Narrative First
Subtext
Jul 29th, 2020
Ten minutes that will change the way you see story
Jul 12th, 2020
Getting to the point
Jul 6th, 2020
Upgrading your narrative mind
Jun 22nd, 2020
Overcoming fear by focusing on the details
Jun 19th, 2020
The pull of the storyform guarantees characters that resonate
Jun 18th, 2020
Understanding the mindsets that drive narrative
Jun 17th, 2020
Making it easier to write more effectively
Understanding the role of the Influence Character in a Story
Jun 14th, 2020
Those who do shouldn't teach.
May 27th, 2020
An understanding of 'just because'
May 4th, 2020
Building a better story
Invalid date
Jul 22nd, 2020
Where to start
Apr 16th, 2020
The storyform reflects inequity, not storytelling
Expanding narrative structure to account for a world without problems
Mar 23rd, 2020
An intuitive understanding of progression in narrative
Mar 20th, 2020
Visualizing stories inside of stories
Feb 7th, 2020
An argument that balances reason and emotion both informs and intrigues
Feb 3rd, 2020
Intuiting emotion
Jan 22nd, 2020
The culmination of a lifelong aspiration
Jan 10th, 2020
The numbers behind the work
Jan 6th, 2020
Finding what was already there
Jan 2nd, 2020
Classifying the personality of a story
Dec 29th, 2019
Defining the artistic intent behind narrative structure
Dec 24th, 2019
A gift from me to you.
Dec 20th, 2019
Improving the accuracy of a thematic argument
Dec 16th, 2019
Developing a method for appreciating an alternative experience of life
Dec 5th, 2019
A look back at a definitive year
The meaning of the season...in a storyform.
Dec 3rd, 2019
Proof positive that purpose counts
Nov 25th, 2019
Pandering to the gatekeepers
Nov 16th, 2019
Focus on one specific area of narrative study.
Nov 14th, 2019
The narrative structure beneath outerspace workplace offenses.
Nov 13th, 2019
A look at the coming integration of Narrative First & Subtext.
Nov 9th, 2019
The shortcut to your writer's intuition.
Oct 31st, 2019
The most delightful update to our collective understanding of narrative.
Sep 28th, 2019
Driven by the unverified.
Sep 23rd, 2019
The stories we tell ourselves, and how to write more triumphs of the spirit.
Jul 18th, 2019
The meaning behind the events of a story.
Feb 21st, 2019
Building a framework for writing stories.
Feb 16th, 2019
An answer that sets the course.
Jan 15th, 2019
Genre is set by the message of the story, not the medium.
Jan 14th, 2019
An in-depth look at the narrative driving this success.
Jan 9th, 2019
The next wave starts now.
Dec 26th, 2018
Setting out on a new & unexplored path.
Dec 24th, 2018
Daily wisdom designed to develop further the Dramatica theory of story.
Dec 14th, 2018
Our year in review.
Dec 3rd, 2018
A short story lost to time resurfaces.
Nov 20th, 2018
A video introduction to our magical service, Subtext.
Nov 6th, 2018
Inconsistency in major Act turns breaks trust with the Audience.
Nov 5th, 2018
The joy of being able to continually improve the quality of storytelling in the world.
Nov 1st, 2018
The latest version of our service Subtext helps you get going with confidence this November.
Sep 22nd, 2018
An all new feature bound to make many writers very very happy.
Aug 5th, 2018
Learning at the feet of greatness.
Aug 4th, 2018
Finding value without understanding requires belief.
Aug 3rd, 2018
Belief will get you nowhere.
Jul 31st, 2018
Think of what you want to say, then use the storyform to make your argument.
Jul 29th, 2018
Frame each player’s motivation within the context of the central goal.
Jul 28th, 2018
Turn concepts into conflict.
Jul 27th, 2018
Weaving together the education and practical application of narrative theory.
Jul 26th, 2018
Pick a side and make a stand.
Jul 24th, 2018
Audiences can handle the truth, if you have something important to say.
Jul 23rd, 2018
Author's intent determines the substance of narrative structure.
Jul 22nd, 2018
If given the responsibility to interact with others through reticence, then yes.
Jul 21st, 2018
A look at a simpler way to understand the storyform of a narrative.
Jul 16th, 2018
Coming of Age stories frame conflict in dysfunctional psychologies.
Jun 28th, 2018
Less Act, and more Backstory, Act Zero sets the foundation for justification.
Jun 8th, 2018
The best way to understand the principal characters of a narrative is not to see them as characters.
May 29th, 2018
A tour of the new features found in our latest release of our Subtext service.
May 24th, 2018
Speed and beauty--all in the same package.
Apr 30th, 2018
Recent updates to Subtext allow for greater control over the content of each important Storybeat.
Apr 25th, 2018
Weekly updates to Subtext's catalog of storyforms resumes with this look at personal and professional abuse.
Mar 29th, 2018
A first look at the narrative elements behind The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.
Mar 26th, 2018
Determine what you want to say, not what you think your story is trying to say.
Mar 14th, 2018
Early insight into a revolutionary approach to writing stories.
Mar 1st, 2018
The Main Characters of these films possess the same problematic narrative element at the heart of their individual Throughlines.
Feb 23rd, 2018
Consistent storypoints--key to the integrity of a strong & clear message--bring the episodes of this series together.
Feb 18th, 2018
Software that makes an already arduous process even more of a challenge.
Feb 16th, 2018
Time & distance grants one the objectivity needed to successfully account for a narrative's key story points.
Feb 12th, 2018
The thrill of coming up with something & sending it out for everyone to enjoy.
Feb 9th, 2018
Turns out, the Dramatica theory of story is so intuitive a 6-year old can understand it.
Feb 7th, 2018
The forces that act upon structure expose an unexplored area of narrative science.
Jan 31st, 2018
Focusing on the opposite of an element encourages one to narrow their appreciation of a narrative.
Jan 30th, 2018
Yet another example of where a slight shift in perspective would bring greater understanding.
Jan 29th, 2018
In our quest to develop the most accurate model of narrative, some initial terms might need reconsideration.
Dec 19th, 2017
Story structure can be pretty.
Dec 18th, 2017
Despite a silly Objective Story, the lastest in the Star Wars saga presents a functionable narrative.
Dec 15th, 2017
Distill complex story theory down into something a little more familiar.
Dec 14th, 2017
Why bother learning complicated story theory when the elements of story structure can come to you?
Dec 12th, 2017
Discover stories that share the same base inequity as your own story.
Dec 4th, 2017
The Subtext provides hundreds of thousands of writing prompts to help you write that next great story.
Nov 28th, 2017
A beautiful new outlook on narrative structure.
Nov 27th, 2017
The difference seven years of story theory makes when it comes to the accuracy and insightfulness of a narrative analysis.
Nov 17th, 2017
Something special for the discerning writer...
Oct 13th, 2017
Decoding the narrative strand beneath a dark and compelling thriller.
Oct 11th, 2017
We are not natural storyteller—stories are naturally us.
Oct 10th, 2017
Our minds can’t help but perceive story in everything we see.
Oct 6th, 2017
Our minds are built to appreciate meaning. So are stories.
Oct 5th, 2017
To touch history is to become history.
Sep 27th, 2017
Sep 26th, 2017
To make a story, simply look inside the box.
Sep 16th, 2017
Why 10,000 steps is like 10,000 words.
Sep 12th, 2017
Sep 6th, 2017
Sep 1st, 2017
Great artists sense the presence of a storyform, yet sometimes lack the means to explain it.
Aug 29th, 2017
A hilarious send-up of Batman movies parodies our favorite concepts of story structure.
Jul 26th, 2017
Look to story theory as a measure of your success.
Jul 11th, 2017
An older article from the Vault explains the importance of clearly defining the start of a story.
Jun 26th, 2017
An update on our Dramatica workshop featuring the 2008 Streep-Hoffman drama, Doubt.
Jun 20th, 2017
Jun 19th, 2017
Jun 16th, 2017
The video analyses of *The Americans* and *Arrival* finally arrive.
Jun 5th, 2017
Imagine you were sitting next to Chris and Melanie during the first few months of development of Dramatica. Now imagine no more.
Jun 2nd, 2017
Confused about Dramatica's role in ththe development of a story? Begin with the emptiness of deep space.
May 29th, 2017
Use an app designed for summer reading--and summer working.
May 28th, 2017
To know Dramatica is to understand that context matters.
May 25th, 2017
To make a story truly relatable, Authors should structure their stories to align with the psychological processes of problem-solving within the mind.
May 22nd, 2017
The order in which an Author presents the thematic material of their narrative relies on the specific technique the Main Character uses to resolve problems.
May 17th, 2017
A popular term of story matters little in the final analysis.
May 9th, 2017
The Main Character of a story is a perspective, not a character.
May 7th, 2017
We can never fully understand ourselves and when we do, we can't even communicate it.
May 5th, 2017
Their first point-of-attack indicates where they instinctively feel the source of conflict within them.
May 2nd, 2017
Understanding the difference between the two bridges the gap between theory and application.
While an Author limits a story through deadlines or options, the Audience feels the difference elsewhere.
Apr 22nd, 2017
By design, your mind deceives you. Understanding how it does clues a writer in on how to write a better story.
Apr 7th, 2017
When analyzing the deep thematic structure of a narrative, several minds function better than one.
Apr 5th, 2017
Story is more than Character, Plot, Theme, and Genre--it is a reason for Character, Plot, Theme, and Genre.
Mar 31st, 2017
A look back at innaccurate assumptions made during the first years of the Dramatica theory of story.
Mar 29th, 2017
The Dramatica theory of story is the only paradigm of story where the order of events carries with it as much meaning as the events themselves.
Mar 27th, 2017
Mar 7th, 2017
Download deep insights into the thematic structure of these great films.
Mar 5th, 2017
Identifying the two driving forces in a story comes down to the difference between Initiative and Reticence.
Feb 28th, 2017
Starting this month, you can watch a storyform unfold on your very own television set.
Feb 27th, 2017
At least, not a storyform.
Feb 11th, 2017
Appreciating the difference between the subjective and objective view of characters improves narrative structure 10,000%.
Feb 10th, 2017
A story contains all that we need to understand and appreciate and entertain an alternate point-of-view.
Feb 8th, 2017
While similar on the surface, stories maintain their own unique narrative structure.
Feb 6th, 2017
The film's popularity relies on a narrative that makes a convincing emotional argument.
Feb 4th, 2017
When the one driving the plot is not the Main Character, they often are the Influence Character.
We finally updated our servers.
Jan 26th, 2017
Master writers instinctively write stories that mimic the mind's problem-solving process.
Jan 24th, 2017
Practice makes perfect. A coach makes perfect practice.
Jan 23rd, 2017
Our articles and blog posts are now available in Apple's default News reader.
Jan 21st, 2017
An inspirational workshop intuitively turns to Dramatica to explain how to structure a written piece of work.
Jan 19th, 2017
One place to learn and appreciate the wonderful world of story.
Jan 17th, 2017
On second thought the film proves more efficient than our original assessment.
Jan 13th, 2017
Backstory forces an Author to consider the justifications that motivate the Main Character.
Watch and follow along as the Dramatica Users Group collaborates to create an original and fully functional narrative.
Jan 10th, 2017
Not every story is a Leap of Faith story; some Main Characters shift imperceptibly over time until at the end it is apparent that their paradigm shifted.
Jan 9th, 2017
The most effective way forward is to stop thinking about your story as something that happens in and around real characters.
Jan 8th, 2017
Our minds can't help but self-organize into structured storytelling.
Jan 7th, 2017
Common ground exists between the wisdom of the ancients and a new theory of story based on the mind's problem-solving process.
Jan 6th, 2017
The uniqueness of a narrative construct lies in its arrangement of conflict through the Four Throughlines.
Jan 5th, 2017
Complete stories do not require a single Hero with a single Goal.
Jan 4th, 2017
The Main Character of a story solves problems either step-by-step or by balancing inequities.
Jan 3rd, 2017
The quest for perfection often leads one further away from telling a great story.
Jan 2nd, 2017
Our yearly roundup of the very best--and very worst-- in storytelling from the previous year.
Jan 1st, 2017
Jumpstart your understanding of story and complete narrative with this collection of insightful articles.
Nov 21st, 2016
Other paradigms of story concentrate on the subjective Audience point-of-view of what it is like to *experience* a story from within. Dramatica shows Authors what their story looks like from without.
Nov 15th, 2016
Highly entertaining, yet functionally broken? Possible and unfortunately frequent when it comes to Hollywood.
Nov 7th, 2016
Someone takes out his annoying neighbor and nosy landlady by constructing a devious plan.
Oct 19th, 2016
Oct 17th, 2016
Oct 14th, 2016
Instead of myth or dreams, Archetypes find genesis within the attributes of our mind.
Oct 12th, 2016
It might take eight or nine days, but no way you're getting by without a full seven days.
Oct 8th, 2016
Oct 7th, 2016
Oct 6th, 2016
Oct 5th, 2016
Oct 4th, 2016
Oct 3rd, 2016
The Dramatica model of story makes it possible for Authors to convert time into space and space into time--a skill necessary to intuit the structure of their stories.
Oct 2nd, 2016
Thinking of the holistic relationship between dramatic movements grants Authors the ability to tell complete stories.
Oct 1st, 2016
The key components of the dramatic structure work their way into a story at every resolution.
Sep 30th, 2016
No caveats. No exceptions. Just plain objective reality.
A look back at the back and forth following our analysis of this great film.
Sep 28th, 2016
Establishing a framework for effective Scene construction now exists.
Sep 27th, 2016
After twenty years, the #storytelling trend is finally recognizing the power and sophistication of the Dramatica theory of story.
Dramatica identifies and codifies the double helix of narrative.
Dramatica offers stunning insight into the science of story. Decades of insight. And study.
Sep 26th, 2016
We tell stories to make life less arbitrary.
Sep 25th, 2016
The smallest elements of structure loop back to the largest elements.
Sep 24th, 2016
Sep 23rd, 2016
Sep 22nd, 2016
Sep 21st, 2016
Sep 20th, 2016
Figure out how the conflict feels to the Main Character and you'll find the structure of the narrative.
Sep 19th, 2016
Forget about being a writer and simply write.
Sep 18th, 2016
> The subjective nature of the Inciting Incident prevents it from being an effective tool for structuring a story.
Sep 17th, 2016
Asking dramatic questions from the Audience's point-of-view will always get you in trouble.
Sep 16th, 2016
Sep 15th, 2016
An update to our deep story structure analysis of this functional action film.
Sep 14th, 2016
An alternative way to think of the alternative approach to solving the personal problems of a Main Character.
Sep 13th, 2016
The start of our dive into the popular Sequence Method for structuring a screenplay.
Our outlining service is briefly on-hold while we retool it for the general masses.
Sep 12th, 2016
Sep 7th, 2016
Aug 30th, 2016
Aug 25th, 2016
Aug 18th, 2016
Aug 11th, 2016
Aug 10th, 2016
A rare look at a collective group Main Character Throughline in this Billy Wilder classic.
Aug 5th, 2016
Aug 4th, 2016
The bothersome meddling of the supernatural can lead a mad tyrant astray.
Aug 2nd, 2016
Jul 28th, 2016
Jul 25th, 2016
Jul 21st, 2016
A New Zealand spin on a familiar arrangement of Throughlines keeps this film fresh and charming.
Jul 18th, 2016
Jul 14th, 2016
Though typical in its arrangement, the Throughlines of this Academy Award-winning narrative still work together to seamlessly deliver the Author's message.
Jul 13th, 2016
While simple and sublime in its choice of thematic material, *Kramer vs. Kramer* reveals some key insights into how great stories work.
Jul 7th, 2016
A sophisticated story that uses all Four Throughlines to examine the fallout from ambition.
Data analysts discover the six emotional arcs of every story.
Jul 5th, 2016
Jul 3rd, 2016
Story structure is scientific, yet writing will always require a bit of magic.
Jul 2nd, 2016
A collection of clips showing the different meaningful endings an Author can portray simply by combining how things turned out with how they feel about how things turned out.
Jul 1st, 2016
This week marks our 11 year anniversary of writing about story and story structure.
Jun 30th, 2016
A bold and inventive take on the thematics experienced by all the characters in this story drives this film to stand out amongst its peers.
Jun 28th, 2016
There is a reason the 'You and I are just the same' line keeps coming up, and here is a montage to prove it.
Jun 23rd, 2016
With this spectacular film we move our popular Tuesday feature to Thursdays. Because it's more fun to say.
Jun 22nd, 2016
Updated and refurbished, the most looked-at article on this site gets updated by returning it to its original publishing status.
Jun 15th, 2016
A quick take on last night's analysis and why some of us might check out before the film is over.
Jun 14th, 2016
The critical acclaim for this film rests in the sound narrative structure of its four Throughlines.
Jun 10th, 2016
Jim & Melanie present round two of a series of classes on Dramatica and its practical application in creative writing.
Jun 9th, 2016
Our collection for this month tops out at almost 150,000 unique story points for you to mix and match within your own narratives.
Jun 8th, 2016
My son brings home a project he did at school, and I get carried away analyzing it with complex narrative science.
Jun 7th, 2016
Want to be truly great? Take a look at how *Whiplash* accomplished their feat of monumental storytelling.
Jun 6th, 2016
Join Jim and Melanie as they spend six hours covering all you need to know to get started using the Dramatica theory of story.
Jun 4th, 2016
A simple practice of handwriting three pages of whatever comes to your mind can change your life.
Two hours of complex and beautiful story theory, explained by one of the minds who created it.
Jun 2nd, 2016
The original model of Dramatica, though simple in execution, presented an entirely new take on the development of strong and effective narrative.
Jun 1st, 2016
A new feature begins here at Narrative First--one where we examine the personality of a story by looking at where it focuses thematic conflict.
May 28th, 2016
Make no assumptions with conflict, your context is your own.
May 25th, 2016
If the room goes silent, know the right question to ask.
Readings of our article on How to End Writers Block Forever and our analysis of Brooklyn.
May 24th, 2016
The Dramatica theory of story separates itself from every other theory by looking at the story itself, not at how the story looks to an audience.
May 23rd, 2016
Melanie and I began our series of new classes & workshops last week.
May 20th, 2016
A new technique towards developing personal stories takes its inspiration from the heavens.
May 17th, 2016
A hand drawn approach to understanding complicated concepts of narrative.
May 16th, 2016
A series of workshops & classes covering the Dramatica theory of story begin tonight with an introduction hosted by theory co-creator Melanie Anne Phillips.
May 12th, 2016
A swing set and a cafe. Everything else is history.
May 11th, 2016
While short and sweet, the narrative still functions as a complete story.
May 9th, 2016
The most important thing to learn when learning Dramatica is the concept of the quad.
May 4th, 2016
Make sure you read this one all the way through the acknowledgements!
May 3rd, 2016
A new section on the central site sets the stage for a look at the development of a thought-provoking theory of story.
May 2nd, 2016
Four simple questions can set you down the right path.
May 1st, 2016
Each of us is worthy of the task.
Apr 25th, 2016
Our latest episode covering an introduction to the powerful Playground Exercises.
Apr 24th, 2016
A comprehensive knowledge of narrative theory offers storytellers a seat at the table.
Apr 20th, 2016
You don't have to write and rewrite and rewrite again to figure out your theme.
The surest way to writer's block is to ape another's style.
Apr 19th, 2016
Our first step into the realm of audio publishing.
Apr 13th, 2016
Better to be accurate than to be right.
Apr 12th, 2016
The story is the thing.
Apr 11th, 2016
Function over form wins in reading.
Apr 6th, 2016
Probably a better idea to analyze a film with a complete storyform.
Apr 3rd, 2016
There will always be someone better; there will only be one you.
Mar 31st, 2016
Dramatica is a relativistic model. Understand that and you will understand most of Dramatica.
Mar 23rd, 2016
The purpose of story is to get a Main Character to the point where they can see the difference between the Focuss of their true problem and their true problem itself.
Mar 21st, 2016
Understanding *why* a story works the way it does makes it easier to write one that does.
Mar 20th, 2016
How do you feel when you're not a writer?
Mar 18th, 2016
The theory of Dramatica is specific to the human mind, not the English language.
Mar 17th, 2016
Sometimes a quick visual image can make all the difference in understanding a complex theory of narrative.
Mar 16th, 2016
If you want your scenes to be relevant, you should know your storyform.
Mar 15th, 2016
What looks like a meeting in the middle between two characters is really something much deeper.
Feb 29th, 2016
Almost one-hundred thousand story points for brainstorming your next masterpiece.
Feb 27th, 2016
A gorgeous new font adds character and delightful weight to my words.
Feb 25th, 2016
Many writers discovered the limited potential of the Monomyth two decades ago.
Feb 23rd, 2016
The argument over structure vs. non-structure is more an argument over relevancy vs. irrelevancy.
Feb 22nd, 2016
Yes, of course it does! Competent narrative is narrative regardless of medium.
Feb 20th, 2016
Thanks to a couple of days coding, we will soon have a new way to generate inventive stories that hold together thematically.
Feb 18th, 2016
Focus on the space between the two principal characters, not the characters themselves.
Feb 17th, 2016
Though they prefer to solve problems internally, the Be-er Main Character is still an active character.
Feb 16th, 2016
The lack of Faith is not the same thing as Disbelief--and other similar notions.
Feb 13th, 2016
No reason why you can't give to yourself first.
Feb 10th, 2016
It always breaks down to a choice between two approaches to solving conflict.
Feb 8th, 2016
To many, it is just a hobby.
Feb 7th, 2016
A slight departure from story theory & analysis to something a bit more traditional.
Feb 1st, 2016
Great writers intuitively understand the mechanics of structure at work beneath their stories.
Jan 26th, 2016
Save often...by quitting.
Jan 25th, 2016
Dramatica is the cure for writer's block.
Jan 21st, 2016
Learn how to use Dramatica to fill plot holes and complete your story.
Jan 17th, 2016
No excuse not to continue pushing that needle forward.
Jan 16th, 2016
Perspective and point-of-view is more important than strict structural rules.
Jan 14th, 2016
A resource to download and install new storyforms into Dramatica.
Jan 13th, 2016
You can't have a Goal without Consequences--negative repercussions of failing to resolve the inequity.
Jan 11th, 2016
What looks like over-complication really is greater accuracy towards coherent narrative.
Jan 9th, 2016
Structure isn't just for screenplays, every meaningful story requires proper organization of thematics.
Jan 8th, 2016
Long thought a program of story-by-numbers, the Dramatica theory of story unveils the magic of great narrative.
Jan 7th, 2016
Authors must find the actual source of inequity within their characters. Anything less is pure conjecture.
Jan 6th, 2016
Story structure is there to communicate the Author's message with clarity and confidence, not to make the message formulaic.
Jan 4th, 2016
Our vision for 2016.
Great stories serve as models of human problem-solving, not transformational mythology.
Jan 3rd, 2016
Focusing on the results of great narrative fails to illuminate a process for great narrative.
Jan 2nd, 2016
Sophistication in storytelling can be found in unique and unseen story goals.
Jan 1st, 2016
The difference between Finn the Stormtrooper and Max the Road Warrior.
Dec 31st, 2015
Making it up as you go; just like real life.
Dec 28th, 2015
Exclusive perk for *Narrative First* members--a collection of Fantasy Gists to inspire greater creativity.
Dec 26th, 2015
Keep the energy flowing on a daily basis.
Dec 21st, 2015
> Story sense? Much of that is based on the shared problem-solving process of our minds and good stories.
Dec 9th, 2015
Are all narratives Grand Argument Stories (Dramatica stories)? The answer is no.
Dec 6th, 2015
Ancient beliefs die hard.
The light that is brightest.
Dec 1st, 2015
The position of story elements within the model carries with it significant meaning.
Nov 30th, 2015
New update makes Ulysses a solid option somewhere between iAWriter and Scrivener.
Nov 27th, 2015
Dramatica isn't complicated; only the way it is presented.
Nov 24th, 2015
Effective story points consist of the storytelling and the context within which they sit.
Nov 23rd, 2015
A reminder of the different paths to story.
What motivates you to write.
Nov 21st, 2015
Dramatica can help establish a clear and concise carrier wave.
Nov 19th, 2015
An approach to applying narrative theory to interactive fiction and gaming.
Nov 17th, 2015
When you're trying to stay alive, meaning has little meaning.
Nov 16th, 2015
Novelists prefer a subjective view of conflict; Dramatica prefers the objective.
Nov 12th, 2015
Developing the most important relationship in a story.
Nov 11th, 2015
Some speak story theory by accident.
Nov 7th, 2015
A proven technique to take the writer from concept to outline.
Nov 6th, 2015
> A sneak preview of a personalized program of instruction for writers interested in the Dramatica theory of story.
Nov 5th, 2015
Everyone has their perfect time to write.
Nov 3rd, 2015
An easy trick to determine the most important aspect of your central character.
Oct 29th, 2015
With a greater understanding comes a greater exposure to master works.
Develop the skill to say no.
Oct 27th, 2015
Writing for fools gathers the greatest audience.
Oct 18th, 2015
Dramatica is more than paint-by-numbers; it's a way of giving order to your thoughts.
Oct 16th, 2015
Dramatica theory helps you define why the conflict exists in your story.
Oct 15th, 2015
Stories are models of how we think and solve problems.
Oct 14th, 2015
Exploring the composition of a narrative.
We want to believe, but Amazon won't let us.
Oct 13th, 2015
One does not supercede the other, both entwine to inscribe the meaning of a work.
Our monthly get-together awaits you in the dark.
Oct 12th, 2015
Structure does not dictate the feel of a story.
Oct 11th, 2015
The wider the Audience the greater the need for a unifying structure.
Oct 10th, 2015
Ready for ten more?
Oct 9th, 2015
We use stories to argue effective means of problem-solving. Everything else is icing.
Oct 8th, 2015
The backlash to the film might have a basis in psychology and the structure of a good story.
Oct 7th, 2015
The act of asking a question often results in the answer.
Oct 6th, 2015
There is a moment when it finally all comes together; it's worth the wait.
Oct 5th, 2015
Dramatica is not story-by-numbers; you really have to work hard at it.
Oct 4th, 2015
Sound advice for anyone trying to become a better writer.
Oct 3rd, 2015
Direct or indirect, the alternative perspective provided by the Influence Character is all that matters.
Oct 2nd, 2015
Pushing yourself doesn't always result in greater productivity.
Oct 1st, 2015
More reason to stop drawing a line between guru and writer.
Plot points share a common factor within complete stories.
Sep 29th, 2015
What to do while you're waiting for the official release.
Sep 28th, 2015
Expert tips on an approach during your first few years.
Sep 27th, 2015
Every single scene leads up to that one and only ending.
Sep 26th, 2015
A gentle reminder that great storytelling endures.
Sep 25th, 2015
Don't mistake it for simply *post facto* analysis.
Sep 24th, 2015
It's not an argument between two people, it's a relationship made up of two people.
Sep 23rd, 2015
Dramatica makes happy accidents possible while maintaining the integrity of a story.
Sep 22nd, 2015
Look closely and you will see more than a rebranding of ancient texts.
Big breaks come to those who prepare.
Sep 21st, 2015
The struggle to resume is real.
Sep 20th, 2015
All you have to do is show up.
Being accurate with story analysis is more important than being right.
Sep 19th, 2015
Wrap-up of the first day of my introductory course into Dramatica.
Sep 18th, 2015
Tying the influence of the second principal character in a story to the Main Character.
Sep 17th, 2015
Find out the reason why everyone cries out for characters to have wants and needs.
Want to see what great storytelling looks like?
Sep 16th, 2015
What sets apart the novel from everything else.
The order of plot points dictates the feel of a story.
Sep 14th, 2015
Collaboration should rule the story room, not ego.
Sep 13th, 2015
Melanie explains her preference for the newer terminology.
When separating Main Character and Protagonist, the latter doesn't have to be the Influence Character.
A quick look at a basic mechanic of story.
Sep 12th, 2015
More posts here means I've struck gold with my own work.
Sep 11th, 2015
Some terms are harder than others to comprehend.
Sep 10th, 2015
The definitive answer to this powerful concept of story.
No compelling reason to try the new iA Writer.
Sep 9th, 2015
Finding the thematic structure of a story.
Sep 8th, 2015
Story analysis with Dramatica is not subjective.
Sep 7th, 2015
Finding the right foil for your Main Character.
Sep 6th, 2015
Determining the personal problem-solving style of the Main Character.
Sep 5th, 2015
Write well and you will be noticed.
Sep 4th, 2015
Spielberg's E.T. Great music. even greater story.
Sep 3rd, 2015
The difference between Journeys and Signposts.
Robots writing stories is pointless without a meaningful framework.
Sep 2nd, 2015
Why you need a strong relationship in your story.
Sep 1st, 2015
Aug 31st, 2015
Aug 30th, 2015
Aug 28th, 2015
Aug 27th, 2015
Aug 26th, 2015
Aug 25th, 2015
Aug 24th, 2015
Aug 23rd, 2015
Aug 22nd, 2015
Aug 21st, 2015
Jul 22nd, 2015
Sep 2nd, 2009
Why Main Characters can't solve their problems.
Aug 13th, 2009
Even the smallest showcase effective structure.
