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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Letters To Dramatica
Response to a user who speculated that the Emotion
Archetype is most often the Love Interest and also the Obstacle
Character in a story:
(Click on highlighted words for Dramatica definitions)
As for the Love Interest being the Emotion archetype and the Obstacle, that is perhaps
the current convention in action pcitures, but has not been the case in the past. In 40s
films, for example, the Obstacle/Love interest is often the Guardian, or even the Reason
archetype.
Perhaps the one thing that IS rather consistent is that the Love Interest (if there is
one) is often the Obstacle, regardless of the objective role, archetypal or complex.
Still, in Star Wars, Obi is the obstacle, but Leia is something of the Love Interest.
That is one reason that thinking about Heros, Villians, and Love Interests is much too
indelicate to describe what is really happening in stories. Though certain combinations
may come in and out of Vogue (such as the anti-heros of the late sixties and early
seventies) thinking in conventional terms is contrary to coming up with unique
combinations of one's own that elevate a story as being not quite like anything else.
One final note: In "Aliens" the Archetypal role of Guardian is split between
the Michael Biehn part and the Paul Burke part, each getting half of the Guardian
characteristics and half of the Contagonist characteristics.. Biehn is Help from the
Guardian, but Temptation ("Nuke them from orbit" - which will never make Ripley
face her fear) from the Contagonist, whereas Burke is Hinder from the Contagonist but
Conscience ("You gotta get back on the horse!" - which is just what she really
needs to do) from the Guardian.
In short, there are no right or wrong combinations, just commonly used conventions
which on the positive side are immediately recognizable by the audience, yet on the
negative side are predictable and pedestrian.
Melanie
Definitions of Dramatica terms used above:
Archetype: Although designed to create
much more rich and complex characters, Dramatica also defines eight archetypes, each of
which represents a broad aspect of our own minds when attempting to solve a problem. These
arechetypes are: Protagonist (the drive toward the achievement of something positive),
Antagonist (the drive toward the achievement of something negative), Guardian (our
conscience), Contagonist (our temptation ), Reason (our intellect), Emotion (our
feelings), Sidekick (our faith), Skeptic (our disbelief).
Subjective Characters: Main and Obstacle. Dramatica
divides characters into two types - those seen in terms of their dramatic functions
(Objective Characters) and those providing the audience with a passionate involvement in
the story (Subjective Characters). The Objective characters are most broadly identified as
the eight archetypes listed above. The Subjective characters are primarily represented by
the Main character and the Obstacle character.
The Main Character represents the audience position in the story, as if the story were
happening to the audience members themselves. The Obstacle character has the most personal
effect upon the Main Character, pressuring the Main Character to change his or her world
view and see or do things differently. Just as the Protagonist and Antagonist objective
archetypes clash over practical matters of achievement, the Main and Obstacle clash over
personal matters that define who one really is and what one will become.
Tough quite separate in concept, the functions of an Objective Character and the
"involvment factor" of a Subjective Character are often combined in the same
"player" in a story.
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
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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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