Main Character Resolve

Main Character and Meaning

In this first of four articles, we take a look at the Main Character's Resolve and its importance towards forming a story's meaning.

Stories Are Not Always About Transformation

Great meaning can be found by digging one's heels in.

What Character Arc Really Means

The often used, yet sadly misunderstood, concept of character arc finally gets its own video.

Untapped Potential

An examination of the sci-fi psychological thriller Moon and the missed opportunities for story greatness. While the film raises interesting questions, it fails to compose the complete argument necessary to provide us with meaningful answers.

Same Story, Different Title

What do Sean Penn's Into the Wild and M. Night Shyamalan's The Sixth Sense have in common? Much more than you would probably think.

Every Character Should Have an Arc

An analysis of the animated film Surf's Up and a look at what the term "character arc" really means.

I Am Legend: Deeper Analysis

A detailed look at the thought process I went into while analyzing I Am Legend.

The Second Most Important Character in a Film

An interesting look at the character primarily responsible for influencing growth in the Main Character.

Thinking of Your Audience First

Using concepts found in the Dramatica theory of story to write a story with your audience in mind.

Understanding the Soul of Your Main Character

An exploration of the idea that all Character is fate.

Little Children: When Both Main and Impact Characters Change

Stories become meaningless when both principal characters change the way they see the world.

Casino Royale: Rewinding your Main Character

How to determine whether or not your Main Character has changed their essential nature or remained steadfast.

Do Antagonists have Character Arcs?

Clarifying change in characters other than the Main Character.

The Stifling Nature of Dramatica?

Techniques to free up what might seem like a rigid tool for writing stories.

The two Principal Characters are not always connected?

Quick thoughts on the relation between the resolves of the two principal characters.

Character Arc is Not All About Change

Defining the difference between a character who "changes" and one who "grows."

steadfast kids

A quick thought on why Main Characters in most children's stories do not change.

steadfast characters and resolve

Continuing exploration of problem-solving and justification. Here we take a look at the nature of the Steadfast Main Character.

Dramatica Simplified

Dramatica can seem a bit overwhelming when you first start out. I remember flipping through the dictionary at the back of the theory book and thinking, "This is insane!" But after eight years of working with it, I've got the model pretty much memorized (at least down to the Variation level) and have a pretty good understanding of each of the terms.

judgment and resolve

A neat way of clarifying the judgment on your Main Character.

A Different Look at Main Character Dynamics

As with all things Dramatica, the Main Character Dynamics (Resolve, Growth, Approach and Mental Sex) can be seen as relating together in a single quad.

building tension

How tension builds in a story.

balance and act turn

The nature of act turns in relation to the growth of the Main Character.

different steadfast characters

Not all Steadfast characters are created equal.

choosing MC resolve

Determining what kind of a Main Character you are writing.

two doors

Which one does the Main Character open?