1. Benchmark
This is where characters look to see how well things are going. Are they getting closer to meeting their Concerns or are they falling away? Each of the 4 throughlines has its own Benchmark.
2. Driver
In a story, the major plot points are either driven by decisions or actions. While a story may naturally ebb and flow between both, when all is said and done, one of these will be seen as the primary driving plot force in a story. This is because meaningful stories are really just an argument and effective arguments have a pattern they must adhere to.
3. IC
Short for Impact Character - The Impact Character forces the Main Character to face their personal problems. This character is the second most important character in a story, yet unfortunately, is often left out. This throughline represents the “You” perspective on the story’s central problem. This character rarely is the Antagonist - that function exists solely in the Objective Story.
4. Impact Character
The Impact Character forces the Main Character to face their personal problems. This character is the second most important character in a story, yet unfortunately, is often left out. This throughline represents the “You” perspective on the story’s central problem. This character rarely is the Antagonist - that function exists solely in the Objective Story.
5. MC
Short for Main Character - the character through which the audience experiences the story.
6. Objective Story
This is the throughline that most people refer to when they talk about “a story.” It represents an “objective” view of the story’s central problem. When thinking of this throughline, it’s best to think of the characters in terms of their roles - the banker, the fighter pilot, the horse trainer, and so on. In doing this, you are looking at the character’s functions in a story instead of what is really going on inside of them.
7. OS
Short for Objective Story - This is the throughline that most people refer to when they talk about “a story.” It represents an “objective” view of the story’s central problem. When thinking of this throughline, it’s best to think of the characters in terms of their roles - the banker, the fighter pilot, the horse trainer, and so on. In doing this, you are looking at the character’s functions in a story instead of what is really going on inside of them.
8. Physics
The easy way to think of “Physics” is Activities. In fact, this is the Easy Term located in the latest version of the Dramatica software. It’s a fairly decent simplification of the term. If the problems arise because of an external process, then you’ll find it here in the upper right hand corner of the dramatic chart.
9. Preconscious
There are four parts of the mind - Memory, Subconscious, Conscious, and Preconscious. The first three most writers (and most people!) understand. The last one is just a fancy way of saying “Impulsive Responses.” There’s a lot more to it than that, but if you’re having trouble, think of it as instinctual responses built into the brain that act before the other three.
10. Psychology
The easiest way to think of Psychology is “Manipulations.” In fact, this is the Easy Term located in the latest version of the Dramatica software. Unfortunately for my tastes, this doesn’t describe half the things that are going on in this corner of the dramatic chart. Whenever there is a problem with an internal thought PROCESS, you’ll find it in this section. As opposed to an internal fixed attitude (where the Mind domain resides), Psychology deals with the internal ways of thinking that could cause problems.
