Customer Reviews

Write Brothers Dramatica Pro Win/Mac

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have found Dramatic Pro to be an excellent tool in helping formulate and organize novel-length suspense stories. It's comprehensive and it makes you thoroughly think through the structure and flow of your story. The software does what it claims to do and it is based on successful story components. I've read other individual's reviews that were less than complimentary and I would have to say that their expectations of this software were probably beyond what the software said it could do. No writing software that I know of will lead a writer through the writing process. It's not like greeting card software that lets you pick and choose every element of the creative process and then you just print the result. But what this software does do is challenge you to not forget, and to properly develop, those key ingredients and components in any story that make the difference between one that other people like to see or read or one that gets ho-hum responses. Just learning the importance of having an Impact Character is enough to turn a mediocre story into a much better one. When you analyze successful and unsuccessful books or movies, more than half the time the difference can be traced to the development, or lack of development, of one or more Impact Characters. Dramatica Pro forces you to pay attention to through-lines, problem creation and resolution, and every element that could possibly be part of a story. But this software does require patience and the personal desire to get things properly organized. If you lack patience, then don't buy this software. If you don't like the fact that almost all successful stories have predictable elements, then you will not like this software because it will lead you down a path that you probably don't want to follow. If you have no tolerance for a jargon learning curve, then don't buy it. And if you are looking for a muse to stimulate your creative juices, then you shouldn't even be looking at any computer software - go find a pen pal. In my opinion, Dramatica Pro does what it says it can do and I really like the way it does it.

Most authors employ both a creative and an analytical process in structuring a final story--one to write with and one to edit with. Dramatica Pro is the perfect tool to guide you through both processes. Be aware, however, that the program makes you work. Hard. When used correctly, Dramatica pushes you into forming characters with depth; you'll never hear a reader say "he/she would never do or say that." Dramatica forces you to focus on developing a story rich with plot tension and thematic development; there will be no "holes" to trip you up. Dramatica's main desktop is the gateway for all story-building. Take the time to explore each tile and the wealth of information at your fingertips. Start with the query system and answer each question. You'll be surprised at how much you don't know about the story in your mind when you begin and how much you do know when you're finished. If, like me, you are a "seat of the pants" writer, don't pass on this superb advisor assuming you don't need it. Write your story, input the information into the appropriate tiles and find out how much you've missed that would make your story much, much stronger.

Caveat: if you are looking for a program that will write your story for you, this is not it. If you're looking for a program that will correct poor prose, poor spelling, bad dialogue, point of view errors, etc--this is not the program for you. If you want a writing partner that will nag you into producing a strong plot structure, a well developed theme, and a rock solid foundation, then Dramatica is your choice.

The program is not easy, but it is "user friendly." If you spend some time understanding the terminology and the plethora of tools available to keep you focused on the story you want to tell, Dramatica Pro will repay you with stories others will want to read/watch.

This has helped me organize the scenes in my novel.

It's helped me decide which characters I needed to develop my story better.

You not only need a Protagonist, you need (of course) an Antagonist (the Main character, the Impact character) and a Consider Character, Reconsider, Logic, Conscience, etc.

It also makes sense that a good novel has more than one thoroughline, more than one areas of conflict.

I'd give this 5 stars for me, but for others, it may be too bothersome to figure out how it works. I had to read about 500 pages on how to use it, why certain characters are essential, what thoroughlines will work with what, etc. and I still don't feel I know how to use everything this program offers.

I see that there's a book on Amazon, Dramatica: A New Theory of Story (Paperback), that may explain more of how to use this software. You may instead like to write your novel and use books like the Plot Doctor or Scene and Structure and others.

Good luck!

For developing story Dramatica is the best system I have found. Some reviews have complained about complexity, but I think they have not understood some of the basics. If you can answer multiple choice questions then you can use Dramatica. If that is too hard - then you should not be a writer. All the theory is in each step of the program and any terms used are defined - all while you view and consider the question. The Dramatica theory book comes with the program in .pdf form so you do not need to buy that unless you want a hard copy.

Also there is a lot of excellent support on the website and companion forums. Every new writer I have worked with (I am a professional cinematographer) I have always recommended Dramatica theory as a way to find the weak elements and improve them. One might think that using a system of formulas and theory could kill inspiration or annoy your muse - but in fact it liberates you from having to worry about them. You know that you have at least thought and consciously chosen which rules you incorporate, which you don't, and which you break. The worst choice a person can make is not to make a choice. Sometimes you get lucky - but not for a whole story.

If you work in screenplays then I think the book "Dramatica for Screenwriters" by Armando Saldana is very helpful. I know plenty of selling, published, and award winning authors who have used it and continue to use it. I have been using this for over 10 years now and feel I learn and grow from it still. You can pass this over or try another Hollywood guru of the month (even though you will find all there technique and craft in Dramatica already) - but why pass over what could be the best writing partner you could have. That being you and a toolbox of excellent resources and practical theory to find, build, clarify, and distill your inspiration into something solid and clear on paper (and in the people who receive it). Did I mention that one of the authors of the software won an academy award for technical achievement?
My point is that this investment in software is, (for once), one that is well worth it and never gets outdated....

I am a successful writer of nonfiction who had a lot of difficulty making the transition to writing fiction.

The first drafts of my novel were awful -- boring characters, confused themes, vague storylines.

Then I got Dramatica Pro. It was the breakthrough I needed.

It asked me all the important structural questions, and in struggling to find the best answers I brainstormed various ways to improve my book (please excuse the pun) dramatically.

I happily set Dramatica aside and kept writing additional drafts of my novel. Because I was basically on the right track, the remaining structural problems with it grew smaller and smaller and smaller. Whenever I got stumped, though, as to exactly how to solve a remaining problem, I went back to Dramatica and found, sometimes uncannily, just the right questions to point me in just the right direction for seeing an appropriate solution.

I am now in the final stages of completing my novel. I am also beginning another . . . with the help, of course, of Dramatica Pro.

I highly recommend it to others who are committed to improving their writing of fiction.

Dramatica Pro is a wonderful tool for writers. When used properly, it will help the writer to produce a thoroughly developed work. Is it easy to use? No, not by a long shot. But it is well worth it to deal with the learning curve because it will help you in ways you can't even fathom at first. It forces you to consider how the story should unfold and what elements should be included.

If you're a "by the seat of your pants" writer, you might want to give the software a chance because I'll bet it can help you identify holes in your story. Keep in mind that there's a 90 day money back guarantee. This should be long enough for you to figure out if it will work for you or not.

I read a review that indicates that the software does not work on Vista. Not so. When I purchased the software in February 2009, I checked first to see if it would be compatible with Vista (which it is) and how I would need to do the install. The FAQ section under the Support tab deals with installing the product on Vista. Using those instructions, I installed the product on my computer and had no problems whatsoever.

For those who expect this software to write the story for you, think again. To my knowledge, there is no software on the planet that can take on this task. If you have a great idea for a novel, then learn how to write a novel. Don't expect the software to do something impossible. If you don't want to learn how to write, then hire a ghost writer.

I've been using this theory and software on all of my projects since 1997 and every time it has helped me write a better, more inventive and better-structured story. Sure, it was a steep learning process--but writing is in essence a steep learning process--and writing with Dramatica gave me a clearer understanding on how stories work and how all of its parts work together. This is specially useful in the development process, when you need to know how each of your elements work in order to preserve your original idea through the rewrites. In fact, Dramatica made the learning curve shorter: after writing the first drafts with it, taking notes from a producer is a breeze.

I was excited when I read all about this product. I got it and tried to learn it, I even joined a list on their site. Problem is, everyone on the list was having a lot of trouble learning it. Some were even talking about starting an online class to teach others how to use it. One of the problems is the developers of the program came up with a whole new theory of story which you have to learn to use the program. Now, you have to ask yourself, "Do I want to spend my time learning to write, or do I want to spend my time learning to use a very complicated theory of story and a program that could take months or even years to learn how to use?" Or ask yourself, "Did Shakespeare start this way?"

This is only helpful if you are brainstorming a writing project with no real clue on what you want it to be about. I usually have a passion for the story before I write it and have some idea about where I want to go. If you are the type that begin with vague concepts and story ideas this may help you, but don't be surprised if you give up half way through and start writing it freely with out these writing construct and parameters that can at times stifle your story creativity, flow, and passion. It almost reminds me of referring to the APA Manual when I wrote graduate term papers.

I agree with the negative reviews that say there is a very steep learning curve here. But if you're willing to put in the time and work to learn the theory, the payoff is enormous.

The Dramatica software uses the Dramatica theory as its logical underpinnings, so you really need to take the time to read the book and understand the theory, otherwise the results you get from the software are just going to be confusing and frustrating. (A free version of the book is available for download from the dramatica.com website as a PDF file. Be aware that it is an older edition, and some of the terminology has changed in the current edition. But it might be a good place to start, to see if this theory is for you.)

Dramatica is CONTEXTUAL, it is not intended to provide you with a story. Based on how you answer the hundreds of questions the software poses regarding your characters, their motivations, methodologies, relationships, plot points, etc., the software begins to build a suggested framework (context) for your story. Because you can start answering questions anywhere (you don't have to start at the top and work down, or vice versa), the software will even be sensitive to the priorities you are expressing. For example, if you start by answering questions about your characters, the storyforms that emerge will support a more character-driven storyform. If you start with plot elements, a more plot-driven storyform will emerge.

To demonstrate how Dramatica is contextual, let's say I want to write a story with a thematic subject of "forgiveness". In this case I would start by answering Dramatica's Concern class. You won't find "forgiveness" in the pick list, because what you are looking for here is a CONTEXT from which to tell your story about forgiveness. An obvious Concern for a story dealing with forgiveness would be "The Past", i.e. "Objective view of what happened" -- or, perhaps even better, "Memories", i.e., "Subjective view of what happened." But it could also be "The Present" (how is a lack of forgiveness [either giving or getting] affecting us now?) or "The Future" (how will forgiveness [either giving or getting] affect us down the road?) or "Changing One's Nature" (movement from being unforgiving toward being forgiving, or vice versa), or "Obtaining", or in fact any of the Concern items available.

Which of these you choose will "weight" the storyform that emerges in that direction. The storyform for a Concern of "The Past" will likely be different from a Concern of "Memories" -- although this depends on how you answered subsequent questions after establishing your Concern. If you don't like the storyform you end up with, you may have not picked the right Concern for your particular priority, or you may need to back up and answer some of the subsequent questions differently.

There is a huge learning curve here, but I have been diligent and find Dramatica to be indispensable to my work. Again, I would not attempt to use the software without reading the book first. It will make little sense otherwise.