Category Archives: Dramatica

Dramatica is a theory of narrative structure that became the basis for Dramatica story development software. This category covers all things Dramatica from the practical to the science behind it.

Browse through the articles or use the search box at the top of the page to find just what you are looking for, and may the Muse be with you!

What Is Truth? (The Character’s Dilemma)

Posted on November 16, 2018 by Melanie Anne Phillips

Characters reflect real people in a purified or idealized state.  And so, we can see in them qualities and traits that are hard to see within ourselves.  One of the most difficult challenges we face every day are exemplified by … Continue reading →

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What Is Dramatica?

Posted on August 15, 2018 by Melanie Anne Phillips

What is Dramatica? Dramatica is a theory of story that offers both writers and critics a clear view of what story structure is and how it works. Dramatica is also the inspiration behind the line of story development software products … Continue reading →

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Dramatica Unplugged | Episode 2 – A Tale is a Statement

Posted on June 27, 2018 by Melanie Anne Phillips

In this episode of my 113 part course on story structure from 1999, I discuss the difference between a “tale” and a “story,” beginning with the notion that “a tale is a statement and a story is an argument.  

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Dramatica Unplugged | Episode 1 – The Story Mind

Posted on June 25, 2018 by Melanie Anne Phillips

From my 113 part course on story structure recorded in 1999…  

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What’s In Your Story’s Mind?

Posted on June 2, 2018 by Melanie Anne Phillips

As with people, your story’s mind has different aspects. These are represented in your Genre, Theme, Plot, and Characters. Genre is the overall personality of the Story Mind. Theme represents its troubled value standards. Plot describes the methods the Story … Continue reading →

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Why a “Story Mind?”

Posted on June 2, 2018 by Melanie Anne Phillips

The Story Mind concept is a way of visualizing story structure that sees every story as having a mind of its own and the characters within it as facets of that overall mind.  So, one character represents the Intellect of the … Continue reading →

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Choosing Your Main Character’s Resolve

Posted on April 18, 2018 by Melanie Anne Phillips

The Main Character represents the audience’s position in the story. Therefore, whether he or she changes or not has a huge impact on the audience’s story experience and the message you are sending to it. Some Main Characters grow to … Continue reading →

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Finding Your Story’s Core

Posted on April 18, 2018 by Melanie Anne Phillips

By Melanie Anne Phillips Every story has a core – that concept at the center that pulls all of the story elements into a cohesive whole, establishes meaning and message, and provides the story with an overall identity. There are … Continue reading →

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The Story Mind (Part 6) – Audience Reach

Posted on February 13, 2018 by Melanie Anne Phillips

Excerpted from the Book “Dramatica Unplugged“ By Melanie Anne Phillips, Co-creator of Dramatica Who is your audience? And for that matter, does a single story structure affect all audience members equally? Let’s find out…. In Dramatica, there are some story points that … Continue reading →

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The Story Mind (Part 5) – The Grand Argument Story

Posted on February 12, 2018 by Melanie Anne Phillips

Excerpted from the Book “Dramatica Unplugged“ By Melanie Anne Phillips, Co-creator of Dramatica Over the years a number of my students have asked how the Dramatica chart can possibly describe the fullness of the human experience, especially since we, as a species, … Continue reading →

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