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Now that you have a grounding in the theory behind Dramatica, it is time to take an overview of the software. A good place to start is the Dramatica Desktop, since it is your gateway to all the key features in Dramatica.
The Dramatica Desktop is made up of 12 "Tiles," each of which is a button that leads to a different collection of creative tools.
In this lesson, we'll make an initial exploration of what lies behind the first Tile, called The StoryGuide. In future lessons we'll delve into this and all other features in depth.
Play a video Introduction to Dramatica's Software Features
The first time you open Dramatica after installing, you are presented with a screen that asks you to choose certain preferences. For example, one preference is to select the kind of pronouns you want the informational text in the program to employ. In other words, when the program provides information about the nature of the Main Character, do you want it to refer to that character as "he," "she," or "it?" From then on, whenever you open Dramatica it will first present the Dramatica Desktop.
The Dramatica Desktop does not feature every tool that Dramatica provides - just the most important and most popular ones. For additional features, you should explore the menu bar at the top of the Dramatica window, which not only duplicates the selections on the Desktop but also provides a number of additional tools. Just click on each item in the menu bar, such as "Storyforming" or "Tools" and you'll have access to all the features Dramatica has to offer.
Note that on some computers the Desktop is shaped differently. This depends on your screen resolution and how large you make the window in which the Desktop resides. By adjusting the window size you can change the way the Tiles are arranged.
Play a Video Overview of the StoryGuide
Please note that the video demonstration was made on Dramatica Pro 3.0, which had two question paths - 50 questions or 250 questions. Dramatica Pro 4.0 has three question paths, corresponding to basic, intermediate, and advanced story development.
The StoryGuide is in the upper left-hand corner of the Dramatica Desktop. It has a button on it that says, "Start Here." Now, that may not be the best place to actually start for all writers. The Start Here path is a structural approach that gets right into making very specific decisions about the nuts and bolts of your story's dramatic foundation.
If you know your story really well, or have already written a draft and want to find and refine the structure that is emerging in your work, then the Start Here Title is a great place to start. But if you still aren't sure exactly what your story is about, or are very excited by your subject matter, then diving right into the mechanics of structure will likely be unfulfilling, frustrating, and may even lead to writer's block!
An alternative approach is to begin with the tile called Story Points. The Story Points area is sort of a shopping list of all the dramatic elements Dramatica manages. In future lessons we'll provide an overview of the Story Points window, an in-depth exploration of all its features, and a full explanation of how to start there for a more passionate approach to your story development in Dramatica.
For now, let's simply say that if you find the Start Here path too dry and mechanical, you can begin with the Story Points window first. In fact, you can begin with ANY of Dramatica's tiles and feature areas. The Story Engine is designed to keep track of what you do anywhere in the program and to make sure all other areas are updated accordingly. So, if you'd like to creatively play around anywhere in the program and make dramatic decisions there based on what inspires you, feel free to do so!
The StoryGuide Start Here path is simply an easy to follow, question-and-answer list for those who would prefer a hand-held guided tour approach to their first story development project in Dramatica. Once you don't need the training wheels, your individual interests and styles will lead you to develop your own approach to story creation in Dramatica.
Copyright 2003 Melanie Anne Phillips
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