Melanie Anne Phillips reveals new developments in the search for a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics involved in story:
Which brings me (at last) to the subject of this article: my new discovery that finally allows me to bridge the gap from the dynamic questions (the fourth aspect of the current structural model, the current super class, to the next super class: the structural view of dynamics.
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Jim gives thought to the reason for Dramatica's story point Main Character Approach:
In each of these cases, the Main Character approaches their personal problem by first taking that path of least resistance. External takes external, internal takes internal. Realizing this, one can easily see how the Main Character’s Approach can be used to identify the source of that central character’s personal problem as well as their response to it.
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Dramatica super-fan Jim Hull suggests new terminology to help clear up any confusion surrounding the Main Character Resolve.
But perhaps this use of the word “Change” and applying it to only one of the principal characters becomes too much. It may be the most accurate way to describe the process of a fully-functioning story, but it might also be creating confusion where there shouldn’t be. Like many of the terms found in earlier versions of Dramatica such as Preconscious and Obstacle Character (now Impulsive Responses and Influence Character respectively), a slight modification might be in order.
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Story fanatic Jim Hull explains why it is important for stories to follow certain "rules" of structure, and warns what could possibly happen if you dont:
If you don’t, if you see story as having no boundaries and no limitations then by all means, write to your heart’s content. Fly, be free. Just don’t expect the rest of us to remain engaged in your work. Audiences expect stories to think like they do. Run counter to their instinctual responses and they’ll turn away in droves.
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