Throughline domains, concerns, issues and problems

by Chloe
(England)

Hi,

I'm a bit stuck with the throughlines and I was just wondering if maybe you had any suggestions for my story in regards to the domains, concerns, issues etc.?

My story is ...

The main character (Alyssia) takes on an offer to train as a dancer while still doing her exams. It is like a trial period in which she takes part in the preparations and activities taken by a backing dancer before going on tour and at the end of the period she is assessed and it is decided whether the company will offer her a placement. The tour that she is taking part in the preparations for is for a boy band and she develops a close relationship with one of the members (the impact character - Harry). Alyssia likes to create good impressions on people and has a fear somewhat of others thinking badly of her. As a result, she tries to do everything at once (her exams and being a backing dancer), she tries to please everyone, she doesn't tell her friends of what she is doing, she rejects Harry to a relationship (because of what fans might think), she tries to keep a low profile with the press and fans etc., and she is fairly shy - meaning her performance skills are weak and she doesn't put herself forward for things. However, she has high aspirations and is confident in herself inside, which is why she took the opportunity in the first place.

On the other hand, Harry doesn't think of himself highly inside but seems confident on the outside. He doesn't let haters affect him and he persuades Alyssia to do what she truly wants (eg having a relationship with him) and not worry about others. He was in a similar situation himself in which he had to choose between exams or a singing career - he chose a singing career.

There is a timelock on the story in which Alyssia has to be ready for her exams and the final assessment for her dancing. At the end Alyssia stops worrying about what people think of her and her actions so much - she does what she wants wants and doesn't hold back as much succeeding in passing her exams and getting a place in the company.

This is loosely what I have so far, sorry if it is a bit confusing.

Thank you for you time and help!

Answer: I assume you are using the Dramatica software?

Very quickly, it sounds as though your story goal (and therefore Overall Concern) is obtaining - her quest to win a placement.

That would make the MC throughline either Situation or Fixed Attitude. Situation makes sense to me. You could give her a Concern of The Future (she's trying to bring about a better Future for herself). That would make the Impact Character's throughline Fixed Attitude and his concern Innermost Desires (hence, he argues for putting her own desires ahead of what others think).

Their relationship would therefore be Manipulation, and the Concern would be Changing One's Nature - i.e. they would argue over whether one should give up a part of themselves (change) in order to obtain their desired goal. Should she give up her concern with what others think? Should he give up his aloofness?

That still leaves issues. But I think if you like these choices and you enter them into the software (along with a Timelock as the limit), you will find your list of options is sufficiently narrowed.

Hope that helps.

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