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So you're ready to write the Great American Novel, or (perhaps more profitable) a blockbuster screenplay. After reading a few books on writing, you
have come to the conclusion that while there is a lot of creativity involved in writing, there is a certain amount of structure and technique as well. Perhaps writing can be learned. A quick scan of the Internet turns
up various software programs that claim to be able to help the aspiring writer to achieve his goal. Some, like StoryCraft., seem to be glorified
technique books with menus that take you to various *pages*. StoryCraft doesn't even store any information from the user; it launches Windows Write. There is one package, however, that does seem to not only teach, but
lend a hand in developing your story.Screenplay Systems .
has released the 3.0 version of its story development software, Dramatica Pro., both for
Windows and Macintosh platforms. Dramatica is not just a repository for characters and plot points, it is an entire methodology for creating a compelling story. Dramatica Pro 3.0 retails for $399 but can be ordered on
line from Screenplay Systems for $299.Melanie Anne Phillips and Chris Huntley have developed a way of looking at the structure of a story called Dramatica. The Dramatica Theory of Story is based on what they call the
Grand Argument story. Are all stories Grand Argument stories? No, but quite a lot of them are. Included with the Dramatica Pro software are a number of example files, which are somewhat useful for learning the ins and
outs of what can be a complex program. I say somewhat because one of the main examples, a Dramatica treatment of Star Wars, is far from complete. A good deal of the plot points and how they were arrived at in the
software are blank. I perused a number of other example files, only to find them not filled out either. This is something Dramatica could definitely improve upon. Star Wars .
is classified as being about Skill versus Experience, with Experience (represented by the Force) as being more valuable. The story, therefore, must convince the reader that, Experience is more important than Skill. By answering the questions the software asks the user, he or she can begin to craft a story outline or "treatment" that will cover all aspects of the story argument.
Using Dramatica effectively is much more than knowing what menu selection to choose next. Dramatica introduces the user to a whole new vocabulary. Familiar words like Protagonist and Antagonist show up with new ones
like Contagonist. The user will not only create characters and their relationships to one another, but perform activities like StoryForming, StoryEncoding, and StoryWeaving. Thankfully all of this heavy theory is
included in an on-line book on the CD. The book is also available in printed form as a separate purchase. While the program can be used without reading the theory book cover to cover, I would highly recommend reading it
to truly understand what Dramatica is suggesting to the user. Dramatica separates the process of Story Forming from Story Telling. Story Forming is the laying out of all the elements that make up the Grand Argument,
making sure that none are missing or weak. These elements are then brought together and illuminated by the actual Story Telling. The idea here is that underlying all good solidly written stories is a firm foundation of
quantifiable and identifiable elements. Dramatica helps the writer identify these elements and plan their relationships to each other, so that the resulting story does not have any holes that prevent it from presenting
the entire story argument. Dramatica Pro 3.0 has various paths the user can take in developing his or her story, depending on his or her level of experience with the program. It is recommended that the first time user
choose the Advanced StoryGuide. Advanced StoryGuide is made up of 250 questions covering everything from the title of your story through things like the "mental sex" of the characters. Much of this process
does involve typing in descriptions of various elements such as the history of your main character, but there are multiple choice selections to be made as well. These choices guide you down a path towards one
StoryForm out of a possible 32768. Dramatica recommends 3 to 4 days to complete the Advanced StoryGuide process, as it is quite involved. It is not necessary to answer all the questions in order as Dramatica will make
some default choices for the user to fill in the unanswered areas. Once the process is complete, Dramatica can produce dozens of beautifully formatted reports both on screen and printed. These cover everything from
character synopsis to plot progression charts. These act as the writer's blueprints for writing the next best-selling novel or award winning screenplay! The amount of information the program gives the user is
staggering. Again, a thorough knowledge of Dramatica Theory is a must for taking full advantage of all this material. Will Dramatica Pro 3.0 make you a better writer? Not really. Dramatica can help you take your ideas
and apply them to a proven story construction method and offer powerful suggestions for plot points, character relationships and themes. Coupled with a healthy dose of creativity and good command of the English
language, Dramatica can help any writer create tighter, more effective stories that move their audiences emotionally, as well as entertain. System Requirements:
Windows 95 or NT -- Macintosh System 7 & Up
8 Meg of RAM 4 Meg of RAM
20 Meg Hard Drive Space 20 Meg Hard Drive Space For more information go to --
http://www.dramatica.com/ |
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