(Details)  (Details) Prefer to order by mail or fax? Click here for information.

Written by Melanie Anne Phillips Based on the Dramatica theory of story originally developed by Melanie Anne Phillips and Chris Huntley   A STORY MIND   Prologue Before the final version of "Dramatica - a New Theory of Story" there was an earlier draft which contained unfininished concepts and additional theory that was ultimately deemed "too complex".  As a result, this material was never fully developed, was cut from the final version of the book, and has never seen the light of day -- until now!   Recently, a copy of this early draft surfaced in the theory archives.  The following are excerpts from this "lost" text. CAVEAT: Because the text that follows was not fully developed, portions may be incomplete, inaccurate, or actually quite wrong. It is presented as a look into the history of the development of Dramatica and also as a source of additional theory concepts that (with further development) may prove useful. NOTE: This excerpt errs in seeing only two points of view - the Main Character (Subjective) and Author (Objective).  Later it was discovered that there are four points of view - Main Character, Obstacle Character, Subjective Story, and Objective Story. For a more accurate description of these concepts read The Story Mind or hear the material presented in Real Audio.   A Story Mind Stories have traditionally been viewed as a series of events affecting independently-acting characters -- but not to Dramatica. Dramatica sees every character, conflict, action or decision as aspects of a single mind trying to solve a problem. This mind, the Story Mind, is not the mind of the author, the audience, nor any of the characters, but of the story itself. The process of problem solving is the unfolding of the story. But why a mind? Certainly this was not the intent behind the introduction of stories as an art form. Rather, from the days of the first storytellers right up through the present, when a technique worked, it was repeated and copied and became part of the "conventions" of storytelling. Such concepts as the Act and the Scene, Character, Plot and Theme, evolved by such trial and error. And yet, the focus was never on WHY these things should exist, but how to employ them. The Dramatica Theory states that stories exist because they help us deal with problems in our own lives. Further, this is because stories give us two views of the problem. One view is through the eyes of a Main Character. This is a Subjective view, the view FROM the Story Mind as it deals with the problem. This is much like our own limited view or our own problems. But stories also provide us with the Author's Objective view, the view OF the story mind as it deals with a problem. This is more like a "God's eye view" that we don't have in real life. In a sense, we can relate emotionally to a story because we empathize with the Main Character's Subjective view, and yet relate logically to the problem through the Author's Objective view. This is much like the difference between standing in the shoes of the soldier in the trenches or the general on the hill. Both are watching the same battle, but they see it in completely different terms. In this way, stories provide us with a view that is akin to our own attempt to deal with our personal problems while providing an objective view of how our problems relate to the "Bigger Picture". That is why we enjoy stories, why they even exist, and why they are structured as they are. Armed with this Rosetta Stone concept we spent 12 years re-examining stories and creating a map of the Story Mind. Ultimately, we succeeded. The Dramatica Model of the Story Mind is similar to a Rubik’s Cube. Just as a Rubik’s Cube has a finite number of pieces, families of parts (corners, edge pieces) and specific rules for movement, the Dramatica model has a finite size, specific natures to its parts, coordinated rules for movement, and the possibility to create an almost infinite variety of stories -- each unique, each accurate to the model, and each true to the author’s own intent. The concept of a limited number of pieces frequently precipitates a "gut reaction" that the system must itself be limiting and formulaic. Rather, without some kind of limit, structure cannot exist. Further, the number of parts has little to do with the potential variety when dynamics are added to the system. For example, DNA has only FOUR basic building blocks, and yet when arranged in the dynamic matrix of the double helix DNA chain, is able to create all the forms of life that inhabit the planet. The key to a system that has identity, but not at the expense of variety, is a flexible structure. In a Rubik's cube, corners stay corners and edges stay edges no matter how you turn it. And because all the parts are linked, when you make a change on the side you are concentrating on, it makes appropriate changes on the sides of the structure you are not paying attention to. And THAT is the value of Dramatica to an author: that it defines the elements of story, how they are related and how to manipulate them. Plot, Theme, Character, Conflict, the purpose of Acts, Scenes, Action and Decision, all are represented in the Dramatica model, and all are interrelated. It is the flexible nature of the structure that allows an author to create a story that has form without formula [Lost Theory Book Contents]

FREE with ANY PURCHASE... The Writer's Survival Kit Bonus Package A $300 Value Includes all this... 450 Page eBook on Story Structure Muse Gooser Inspiration Tool Character Name Generator Software for PC One hour video Designing Plot Online Workshop: Creating Characters Jive Generator Software for PC One hour video Developing Theme Word Morph Software for PC One hour video on Developing Characters Online Workshop: Mastering Dramatica Streaming Video of our Complete 2 Day Writing Seminar Sticky Note Software for PC Discount Coupon for Future Orders Live Seminar Discount Coupon Details

Index of Dramatica Theory Materials Storymind.com is pleased to present this collection of materials about the Dramatica Theory of Story. We hope you find it both useful and through-provoking. This information is divided into three sections: The Dramatica Theory A complete exploration of the theory in every detail Historic Documents The development of Dramatica from the beginning Speculations Dramatica applied to psychology, physics, religion and more The Dramatica Theory Dramatica Theory Book Online Free online edition of the 400+ page book, Dramatica: A New theory of Story, in which Melanie Anne Phillips & Chris Huntley originally documented their work. Dramatica Dictionary Official definitions of all terms in the Dramatica theory and software. Dramatica Writing Tips Useful and informative articles on how to approach and employ both the Dramatica Theory and Software. Constructive Criticisms Practical illustrations of how applying the Dramatica theory could have made some well-known successful story's even better! Dramatica Q & A Answers to questions from users of the Dramatica Theory and Software. Instant Dramatica Even more directly practical essays on using Dramatica for real-world writing situations and problems provided by noted screenwriter Armando Saldaņa Mora. Historic Documents Dramatica - The Lost Theory Book Early attempts to document the theory, including many unfinished conjectures and false starts. Dramatica Development Archives Early documents created during the development of the foundations of Dramatica.  Often later discarded, they show the roots of the thinking that ultimately evolved into the theory as it stands today. Speculations Deep Theory Transcript of a class on the outer fringes of Dramatica Theory I taught as part of a now-defunct Dramatica Certification course. Dramatica Math A mathematician takes a stab at describing the Dramatica model in terms of dimensional distortions. Mental Relativity An exploration of the theory of psychology modeling which grew out of the development of Dramatica. Dramatica I Ching Several of our users have noticed a similarity between the character grid in Dramatica and the elements of the traditional I Ching.  Though unintentional, perhaps all models that look deeply into the mind will resemble each other. Our Most Popular Products StoryWeaver Story Development Software By far, our most popular product, outselling all of our other products combined!  StoryWeaver takes you step by step through the entire process--from initial inspiration to completed novel or screenplay.  At just $29.95, StoryWeaver is affordable for any writer.  (Details) Movie Magic Screenwriter is one of two industry standard word processing screenplay formatters, the other being Final Draft.  Each of these programs offers a complete suite of screenwriting tools to make your next script a breeze to write.  (Details)  Dramatica Pro Unlike any other story development product, Dramatica Pro uses a patented Story Engine to interactively help you build a structure, find and fix dramatica holes and inconsistencies.  (Details) 20 Hour Writing Course on CD ROM This intense program features 20 hours of video documenting the entire college-level course in creative writing given by Melanie Anne Phillips, creator of StoryWeaver and co-creator of Dramatica.  Just $19.95  (Details) More Contact Us - About Us - Lowest Price Guarantee - Shipping - Return Policy - Bonus Package Copyright Melanie Anne Phillips - Owner, Storymind.com, Creator Storyweaver, Co-creator Dramatica