Something I used to teach a long time ago, and still seems to be an issue even with AI (at least for the time being): make sure you use the Storyform as an opportunity to develop new ideas rather than repeating the same thing over and over again in a different context.
For instance, I was developing a fun story about animals in a future space program called The Right Stuff(ing). While narrowing down the Storyform, I chose perfectionism as the rabbit MC’s personal problem (NC Domain in Mind).
When it came to start developing out the Throughline once I had the Storyform, I did two things:
- set Thinking to Deliberate
- And reminded Narrova’s Story Encoding Agent with this:
Great. Ok. Develop the entire mc throughline based on the Storyform and this concept. Be sure to use each aspect of their throughline as an opportunity to expand on that perfectionism (instead of simply going over it again and again)
Just like with humans, if you don’t clarify this there is the tendency to just take the idea of perfectionism and see it in terms of a Domain of Mind, and then a Concern of Subconscious, an Issue of Hope, etc. This approach flattens the end result and collapses the scope of the narrative.
But when you specifically try and find more from that original idea, you’ll find a more richer narrative awaits.
For example, here is what Narrova suggested for that MC Issue of Hope:
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Issue: Hope — Idealized Flawless Future Self
Under Hope, perfectionism becomes about how they invest in an imagined future where they finallydeserve to exist.
Use Hope to expand, not repeat, perfectionism:
- The rabbit hoards inspirational posters, mission patches, and vision boards that all depict a flawless, heroic version of themselves—suit pristine, posture rigid, no trace of the anxious self.
- They tolerate miserable present stress because they’re “chasing the day when all this anxiety will be worth it—once I’m perfect.”
- They keep saying variations of: “When I finally nail this eval / mission, then I’ll be allowed to relax/be myself.” Hope keeps postponing self-acceptance.
You can contrast this with the IC, who may hope in something messier (e.g., “We’ll get there by screwing up fast and learning”).
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That idea of a future where they deserve to exist is really compelling and opens up the narrative to something beyond just perfectionism.
Whether you’re using Narrova or not, this technique maximizes application of Dramatica theory.
Hope it helps.