Category Archives: Definitions

Our New Storymind.com Web Site

Posted on September 7, 2012 by Melanie Anne Phillips

After years of the same old design, we’re finally upgrading the look and feel of our parent web site, Storymind.com. Check it out: Storymind.com Tell us what you think (both the good and the bad!) We’ll be adding more products … Continue reading →

Posted in Definitions, Welcome | Comments Off

Character Purposes

Posted on August 16, 2012 by Sheldon

A writer recently asked me the following question about feedback he received from the Dramatica software which suggested his character’s Purposes should be Knowledge and Actuality: He wrote: I don’t understand what Dramatica means by a character’s Purpose. Purpose in … Continue reading →

Posted in Characters, Definitions | Comments Off

The Purpose of Stories

Posted on June 5, 2012 by Sheldon

To convince ourselves (and others) that our actions are justified, we say things like, “This is going to hurt me more than it’s going to hurt you,” “It’s for your own good,” I had to teach him a lesson,” “She … Continue reading →

Posted in Definitions | Comments Off

Dramatica Class: Mental Sex

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Sheldon

Dramatica:  Okay, we move on to Mental Sex… This question is not about the gender of the main Character. And, it is not about their sexual preferences, AND, it is not about masculine or feminine. It is about problem solving … Continue reading →

Posted in Definitions | Comments Off

Dramatica’s Semantics Explained

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Melanie Anne Phillips

Some words about semantics… The terminology used in Dramatica is extremely precise.  Each word is designed to convey a very particular meaning.  But this creates a number of problems from a rather obtuse lexicon to an unfamiliar taxonomy resulting in an … Continue reading →

Posted in Definitions | Comments Off

Ability – What it Means to Dramatica

Posted on March 7, 2012 by Melanie Anne Phillips

What’s “Ability” have to do with story structure? If you look in Dramatica’s “Periodic Table of Story Elements” chart (you can download a free PDF of the chart at http://storymind.com/free-downloads/ddomain.pdf ) you’ll find the “ability” in one of the little squares.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Definitions | Comments Off

“Ability” in Story Structure

Posted on June 7, 2011 by Melanie Anne Phillips

What’s “Ability” have to do with story structure? If you look in Dramatica’s “Periodic Table of Story Elements” chart (you can download a free PDF of the chart at http://storymind.com/free-downloads/ddomain.pdf ) you’ll find the “ability” in one of the little … Continue reading →

Posted in Definitions, Featured Articles | Comments Off