DRAMATICA

This table (and the 3-D style graphic) represents the dramatic topics
that occur in all complete stories. Like its scientific cousin, the
Periodic Table of Elements, items are arranged in families. Dramatic
®
familes include Genre, Plot, Theme, and Character. The
interrelationships between these four aspects of story can be seen in
the nested nature of the table. Dramatica theory describes how to
Table of Story Elements place these story elements in context to create dramatic appreciations
such as “Goal” and “Premise.” Dramatica software automatically
rearranges the table to create a story progression that reflects the
dramatic decisions made by an author.

Universe Physics
Past Progress 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 Learning

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

Psychology Mind
Conceptualizing Being Memory Preconscious
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

Becoming Conceiving Subconsciou Consciou

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

Copyright © 1995 Screenplay Systems Incorporated • All Rights Reserved

Dramatica is a registered trademark of Screenplay Systems Incorporated • Patent Pending
 DRAMATICA ®

Table of Story Elements

Universe
Past Progress
Fate Prediction Fact Security

Knowledge Order Actuality Inertia Proven Accurate Effect Result

Chaos Thought Change Perception Non- Un-proven Process Cause

accurate

Interdiction Destiny Threat Fantasy

Ability Equity Aware Projection Theory Expectation Trust Ending

Inequity Desire Speculation Self-Aware Deter- Hunch Unending Test

mination

Future Present
Openness Delay Work Attract

Consider- Faith Pursuit Support Certainty Deduction Proaction Acceptance

ation

Disbelief Reconsider Oppose Avoid Induction Potentiality Non- Reaction

acceptance

Choice Preconception Repel Attempt

Logic Conscience Control Help Probability Reduction Inaction Evaluation

Un-
Temptation Feeling Hinder controlled Production Possibility Re- Protection
evaluation

The Universe Class explores "situations" (external states)

Copyright © 1995 Screenplay Systems Incorporated • All Rights Reserved

Dramatica is a registered trademark of Screenplay Systems Incorporated • Patent Pending
 DRAMATICA ®

Table of Story Elements

Physics
Understanding Doing
Instinct Senses Wisdom Skill

Knowledge Ability Actuality Aware Proven Theory Effect Trust

Desire Thought Self-Aware Perception Hunch Un-proven Test Cause

Interpretation Conditioning Experience Enlightenment

Order Equity Inertia Projection Accurate Expectation Result Ending

Inequity Chaos Speculation Change Determin- Non- Unending Process

ation accurate

Obtaining Learning
Approach Self Interest Prerequisites Strategy

Consider- Logic Pursuit Control Certainty Probability Proaction Inaction

ation

Feeling Reconsider Un- Avoid Possibility Potentiality Protection Reaction

controlled

Morality Attitude Analysis Preconditions

Faith Conscience Support Help Deduction Reduction Acceptance Evaluation

Temptation Disbelief Hinder Oppose Production Induction Re- Non-

evaluation acceptance

The Physics Class explores "activities" (external processes)

Copyright © 1995 Screenplay Systems Incorporated • All Rights Reserved

Dramatica is a registered trademark of Screenplay Systems Incorporated • Patent Pending
 DRAMATICA ®

Table of Story Elements

Psychology
Conceptualizing Being
State of Being Situation Knowledge Ability

Knowledge Inertia Actuality Order Proven Result Effect Accurate

Change Thought Chaos Perception Process Un-proven Non- Cause

accurate

Circumstances Sense of Self Desire Thought

Aware Equity Ability Projection Trust Expectation Theory Ending

Inequity Self-Aware Speculation Desire Determin- Test Unending Hunch

ation

Becoming Conceiving
Rationalization Commitment Permission Need

Consider- Support Pursuit Faith Certainty Acceptance Proaction Deduction

ation

Oppose Reconsider Disbelief Avoid Non- Potentiality Induction Reaction

acceptance

Responsibility Obligation Expediency Deficiency

Control Conscience Logic Help Inaction Reduction Probability Evaluation

Temptation Un- Hinder Feeling Production Protection Re- Possibility

controlled evaluation

The Psychology Class explores "manners of thinking or manipulation"

(internal processes)
Copyright © 1995 Screenplay Systems Incorporated • All Rights Reserved
Dramatica is a registered trademark of Screenplay Systems Incorporated • Patent Pending
 DRAMATICA ®

Table of Story Elements

Mind
Memory Preconscious
Truth Evidence Value Confidence

Knowledge Actuality Ability Aware Proven Effect Theory Trust

Perception Thought Self-Aware Desire Cause Un-proven Test Hunch

Suspicion Falsehood Worry Worth

Order Inertia Equity Projection Accurate Result Expectation Ending

Change Chaos Speculation Inequity Process Non- Unending Determin-

accurate ation

Subconsciou Consciou
Closure Hope Investigation Appraisal

Consider- Pursuit Logic Control Certainty Proaction Probability Inaction

ation

Avoid Reconsider Un- Feeling Reaction Potentiality Protection Possibility

controlled

Dream Denial Re-appraisal Doubt

Faith Support Conscience Help Deduction Acceptance Reduction Evaluation

Oppose Disbelief Hinder Temptation Non- Induction Re- Production

acceptance evaluation

The Mind Class explores "fixed attitudes or biases" (internal states)

Copyright © 1995 Screenplay Systems Incorporated • All Rights Reserved

Dramatica is a registered trademark of Screenplay Systems Incorporated • Patent Pending
 1C 1C
la s la s

e r se ic s
s s

U n iv Phys
4T 4T
r e ss ype g ype
P ro g s D o in s
d ing
P a st e r st a n
U nd
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P re s Le a r
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F utu Ob ta inin

Se c u
rity 16 Sk ill
16
Va Va
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Inte pt Inteta tio n Re q u
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Dramatica® Domains Chart: 3D Perspective

Copyright © 1995 Screenplay Systems Incorporated • All Rights Reserved
Dramatica is a registered trademark of Screenplay Systems Incorporated • Patent Pending
 1C
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U niv
4T
r e ss
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P ro g s
P a st
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Se c u
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Va
Fa c t ria
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Pr e d
T hr e
at ns
Fa t e t
iny A ttr ac
De st k
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De la
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l
nne s
s Re p e
O pe
Pr ee-p t io n
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Eff ec
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Ac c u
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Copyright © 1995 Screenplay Systems Incorporated • All Rights Reserved

Dramatica is a registered trademark of Screenplay Systems Incorporated • Patent Pending
 1C
la s

s ic s s

Phy
4T
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D o in s
t a nd ing
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U nd
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Sk ill
16
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Ap p r de
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Eff ec
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Copyright © 1995 Screenplay Systems Incorporated • All Rights Reserved

Dramatica is a registered trademark of Screenplay Systems Incorporated • Patent Pending
 1C
la s
o g y s

s y c ho l
P
4T
g ype
B e in s
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C on
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Ab ilit
y 16
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Kno w
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Sit ua
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t e in De sir
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St aB e g Ne e d
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Ra tizioa t io n Ex p e
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Copyright © 1995 Screenplay Systems Incorporated • All Rights Reserved

Dramatica is a registered trademark of Screenplay Systems Incorporated • Patent Pending
 1C
la s
s
M in d

4T
nsc i
o us ype
P re c
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nf i- e 16
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T r ut h al
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Susp g t
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De nia
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T rust
64
Eff ec
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Copyright © 1995 Screenplay Systems Incorporated • All Rights Reserved

Dramatica is a registered trademark of Screenplay Systems Incorporated • Patent Pending