Why Building from a Signpost Doesn't Work

Pulling yourself out of the writer's rabbit hole

The Relationship Between Dramatica and Subtext

Understanding the connection between the two applications

Building Conflict from a Premise

The biggest win for any writer is to connect meaning with point-of-view

The Holistic Approach to Understanding a Story

A new take on understanding narratives focused on relationships

Doing What is Best for Others

Cleaning up more of Dramatica's origingal terminology

Writing Thematic Conversations Instead of Acts

A new visualization of narrative threads

A New Look at Story Structure

Making complex narrative concepts easy

Writing a Story from Theme

Why anyone who tells you not to is missing the point.

Your Premise Is About Your Story

It's not about your characters.

Quick Access to Sources of Conflict

Developing a new feature to help improve your writing

Where Do I Start Learning about Dramatica

The jumping off point for revolutionizing your intuitive sense of storytelling

Dramatica Analysis of Spider-man: Into the Spider-verse

In-depth exploration of why the story for this film is so good

The Four Throughlines of I'm Thinking of Ending Things

Deciphering the mind of a deteriorating mind.

An Introduction to the Four Throughlines

A comprehensive look at the most important thing you can do in storytelling.

Introducing Genre-Specific Storytelling for Subtext

App development comes full circle

Building a Solid Story from a Single Premise

An innovative way to find the unique narrative structure for your next story

Getting to Know Dramatica Terminology

The building blocks of a narrative theory

How Do You Know You Have the Right Storyform?

Dramatica theory is the science of re-writing.

An Introduction to Subtext

Ten minutes that will change the way you see story

How to Write a Story with Dramatica

Where to start

Rewiring Your Brain to Write While You Write

Getting to the point

The Rejection of an Overall Sense of Story Structure

Upgrading your narrative mind

Intimidation and the Art of Creative Writing

Overcoming fear by focusing on the details

Removing Mistakes from a Best Picture Screenplay

The pull of the storyform guarantees characters that resonate

A Non-Dramatica Appreciation of Mental Sex

Understanding the mindsets that drive narrative

Assigning Player Roles Simplified

Making it easier to write more effectively

The Influence on the Main Character to Change

Understanding the role of the Influence Character in a Story

Roald Dahl's Misleading Advice for Writers

Those who do shouldn't teach.

Why We Climb

An understanding of 'just because'

Dramatica Theory and Artificial Intelligence

Building a better story

Understanding the Domains of Conflict in a Complete Story

The storyform reflects inequity, not storytelling

New Holistic Terminology for Dramatica

Expanding narrative structure to account for a world without problems

The Relationship Between Time and Growth

An intuitive understanding of progression in narrative

Writing an Episodic Ensemble Series for Television

Visualizing stories inside of stories

Writing a Convincing and Moving Documentary

An argument that balances reason and emotion both informs and intrigues

An Emotional Appreciation of Narrative Structure

Intuiting emotion

Integrating Narrative First and Subtext Together

The culmination of a lifelong aspiration

2019 Annual Time Report for Narrative First and Subtext

The numbers behind the work

Rediscovering the Relationship Story Throughline

Finding what was already there

The Development of Genres and Sub-Genres

Classifying the personality of a story

The Appreciations of a Narrative Premise

Defining the artistic intent behind narrative structure

Unwrap Your Holiday Present from Narrative First

A gift from me to you.

Refinements to the Premise in Subtext

Improving the accuracy of a thematic argument

Understanding the Holistic Side of Things

Developing a method for appreciating an alternative experience of life

2019 Narrative First Wrap-up

A look back at a definitive year

Time to Write Those Holiday Stories

The meaning of the season...in a storyform.

A Documentary with a Meaningful Narrative Competes

Proof positive that purpose counts

The Elusive God of Originality

Pandering to the gatekeepers

The Series of Articles Feature Returns

Focus on one specific area of narrative study.

Dramatica Analysis of the Black Mirror: USS Callister Episode

The narrative structure beneath outerspace workplace offenses.

An Invitation to the Writers Room

A look at the coming integration of Narrative First & Subtext.

Discovering the Influence Character of Your Story

The shortcut to your writer's intuition.

Narrative First is Now an App

The most delightful update to our collective understanding of narrative.

Improving a Revolutionary Theory of Story

Driven by the unverified.

Allowing Greater Creativity Through Story Structure

The stories we tell ourselves, and how to write more triumphs of the spirit.

Converting a Premise into Narrative Structure

The meaning behind the events of a story.

Crowdsourcing Narrative Conflict

A major leap forward in the evolution of creative writing.

Quick Easy Wins

Building a framework for writing stories.

Why Do People Hire Your Product?

An answer that sets the course.

Radio is Not a Genre

Genre is set by the message of the story, not the medium.

Story Structure Analysis of Crazy Rich Asians

An in-depth look at the narrative driving this success.

Witnessing the Next Revolution in Story Theory

The next wave starts now.

An Introduction to the Dynamic View of Structure

Setting out on a new & unexplored path.

Dramatica: The Gift that Keeps Giving

Daily wisdom designed to develop further the Dramatica theory of story.

The State of Narrative First 2018

Our year in review.

Resurrecting The Flying Kreisslers

A short story lost to time resurfaces.

A Story Development Tool Unlike Any Other

A video introduction to our magical service, Subtext.

Breaking a Story with Incompatible Plot Points

Inconsistency in major Act turns breaks trust with the Audience.

Building a Service for Generating Great Stories

The joy of being able to continually improve the quality of storytelling in the world.

Find Expert Help Writing Your Story This NaNoWriMo

The latest version of our service Subtext helps you get going with confidence this November.

First Look at the Next Version of Subtext

An all new feature bound to make many writers very very happy.

The White Robes of Dramatica

Learning at the feet of greatness.

Turning to Faith in Search of Story Structure

Finding value without understanding requires belief.

Dramatica is Not a Religion

Belief will get you nowhere.

Building an Argument for Your Story

Think of what you want to say, then use the storyform to make your argument.

Tying Objective Characters to the Story Goal

Frame each player’s motivation within the context of the central goal.

Attaching Storytelling to Both Sides of the Argument

Turn concepts into conflict.

Subtext and Narrative First Are Now Better Friends

Weaving together the education and practical application of narrative theory.

Starting to Build an Argument

Pick a side and make a stand.

Using Story Structure to Argue Your Point-of-View

Audiences can handle the truth, if you have something important to say.

The Write Answer When It Comes to Story Structure

Author's intent determines the substance of narrative structure.

Can a Rock Be an Antagonist?

If given the responsibility to interact with others through reticence, then yes.

On the Awesomeness of Our Subtext Service

A look at a simpler way to understand the storyform of a narrative.

The Long Lost Storyform for Walt Disney's Pinocchio

Coming of Age stories frame conflict in dysfunctional psychologies.

Firefly: Season 1, Episode 8

A sophisticated & complete narrative accounts for this episode's popularity.

A First Look at Deconstructing Act Zero

Less Act, and more Backstory, Act Zero sets the foundation for justification.

Deciphering the Connections between the Main and Influence Characters

The best way to understand the principal characters of a narrative is not to see them as characters.

Subtext Demo Replay

A tour of the new features found in our latest release of our Subtext service.

The Big Giant Update to Subtext

Speed and beauty--all in the same package.

Improving the Experience of Building a Story

Recent updates to Subtext allow for greater control over the content of each important Storybeat.

The Story Structure of I, Tonya

Weekly updates to Subtext's catalog of storyforms resumes with this look at personal and professional abuse.

The Story Structure of the Original Star Wars Trilogy

A first look at the narrative elements behind The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.

Finding the Right Goal and Consequence for Your Story

Determine what you want to say, not what you think your story is trying to say.

Early Dramatica Interview

Early insight into a revolutionary approach to writing stories.

What Star Wars and Black Swan Share in Common

The Main Characters of these films possess the same problematic narrative element at the heart of their individual Throughlines.

Unwrapping The Gift That Is The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Consistent storypoints--key to the integrity of a strong & clear message--bring the episodes of this series together.

Dramatica: Making Writing More Difficult. Since 1994

Software that makes an already arduous process even more of a challenge.

Another Look at Mother

Time & distance grants one the objectivity needed to successfully account for a narrative's key story points.

The Magic of Quickly Building Ideas for the World

The thrill of coming up with something & sending it out for everyone to enjoy.

Teaching Story Structure to Elementary School Students

Turns out, the Dramatica theory of story is so intuitive a 6-year old can understand it.

The Dramatics Of Sweet Spots In Narrative Structure

The forces that act upon structure expose an unexplored area of narrative science.

Day Three of Clarity with the Elements of Structure

Focusing on the opposite of an element encourages one to narrow their appreciation of a narrative.

More Evidence of Free as an Element of Narrative

Yet another example of where a slight shift in perspective would bring greater understanding.

Considering the Narrative Element of Uncontrolled

In our quest to develop the most accurate model of narrative, some initial terms might need reconsideration.

Throughline Thursdays: A Visual Introduction to Genre and Story Theory

Story structure can be pretty.

Storyform for The Last Jedi Posted in Subtext

Despite a silly Objective Story, the lastest in the Star Wars saga presents a functionable narrative.

Discovering the Thematic Argument of a Complete Story

Distill complex story theory down into something a little more familiar.

Finding the Structure of the Story You Want to Write

Why bother learning complicated story theory when the elements of story structure can come to you?

Finding the Core Problem in Every Story

Discover stories that share the same base inequity as your own story.

Writing Prompts that Inspire Great Stories

The Subtext provides hundreds of thousands of writing prompts to help you write that next great story.

New Views for Subtext

A beautiful new outlook on narrative structure.

The Original Analysis Of Winter’s Bone

The difference seven years of story theory makes when it comes to the accuracy and insightfulness of a narrative analysis.

Coming Soon To Narrative First

Something special for the discerning writer...

Aliens

More than Space Marines, this film’s popularity rests on its fully functional narrative.

Blade Runner: 2049

An objective account of a narrative’s thematic structure requires one to distance themselves away from the concerns of individual characters.

First Look At An Analysis Of se7en

Decoding the narrative strand beneath a dark and compelling thriller.

Stories: The Means By Which We Navigate The World

We are not natural storyteller—stories are naturally us.

The Narrative Is Not Real

Our minds can’t help but perceive story in everything we see.

The Importance Of Storytelling In Our Lives

Our minds are built to appreciate meaning. So are stories.

The Classic Disney Animation Desk Lives On

To touch history is to become history.

Robert McKee and Syd Field Hate Dramatica

A Comprehensive Analysis of The Imitation Game

How Your Story is Like Schrodinger's Cat

To make a story, simply look inside the box.

The Link Between Running And Writing

Why 10,000 steps is like 10,000 words.

Get Out

A brilliant psychological thriller finds company in its unique arrangement of conflict.

Complete Storyforms Explain the Success of Rotten Tomatoes

The Importance of a Storyform

Orson Welles On The Dramatica Theory Of Story

Great artists sense the presence of a storyform, yet sometimes lack the means to explain it.

The Lego Batman Movie Takes On Dramatica Story Structure

A hilarious send-up of Batman movies parodies our favorite concepts of story structure.

Dunkirk

A missing Throughline turns this historical account towards propaganda.

Measuring Your Growth And Understanding As A Writer

Look to story theory as a measure of your success.

Moonlight

Emphasizing the personal experience of the Main Character while touching upon the objective experience of others draws this film close to the heart.

The First Plot Point Of A Story

An older article from the Vault explains the importance of clearly defining the start of a story.

Storyforming Wonder Woman

The latest in our instructional series focuses on the blockbuster Wonder Woman.

An Update to Our Analysis of Doubt

An update on our Dramatica workshop featuring the 2008 Streep-Hoffman drama, Doubt.

Identifying the Objective Story Issue in Doubt

An update on our Dramatica workshop featuring the 2008 Streep-Hoffman drama, Doubt.

Our In-Depth Analysis of Doubt

An update on our Dramatica workshop featuring the 2008 Streep-Hoffman drama, Doubt.

A Double Shot of Dramatica Analysis

The video analyses of *The Americans* and *Arrival* finally arrive.

Doubt

Intentional or not, great stories emplore four different perspectives to shed context on the conflict at hand.

Four Hours of Historical Dramatica Audio

Imagine you were sitting next to Chris and Melanie during the first few months of development of Dramatica. Now imagine no more.

Comparing Story To Outer Space

Confused about Dramatica's role in ththe development of a story? Begin with the emptiness of deep space.

The Best Way To Read By The Pool

Use an app designed for summer reading--and summer working.

A New Understanding Of Dramatica

To know Dramatica is to understand that context matters.

Storytelling Is The Number One Skill

To make a story truly relatable, Authors should structure their stories to align with the psychological processes of problem-solving within the mind.

Problem-Solving and the Order of Acts Within a Story

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.

Captain Fantastic

True artists weave different perspectives of conflict into a seamless whole.

In Regards To The Inciting Incident

A popular term of story matters little in the final analysis.

Main Character And Perspective

The Main Character of a story is a perspective, not a character.

Men Calculate Narrative Differently From Women

We can never fully understand ourselves and when we do, we can't even communicate it.

The Source of a Main Character's Problem

Their first point-of-attack indicates where they instinctively feel the source of conflict within them.

Jane Eyre

Stories about relationships work best when they look from within the relationship and from without.

Establishing A Difference Between Plot And Exposition

Understanding the difference between the two bridges the gap between theory and application.

Being Rushed Or Being Pressured In A Story

While an Author limits a story through deadlines or options, the Audience feels the difference elsewhere.

The Storyform Works As A Whole

By design, your mind deceives you. Understanding how it does clues a writer in on how to write a better story.

Online Group Analysis of Field of Dreams

When analyzing the deep thematic structure of a narrative, several minds function better than one.

The Four Throughlines of Field Of Dreams

A unique arrangement of conflict provokes a unique experience in the Audience--one that moves far beyond simple fantasy.

An Argument For Purpose And Meaning

Story is more than Character, Plot, Theme, and Genre--it is a reason for Character, Plot, Theme, and Genre.

Why Woody is a Steadfast Main Character

A look back at innaccurate assumptions made during the first years of the Dramatica theory of story.

her

As our relationship with technology grows more intimate, the need to understand the mind's problem-solving process becomes ever more urgent.

Positive Impact

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.

The Reason For Certain Progressions Of Plot

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.

Manchester By The Sea

Regardless of how tragic, a story connects to an Audience when it adequately covers the four major contexts of conflict.

Arrival

Aliens from another world arrive to teach us all a different way to think.

Dramatica Storyforms for Arrival and The Yellow Birds

Download deep insights into the thematic structure of these great films.

Finding The Protagonist And Antagonist Of Your Story

Identifying the two driving forces in a story comes down to the difference between Initiative and Reticence.

A Story Consultant, Coming Soon

Starting this month, you can watch a storyform unfold on your very own television set.

The Best Picture Of 2016 Doesn't Have A Story

At least, not a storyform.

Beginning To Learn The Dramatica Theory Of Story

Appreciating the difference between the subjective and objective view of characters improves narrative structure 10,000%.

The Meaning We All Look For

A story contains all that we need to understand and appreciate and entertain an alternate point-of-view.

Stranger Things: The Reverse E.T.

While similar on the surface, stories maintain their own unique narrative structure.

Dramatica Users Group Analysis Of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

The film's popularity relies on a narrative that makes a convincing emotional argument.

The Ultimate Collection of Protagonists Who Act as Influence Characters

When the one driving the plot is not the Main Character, they often are the Influence Character.

Narrative First Gets a Power Up

We finally updated our servers.

The Long Awaited Deep Analysis Of The Princess Bride

Master writers instinctively write stories that mimic the mind's problem-solving process.

A Deliberate Approach To Learning Dramatica

Practice makes perfect. A coach makes perfect practice.

Read Narrative First On Apple News

Our articles and blog posts are now available in Apple's default News reader.

Outlining Your Chapters Using The Dramatica Quad

An inspirational workshop intuitively turns to Dramatica to explain how to structure a written piece of work.

A Museum Of Story Is The Greatest Idea Ever

One place to learn and appreciate the wonderful world of story.

Another Look At Guardians Of The Galaxy

On second thought the film proves more efficient than our original assessment.

Unearthing The Wound Of Your Main Character

Backstory forces an Author to consider the justifications that motivate the Main Character.

Create a Complete Story in Less than Two Hours

Watch and follow along as the Dramatica Users Group collaborates to create an original and fully functional narrative.

Main Characters Who Are Changed Over Time

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.

Stories As Analogies To The Way We Think

The most effective way forward is to stop thinking about your story as something that happens in and around real characters.

The Meaning Of Life Through Story

Our minds can't help but self-organize into structured storytelling.

The Toltecs And The Dramatica Theory Of Story

Common ground exists between the wisdom of the ancients and a new theory of story based on the mind's problem-solving process.

Finding The Personality Of A Story Through Conflict

The uniqueness of a narrative construct lies in its arrangement of conflict through the Four Throughlines.

The Collective Goal of an Ensemble Piece

Complete stories do not require a single Hero with a single Goal.

Finally Understanding Linear And Holistic Characters

The Main Character of a story solves problems either step-by-step or by balancing inequities.

The Search For Perfect Story Structure

The quest for perfection often leads one further away from telling a great story.

The Fantastic Narratives of 2016

Our yearly roundup of the very best--and very worst-- in storytelling from the previous year.

The Top Eight Story Structure Articles of 2016

Jumpstart your understanding of story and complete narrative with this collection of insightful articles.

A Dramatica Storyform Describes What an Author Knows About a Story

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.

The Difference Between Structure and Entertainment

Highly entertaining, yet functionally broken? Possible and unfortunately frequent when it comes to Hollywood.

Destroying Lives through Manipulation

Someone takes out his annoying neighbor and nosy landlady by constructing a devious plan.

The Difference Between Dramatica and Other Story Paradigms

Deep Thematic Analysis of Ex Machina

The Essence of Dramatic Tension

Character Archetypes And The Collective Unconscious

Instead of myth or dreams, Archetypes find genesis within the attributes of our mind.

The Hubris of a Dramatica Story Expert

Dramatica Takes About A Week To Learn

It might take eight or nine days, but no way you're getting by without a full seven days.

On Acts, Sequences, and Scenes in Dramatica

Snyder Talks Screenplays, Dramatica Talks Stories

Further Defining Potential, Resistance, Current, and Outcome

The First Dramatica Scene Analysis

Understanding Passive, Actual, Structural, and Storytelling Scenes

The Relationship Between Acts Carries a Message

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.

An Example Of The Dramatic Circuit In Action

Thinking of the holistic relationship between dramatic movements grants Authors the ability to tell complete stories.

Understanding Potential, Resistance, Current, And Outcome

The key components of the dramatic structure work their way into a story at every resolution.

Dramatica is Never Wrong

No caveats. No exceptions. Just plain objective reality.

Ratatouille Story Analysis Revisited

A look back at the back and forth following our analysis of this great film.

Jungle Book

Stunning animation supported by a solid structure.

The Narrative Code Behind Scene Construction

Establishing a framework for effective Scene construction now exists.

A Groundswell of Interest, A Long Time Comin'

After twenty years, the #storytelling trend is finally recognizing the power and sophistication of the Dramatica theory of story.

Mapping the Story Genome

Dramatica identifies and codifies the double helix of narrative.

Writing the Perfect Scene Leads to a Lifetime of Study

Dramatica offers stunning insight into the science of story. Decades of insight. And study.

How Storytelling Makes Sense Out Of The Chaos

We tell stories to make life less arbitrary.

The Dramatic Components Of Scenes

The smallest elements of structure loop back to the largest elements.

A Skeleton of Scene Structure within Dramatica

How to Save Yourself Weeks and Months of Rewriting

The Key to Everything in Story

Site Updates to Facilitate Flow

Psychotic Storytelling Computers

Looking To Tension To Define Structure

Figure out how the conflict feels to the Main Character and you'll find the structure of the narrative.

Eliminating the Word Writer

Forget about being a writer and simply write.

What The Inciting Incident Of A Story Really Is

> The subjective nature of the Inciting Incident prevents it from being an effective tool for structuring a story.

Robert The Bruce Is Not The Main Character Of Braveheart

Asking dramatic questions from the Audience's point-of-view will always get you in trouble.

How to Build a Strong Narrative

Dramatica Video Analysis of Kingsman: The Secret Service

An update to our deep story structure analysis of this functional action film.

The Path Not Taken

An alternative way to think of the alternative approach to solving the personal problems of a Main Character.

Dramatica On The Sequence Method

The start of our dive into the popular Sequence Method for structuring a screenplay.

Roadmap On Hold

Our outlining service is briefly on-hold while we retool it for the general masses.

Like No Other on Earth

Analyzing A Separation with New Eyes

Back to the Future

Father and son battle Libyan terrorists and greaser punks to find a way back to a brand new future.

Mental Sex is Not Sexist

Writing a Holistic Assassin

The Throughlines of Sideways

The Throughlines of Florence Foster Jenkins

The Throughlines of Stalag 17

Stalag 17 Recap: Dramatica Users Group

A rare look at a collective group Main Character Throughline in this Billy Wilder classic.

The Master Storyteller Method

The Throughlines Of Macbeth

The bothersome meddling of the supernatural can lead a mad tyrant astray.

Macbeth

The bothersome meddling of the supernatural can lead a mad tyrant astray.

The Tendency of a Main Character to Drive a Story

The Throughlines of The Dark Horse

New Features Installed for Narrative First

The Throughlines Of Hunt For The Wilderpeople

A New Zealand spin on a familiar arrangement of Throughlines keeps this film fresh and charming.

Hunt For The Wilderpeople

A New Zealand spin on a familiar arrangement of Throughlines keeps this film fresh and charming.

The Character Arc Snapshot Videos

The Throughlines Of Kramer vs. Kramer

Though typical in its arrangement, the Throughlines of this Academy Award-winning narrative still work together to seamlessly deliver the Author's message.

Kramer vs. Kramer

Though typical in its arrangement, the Throughlines of this Academy Award-winning narrative still work together to seamlessly deliver the Author's message.

Our Analysis Of Kramer vs. Kramer

While simple and sublime in its choice of thematic material, *Kramer vs. Kramer* reveals some key insights into how great stories work.

The Throughlines of Nightcrawler

A sophisticated story that uses all Four Throughlines to examine the fallout from ambition.

The Six Basic Emotional Arcs of Storytelling

Data analysts discover the six emotional arcs of every story.

Piper: A Complete Story in Six Minutes

Structure Is Science

Story structure is scientific, yet writing will always require a bit of magic.

Video Montages of Meaningful Endings

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.

11 Years of Narrative First

This week marks our 11 year anniversary of writing about story and story structure.

The Throughlines of Zootopia

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.

A New Version Of The You And I Montage

There is a reason the 'You and I are just the same' line keeps coming up, and here is a montage to prove it.

Beasts of No Nation and Throughline Thursdays

With this spectacular film we move our popular Tuesday feature to Thursdays. Because it's more fun to say.

A New Look at Plot Points

Updated and refurbished, the most looked-at article on this site gets updated by returning it to its original publishing status.

Sophie's Choice Wrap-Up

A quick take on last night's analysis and why some of us might check out before the film is over.

The Throughlines of Up in the Air

The critical acclaim for this film rests in the sound narrative structure of its four Throughlines.

Storymind Presents: Secrets of the Quad

Jim & Melanie present round two of a series of classes on Dramatica and its practical application in creative writing.

New Thriller Genre Gists Now Available

Our collection for this month tops out at almost 150,000 unique story points for you to mix and match within your own narratives.

Yet Another Model Of Story

My son brings home a project he did at school, and I get carried away analyzing it with complex narrative science.

The Throughlines Of Whiplash

Want to be truly great? Take a look at how *Whiplash* accomplished their feat of monumental storytelling.

Learn How to Use Dramatica in a Day

Join Jim and Melanie as they spend six hours covering all you need to know to get started using the Dramatica theory of story.

Morning Pages Are The Key To Abundancy

A simple practice of handwriting three pages of whatever comes to your mind can change your life.

Melanie Reveals The Secrets Of The Quad

Two hours of complex and beautiful story theory, explained by one of the minds who created it.

The Original Dramatica Writer's Blocks

The original model of Dramatica, though simple in execution, presented an entirely new take on the development of strong and effective narrative.

Moulin Rouge!

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.

Moulin Rouge! And Throughline Tuesdays

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.

When Creating Conflict, Context Is Everything

Make no assumptions with conflict, your context is your own.

Asking The Right Questions In A Story Meeting

If the room goes silent, know the right question to ask.

Narrative First Podcast Episode 6: How to Rnd Writer's Block Forever

Readings of our article on How to End Writers Block Forever and our analysis of Brooklyn.

Building Characters with Dramatica

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.

New Classes From Storymind And Narrative First

Melanie and I began our series of new classes & workshops last week.

Looking To The Stars For Inspiration

A new technique towards developing personal stories takes its inspiration from the heavens.

A Visual Approach To Learning Dramatica

A hand drawn approach to understanding complicated concepts of narrative.

An Evening With Melanie Anne Phllips

A series of workshops & classes covering the Dramatica theory of story begin tonight with an introduction hosted by theory co-creator Melanie Anne Phillips.

The Beginnings Of Dramatica

A swing set and a cafe. Everything else is history.

Dramatica Analysis Of Pitch Perfect

While short and sweet, the narrative still functions as a complete story.

Quads Are Everywhere

The most important thing to learn when learning Dramatica is the concept of the quad.

The Release Of Saint's Blood

Make sure you read this one all the way through the acknowledgements!

The Legacy Of Dramatica

A new section on the central site sets the stage for a look at the development of a thought-provoking theory of story.

Focusing In On The Relationship Throughline

Four simple questions can set you down the right path.

The Right To Write

Each of us is worthy of the task.

The Power Of Playgrounds Podcast Episode

Our latest episode covering an introduction to the powerful Playground Exercises.

Using Narrative To Tell The Story Of A Business

A comprehensive knowledge of narrative theory offers storytellers a seat at the table.

Write With Confidence And Purpose

You don't have to write and rewrite and rewrite again to figure out your theme.

Don't Write Like Someone Else

The surest way to writer's block is to ape another's style.

The Narrative First Podcast

Our first step into the realm of audio publishing.

Update On Our Analysis Of Inside Out

Better to be accurate than to be right.

Storytelling Is At Its Best When Personal

The story is the thing.

New Kindle Oasis Leaked Online

Function over form wins in reading.

Inside Out Over Song Of The Sea

Probably a better idea to analyze a film with a complete storyform.

Write Stories Only You Can Write

There will always be someone better; there will only be one you.

Why Do The Position Of Throughlines Determine Main Character Growth?

Dramatica is a relativistic model. Understand that and you will understand most of Dramatica.

The Main Character's Moment Of Realization

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.

The Moment That Means The Most

Understanding *why* a story works the way it does makes it easier to write one that does.

When You Know You're A Writer

How do you feel when you're not a writer?

Building Dramatica For Foreign Languages

The theory of Dramatica is specific to the human mind, not the English language.

Visualizing The Various Story Points

Sometimes a quick visual image can make all the difference in understanding a complex theory of narrative.

Creating Relevant Story Elements For Your Story

If you want your scenes to be relevant, you should know your storyform.

No Compromise Found In Great Stories

What looks like a meeting in the middle between two characters is really something much deeper.

Unveiling The Fantasy Genre Dramatica Gist Collection

Almost one-hundred thousand story points for brainstorming your next masterpiece.

Site Redesign In February 2016

A gorgeous new font adds character and delightful weight to my words.

Moving Beyond The Hero's Journey

Many writers discovered the limited potential of the Monomyth two decades ago.

The Structure Of A Great Story

The argument over structure vs. non-structure is more an argument over relevancy vs. irrelevancy.

Does Dramatica Work For Novels?

Yes, of course it does! Competent narrative is narrative regardless of medium.

A Way To Generate Thousands Of Gists

Thanks to a couple of days coding, we will soon have a new way to generate inventive stories that hold together thematically.

Developing Relationship Issues In A Story

Focus on the space between the two principal characters, not the characters themselves.

Writing The Be-er Action Hero

Though they prefer to solve problems internally, the Be-er Main Character is still an active character.

Binary And Analog Pairs In Dramatica

The lack of Faith is not the same thing as Disbelief--and other similar notions.

Giving Them Your Second-Best Effort

No reason why you can't give to yourself first.

The Heart Of Every Great Story

It always breaks down to a choice between two approaches to solving conflict.

Are You Still Writing?

To many, it is just a hobby.

Have Your Characters Write Their Own Bios

A slight departure from story theory & analysis to something a bit more traditional.

Dean Deblois On Story And Structure

Great writers intuitively understand the mechanics of structure at work beneath their stories.

A Warning When Creating Gists

Save often...by quitting.

Identifying The Underlying Problem

Dramatica is the cure for writer's block.

Dramatica Weekend Workshop Dates For 2016

Learn how to use Dramatica to fill plot holes and complete your story.

The Conditions Are Always Impossible

No excuse not to continue pushing that needle forward.

Another Perspective On Sicario

Perspective and point-of-view is more important than strict structural rules.

New Storyfom Download Page

A resource to download and install new storyforms into Dramatica.

Reassessing The Sicario Analysis

You can't have a Goal without Consequences--negative repercussions of failing to resolve the inequity.

Understanding The Dramatica Table Of Story Elements

What looks like over-complication really is greater accuracy towards coherent narrative.

Stories Are Structure

Structure isn't just for screenplays, every meaningful story requires proper organization of thematics.

Dramatica's Ability To Inspire

Long thought a program of story-by-numbers, the Dramatica theory of story unveils the magic of great narrative.

Harry Potter Is Not Luke Skywalker

Authors must find the actual source of inequity within their characters. Anything less is pure conjecture.

The Superiority Of The Playwriting Gurus

Story structure is there to communicate the Author's message with clarity and confidence, not to make the message formulaic.

The Space Between Interest And Help

Our vision for 2016.

The Unreliable Trope Of Mythology

Great stories serve as models of human problem-solving, not transformational mythology.

How Brains Affect Our Stories

Focusing on the results of great narrative fails to illuminate a process for great narrative.

A Story Goal Of The Present

Sophistication in storytelling can be found in unique and unseen story goals.

Cause And Side-Effects In The Main Character

The difference between Finn the Stormtrooper and Max the Road Warrior.

Interview With Lawrence Kasdan

Making it up as you go; just like real life.

Fantasy Gists Coming Soon

Exclusive perk for *Narrative First* members--a collection of Fantasy Gists to inspire greater creativity.

Write Every Day

Keep the energy flowing on a daily basis.

Predictable Unpredictability In Story

> Story sense? Much of that is based on the shared problem-solving process of our minds and good stories.

Defining A Dramatica Story

Are all narratives Grand Argument Stories (Dramatica stories)? The answer is no.

The Tyranny Of The Page Number

Ancient beliefs die hard.

Burning Bridges

The light that is brightest.

Dramatica: A Relativistic Model Of Narrative

The position of story elements within the model carries with it significant meaning.

Review Of Writing App Ulysses

New update makes Ulysses a solid option somewhere between iAWriter and Scrivener.

Dramatica Is Challenged By Its Interface

Dramatica isn't complicated; only the way it is presented.

Creating A Strong Narrative Drive

Effective story points consist of the storytelling and the context within which they sit.

No One Truth

A reminder of the different paths to story.

Write What You Want To Read

What motivates you to write.

A Pipeline Between Author And Audience

Dramatica can help establish a clear and concise carrier wave.

A Predictive Story Engine for Gaming

An approach to applying narrative theory to interactive fiction and gaming.

Trying To Keep From Dying

When you're trying to stay alive, meaning has little meaning.

The Novelist's Struggle With Dramatica

Novelists prefer a subjective view of conflict; Dramatica prefers the objective.

Tying Main Character To Influence Character

Developing the most important relationship in a story.

Writing Tips From Aaron Sorkin

Some speak story theory by accident.

A Look At The Advanced Writers Workshop

A proven technique to take the writer from concept to outline.

Preview Of The Dramatica Mentorship Program

> A sneak preview of a personalized program of instruction for writers interested in the Dramatica theory of story.

Find Your Best Time For Writing

Everyone has their perfect time to write.

The Resolve Of Your Main Character

An easy trick to determine the most important aspect of your central character.

Introduce Yourself To A Good Story

With a greater understanding comes a greater exposure to master works.

Inviting The Denier In

Develop the skill to say no.

Not Reading

Writing for fools gathers the greatest audience.

The Storyform Does Not Dictate Storytelling

Dramatica is more than paint-by-numbers; it's a way of giving order to your thoughts.

Dramatica As A Useful Tool For Writing

Dramatica theory helps you define why the conflict exists in your story.

Establishing The Nature Of Conflict In A Story

Stories are models of how we think and solve problems.

The Importance Of The Story Continuum

Exploring the composition of a narrative.

Will Digital Books Ever Replace Print?

We want to believe, but Amazon won't let us.

Character Is Story Is Plot

One does not supercede the other, both entwine to inscribe the meaning of a work.

Live Dramatica Analysis Of The Babadook

Our monthly get-together awaits you in the dark.

Element Sets And The Feel Of A Story

Structure does not dictate the feel of a story.

Writing To Find Universality

The wider the Audience the greater the need for a unifying structure.

Ten Years Of Story Structure

Ready for ten more?

Stories Are A Model For Survival

We use stories to argue effective means of problem-solving. Everything else is icing.

The Story Of Steve Jobs Has Meaning

The backlash to the film might have a basis in psychology and the structure of a good story.

Send An Email, Improve Your Understanding

The act of asking a question often results in the answer.

Working With Dramatica

There is a moment when it finally all comes together; it's worth the wait.

Moving Beyond Implied Conflict

Dramatica is not story-by-numbers; you really have to work hard at it.

Forget The Mumbo Jumbo And Write That Screenplay

Sound advice for anyone trying to become a better writer.

Understanding The Influence Character's Focus Element

Direct or indirect, the alternative perspective provided by the Influence Character is all that matters.

Taking It Easy Increases Productivity

Pushing yourself doesn't always result in greater productivity.

Some Pigs Are More Equal Than Others

More reason to stop drawing a line between guru and writer.

Determining The Order Of Plot Points

Plot points share a common factor within complete stories.

A Mobile Version Of Dramatica

What to do while you're waiting for the official release.

Advice For Writers New To Dramatica

Expert tips on an approach during your first few years.

How Se7en Proves Seeking Narrative First

Every single scene leads up to that one and only ending.

The Iron Giant Under The Stars

A gentle reminder that great storytelling endures.

Dramatica's Ability To Predict Story Events

Don't mistake it for simply *post facto* analysis.

Understanding The Most Important Relationship In Story

It's not an argument between two people, it's a relationship made up of two people.

Letting Your Characters Take Over

Dramatica makes happy accidents possible while maintaining the integrity of a story.

Dramatica And What It Means For Story

Look closely and you will see more than a rebranding of ancient texts.

Waiting For Farting Unicorns

Big breaks come to those who prepare.

Getting The Courage To Resume Writing

The struggle to resume is real.

A Writer's Responsibility

All you have to do is show up.

A New Understanding Of The Shawshank Redemption

Being accurate with story analysis is more important than being right.

Day One Dramatica Guided Tour Workshop

Wrap-up of the first day of my introductory course into Dramatica.

Understanding The Influence Character's Signpost

Tying the influence of the second principal character in a story to the Main Character.

Where Wants And Needs Come From

Find out the reason why everyone cries out for characters to have wants and needs.

Scenes of Great Storytelling

Want to see what great storytelling looks like?

The Beauty Of The Novel

What sets apart the novel from everything else.

The Link Between Plot Points

The order of plot points dictates the feel of a story.

Consultants Are Writers Too

Collaboration should rule the story room, not ego.

Why The Change From Impact To Influence Character

Melanie explains her preference for the newer terminology.

On Protagonists, Influence Characters And Main Characters

When separating Main Character and Protagonist, the latter doesn't have to be the Influence Character.

In Story, Things Aren't What They Seem

A quick look at a basic mechanic of story.

Avoiding Writing By Writing About Writing

More posts here means I've struck gold with my own work.

A Dramatica Approach To Understanding Methodologies

Some terms are harder than others to comprehend.

Defining The Influence Character's Unique Ability

The definitive answer to this powerful concept of story.

Editorial And Drafts Still The Best

No compelling reason to try the new iA Writer.

Group Analysis Of Brief Encounter

Finding the thematic structure of a story.

When Dramatica Analysis Goes Bad

Story analysis with Dramatica is not subjective.

Rewriting The Influence Character

Finding the right foil for your Main Character.

The Problem-Solving Style Of The Main Character

Determining the personal problem-solving style of the Main Character.

Great Writing Gets You In The Game

Write well and you will be noticed.

E.T. Under The Stars

Spielberg's E.T. Great music. even greater story.

Journeys Vs. Signposts

The difference between Journeys and Signposts.

Robots Want To Be Writers Too

Robots writing stories is pointless without a meaningful framework.

The Importance Of A Good Relationship

Why you need a strong relationship in your story.

Writing Fiction Keeps You Sane

Rewriting Flow

Brad Bird And Episode 7

On The Concept Of Problem-Solving Style

Connecting Main Characters To A Story

Emotional Arguments

Sportsball Screenplays

Helping Writers

Writing Makes Writing

How to Read

Morning Writing

Finding the Backstory

A Purpose to Props

Rebooting the Main Character Throughline

All About the Storyform

Writing the 3rd Signpost

The Weekend Read

The Man of Steel 2

The Deadwood Movie

An End to Midi-chlorians

Working through the Main Character Signpost

Developing a Main Character's Arc

Why Main Characters can't solve their problems.

Short Stories by Big Time Writers

Even the smallest showcase effective structure.

The Cult of Dramatica