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Category Archives: Signposts & Journeys
How to Structure Your Story’s Signposts
First let me define what signposts are in stories and then provide a few hints on how to structure them. Signposts are the markers that separate one act from another. Think about any well structured story you’ve read or seen … Continue reading
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3 Act vs. 4 Act Structure
The following is a transcript from an online class on the Dramatica theory of story hosted by its co-creator, Melanie Anne Phillips signed on as Dramatica: William S1 : After working so long in 3-act structure, I’m unclear on Dramatica’s … Continue reading
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Act Order – Sign Posts, Journeys & Throughlines
A Dramatica user asks: Hi Melanie, In the [Dramatica] theory book you can find this text: “Just because we have absolute freedom, however, does not mean our decision will have no effect on our audience. In fact, the order in … Continue reading
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Definitive Scientific Article on Dramatica Theory
Here is a link to the definitive explanation of the Dramatica theory (in PDF) from 1993, that explains all of the key concepts in text and graphics, including descriptions of non-story uses of the psychological model and the functioning of … Continue reading
Posted in Concepts, Dramatica Theory, Dramatica Unchained, Dramatica's Origins, How Dramatica Works, Plot Dynamics, Signposts & Journeys, The Dramatica Chart
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Changing Dramatica’s Suggested Act Order
A Dramatica user recently asked: Hello: would appreciate your help on this. Am using the Dramatica software. Level III. Impact Character is MIND and that’s OK. However, the software keeps telling me that Signpost #1 is Memories and Signpost #2 … Continue reading
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Relationship of Story Driver to Journeys
Recently, a writer asked about the relationship of the Story Driver to the three Journeys in every throughline. Here’s my response: The Story Driver is one of the eight dynamic questions (the eight “essential” questions) that Dramatica asks, including Main … Continue reading
Posted in Dramatica Concepts, Signposts & Journeys
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3 Act vs. 4 Act Structure
The following excerpt is taken from The Dramatica Class Transcripts William S1 : After working so long in 3-act structure, I’m unclear on Dramatica’s four-act structure. Dramatica : Okay, let’s address that question… Dramatica sees both a structural and a … Continue reading
Posted in Acts, Signposts & Journeys
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Developing the Subjective Story Plot
It is always best to work on the Subjective Story Domain last since it describes the growth of the relationship between the Main and Obstacle Characters, and therefore needs to call upon what was previously determined for them. Imagine for … Continue reading
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Developing the Obstacle Character’s Plot
The Obstacle Character in a story never stands alone, but is always evaluated in terms of his impact on the Main Character. When encoding the Obstacle Character Domain Plot Progression, this is equally true. Unlike the Main Character Type Order … Continue reading
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