etc.) That should give you the context(s) within which you may explore Non-Accurate (outside tolerances).

[zeitenflug]

Well, it's my first try to base something on Dramatica's brainstorming function. The story is for book 2 in a YA series. Roughly, it's about vampires. One of them has been "infected" and is in danger of turning. The characters try to prevent that. So far the specs my publisher has set. Now - in order to prevent the story from being too obvious, I try to come up with something fresh and surprising by using the brainstorming function. Dramatica came up with a Timelock Limit, Failure and Bad Judgement. That, I immensely like. For me, it means, they fail in preventing to turn him, and that opens a range of interesting new stories within the series. The IC is the sidekick, the MC is the skeptic. The MC (Domain: Activity, Concern: Searching) is a scientist who tries to stop the transformation process. His problem is Accurate, solution Non-Accurate. The IC is the one that is going to turn (Domain: Manipulation, Concern: Playing a Role, Problem: Proven, Solution: Unproven).From that, I try to find out, what Dramatica is trying to tell me about the story. The M/I throughline (Domain: Situation, Concern: How Things Are Changing, Problem: Accurate, Solution: Non-Accurate) seems to fit in nicely - situation being the transformation.

However, I have problems with the Accurate/Proven vocabulary... Can the CE of Non-Accurate mean: The scientist tries to evaluate the anti-transformation serum by looking at how it deviates from the specification? The IC would then have to evaluate the serum by looking at how it already is within the tolerances - like a glass half full / half empty discussion.

[Chris Huntley]

Yes, but the scientists efforts to explore that deviation probably would not happen until the end of the story because that is the OS Solution, not the OS Problem.

ONE CAUTION: It seems to me that you may be confusing the Overall Story throughline with that of the Main Character. The one throughline you did not describe was that of the OS, yet my guess is that the whole vampire thing is the subject matter explored in the OS. How do the MC's PERSONAL issues reveal themselves? The MC throughline describes the issues directly related to and/or of concern to the MC, not everyone else in the story.