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StoryWeaver

$29.95

A step by step approach to story development, from concept to completed story for your novel or screenplay. More than 200 interactive Story Cards guide you through the entire process.

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Dramatica

$149.95

Dramatica Pro 4.0<br>Plus FREE Bonus!

The most powerful story structuring software available, Dramatica is driven by a patented "Story Engine" that cross-references your dramatic choices to ensure a perfect structure.

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Movie Magic Screenwriter

$149.95

Movie Magic Screenwriter<br>Plus FREE Bonus!

The most advanced screenwriting software available, Movie Magic is deemed a "preferred file format" by the Writer's Guild. An industry standard, MMS is used by professionals and studios around the world.

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Throughline Index Cards

$9.95

Interactive index cards - Name them, add notes, titles, colors, click and drag to re-arrange, adjust font, save, export and print. An essential tool for every writer.

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Are you a student, teacher, or academic staffer? Get the very best price on select products with these manufacturer sponsored academic discounts!

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Instant Dramatica
Musings from Armando Saldaña Mora


One Obsessive Dude
Trying to Make a Point

(Avant-Garde Vs. Dramatica?)

Please forgive me for insisting so much, but it was so hard for me to understand Dramatica that I somehow got into a quest to make sure everyone got it clear.

Jurgen Says:

There are three types of movies out there: Realism, Classicism and Formalism. GAS-Stories in Dramatica terms appear mainly in the fiction area of classicism, usually the typical Hollywood mainstream story from the factory line.

No, no, no, Jurgen. This only tells you understood Dramatica only in conventional terms. Perhaps names like "Story Goal" throw you off and you understood it as the stereotypical tragicomedic generic (adventure) "Goal" (like obtaining the plans of a secret weapon). Dramatica's Goal refers to a story item that must be resolved and affects objectively all the characters. For example, in "The Seventh Seal" the goal evidently has to do with "dying" (yes: that's "Obtaining"), yet Bergman did a wonderful job in concealing the goal and subtly exposing how every character is affected by it. (except the Main Character and of course, Death).

Jurgen Says:

Take any avant-garde film and you are in stormy  waters with the GAS definition.

Maybe you could understand this by writing with Dramatica, but there's always a part of the Dramatica writing process where it would be easier to write an avant-garde story with what you've done already, than a mainstream story.

I'm gonna quote from my actual work: Here are some Dramatica encodings notes for a Sitcom episode I'm supposed to deliver tomorrow:

Scene # 12: Polo objects the change.

  • Jim changes and Polo argues with him.
  • Polo and Jim's obsession turns them into melodrama characters.
  • Jim's avoids working so the Boss will consider firing him, so he won't have to quit.

Can I write some Kafkian avant-garde scene with those encodings?


Scene 12 - Kitchen - Day
Polo is having breakfast and reading the paper.
Enters Jim. He has turned into a giant bug.
Polo stares. Pause.
			JIM
	What?
			POLO
	Shall we go through the same as always?

			JIM
		(Sighs)
	Look...

Polo ignores him and goes back to his paper.

Pause.

Jim pulls the paper away from Polo.
He's crying and silently praying.

Tense pause.

Jim releases the paper.
			JIM
		(Sighs)
Pause.
			POLO
	You're not going to work?

			JIM
	No.
			POLO.
	So the boss will fire you...

			JIM
	Look, he doesn't believe I have problems,okay?

Polo goes back to his paper.

Fade out.

Jurgen Says:

This is, because these type of movies are stylistically  flamboyant and express a very subjective view of reality (mostly that of  the director).

Do I make my point? Was the above stylistically flamboyant enough to make David Cronenberg's ears bleed? And those encodings are for a Sitcom.

Here's another real life story: Two weeks ago a director asked me for a teleplay. He has just gotten back from some film festival (he won a prize two years ago in Venice) and was in some serious "rule breaking" mood. He spoke to me of breaking almost every single TV rule: spinning dolly shots, surrealistic breaks, characters suddenly talking to the camera... I just laughed under my breath and said "wait and see"

Three days later I gave him the teleplay: It had no time continuity whatsoever (think "Remains of the day" on peyote). Time jumped back and ahead in such a way that I--nor him--couldn't tell which was a flashback and which a flashforward, yet at the end (and only at the end) it make perfect sense and everything became clear. It was pure Dramatica

My only trick was this: Objective Throughline Scenes happened "in real time" from 10:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.; Obstacle Character scenes happened "in real time" from 12:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.; Subjective Throughline Scenes happened "in real time" from 2:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. and Main Character Throughline Scenes happened "in real time" from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. of the next day.

The weave it as I want it.

My point is Dramatica deals nothing in matters of style. That is completely up to you. If you use it to analyze the meaning of the stories (as opposed to the style), you'll find grand argument stories in the best stories.

For example: "8 1/2" is a grand argument story with a "Conceptualizing" goal, the Director (Mastroiani) as Main Character and his own movie as the Obstacle Character. "The Andalucian Dog" is another grand argument story (ever felt that "completion" feeling at the end? as opposed to "The Golden Age" that's more of a series of incomplete grand argument stories) it's just encoded with non-related items for each appreciation and the MC and OC are handed-off throughout all the movie, so the "completion" is more "felt" than "understood".

The task of a great storyteller is concealing that her story is a grand argument story.


Visit the Dramatica Theory Home Page

Try Dramatica & StoryWeaver Risk Free*

$179.95                       $29.95          

*Try either or both for 90 days.  Not working for you?  Return for a full refund of your purchase price!

About Dramatica and StoryWeaver

Hi, I'm Melanie Anne Phillips, creator of StoryWeaver, co-creator of Dramatica and owner of Storymind.com.  If you have a moment, I'd like to tell you about  these two story development tools - what each is designed to do, how each works alone on a different part of story development and how they can be used together to cover the entire process from concept to completion of your novel or screenplay.

What They Do

Dramatica is a tool to help you build a perfect story structure.  StoryWeaver is a tool to help you build your story's world.  Dramatica focuses on the underlying logic of your story, making sure there are no holes or inconsistencies.  StoryWeaver focuses on the creative process, boosting your inspiration and guiding it to add depth, detail and passion  to your story.

How They Do It

Dramatica has the world's only patented interactive Story Engine™ which cross-references your answers to questions about your dramatic intent, then finds any weaknesses in your structure and even suggests the best ways to strengthen them.

StoryWeaver uses a revolutionary new creative format as you follow more than 200 Story Cards™ step by step through the story development process.  You'll design the people who'll inhabit your story's world, what happens to them, and what it all means.

How They Work Together

By itself Dramatic appeals to structural writers who like to work out all the details of their stories logically before they write a word.  By itself, StoryWeaver appeals to intuitive writers who like to follow their Muse and develop their stories as they go.

But, the finished work of a structural writer can often lack passion, which is where StoryWeaver can help.  And the finished work of an intuitive writer can often lack direction, which is where Dramatica can help.

So, while each kind of writer will find one program or the other the most initially appealing, both kinds of writers can benefit from both programs.

Try Both Programs Risk Free!

We have a 90 Day Return Policy here at Storymind.  Try either or both of these products and if you aren't completely satisfied we'll cheerfully refund your purchase price.

 
StoryWeaver Demo
 
Dramatica Demo
 

$29.95padFormat: Windows / Mac CD-ROM
 

  $29.95padFormat: Windows Download
 

$29.95padFormat: Mac OSX Download
 

Download ~ $179.95 

Boxed version ~ $199.95


 
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A $300 Value!

StoryWeaver - $29.95

Our Bestseller!  A step by step approach to story development, from concept to completed story for your novel or screenplay.  More than 200 interactive Story Cards guide you through the entire process.

Dramatica Pro 4.0<br>Plus FREE Bonus!

Dramatica Pro - $179.95

Includes 2 Exclusive Bonuses! The most powerful story structuring software available, Dramatica is driven by a patented "Story Engine" that cross-references your dramatic choices to ensure a perfect structure.

Dramatica Writers DreamKit 4.0

Dramatica Writer's DreamKit - $49.95

Little brother to Dramatica Pro, Writer's DreamKit is built around the same patented Story Engine - it just tracks fewer story points.  So, you develop the same solid story structure, just with fewer details.  Perfect for beginning writers or those new to Dramatica.

Power Structure <br>Story Development <br>Software

Power Structure - $149.95

An all-in-one writing environment with built-in word processor that helps you organize and cross-reference your story development materials.  INCLUDES DVD SET BONUS!

Power Writer

Power Writer - $99.95

The little brother of Power Structure includes the essential organization and word processing tools writers need the most.

Throughline - Index Cards (Mac) - $19.95

Interactive index cards - add notes, titles, colors, click and drag to re-arrange.  An essential tool for every writer.

Movie Magic Screenwriter<br>Plus FREE Bonus!

Movie Magic Screenwriter - $149.95

The most advanced screenwriting software available, Movie Magic is deemed a "preferred file format" by the Writer's Guild.  An industry standard, MMS is used by professionals and studios around the world.

Final Draft 7 <br>Screenwriting Software

Final Draft - $199.95

Like Movie Magic Screenwriter, Final Draft is an industry standard, used by many professional screenwriters and studios around the world.

Between The Lines (Macintosh) - $29.95

The lowest cost automatic screenplay formatter for Macintosh includes high-end features such as interactive index cards linked to your script.

20 hour Writing<br>Course on CD ROM<br>featuring Dramatica

12 Hour Writing Course - $19.95

Everything you need to know about story structure - twelve hours of video on a single DVD - presented by Dramatica Theory co-creator, Melanie Anne Phillips.

Dramatica Software<br>Companion CD ROM

Dramatica Software Companion - $19.95

More than four hours of video demonstrations of every key feature in Dramatica, narrated by the co-creator of Dramatica.

Writing with the Story Mind<br>1 hour audio program

StoryWeaving Tips Book - $19.95

170 pages of eye-opening essays on story structure, storytelling, finding inspiration and a wide variety of writing techniques.

Writing with the Story Mind<br>1 hour audio program

StoryWeaving Seminar 8 DVD Set - $99.95

14 hours of video from a live two day course taught by theory co-creator Melanie Anne Phillips covering Dramatica story structure and StoryWeaver storytelling.

Writing with the Story Mind<br>1 hour audio program

StoryWeaving Seminar Online - $49.95

The same 14 hour program presented in streaming video that you can view online or download for a permanent copy.

The Dramatica Theory<br>2 hour audio program

Dramatica Theory 2 Hour Audio Program - $19.95

Every key concept in the Dramatica Theory of Story is fully explained in this double-CD set.

Writing Characters<br>of the Opposite Sex

Writing Characters of the Opposite Sex - $29.95

A three-hour audio CD set that explains everything you need to know to create characters of both sexes that ring absolutely true (and maybe even gain insight into the communication problems in the real world!)

Master Storyteller:<br>Improve your<br>Writing Skills!

Master Storyteller Improves Your Writing - $29.95

Become a better writing with this series of interactive exercises.

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How to Create Great Characters DVD - $19.95

A 90 minute video program recorded during Dramatica co-creator Melanie Anne Phillips' live in-person seminar on story structure and storytelling.

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Structure vs. Passion - Audio CD $19.95

The Story Mind approach to writing uses your own passions to create your story's structure.  It focuses your efforts, clarifies the direction of your story, and triggers your imagination.


Writing with the Story Mind - Audio CD - $19.95

Learn how to psychoanalyze your story's "mind" to uncover and treat problems with characters, plot, theme, and genre.


 

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Are you a student, teacher, or academic staffer?  Get the very best price on select products with these manufacturer sponsored academic discounts! 

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