The Dramatica Theory of Story (book)

"The Dramatica Theory of Story" by Melanie Anne Philips and Chris Huntley presents a conceptual framework for understanding how stories work. It suggests that stories are structured around four essential throughlines—objective, subjective, thematic, and overall—that collectively explore a problem, its impact on characters, its underlying theme, and the story’s overall message. The theory offers tools to analyze and craft stories by identifying these components and their interactions, ensuring a balanced and coherent narrative. It aims to enhance storytelling clarity, depth, and emotional engagement through a systematic approach to story structure and character development.