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Dramatica Tip of the Month
February, 2001

Storyweaving -- Putting The Story Together

QUESTION:
I kmow the beginning, middle and also the ending of the screenplay I'm working on. I'm just not quite sure how to begin to tie them all together, or rather to "fill in" the gaps. I know exactly what it is I want visually [I can see it almost completely], I just don't reallly know how to map out those visuals in writing completely. What do you think my problem is...and how do I solve it?

ANSWER:
Here are several suggestions you can try. Perhaps one of them will be the right fit for your writing style:

1. Assuming you have Dramatica Pro, print out the Story Points report or the All Storytelling report. Also, print out your story treatment. Go through the scenes you have created and check off the story points you have already used. By the time you reach the last scene, the story points left unchecked will give you an idea of the remaining material you can use to fill in any gaps in the story.
2. Use the Signposts and Journeys as a way to outline the progression of events. If nothing else, outline one scene for each of Signpost and Journey and place them in somewhat of a chronological order. By the end of it you should have an idea of what is going on in your story and it may inspire you to come up with a less linear way of storyweaving the material.
3. Open the screenplay template file that comes with Dramatica Pro 4.0 and print out the story treatment report. This template suggests exactly one way to construct your screenplay and is a fine place to use as a jumping off point for your own work.
4. Try weaving your story "backwards." In other words, start at the end and slowly move towards the beginning. Or pick some other non-tradtional, non-linear place to start the story. This unusual storyweaving approach might give you some insights in how to fill out your story.
5. Try telling the story from a narrator's point of view, such as a diety's commentary on the story, or a Greek chorus, or some completely sidelined, uninvolved character. Don't make them the Main Character, just use them as a device to mix things up and move your audience's attention around. Using a non-involved, narrator's (author's) voice might give you just enough objectivity about your own screenplay that you'll be better equiped to recognize what might be missing.