Throughline • [Dramatica Term] • A sequence of story points within a single perspective• The Objective Story, Subjective Story, Main Character, and Obstacle Character Domains each represent a different perspective on a story’s problems. Each own distinct sequence of story points which must be consistent both within the perspective and also in conjunction with the other perspectives in the story as a whole.
From the Dramatica Dictionary
Threat • [Variation] • dyn.pr. Security<–>Threat • an evaluation of potential negative forces • Threats are indicators or warnings that danger lurks. Avoiding real danger can be enhanced by acting at the first sign of a Threat. However, reading the indicators is a subjective endeavor. One’s biases and experiences may lead to inaccurate assessments of Threats. They may be real or imagined. When a character avoids actions or behaviors because he perceives a Threat that is truly imaginary, he might stunt his own progress toward his purpose based on an unreal fear. • syn. perceived danger, indication of peril, perceived vulnerability, warning, detected hazard
From the Dramatica Dictionary
Thought • [Element] • dyn.pr. Knowledge<–>Thought • the process of consideration • When a character represents Thought, he illustrates the process of consideration. Unlike the logic element that is only concerned with arriving at a conclusion via reason, Thought deliberates both logical and emotional aspects of a problem, not particularly to decide an issue so much as to examine it from all perspectives. This has the advantage of illuminating every side of an issue, but has the potential disadvantage of Thought becoming an endless loop where consideration runs round in circles, chasing its mental tail and never coming to rest in a decision. • syn. the process of consideration, thinking, contemplation, mental attention, running over in your mind
Thought • [Variation] • dyn.pr. Knowledge<–>Thought • the process of consideration • Thought is not always directed. Often it wanders, experiential and without conscious purpose. Thought might be about a topic or simple random musings or creative daydreaming or inspiration. At its most essential level, Thought is simply the mental force of change that rearranges the inertia of knowledge. • syn. consideration, contemplation, ponderence, musing, reflection
From the Dramatica Dictionary
Theory • [Element] • dyn.pr. Hunch<–>Theory • an unbroken chain of relationships leading from a premise to a conclusion • A Theory is an unbroken web of relationships that describes a mechanism. To be a theory, the actual mechanism of each relationship in the Theory must be known as well. Unless it is understood how point A gets to point B, it might just be coincidental. For example, if two completely different and separate mechanisms are working in the same area, it may appear that one is causing a certain effect when it is really the other. Developing Theories gives the character representing Theory the ability to understand and predict how things work and fit together. The drawback is that he will not accept an obvious relationship unless all its steps can be discovered. As a result, many “common sense” approaches and understandings are not used, despite their proven value. • syn. structured explanation, concrete hypothesis, systematized descriptive knowledge, description of linear connections
From the Dramatica Dictionary
Theme • [Dramatica term] • an argument about the relative worth of different value standards as they are compared in all appropriate contexts • Theme is developed by creating varying perspectives within a story on an issue which is central to the story. Presenting these perspectives in such a way that the most appropriate one, according to the author, moves to the forefront conveys theme to an audience. Theme occurs in both progressive and static elements of a story’s structure and is a consideration in all four stages of communication (Storyforming, Storyencoding, Storyweaving, and Reception).
From the Dramatica Dictionary
Test • [Element] • dyn.pr. Trust<–>Test • a trial to determine something’s validity • To test is to try out a supposition to determine if it is correct. “Run it up the flagpole and see if people salute it” is the concept here. Any explanation that makes sense has the potential to be correct or incorrect once it is actually tried in “the real world.” The Test characteristic will always want to try things out before using it. This can weed out faulty items before they break down when one relies on them. However, it can also waste time when it is of the essence or waste one of the three wishes just to see if it works. • syn. trial of validity, examination, audit, inspection, scrutinization
From the Dramatica Dictionary
Tendency • [Overview Appreciation] • the degree to which the Main Character feels compelled to embrace the quest • Not all Main Characters are well suited to solve the problem in their story. They may possess the crucial element essential to the solution yet not possess experience in using the tools needed to bring it into play. Like most of us, Main Characters have a preference for how to go about solving problems. Some prefer to immediately take action. We call these characters Do-ers. Others prefer to deliberate first to determine if the problem might go away by itself or perhaps they can adapt to it. We call these characters Be-ers. When a Do-er finds himself in a story driven by Action he is quite at home. Similarly, when a Be-er finds himself in a Decision driven story, he is quite content. Both of these combination lead to Main Characters who are more than Willing to accept the quest for a solution to the story’s problem. They are comfortable with the tools they will be required to use. But if a Do-er is placed in a Decision story or a Be-er is drawn into an Action story, the Main Character will be very Unwilling to participate in the quest at all for the tools he must use are not in his area of experience. Willing Main Characters force the plot forward. Unwilling Main Characters are dragged along by circumstances beyond their control.
From the Dramatica Dictionary
Temptation • [Element] • dyn.pr. Conscience<–>Temptation • the urge to embrace immediate benefits despite possible consequences • Temptation is the draw to belief that the negative consequences of an action are imaginary or can be avoided. Often this is just a pipe dream, and when one gives into Temptation one must pay a price. However, just as often one can avoid negative consequence and indulge one’s desires. It is our Faith and Disbelief in consequences that defines the struggle between Conscience and Temptation. (“Psssst… We’ve got this new Dramatica program that will solve all your story problems but it’s going to cost you some bucks…”) • syn. indulge, embracing immediate benefits, intemperance, immoderation
From the Dramatica Dictionary
Sympathy • [Overview Appreciation] • The audience will care about the Main Character, but it will not identify with him • Sympathy describes the relationship of the audience to a Main Character whom it cares about yet does not identify with. To identify with the Main Character, empathy is needed, but some story forms do not allow for empathy from either male or female audiences, and some exclude both at once. But sympathy can still be a strong emotion, and creating a storyform which will elicit sympathy can be a way to emphasize the intricacies in a story’s storytelling and Objective Story elements rather than its emotional side.
From the Dramatica Dictionary
Suspicion • [Variation] • dyn.pr. Evidence<–>Suspicion • questioning or forming a belief based on new evidence • Suspicion is a preliminary conclusion arrived at with insufficient evidence. It is valuable in helping one know what kinds of things to look for in gathering additional evidence. But it can also be a detriment because once a character suspects something, he is less likely to examine all the evidence for a completely alternative explanation. • syn. wary approach, partially justified apprehensiveness, informed doubt, doubt based on evidence, sensible caution
From the Dramatica Dictionary