What Writers are Saying about Dramatica:

"Dramatica is my indispensable tool both in bringing form to my new novels and in the repair and tune-up of stories that I am revisiting. It has added a new, grander dimension to my craft. These are power tools no storyteller should be without." (more...)

—Tracy Hickman, Writer
DragonLance (series),
Rose of the Prophet (series),
Deathgate Cycle (series)

Interview: Tracy Hickman: Writer with a Harness. To read the full text of the interview, click here.

"The story for "Copy Shop" was in my head for 10 years. Dramatica is with me for 5 years - long enough to burn the 12 essential questions into my subconsciousness. The 12 minute film won 25 international awards and an Oscar-nomination."

—Virgil Widrich, 2001 Oscar Nominee
Best Short Film: "Copy Shop"

"Movie Magic Screenwriter & Dramatica are the next best things to having I. A. L. Diamond* as a writing partner !!!!"

—Sam Montgomery, Screenwriter
U-571, Breakdown

*Mr. I. A. L. Diamond was a highly regarded Oscar winning screenwriter of classic films such as Some Like It Hot, The Apartment, and Irma la Douce.

"... the program has introduced to me a number of useful dramaturgical concepts which I otherwise would never have known to even try employing...And, I suppose subjecting myself to the process — the discipline of Dramatica — has had an invaluable consequence: I have more confidence in the final product. I know the bones of the screenplay are good because I know I made my fundamental decisions in a most dramatically informed way."

—Marc Moss , Screenwriter;
Along Came A Spider; Flint

This is an excerpt from an interview with Marc Moss. To read the full text of the interview, click here.

"In my recent memoir Silent Fire (New York: Crown Books, 2002), I used Dramatica to bring to life the people as I remembered them, so that they could live not only in my memory, but in the story as well." (more...)

James A. Connor
Writer, Silent Fire

—Euzhan Palcy, Screenwriter/ Director - A Dry White Season, Sugar Cane Alley, Cesar

"Dramatica Pro is a great way to start out and organize a story. By using the desktop files to create and develop a character, you save paper and time. The brainstorming tools are also very useful in lending a helping hand to story development. Dramatica Pro is a great way to organize a story for script development purposes."

—Robin Cowie, Producer
Altered, The Blair Witch Project

"Dramatica Pro guides you through the nitty grittty of creating your story. It’s a focusing tool. I’ve taken my story ideas with character sketches, plug them into [the] Dramatica Pro program. By the time I finished answering all of the questions my story is fully realized and I’m ready to write. "

—Yvette Freeman, Screenwriter/Actor;
Winner of the Hollywood Black Film Festival - Screenwriter Award.

This is an excerpt from an interview with Yvette Freeman. To read the full text of the interview, click here.

"Dramatica Pro is a story development tool I am pleased to recommend to other writers. It can either develop a story with minimal feedback from the writer or significantly enhance an existing idea by fanning writer passion to an unexpected level. This has allowed my story development process to shift in several truly systemic ways."

—David O'Neal, Novelist - Fool Me Twice, What Goes Around, The Pact With Bruno, Choosing to Kill

"I had my pitch meeting with a producer... Everything he wanted to know I'd been forced to game out with my ol' friend Dramatica... the program will make your job as a writer not only easier, but more fun. By the way, I got the deal."

—David Obst, Wired Magazine
Author - Too Good to Be Forgotten: Changing America in the '60s and '70s

—Monice Mitchell, Writer/Director/Producer
Winner of Showtime's Black Filmmaker of the Year Award

This is an excerpt from an interview with award-winning, independent filmmakers
Monice Mitchell & Ryeal Simms called, "Making It—Independently." To read the full text of the interview, click here.

"For years I have been searching for new and creative ways to tell a story. The old "Tall Tale" or "Once Upon a Time" method has long been exhausted. It's wonderful to work with the many different paradigms and features found in the Dramatica program. While I'm not an expert at Dramatica yet, I can said it has helped me tremendously. Dramatica has ended my search."

—Julie Dash (Director/Writer/Producer)
Love Song, Incognito, Subway Stories, Daughters of the Dust

"Dramatica is an essential tool for developing a story's structure. I used it extensively to develop a screenplay that was awarded first place in the SlamDance Screenwriting Competition."

—Carl Weaver, 1st Place Winner, SlamDance Competition

"My comedy won the first prize in the 'Salzburg Screenplay Competition' today. The jury said that my script was miles ahead of all others."

—Virgil Widrich, Winner of the Salzburg Screenplay Competition

"As a devout Movie Magic user, I was eager to try out Dramatica Pro on my next project, and I was pleasantly surprised at how easily and effectively it helped build "character" and "conflict"especially in the problem areas of Act II."

—Tom Rice , Writer/Director/Producer, The Rising Place
MOXIE! AWARD - (Producer/Director) Santa Monica Film Festiva

"Wouldn't develop a story without churning it through Dramatica first. My latest movie was conceived by the help of both Dramatica and Screenwriter. They make you concentrate on the essentials. Not the mechanics!"

—Jan Jung, International Writer/Director
Hole in One, Arrival 11:30 PM,
Three Days in August, Hannah Wolf

"The first time I used the Dramatica program, was when I decided to write a radio play in order to participate in the BBC Africa Performance contest…I won second prize in the contest, and was told I wasn't awarded the first because there were some places where my play was more visual than radio could handle and they had to improvise a bit.

By the way, on the interview they did for the BBC when I won, I said I had been studying Dramatica, the Theory of Story!  I really believe it was an important factor in my writing a well-rounded radio play.  Thank you! "

—Rosemary Smith Kebe

"I finished the first draft story outline of a piece I've been working on for a couple of months. It came together exactly as I had envisioned it. While I credit myself for a large part of that, endless accolades must go out to Dramatica. The program forced me to focus on exactly what I wanted to do. It also gave me great insights as to do much of it. You guys really did a job with this program."

—Dana Cameron

"...I can say that I have never approached a book project with more confidence that I am on the right path. Dramatica Pro refuses to let me off the hook; rather, it forces me to think things through, directly and indirectly, in such a way that no avenues seem to be left unexplored. I feel certain that this thoroughness will eliminate problems down the road -- problems that surely would have emerged without Dramatica Pro's vaccination. The process also seems to be drawing from me more than I knew I had in me. That feels good, and is reinforcing as I work through my story idea."

—Patricia Sierra

"I LOVE this software! You and your have my deepest gratitude. That you offer different approaches to the process is extraordinary in software, period, but also, indispensable for a creative modeler like this."

—Roseanne Johnston

"Obviously I would not be writing if I had not derived a great deal of enjoyment and many productive hours from Dramatica. It is an impressive and graceful achievement."

—Derrick Smith

"I was intrigued enough by the recent write-up of Dramatica in the current issue of the Writers Guild Journal to order a copy of theory book from your company. I am pausing after just a few pages to give you this feedback: The first four pages are perhaps the most intellectually elegant profoundly reframing words I have ever read concerning the idea of story."

—Jim Boke Tomlin

"Thanks for a terrific program. Out of the box and without even looking at the manual, I used it to help me find a problem in a script I had written and optioned a couple of years ago, but attracted no further interest. Then I read the manual and have since been using it to outline a novel."

—John Michael Flynn

"I've tried other programs and they are all fine products, but Dramatica takes you to deeper levels... If I were to rate the programs I've tried, I'd give top prize to this one. I first read about it in Writers Digest and was curious since it was the only one rated 'Excellent' in the story development software category. Now I see why."

—Robert F.Phillips

"Congratulations on a great software!... I'm currently in the process of rewriting a script that I had nearly completed a month ago. Dramatica pointed out the weaknesses in my story structure in the first seven days after installation."

—Jan Wellman

"Creating characters can drive a comic bananas and I take my funny business very seriously. That's why I chose Dramatica Pro to make my work fun. There's only one thing missing - Comedica Pro."

—Shirley Kenosha aka Kat. Caverly, TomKat. Productions, NYC

"With Movie Magic Screenwriter and Dramatica Pro, I wrote the original 90 pages of MAD DOGZ AND ENGLISHMEN in eight days. MOVIE MAGIC accentuates the "I" in Independent Film Making. With Screenwriter and Dramatidca Pro, you have the tools to make your film....any film".

—Joel Wein, Screenwriter / Indie Producer,
Mad Dogz and Englishmen

—Bill Duke, Actor/ Producer/ Director
The Limey, Payback, Hoodlum, Sister Act II

"Having writer's block or even paradoxically too many ideas can prevent you from getting that great concept or pitch off the ground. That's where Dramatica comes into play. It's not only the ultimate objective brainstorming partner but it guides you through the in-depth- process of character, plot and theme development without which there can be no good screenplay. There is a lot of painstaking 'homework' in the development process but Dramatica actually draws you into it almost effortlessly. It makes the next step-the screenwriting process-virtually devoid of the dreaded writer's block. In one case Dramatica has provided an angle and idea for the storyline that no one thought about. It made the story better; it was actually brilliant and it was free! Now that's a novel concept in this town!"

—Jean - Philippe Girod, Producer
Windhorse Entertainment

"I would like to say again how much differently I view stories and scripts since purchasing Dramatica."

—Anthony Miller

"Dramatica's assessment of my story theme and character's motivations had a surgical precision that left me feeling exposed. Dramatica enabled me to see what I wasn't seeing, to see outside my own story mind, by consolidating all the information I provided the program. This kind of confirmation and insight can be very encouraging to a playwright, or to any writer who writes alone, without any living, breathing partner to give her feedback."

—Parabasis Magazine

"Dramatica is wonderful for people who want to become better writers."

—Weekly Variety

What Industry Experts are Saying about Dramatica:

"Dramatica Pro is a true brainstorming partner!  No other story software offers this level of involvement and efficiency in the story creation process; what a liberating experience.  You guys have built a valuable tool that will continue to inspire for years to come."

Shayne A. Wilson, Associate Producer
Dead Like Me

"Run any story through Dramatic Pro takes and it'll come out stronger, richer, and more dynamic. In short, just plain better. The Character Development Feature alone not only adds dimension and complexity to the protagonist, but it also makes your secondary characters real people instead of mere walk-ons, inspiring new scenes, turns and twists in the overall plot and gives you a deeper insight into what your story was really about. Recently, I've been using the Dramatic Pro approach to storytelling to teach my students and guide our screenwriting faculty."

Prof. Charlie Purpura, Head of Screenwriting, New York University, Tisch School of the Arts, Department of Dramatic Writing
Credits: Heaven Help Us, Satisfaction, Girls of Summer, Senior Class
Awards: Emmy Award, Humanitas Prize

"Dramatica Pro clarifies the dramatic path, clearly giving an objective view, similar to the point of view of an audience. It helps the student understand and build many of the elements required of a character, and their specific job as the story unfolds. As well as that, it's a constant companion through the writing process. It by no means replaces the teacher, but I have found it to be an invaluable 'Teaching Assistant'."

—Ian Maitland, Professor of Film & Television,
NYU Tisch School of the Arts
Emmy Award winner
New York University's Alumni Great Teacher Award winner; Tisch School of the Arts Great Teacher Award winner

"For anyone considering a tool to help them develop a story or screenplay, or to simply stir the creative juices, I highly recommend Dramatica Pro." (more...)

—Rick Zanotti, Writer, Teacher
CEO & Founder, Relate
Web development and e-Learning

"It's a writer's dream come true. I particularly like the fact that writers can start at any point and develop exceptionally well integrated plots, characters, and conflicts."

—Richard A. Blum, Director,
Motion Picture Division,
University of Central Florida

"As the complexity of interactive entertainment grows, Storyview and
Dramatica could very easily become a necessary tool for any game designer. Both packages allow the game designer to flesh out detailed game concepts, characters and puzzles at the start of a project..."

—Kris Jackson, Game Designer
Heavy Iron Studios

"Dramatica instructs gently with the possibility of grand results. Used accordingly, the program can help a writer to create a flawless story blueprint. It actually has the ability to assist almost anyone to form a compelling tale that only that individual is capable of producing."

—Writers' Journal

Rating: 5 Stars "This program is an amazing tool for helping both professional and wanna-be writers create, deepen, and refine their stories."

—PC Magazine

Rating: Excellent "The most versatile and dynamic program of its kind, Dramatica is a sophisticated, intuitive tool that can benefit both the novice and professional."

—Writer's Digest

"The software asks you a series of questions, prompting you to make sometimes tough decisions about your story...As you answer the questions and make choices, the software keeps all your characters and story elements in sync...It doesn't supply canned prose or purport to do any actual writing. Instead, it helps you define your characters and organize your plot."

—Walter S. Mossberg, The Wall Street Journal

"A program to help the Steven Spielbergs of tomorrow work their way through writer's block."

—CNN Future Watch

"The best program for either a novice or a blocked writer. While you still, of course, offer the raw material, it truly does help you arrange it."

—Fiction Writer magazine

"Using a series of questions that force you to think very deeply about your story, Dramatica makes you look at what you're writing in ways you might have overlooked. And instead of resulting in something formulaic, your story begins to take on a vibrant life of its own. Even after only an hour of work, you'll notice a significant difference in the way your story is taking shape. Dramatica has the potential to push you to be your creative best. From a story-development perspective, it takes the cake!"

—MacHome Magazine

"For novelists and short-story writers, Dramatica Pro is the hands-down favorite."

—Kim Komando, nationally syndicated
talk radio host and author

"We've all had those moments of brilliance that start with: "Wow! I just had the greatest idea for a story!" Most of the time, the complexity of storytelling keeps our half-written scripts hidden in a shoebox. Relief is out there. Dramatica Pro 4.0 offers in-depth help for writers developing complex short stories, novels, screenplays, or television shows. "

—MacAddict Magazine

"Any writer who invests the modest purchase price and the time needed to master Dramatica Pro will be richly rewarded with a thought-provoking and supportive personal critic -- the kind of honest companion every creative person needs...By helping to clarify your intentions before you begin the writing, Dramatica has the potential to shave weeks (possibly months!) off of the frequently frustrating, hit-or-miss rewriting process."

—Computer Video

"Calling it brilliant would only diminish its true value to writers of any kind…Dramatica Pro, the CyberCure for writer's block. This is the best software of its kind that you're going to see in this millennium."

—Screenwriters Online, Insider Report

"My Dramatica-shaped story is significantly different than my original story. I feel the new version has much better character arcs, significantly richer motivation and much more emphasis on the main character's central problem."

—Creative Screenwriting Magazine

"If Collaborator is the conscientious grad student T.A., Dramatica Pro is the worldly writing professor with the philosophical bent... Dramatica takes theory to a level Collaborator never dares approach. Dramatica Pro may teach you more about the intricacies of the writing craft than any other product on the market."

—Back Stage West

"Dramatica is innovative. It's revolutionary. It's different from anything else out there dealing with story creation. Dramatica provides a writer with a creative advantage: getting your story right before you sit down to write."

—Mac Digest

"Dramatica Pro is a hands-down slam dunk. If you're looking for a writing program that will flex your mental muscles and stretch you to be your creative best, you need look no further than Dramatica Pro."

—MacHome Magazine

Dramatica Pro is a totally revolutionary creative writing tool and partner that delivers what it promises... This new theory is a proven approach that systematically eliminates the pitfalls of writing to formula. Users of the system will find Dramatica Pro indispensable for developing, or enhancing, the story they really want to tell."

—Eden Maxwell, LAMG Digest

"...Definitely the most complete story analysis tool on the market. If you take the time to learn how it thinks, this program will provide you with a rich set of tools to help you work."

—Elaine Spooner, Writer's Guild Journal

"Dramatica Pro represents a major leap for novelists, playwrights, screenwriters, and fiction writers. Dramatica Pro's user interface unquestionably stands head and shoulders above its other top three competitors, StoryLine Pro, Collaborator, and Plots Unlimited. Simply put, you can create a tightly structured story within Dramatica Pro's unique environment..."

—Randy Sydnor, KLA Radio

"By helping to clarify your intentions before you begin writing, Dramatica has the potential to shave weeks (possibly months!) off of the frequently frustrating, hit-or-miss rewriting process."

—NYScreenwriter

"If Collaborator is the conscientious grad student T.A., Dramatica Pro is the worldly writing professor with the philosophical bent... Dramatica takes theory to a level Collaborator never dares approach. Dramatica Pro may teach you more about the intricacies of the writing craft than any other product on the market."

—Back Stage West

"...blows away the competition in price and power."

—Dean Andrews, Mac World

"...a new software program that helps your creative juices flow. "

—CNN, Showbiz Today

"Dramatica also challenges you to think of specific examples of all your story's thematic structural elements, ensuring that your story is complete and consistent."

—The Journal, Writers Guild of America, West

"After viewing dozens of movies with this newfound critical eye, the comprehensiveness of Dramatica Theory impressed me. I didn't see a movie that fell out of the structure of their Story Mind. It seems as if these people truly have come up with a universal paradigm of story structure."

—Tom Vernon, Active Window
The Boston Computer Society

"When I first heard of software to aid a writer, I laughed. Well, I was wrong. What Dramatica Pro offers is more information about what makes a character than anything I learned to get my Masters. For those of you who are teaching future writers, I highly recommend this tool."

—Poet's Park, POWWOW Newsletter

"Dramatica Pro is very easy to use, extremely well documented, and does not presume to do any of the creative work for you. Dramatica Pro is a surprisingly powerful tool that may just teach you a thing or two about how you write and show you what you might be neglecting. The art is entirely up to you."

—MacSense Magazine

"...The program does an excellent job of focusing your attention on ...The salient points of your idea, and forcing you to examine parts of ...The plot you might otherwise neglect. Whatever your skill at writing, you can benefit from another perspective, and this is what Dramatica at its best can provide."

—Christian Darkin, Windows Plus

"Dramatica is a dazzling product, an entire system for creating a script or novel that has obviously been thought through very carefully."

—Jack Kapica, The Toronto Globe and Mail

"Dramatica Pro can help serious writers find and fix plot holes and weak characters, Story Engine, for example, tracks relationships between character's and plot, reflecting modifications in the store."

—PC Magazine

"What I came to discover that night is that Writer's DreamKit did not write the story for me, what it did do was make me work at telling a story I had no idea how to tell. When I arrived at the "Congratulations! You've answered enough questions to get down to one storyform!" I was elated. I had finally arrived at a story close to what I wanted to tell and with some more refinement I would have a script. In one night I had the story I spent months avoiding telling and it had more depth and organization than I usually end up with on a 'words on paper' outline."

—New York Screenwriter, http://www.nyscreenwriter.com/article63.htm

"An interactive step-by-step creative writing system, Dramatica is designed for the aspiring author as well as the seasoned veteran. Is it your intention to overcome writer's block? Do you hope to pen a short story? Novel? Play? Or is it your desire to script a work for the small or big screen? Then Dramatica may well be the best prescription you fill before ever attempting to fashion material again."

—WRITERS' Journal