narrative-dimensions-analysis

majiayu000's avatarfrom majiayu000

Physics-inspired story analysis system that treats narrative as trajectories through dimensional space. Tracks dimensions like intimacy, trust, power, and stakes to calculate tension, validate pacing, and diagnose story problems. Genre-aware with formulas for romance, thriller, mystery, and fantasy. Use when analyzing story structure, engineering tension, validating character arcs, diagnosing pacing issues, or generating dimensional targets for scenes.

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[Video and Script Planning]

When & Why to Use This Skill

This Claude skill provides a physics-inspired narrative analysis system that treats storytelling as a trajectory through multidimensional phase space. By quantifying narrative variables such as intimacy, power dynamics, and stakes, it allows writers and editors to mathematically calculate tension, diagnose pacing issues, and validate character arcs with genre-aware precision.

Use Cases

  • Diagnosing 'flat' scenes by calculating dimensional velocity to identify lack of narrative movement or character progression.
  • Engineering high-tension sequences by optimizing the configuration of stakes, trust, and information asymmetry based on genre-specific formulas.
  • Validating character arcs to ensure emotional development is 'earned' through continuous dimensional trajectories rather than abrupt, unearned jumps.
  • Mapping full-book trajectories for genres like Romance or Thriller to ensure the 'Black Moment' and ending coordinates meet structural requirements.
  • Generating dimensional targets for specific scenes to provide clear creative direction for drafting and rewriting.
namenarrative-dimensions-analysis
descriptionPhysics-inspired story analysis system that treats narrative as trajectories through dimensional space. Tracks dimensions like intimacy, trust, power, and stakes to calculate tension, validate pacing, and diagnose story problems. Genre-aware with formulas for romance, thriller, mystery, and fantasy. Use when analyzing story structure, engineering tension, validating character arcs, diagnosing pacing issues, or generating dimensional targets for scenes.

A physics-inspired approach to story analysis that treats narrative as movement through multidimensional phase space.

Quick Start

For immediate analysis, specify:

  1. Content level: concept, outline, chapter, book, or series
  2. Genre: romance, dark-romance, thriller, mystery, sci-fi, fantasy, or hybrid
  3. What to analyze: structure, pacing, tension, character arcs, or full diagnostic

Core Concept

Stories exist as trajectories through N-dimensional space where each dimension represents an independent narrative variable. Tension and other dramatic qualities emerge from the configuration of these dimensions.

State Vector: s(t) = [intimacy, power_diff, info_asym, alignment, proximity, vulnerability, desire, stakes, trust]

Basis Dimensions (Independent Variables)

Primary Dimensions (0-10 scale unless noted)

  1. INTIMACY - Emotional closeness between characters
  2. POWER_DIFFERENTIAL - Agency imbalance (-5 to +5, where 0 = balanced)
  3. INFORMATION_ASYMMETRY - Knowledge gaps between characters
  4. GOAL_ALIGNMENT - How much characters want the same thing
  5. PHYSICAL_PROXIMITY - Literal spatial distance
  6. VULNERABILITY - Emotional walls up/down state
  7. DESIRE - Attraction/pull between characters
  8. STAKES - Magnitude of consequences
  9. TRUST - Belief in other's reliability

Secondary Dimensions (genre-specific)

  • DANGER - Physical threat level (thriller/suspense)
  • MYSTERY - Unknown elements to reader (mystery/thriller)
  • WORLD_COMPLEXITY - Setting intricacy (fantasy/sci-fi)
  • SOCIAL_PRESSURE - External judgment (contemporary romance)
  • MORAL_AMBIGUITY - Ethical grayness (dark romance)

Emergent Properties (Calculated)

Tension Formula

Base tension emerges from dimensional configuration:

TENSION = w₁(stakes) + w₂(info_asymmetry) + w₃(goal_misalignment) + 
          w₄(vulnerability - trust) + w₅(desire - proximity) + w₆(|power_diff|)

Genre-specific weights in references/genre-weights.json

Other Emergent Properties

  • CONFLICT = f(power_diff, goal_misalignment, desire with proximity deficit)
  • CHEMISTRY = f(desire, proximity, vulnerability, productive info_asymmetry)
  • PACING = ||ds/dt|| (velocity through phase space)
  • DRAMATIC_IRONY = reader_info - character_info

Analysis Procedures

Structure Analysis

  1. Map current dimensional configuration
  2. Check genre constraint satisfaction
  3. Identify trajectory patterns
  4. Validate ending coordinates match genre requirements

Pacing Diagnostic

Calculate velocity vector: v(t) = ds/dt

  • Stuck: ||v|| ≈ 0 (no dimensional movement)
  • Rushed: ||v|| > threshold (teleportation between states)
  • Optimal: 2-3 dimensions shifting per unit

Tension Engineering

To increase tension:

  • Maximize (stakes - trust)
  • Maximize (desire - proximity)
  • Increase information asymmetry with high vulnerability
  • Force proximity with misaligned goals

Arc Validation

Check if dimensional changes are "earned":

  • Each jump > 2 points needs catalyst event
  • Trajectory must be continuous (no teleportation)
  • Character growth shows across multiple dimensions

The "Black Moment" Formula

Peak crisis configuration:

  • Stakes → MAX
  • Trust → MIN
  • Goal Alignment → SHATTERED
  • Desire → HIGH (maintains investment)

Genre-Specific Configurations

See references/genre-configs.md for detailed patterns

Quick Genre Templates

Romance: Must end at intimacy ≥ 8, trust ≥ 7 Dark Romance: Maintain power_diff fluctuation, high stakes throughout Thriller: Danger + stakes high, trust variable Mystery: Information asymmetry drives plot until revelation Enemies-to-Lovers: Goal alignment slowest mover

Diagnostic Outputs

Scene-Level Analysis

  • Current dimensional state
  • Dimensional velocity (what's changing)
  • Tension calculation
  • Suggested adjustments

Chapter-Level Analysis

  • Dimensional trajectory map
  • Pacing assessment
  • Arc progression check
  • Genre compliance status

Book-Level Analysis

  • Full phase space trajectory
  • Character arc paths
  • Pacing heat map
  • Black moment validation
  • Ending coordinate check

Scripts

  • scripts/calculate_tension.py - Compute tension from dimensional state
  • scripts/validate_trajectory.py - Check if arc is properly earned
  • scripts/generate_report.py - Create full dimensional analysis report

References

  • references/genre-weights.json - Tension formula weights by genre
  • references/genre-configs.md - Detailed genre conventions and constraints
  • references/catalyst-events.md - Events that justify dimensional jumps
  • references/diagnostic-patterns.md - Common problems and solutions

Usage Examples

Diagnosing a Flat Scene

# Current state shows no movement
state = {"intimacy": 5, "trust": 5, "stakes": 5, ...}
# All dimensions static = death
# Solution: Move 2-3 dimensions

Planning Dark Romance Arc

Start: power_diff=+5, trust=0, stakes=10, desire=3
Mid: power_diff oscillates, trust climbs slowly, stakes high
End: power_diff=0, trust=8, stakes=personal, desire=10

Engineering High Tension Chapter

Target configuration:
- Stakes: 9
- Trust: 2  
- Information Asymmetry: 8
- Vulnerability: 7
- Physical Proximity: 8 (forced closeness)

Key Principles

  1. Stories are trajectories - Not events but dimensional movement
  2. Tension emerges - From configuration, not arbitrary assignment
  3. Pacing is velocity - How fast you move through phase space
  4. Genres constrain paths - Not destinations but allowable trajectories
  5. Earned moments - Require proper path integration, not jumps

Remember: The same kiss hits differently at intimacy=2 vs intimacy=8. Context is configuration.