What is this chart?

DRAMATICA ®
This chart illustrates the core Dramatica structure found in all complete
stories. Its four major areas––Situation, Activity, Manipulation, and Fixed
Attitudes––represent areas of conflict essential to every fully explored story.
Nested within each of these four areas on this chart are various story
Table of Story Elements components which are used to create dramatic story points such as the “Story
Goal” and “Problem.” The components have been arranged according to
their relevance to genre, plot, theme, and character.

Based on a theory and Why should you use this chart?

As a writer, you’ll want to explore your story as completely as possible.
materials developed by This chart serves as a reference guide to help you understand the fundamental
Melanie Anne Phillips & Chris Huntley relationships that exist between the story components essential to developing
a fully explored story.

Situation Activity
Past How Things Are Changing Understanding Doing
Fate Prediction Fact Security Instinct Senses Wisdom Skill

Knowledge Order Actuality Inertia Proven Accurate Effect Result Knowledge Ability Actuality Aware Proven Theory Effect Trust

Chaos Thought Change Perception Non- Un-proven Process Cause Desire Thought Self-Aware Perception Hunch Un-proven Test Cause
accurate

Interdiction Destiny Threat Fantasy Interpretation Conditioning Experience Enlightenment

Ability Equity Aware Projection Theory Expectation Trust Ending Order Equity Inertia Projection Accurate Expectation Result Ending

Inequity Desire Speculation Self-Aware Deter- Hunch Unending Test Inequity Chaos Speculation Change Determin- Non- Unending Process
mination ation accurate

Future Present Obtaining Gathering Information

Openness Delay Work Attract Approach Self Interest Prerequisites Strategy

Consider- Faith Pursuit Support Certainty Deduction Proaction Acceptance Consider- Logic Pursuit Control Certainty Probability Proaction Inaction
ation ation

Disbelief Reconsider Oppose Avoid Induction Potentiality Non- Reaction Feeling Reconsider Un- Avoid Possibility Potentiality Protection Reaction
acceptance controlled

Choice Preconception Repel Attempt Morality Attitude Analysis Preconditions

Logic Conscience Control Help Probability Reduction Inaction Evaluation Faith Conscience Support Help Deduction Reduction Acceptance Evaluation

Un-
Temptation Feeling Hinder controlled Production Possibility Re- Protection Temptation Disbelief Hinder Oppose Production Induction Re- Non-
evaluation evaluation acceptance

Manipulation Fixed Attitude

Developing A Plan Playing A Role Memories Impulsive Responses
State of Being Situation Knowledge Ability Truth Evidence Value Confidence

Knowledge Inertia Actuality Order Proven Result Effect Accurate Knowledge Actuality Ability Aware Proven Effect Theory Trust

Change Thought Chaos Perception Process Un-proven Non- Cause Perception Thought Self-Aware Desire Cause Un-proven Test Hunch
accurate

Circumstances Sense of Self Desire Thought Suspicion Falsehood Worry Worth

Aware Equity Ability Projection Trust Expectation Theory Ending Order Inertia Equity Projection Accurate Result Expectation Ending

Inequity Self-Aware Speculation Desire Determin- Test Unending Hunch Change Chaos Speculation Inequity Process Non- Unending Determin-
ation accurate ation

Changing One's Nature Conceiving An Idea Innermost Desires Contemplations

Rationalization Commitment Permission Need Closure Hope Investigation Appraisal

Consider- Support Pursuit Faith Certainty Acceptance Proaction Deduction Consider- Pursuit Logic Control Certainty Proaction Probability Inaction
ation ation

Oppose Reconsider Disbelief Avoid Non- Potentiality Induction Reaction Avoid Reconsider Un- Feeling Reaction Potentiality Protection Possibility
acceptance controlled

Responsibility Obligation Expediency Deficiency Dream Denial Re-appraisal Doubt

Control Conscience Logic Help Inaction Reduction Probability Evaluation Faith Support Conscience Help Deduction Acceptance Reduction Evaluation

Temptation Un- Hinder Feeling Production Protection Re- Possibility Oppose Disbelief Hinder Temptation Non- Induction Re- Production
controlled evaluation acceptance evaluation

LEGEND: Color Coding of the Chart Understanding the Table Structure

Throughline
The largest items on the chart illustrate
Activity where genre is best represented.
(For Example) They represent the broadest contexts
in which a story's conflicts are
explored.
Concern
Obtaining Within each throughline are four
(For Example) Concerns. This level is where plot is
best represented. Concerns indicate
the topic of concen in each act.
Issue
Morality Within each concern are for “thematic”
(For Example)
Issues. This is where theme is best
represented. The Issue and its
diagonal opposite, the “thematic
counterpoint,” form the foundations of
a thematic conflict.
Temptation
Problem
(For Example) The smallest items on the chart is
where character is best represented.
They represent the building blocks
used for constructing characters and
the problems that drive them.
The Dramatica table of story elements is comprised of many Quads
(groupings of four squares or items). These quads range in size Approach Self Interest
from the largest––the throughline-sized quad––to the smallest––the
element-sized quad. Each quad is nested within a larger quad; the
only exception being the throughline quad which is the largest.
Items positioned diagonally across from one another in a quad are
referred to as Dynamic Pairs. There are two dynamic pairs per
quad. When considering the relationship of the items in a quad,
dynamic pairs are the most likely to generate conflict. Morality Attitude
In the illustration to the right, notice the two dynamic pairs:
Approach/Attitude and Self Interest/Morality. The dynamic pair of
Attitude and Approach is more likely to create conflict than either
Example of one Quad with
the pairing of Attitude and Morality or Attitude and Self Interest. two Dynamic Pairs
Use dynamic pairs to heighten conflict in your story.

Copyright © 1995, 1999 Screenplay Systems Incorporated • All Rights Reserved • Dramatica is a registered trademark of Screenplay Systems Incorporated • Patent #5,734,916
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