Narrova Livestream: Demo of StoryGuiding - "Influence State"

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:movie_camera: Livestream: Demo of Unspool – A New StoryWeaver-Inspired Feature in Narrova
:date: Wednesday Aug 6 @ 12pm PT on the Subtxt / Dramatica YouTube Channel
:backhand_index_pointing_right: Watch the Livestream

(Note: this feature was originally called Unspool, and before that it was StoryWeaver, so now its simply StoryGuide - so wherever you see the word “Unspool” - just think Story Guide instead!)

Hey everyone,

We’re going live Wednesday at 12pm Pacific with a special livestream demo of Unspool, a brand-new feature inside Narrova that reimagines the StoryWeaver process for the modern era.

If you’ve ever used Melanie’s original StoryWeaver software—or even just appreciated the idea of building a story one question at a time—you’ll love what we’ve built. Unspool is designed to help writers organically draw out the shape of their story by pulling on threads of tension, meaning, and intent.

This isn’t about rigid outlines or overwhelming forms—it’s a slow reveal. A feeling-out of what your story wants to become.

What we’ll cover:

  • How Unspool works as a multi-step, emergent process
  • How it connects to Dramatica theory without requiring a full storyform upfront
  • How it builds naturally toward structure while keeping things creative and fluid
  • And how you can use it today in Narrova to start something new—or get unstuck with a current story

If you’ve been curious about how we’re evolving story development tools beyond just generative AI, this’ll be a fun one to watch.

Hope to see you there!

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Well, there were audio issues, but not audio issues - i’ll get it worked out for everyone. At any rate - here is the plot synopsis for Influence State, the story we ended up coming up with:

Plot Synopsis

In a near-future dystopia where 90% of the population labors in repressive, state-run camps and only a privileged 10% live in apparent comfort, a restless, justice-seeking man believes he can gain agency by becoming a social media influencer. Convinced that going viral—even inside the camps—will empower him and expose the regime’s abuses, he pushes the boundaries, gaining notoriety both within the system and outside its walls.

When his daughter’s marriage to the ruthless camp warden unexpectedly grants him exposure to the lifestyle and intrigue of the elite 10%, he glimpses a reality that is both alluring and corrupt. Enticed by the comforts and status, he finds himself drawn into the machinations of propaganda, learning the true power of manipulation—first intending to subvert the regime, but soon mastering and exploiting its systems for his own ascent.

Obstacles emerge as rival influencers, the regime’s propaganda chief, rebel purists, and even A.I. moderators stand in his way, yet his ingenuity twists each into an unwitting collaborator. His actions, far from inspiring resistance, are subtly sanctioned by the state to preserve the illusion of control for the 10%—and inadvertently help cement the status quo. Yet, through his very manipulations, he ends up catalyzing the seeds of the next wave of resistance waiting to erupt.

The ultimate irony arrives as he’s initiated into the truth behind the ruling class: there is no single dictator or face of power, but rather a rotating, distributed consciousness, with new “dictators” emerging from among the 10% and bearing the crushing responsibility of state control. When he finally joins their ranks—believing he’s achieved total victory and escape—he discovers this new reality is its own gilded work camp: isolated, surveilled, and just as dehumanizing as the life he fled. In the closing moments, as the machinery of power grinds on, he glimpses the next ambitious upstart rising from below, doomed to repeat the cycle—leaving readers with an open-ended question about freedom, complicity, and the true cost of control.

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I wasn’t able to attend the live demonstration of Unspool (the timing wasn’t ideal for my time zone), but I’ve had the chance to watch the replay and, more importantly, to actually use the feature while working on my novel. I wanted to share some feedback highlighting several really positive aspects I’ve experienced with it.

Multilingual Performance - A Game Changer

One of the most impressive improvements I’ve noticed is how much better the Narrova handles non-English languages. Previously, interacting in Spanish (my native language) resulted in noticeably lower quality responses compared to English interactions. However, working in English required a level of analytical thinking that pulled me out of the creative and exploratory mindset essential for storytelling.

Narrova handles this delicate balance much more effectively. It allows for a natural creative flow in Spanish while maintaining the quality I’d expect, which has been instrumental in helping me discover new potential in my story that I might have missed otherwise.

Enhanced Creative Questioning and Detail Work

While Narrova model delivers exceptional results—a remarkable qualitative leap from previous versions of Muse—what really sets Unspool apart is how it amplifies creative questioning. The tool enables a level of detailed exploration that previously, when the storyform was the first step, felt like fighting against the technology rather than collaborating with it. Where earlier versions seemed to resist deep creative inquiry, Unspool actively supports and enhances the questioning process that’s so crucial for storytelling development.

And more important, Unspool brings play to the table. It’s not about being analitical and precise but about being playful. I love that!

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Wow, Victoria - thanks so much for the feedback - and i’m really glad you’re enjoying it.

I hadn’t even considered the “foreign” language aspects of it, but that is also really really great to hear. There’s only so much time in the day to be able to support everyone, so it warms our hearts to know that we can extend our work across the globe. :star_struck:

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I imagined you were absorbed testing everything in your own language. It’s the usual approach. That’s why foreigners are good beta testers. :winking_face_with_tongue:

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Week 2 - Characters

Here is our cast of characters so far:

Step 8: Spinning Character Yarns (Your Key Twists & Plot Potential)

Main & Major Supporting Cast

  • Protagonist (Influencer, Female, 27):

    • Learns from the comedian that real change demands concrete action, not just manipulation.
    • Experiences betrayals and warnings but ultimately ascends to the 10%, realizing their plight mirrors that of the 90%.

  • The Daughter:

    • Breaks off her engagement to the warden’s son at the last second.
    • Falls in love with the smuggler, which creates a rift and a love triangle packed with divided loyalties.

  • The Warden (Black Market Gene-Hacker):

    • Secretly breaks notorious inmates out to join his scheme.
    • Offers the protagonist a chance at genetically advanced children as part of a troubling proposal.

  • The State-Approved Comedian (Rival Influencer):

    • Their oversharing and lack of self-preservation become a caution for the MC.
    • Delivers a single, world-changing joke—sparking a meme that undermines the regime.

  • Propaganda Chief (Psychopathic Teen):

    • Not further specified at this stage, but could escalate or intensify viral, destructive campaigns.

  • Purist Rebel(s) / Camp Historian:

    • The historian documents the camp, but fabricates much of its history.
    • Secretly a rebel, tries (and fails) to alert the MC to the repetitive misery of both the 90% and 10%.

Other Unique Roles

  • Turncoat AI (Actually a Fast Human):

    • Helps the MC push out a manifesto at overwhelming speed, breaking the state’s message monopoly.
    • Shuts down at a key moment for a “dinner break,” introducing chaos at the worst time.

  • Key Faces of the 10%/Distributed Dictator:

    • Appear benevolent and offer help, making life “not so bad,” masking the reality that all are trapped in the same system.

  • Nurse/Medical Overseer:

    • Really the secret police, using meds and “infirmary” camps as tools for manipulation and social “rehab” via viral platforms.

  • The Smuggler (Female, 45):

    • Former influencer now notorious, nearly blows the MC’s cover by chasing fame.
    • Their romance with the daughter creates new alliances and emotional stakes.

  • Tech Support Operator:

    • Teaches the MC (by example) the power of disconnecting—delivers crucial technical fix at a silent, pivotal moment.

  • Wellness Guru (Female, 53):

    • Cracks under the strain of denial, is disappeared after a public meltdown, cover story being a “transcendence.”

  • Camp Historian (Also a Purist Rebel):

    • Both rebel documentarian and unreliable narrator, fabricating history and providing both truth and distraction.

Next up: We’ll focus on relationships, matching these actions/traits to emotional arcs, conflicts, and more tangled personal stakes!