narratological-algorithms

Narratological Algorithm Distillation

Transform narrative principles from artists, theorists, and practitioners into formal, implementable algorithmic frameworks.

Workflow

1. Source Classification

Identify source type to calibrate extraction approach:

Type	Characteristics	Extraction Focus
Theorist	Prescriptive texts (McKee, Aristotle)	Direct principle extraction
Practitioner	Interviews, commentary, production docs	Reverse-engineering from stated methods
Classical	Ancient/foundational texts (Poetics, Natyasastra)	Translation of archaic terminology
Analyst	Secondary analysis of creator's work	Validation against primary sources

2. Primary Source Prioritization

Always prioritize primary sources over secondary analysis:

• Direct quotes from the creator
• Production documents, interviews, lectures
• The creator's own articulated methodology
• Documented working processes

When using secondary sources, validate principles against primary evidence. Flag where principles are inferred vs. directly stated.

3. Principle Extraction Protocol

For each identified principle:

EXTRACT:
  1. Locate source statement (direct quote when available)
  2. Identify underlying mechanism (why it works)
  3. Formulate as rule or constraint
  4. Determine scope (universal vs. context-specific)
  5. Map to existing narrative theory where applicable

4. Document Structure

Generate output following the canonical structure. See references/output-template.md for the full template.

Required sections:

1. Meta-Principles (Axioms)
2. Structural Hierarchy
3. Core Algorithms/Protocols
4. Diagnostic Questions/Tests
5. Quick Reference Card

Optional sections (as warranted):

• Episode/Scene Templates
• Theoretical Correspondence Tables
• Source Cross-Reference Appendix

5. Formalization Patterns

Convert principles to implementable forms:

Source Form	Target Form
Conceptual statement	Constraint rule
Process description	Pseudocode function
Best practice	Validity test
Comparison	Decision table
Taxonomy	Classification tree

See references/formalization-patterns.md for detailed examples.

6. Axiom Identification

Identify 3-7 meta-principles that underpin the creator's entire approach:

AXIOM_CRITERIA:
  - Foundational (other principles derive from it)
  - Non-negotiable in the creator's worldview
  - Distinguishes this approach from alternatives
  - Stated explicitly or demonstrated consistently

Format axioms with unique identifiers: [CREATOR_INITIALS]-A[N]

7. Validation Checks

Before finalizing, verify:

• All principles traceable to source material
• Pseudocode is syntactically coherent
• Decision tables have complete coverage
• Quick reference captures essential operations
• Diagnostic questions are answerable yes/no
• Theoretical correspondences are accurate

8. Cross-Medium Adaptation Notes

When source material is medium-specific, include adaptation guidance for:

• Film → Television (serialization, episode structure)
• Literature → Interactive (agency, branching)
• Single creator → Collaborative (writers' room dynamics)
• Western → Non-Western theoretical traditions

Reference Files

• references/output-template.md — Full document structure template
• references/formalization-patterns.md — Examples of converting prose to algorithms
• references/theoretical-correspondences.md — Mapping table across narrative traditions