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:

Meta-Principles (Axioms)
Structural Hierarchy
Core Algorithms/Protocols
Diagnostic Questions/Tests
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

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