Newsgroups: rec.arts.int-fiction
Path: gmd.de!ira.uka.de!howland.reston.ans.net!darwin.sura.net!haven.umd.edu!uunet!ddsw1!chinet!jorn
From: jorn@chinet.chinet.com (Jorn Barger)
Subject: Story software in MacUser
Message-ID: <C6yJt8.78L@chinet.chinet.com>
Organization: Chinet - Public Access UNIX
Date: Thu, 13 May 1993 09:03:08 GMT
Lines: 50

I figure I better write this up while it's still on the newstands-- the 
June MacUser has a side-by-side of four creative-plotting software tools.  
(They say ads for these are proliferating in Writer's Digest-- and three of 
the four sell for $3-400!)

"Plots Unlimited" claims a database of thousands of plot twists, but the 
reviewer gave it lowest marks because it wasn't able to pick appropriate 
ones wisely, so you'd end up stepping thru 600 alternatives by hand.

"Collaborator II" asks 70 questions to help you focus your ideas, including 
a database-questionnaire for characters' traits-- health, addictions, 
speech, scars, etc.  The 70 questions are sorted according to *Aristotle's* 
six elements of drama: plot, character, thought, diction, music and 
spectacle.

"StoryLine" is based around an analysis of "22 steps" most of which (17? 
19?) can be seen in the screen shot: 
self-revelation/ need & desire
ghost & context
problem/need
inciting event
desire
allies
opponent/mystery
opponent-ally
1st revelation
plan
opponent's plan   main counterattack
drive
added revelation 1
attack by ally
apparent defeat
2nd revelation
added revelation 2
audience revelation
3rd revelation...

"WritePro" is the $100 exception that they rate highest-- it offers 100 
thoughtful rules like "somebody has to want something badly" or "what 
characters say and do under stress is revealing" or "every hero needs a 
villain" or "a villain doesn't need to be *bad*"


(I'm over in comp.text lately, thinking about a word processor that has a 
TADS-like knowledgebase behind it...)

-- 
  _/--_/--_/--o--_/--_/--o--_/--_/--o--_/--o--_/--_/--o--_/--_/--o--_/--_/--_/
_/--o--_/--  "j^o"r^n" "b^a"r^g"e^r" --o-- ^jorn@chinet.chinet.com^ --_/--o--_/
 _/--_/--_/--o--_/--_/--o--_/--_/--o--_/--o--_/--_/--o--_/--_/--o--_/--_/--_/
