Review: Dramatica Pro 2.0: The Ultimate Writing Partner

When I first heard of software to aid a writer, I laughed. I had in mind pre-outlined plots, perhaps a thesaurus. Fill in a few adjectives and follow a pre-arranged outline. Put your action here, fight there, chase scene here, clue there. Well, I was wrong. What Dramatica Pro offers is more information about what makes a character than anything I learned to get my Masters. I took every writing class I could while in college, and none came close to the information offered in what I would call more a course than just a "writing partner". For those of you who are teaching future writers, I highly recommend this tool.

I have been reviewing the software for three weeks, and feel like I have barely scratched the surface. This is not software that guides you through the writing process. What I can see so far is that it guides you through the outline process. A huge strength of this material, in my opinion, is that it helps the writer define and flesh out a character. Imagine that - a full dimensional character instead of the one dimensional type we're used to in much writing. The only problem the author would have I suppose, is finding readers who could read a book about a character with more than one dimension.

Fully defining this software would be impossible in this short review. As I learn more about it in the coming weeks, I will share more about it, if any of you express interest. I was asked to review this by a reader, and have become a fan. I admit going into the experience skeptical - would Steinbeck have used software to write a book? Well, the truth is, the software does not write the book. All the words in the finished product belong to the writer. The software is a great aid in outlining and plotting a book (or screenplay); and has many many hints to help define and build characters.

So, you're wondering - what good is this for a poet? I know many of you are like me, poetry fiends. But I also now most of you are harboring the sincere hope of writing "The Great Novel" someday. This software will not write it for you, but it will certainly help you learn to flesh out your writing. As poets, we learn to condense for sense. That's great for poetry readers. But most readers - as we all know - simply do not read poetry. After you've spent 15-20 years concentrating on your poet's craft, it becomes difficult to free yourself to actually write a novel. This software course may help free you. As you develop your characters, you can print out reports so you have material to keep by your side as you actually write the Novel or Screenplay Of The Year.

The book that comes with this "Course" is "A New Theory of Story" by Phillips & Huntley. While it would not be a very good main textbook in a writing course, I do think it would be a great required 2nd text. There are charts and definitions here I have never seen elsewhere. Also included is a sample notebook that a writer could use to help develop material off-line. The third book is a tutorial in using the software. Windows and Macintosh versions are available.

You can send a postcard to receive sales material from 150 East Olive Ave, Suite 203 Burbank, CA 91502-1849 or call 1-(818)843-6557. Fax1-(818)843-8364. The web site is located at http://www.dramatica.com

Again, I feel this course is more valuable than many of the "Creative Writing" classes I attended through the years it took to finish my degree.

Check it out.