Problems with dramatica...
(Los Angeles)
Question: I have finally read what seems like a million pages, and now finally I'm writing! I'm just writing about the minor characters and their stories and I am sooo excited about what I get them to do!
I'm with the 4 point theory, as with the 8 elements in my book.
I had become so scared to even write something, that I became inept in thinking that I could ever write!
Now I have a good time with knowing the basic rules, but now know what I'm doing!
My question is, do you have to use dramatica in writing a fictional novel now? Or is it just something that is helpful whether you use it or not?
Thanks, Glen, you are awesome!
Answer: Of course you don't have to use dramatica. I have simply found dramatica to be the most complete model of what makes stories work.
Use it when you are stuck for how to flesh out a plot, or when you have a story that isn't working and you want to improve it.
There are other models that attempt to explain story structure, but most of them try reduce everything down to a small number of allowable story structures - for example, the 7 basic plots. Some reduce everything to one particular story structure and hold that up as the ideal for all stories.
Dramatica is the only model that allows for over 32,000 dramatically sound story structures. It's the only one that identifies the four throughlines (most models have two at most), and it best describes the function of impact character. It is also the best at explaining why different structures can still be dramatically sound.
You can try using the Dramatica software. It has advantages, provided you have a good grasp of the theory. Many people find the theory and software too complex to be practical. On this site, I try to present the theory in a way that makes it simple enough to be empowering without becoming overwhelming.
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