narrative-dimensions-analysis

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.