Writer's Dreamkit 4 (PC/Mac)

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2008-02-28 rating:
A Workbench For Writers
Let's debunk a myth that seems to have circulated about Dramatica - this isn't a program that writes your story for you, but one that helps you organise your thoughts about the story you want to tell.

The problem many writers have when beginning a project is that they approach the story from an emotional perspective - focusing on the dialogue, characters and events they feel will reach their audience. We're all guilty of it, even if we don't admit to it.

Dramatica takes a dispassionate view of story, enabling the writer to create and build a firm structure onto which the flesh of storytelling can be added. Using the Story Guide facility, the writer is asked questions of their story which must be answered before progressing to the next section. This is particularly handy for those writers who forget (or even prefer to avoid) answering the questions that prove essential to good storytelling.

A major criticism of the software and Dramatica paradigm is that it comes with a steep learning curve and it is a criticism that has been acknowledged by its creators. Many of the terms used will be unfamiliar to students of other storytelling paradigms and if given a cursory glance, be off-putting. The best advice I can offer is to stay with it; study brings with it a new reward and understanding of story which will feel different to that usually experienced by writers, but one that works with precision nonetheless.

The program comes with a comprehensive package of helpful goodies such as wallcharts, online and printable theory books and even a rather engaging comic book that explores this 'new theory of story' in an entertaining manner.

The Writer's Dreamkit is a pared down version of the more heavyweight Dramatica Pro, but certainly has all the essential elements present within DP. Writer's Dreamkit represents excellent value for money and with perseverance acts as a useful workbench for the writer looking for a reliable environment in which to shape their story.


review by: date: 2007-07-01 rating:
What a waste of money!
What can I say? This program is the worst I've ever tried. It starts off with character development which amounts to a load of checklists and you end up with a printout of what you've selected - not at all inspiring. The plot development consists of a list of plotlines from published films so you have to already know what you are looking at in each case to know whether to select that one or not. The whole thing is incohesive and awkward. I certainly would not have spent £36 on this had I known what it was like. I'd recommend you spend your money on several books instead or some software that's more stimulating than this - it is dull!

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