# Newbie developing working novel title: Back in May **URL:** \ **Category:** Writing\ **Created:** [December 16, 2017, 6:22pm UTC](https://discuss.dramatica.com/t/newbie-developing-working-novel-title-back-in-may/1382 "2017-12-16T18:22:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![mlucas](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex010/user_avatar/discuss.dramatica.com/mlucas/32/275_2.png) [@mlucas](https://discuss.dramatica.com/u/mlucas)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2017, 8:57pm UTC](https://discuss.dramatica.com/t/newbie-developing-working-novel-title-back-in-may/1382/21 "2017-12-19T20:57:00Z")
I agree about the Active Release Therapy. I’ve had that before (just for tight muscles from running) and it’s super-painful, but effective. I’m on board with the Domains. Angela’s definitely a Be-er and Activity certainly seems to fit Bruno better, so it’s safe to make that choice for now (OS Fixed Attitude, MC Psychology). RS Situation, the new-ager and the doctor-type being forced together by an external agency, seems to fit pretty well too. (Just remember nothing’s ever written in stone when storyforming.) Although I can sort of see problematic Help and possibly problematic Support or lack of Support, I think it’s putting the cart before the horse to go down to that level now. Definitely focus on getting the Concerns right first. I’m still not convinced about the OS Concern and Goal of Subconscious. Subconscious feelings/desires would have to cause _everyone_ conflict, on top of being a reasonable way to articulate the Goal. ---
**Author:** ![whitepaws](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex010/user_avatar/discuss.dramatica.com/whitepaws/32/1038_2.png) [@whitepaws](https://discuss.dramatica.com/u/whitepaws)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2017, 12:34am UTC](https://discuss.dramatica.com/t/newbie-developing-working-novel-title-back-in-may/1382/22 "2017-12-25T00:34:52Z")
Hi everyone, Thought I’d have a moment to post this past week, but alas between the jetlag and the activities I see it’s an unrealistic expectation. I’ll be back on 4 Jan and resume crafting the story at that point. In the meantime, I’d like to wish everyone here a Merry Christmas, Hannuka or happy holidays - which ever you celebrate - and a very Happy New Year!!! ---
**Author:** ![whitepaws](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex010/user_avatar/discuss.dramatica.com/whitepaws/32/1038_2.png) [@whitepaws](https://discuss.dramatica.com/u/whitepaws)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2018, 11:44am UTC](https://discuss.dramatica.com/t/newbie-developing-working-novel-title-back-in-may/1382/23 "2018-01-05T11:44:00Z")
I’m back! Holiday was fantastic and wish it was just a tad longer. I’ll update the latest story specs in the next post. ---
**Author:** ![whitepaws](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex010/user_avatar/discuss.dramatica.com/whitepaws/32/1038_2.png) [@whitepaws](https://discuss.dramatica.com/u/whitepaws)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2018, 11:54am UTC](https://discuss.dramatica.com/t/newbie-developing-working-novel-title-back-in-may/1382/24 "2018-01-05T11:54:04Z")
Here they are: which is pretty much a mirror of @MiggsEye up above, using the terminology from Story Expert: CHARACTER DYNAMICS: MC RESOLVE: Change MC GROWTH: Stop MC APPROACH: Be-er MC PROBLEM-SOLVING STYLE: Holistic IC RESOLVE: Steadfast PLOT DYNAMICS: DRIVER: Action LIMIT: Optionlock OUTCOME: Success JUDGMENT: Good OVERALL STORY (The Overall Story) DOMAIN: Fixed Attitude CONCERN: Innermost Desires ISSUE: Dream vs. Hope PROBLEM: Faith SOLUTION: Disbelief SYMPTOM: Support RESPONSE: Oppose CATALYST: Hope INHIBITOR: Choice BENCHMARK: Impulsive Responses SIGNPOST 1: Memories SIGNPOST 2: Innermost SIGNPOST 3: Impulsive Responses SIGNPOST 4: Contemplation MAIN CHARACTER (MAIN CHARACTER (Protagonist)) DOMAIN: Manipulation CONCERN: Changing One’s Nature ISSUE: Commitment vs. Responsibility PROBLEM: Faith SOLUTION: Disbelief SYMPTOM: Pursuit RESPONSE: Avoidance UNIQUE ABILITY: Commitment CRITICAL FLAW: Morality BENCHMARK: Playing a Role SIGNPOST 1: Developing a Plan SIGNPOST 2: Playing a Role SIGNPOST 3: Changing One’s Nature SIGNPOST 4: Conceiving an Idea INFLUENCE CHARACTER (IMPACT CHARACTER (Emotion)) DOMAIN: Activity CONCERN: Obtaining ISSUE: Self Interest vs. Morality PROBLEM: Help SOLUTION: Hinder SYMPTOM: Support RESPONSE: Oppose UNIQUE ABILITY: Self Interest CRITICAL FLAW: Responsibility BENCHMARK: Doing SIGNPOST 1: Understanding SIGNPOST 2: Doing SIGNPOST 3: Obtaining SIGNPOST 4: Gathering Information RELATIONSHIP (The Relationship Story) DOMAIN: Situation CONCERN: The Future ISSUE: Choice vs. Delay PROBLEM: Pursuit SOLUTION: Avoidance SYMPTOM: Support RESPONSE: Oppose CATALYST: Delay INHIBITOR: Dream BENCHMARK: How Things are Changing SIGNPOST 1: The Present SIGNPOST 2: The Past SIGNPOST 3: How Things are Changing SIGNPOST 4: The Future ADDITIONAL STORY POINTS GOAL: Innermost Desires CONSEQUENCE: The Future COST: Obtaining DIVIDEND: Changing One’s Nature REQUIREMENT: Impulsive Responses PREREQUISITE: How Things are Changing PRECONDITION: Doing FOREWARNINGS: Playing a Role ---
**Author:** ![whitepaws](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex010/user_avatar/discuss.dramatica.com/whitepaws/32/1038_2.png) [@whitepaws](https://discuss.dramatica.com/u/whitepaws)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2018, 2:41pm UTC](https://discuss.dramatica.com/t/newbie-developing-working-novel-title-back-in-may/1382/25 "2018-01-05T14:41:21Z")
Looking at the different Story Points, it looks like a sweet story. 1/ The interplay of Goal and Consequence is the main dramatic tension. Here it is Innermost Desires and The Future. Angela’s basic drive (Goal) is to maintain her inner peace but her fear of never finding the now in The Future (Consequence) is what has her running around looking for peace outside of herself. The Future without peace is her greatest fear. 2/ Requirement: Impulsive Responses - which is what Angela must accomplish in order to achieve the goal. Here we have Angela needing to let go of her search for the Now in all the wrong places and become spontaneous to her whims or just stop searching so hard and go with her own impulsivity - which for Angela is to float in and out of the world as she feels the need to. 3/ Forewarnings: Playing a role Angela takes on a number of roles in her search for attaining inner peace - joins in a group meditation (she only ever meditated alone), almost becomes a member of a cult, joins a seance, goes out drinking and gets terribly drunk, sleeps with a stranger, undergoes OTT healing rituals with the Chiropractor. 4/ Cost: Obtaining She gets involved with the chiropractor more than she intended, and ends up having - obtaining - a crush on him which develops into something strong for her. She tries to fight it but she also needs to just give into it (fits nicely with Requirement). It’s a “cost” to Angela because she will no longer be single and as free-floating as she’s used to. 5/ Dividend: Changing One’s Nature She falls in love with someone for the first time in her life 6/ Prerequisites: **How things are changing** so that the Requirement can happen. Well, I think it’s pretty obvious that Angela’s life is changing so I’m not sure how this storypoint can be separated out. Not sure how it sets up the Requirement of Impulsive Responses - her whimsical nature. I’ll have a think…revisit later. 7/ Preconditions - Doing The characters will lay out plans and ideas and take Angela to different places that they think will help her regain her Now. Not sure how this will work out in the story because the characters will all be rather active in getting Angela fixed. Maybe there can be an overriding Doing that interferes with the story goal - maybe the Bookstore she works at is threatened with closure, so all the characters are insecure about their livelihoods. IDK, have to think about it. [Previous page](https://discuss.dramatica.com/t/newbie-developing-working-novel-title-back-in-may/1382.md?page=1)