Software |
StoryWeaver
$29.95
A step by
step approach to story development, from concept to completed story for
your novel or screenplay. More than 200 interactive Story Cards guide
you through the entire process.
Details
and Demo
Dramatica
$149.95
The most
powerful story structuring software available, Dramatica is driven by a
patented "Story Engine" that cross-references your dramatic
choices to ensure a perfect structure.
Details
and Demo
Movie
Magic Screenwriter
$149.95
The most
advanced screenwriting software available, Movie Magic is deemed a
"preferred file format" by the Writer's Guild. An industry
standard, MMS is used by professionals and studios around the world.
Details
and Demo
Throughline
Index Cards
$9.95
Interactive
index cards - Name them, add notes, titles, colors, click and drag to
re-arrange, adjust font, save, export and print. An essential tool for
every writer.
Details
Academic
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on Select Products
Are you a
student, teacher, or academic staffer? Get the very best price on select
products with these manufacturer sponsored academic discounts!
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Instant Dramatica
Musings from Armando Saldaña
Mora
Dramatica Visits
South Park
Going to South Park (a shortcut through 1920s Germany) Do you like 20th century
theater? have you seen or read any of the Bertold Brecht plays ("The three penny
opera", "The resistible rise of Arturo Ui")? Have you read any of his
theory books?
Bretold Brecht has this very dense theory about what he called a "detachment from
the play in order to create a critic conscience in the viewer." In short and in
Dramatica terms in reads like this: "When the viewer gets emotionally involved in the
play, she looses perspective and is target of manipulations by the author. The only way to
release the viewer from this manipulations and allow her a conscience of her own is to
only present her the Objective Story of the play; and then the viewer can judge by herself
what she really feels about it."
Pretty dense, huh? and opposed to every Dramatica concept too.
Now, at first that could seem like a Propaganda Technique to mess with the viewers'
heads, but if you read one of his plays you'll find the following:
In every one of his plays he has a character that acts as a Master of Ceremonies (The
Presenter he calls it). He doesn't interact in the play, but merely presents it to the
public like a circus ring master (Brecht used to work for cabarets in 1920s Germany and
all of them had a master of ceremonies. Remember Joel Gray's character in the movie
"Cabaret"?), and then, the whole play develops.
Now, what Brecht is really doing is: he's making the Presenter his Main Character:
before the play, he tells us what he thinks of all the objective characters and how will
the plot develop. He seems to be smarter and in a higher position that the other
characters, so we tend to identify with him. And the obstacle character would be the Whole
Play!
That's right, the Presenter gives us a perspective, a way of thinking, and the play
presents us with another perspective altogether, but in the end we can tell if the
Presenter was right (steadfast) or if he was wrong (change).
When I see South Park I think of a Brecht play. My vision on it is not the last word,
but this is how I see it:
It was a genial idea to put a famous and recognizable figure such as Les Claypool (at
least recognizable for Generation-X-South-Park-viewers) singing the opening tune. He acts
like a complete Presenter, we identify with him and he has a genuinely sarcastic but
sympathetic view of the South Park town. He gives us an emotional perspective on the
series and then the episode starts and gives us another; but we're still on the Detached
Main Character emotional view, so we could laugh our head off every single time they kill
Kenny. At the end of the show, the closing titles music reminds us of the Les Claypool
perspective and the subjective view of the show comes to a complete circle.
The problem with this approach is that is a dangerous one. Is closed to people who can
identify with a figure such as Les Claypool and his sarcastic perspective. Any other could
(and will) find the show a horrible monstrosity where they kill an eight year boy every
single chapter... the same eight year boy every time! But I guess South Park producers are
deep into danger.
So, as I said, my view on the show isn't the only one. I'd love to hear another one.
By the way, real Generation X-ers (like those on the famous Douglas Coupland novel) are
now in our mid 30s, not that teenagers the Pepsi ads wants us to think.
Visit
the Dramatica Theory Home Page
Try Dramatica & StoryWeaver Risk
Free*
$179.95
$29.95
*Try either or both for 90 days. Not working for you?
Return for a full refund of your purchase price!
About Dramatica and
StoryWeaver
Hi, I'm Melanie Anne Phillips,
creator of StoryWeaver,
co-creator of Dramatica
and owner of Storymind.com. If you have a moment, I'd like to tell you
about these two story development tools - what each is designed to do, how
each works alone on a different part of story development and how they can be
used together to cover the entire process from concept to completion of your
novel or screenplay.
What They Do
Dramatica is a tool to help you
build a perfect story structure. StoryWeaver is a tool to help you build
your story's world. Dramatica focuses on the underlying logic of your
story, making sure there are no holes or inconsistencies. StoryWeaver
focuses on the creative process, boosting your inspiration and guiding it to add
depth, detail and passion to your story.
How They Do It
Dramatica has the world's only
patented interactive Story Engine™ which cross-references your answers to
questions about your dramatic intent, then finds any weaknesses in your
structure and even suggests the best ways to strengthen them.
StoryWeaver uses a revolutionary new
creative format as you follow more than 200 Story Cards™ step by step through
the story development process. You'll design the people who'll inhabit
your story's world, what happens to them, and what it all means.
How They Work
Together
By itself Dramatic appeals to
structural writers who like to work out all the details of their stories
logically before they write a word. By itself, StoryWeaver appeals to
intuitive writers who like to follow their Muse and develop their stories as
they go.
But, the finished work of a
structural writer can often lack passion, which is where StoryWeaver can help.
And the finished work of an intuitive writer can often lack direction, which is
where Dramatica can help.
So, while each kind of writer will
find one program or the other the most initially appealing, both kinds of
writers can benefit from both programs.
Try Both Programs
Risk Free!
We have a 90
Day Return Policy here at Storymind. Try either or both of these
products and if you aren't completely satisfied we'll cheerfully refund your
purchase price.
Our
Complete Catalog of Products
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the Writer's Survival Kit Bonus Package
FREE with ANY purchase!
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StoryWeaver
- $29.95
Our
Bestseller! A
step by step approach to story development, from concept to completed
story for your novel or screenplay. More than 200 interactive
Story Cards guide you through the entire process.
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Dramatica
Pro - $179.95
Includes
2 Exclusive Bonuses! The
most powerful story structuring software available, Dramatica is driven
by a patented "Story Engine" that cross-references your
dramatic choices to ensure a perfect structure.
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Dramatica
Writer's DreamKit - $49.95
Little
brother to Dramatica Pro, Writer's DreamKit is built around the same
patented Story Engine - it just tracks fewer story points. So, you
develop the same solid story structure, just with fewer details.
Perfect for beginning writers or those new to Dramatica.
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Power
Structure - $149.95
An
all-in-one writing environment with built-in word processor that helps
you organize and cross-reference your story development materials.
INCLUDES DVD SET BONUS!
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Power
Writer - $99.95
The little
brother of Power Structure includes the essential organization and word
processing tools writers need the most.
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Throughline
- Index Cards (Mac) - $19.95
Interactive
index cards - add notes, titles, colors, click and drag to re-arrange.
An essential tool for every writer.
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Movie
Magic Screenwriter - $149.95
The most
advanced screenwriting software available, Movie Magic is deemed a
"preferred file format" by the Writer's Guild. An
industry standard, MMS is used by professionals and studios around the
world.
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Final
Draft - $199.95
Like Movie
Magic Screenwriter, Final Draft is an industry standard, used by many
professional screenwriters and studios around the world.
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Between
The Lines (Macintosh) - $29.95
The lowest
cost automatic screenplay formatter for Macintosh includes high-end
features such as interactive index cards linked to your script.
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12
Hour Writing Course - $19.95
Everything
you need to know about story structure - twelve hours of video on a
single DVD - presented by Dramatica Theory co-creator, Melanie Anne
Phillips.
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Dramatica
Software Companion - $19.95
More than
four hours of video demonstrations of every key feature in Dramatica,
narrated by the co-creator of Dramatica.
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StoryWeaving
Tips Book - $19.95
170 pages of
eye-opening essays on story structure, storytelling, finding inspiration
and a wide variety of writing techniques.
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StoryWeaving
Seminar 8 DVD Set - $99.95
14 hours of
video from a live two day course taught by theory co-creator Melanie
Anne Phillips covering Dramatica story structure and StoryWeaver
storytelling.
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StoryWeaving
Seminar Online - $49.95
The same 14
hour program presented in streaming video that you can view online or
download for a permanent copy.
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Dramatica
Theory 2 Hour Audio Program - $19.95
Every key
concept in the Dramatica Theory of Story is fully explained in this
double-CD set.
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Writing
Characters of the Opposite Sex - $29.95
A three-hour
audio CD set that explains everything you need to know to create
characters of both sexes that ring absolutely true (and maybe even gain
insight into the communication problems in the real world!)
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Master
Storyteller Improves Your Writing - $29.95
Become a
better writing with this series of interactive exercises.
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How
to Create Great Characters DVD - $19.95
A 90 minute
video program recorded during Dramatica co-creator Melanie Anne
Phillips' live in-person seminar on story structure and storytelling.
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Structure
vs. Passion - Audio CD $19.95
The Story
Mind approach to writing uses your own passions to create your story's
structure. It focuses your efforts, clarifies the direction of
your story, and triggers your imagination.
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Writing
with the Story Mind - Audio CD - $19.95
Learn how to
psychoanalyze your story's "mind" to uncover and treat
problems with characters, plot, theme, and genre.
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Academic
Prices - Discounts on Select Products
Are you a
student, teacher, or academic staffer? Get the very best price on
select products with these manufacturer sponsored academic discounts!
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Package
Deals - Starting at $49.95
Get deep
discounts with these bundles of our most popular writing products.
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Writer's
Survival Kit Bonus Package - FREE!
Free with
ANY purchase - Writing software, online writing workshops, writing
seminars on video, story theory book, and much, MUCH more!
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