NCP

Authorial intent,
structured for exchange.

Narrative Context Protocol (NCP) is an open Dramatica storyform schema for transporting authorial intent across writing tools, production systems, creative archives, and multi-agent AI workflows.

Read the specification Validate an NCP file 
{
  "schema_version": "1.3.0",
  "story": {
    "id": "story_8f3e2a7c",
    "title": "The Lantern in the Fog",
    "logline": "A keeper refuses the miracle everyone wants.",
    "ideation": {
      "character": [],
      "theme": [],
      "plot": [],
      "genre": []
    },
    "narratives": [
      {
        "id": "narrative_001",
        "title": "Central Narrative",
        "status": "draft",
        "subtext": {
          "perspectives": [],
          "players": [],
          "storypoints": [],
          "storybeats": [],
          "dynamics": []
        },
        "storytelling": {
          "overviews": [],
          "moments": []
        }
      }
    ]
  }
}

A reference format for the meaning behind a story.

NCP is not a writing app or a replacement for a storyteller. It is a transport format: a shared way to describe the storyform, creative decisions, structural meaning, and audience-facing expression that need to survive as a project moves between tools and collaborators.

The protocol grew from Dramatica® storyform exchange needs and now gives creative and technical teams a durable vocabulary for authorship, thematic intent, narrative structure, and AI-assisted adaptation.

Three layers, one exchange shape.

NCP separates early concepts from formal structure and audience presentation so systems can change the delivery without flattening the author's underlying meaning.

Ideation

Optional beginner concept space for character, theme, plot, and genre before a formal storyform exists.

Subtext

The deeper authorial structure: perspectives, players, dynamics, storypoints, and storybeats.

Storytelling

The adaptable surface expression: overviews and moments that carry the structure into audience experience.

Components

NCP organizes a complete storyform into predictable components that can be exchanged, validated, mapped, and extended.

  • / perspectives
  • / players
  • / dynamics
  • / storypoints
  • / storybeats
  • / overviews
  • / moments
  • / mappings
See the component guide

Validation

Documents can be validated against the canonical JSON Schema before exchange, release, import, or CI merge.

$ npm install
$ npm run validate:schema
$ npm run validate:file -- ./story.ncp.json
Read the validation guide

History

NCP is stewarded by The Dramatica Co. as the open-source edition of the Dramatica® storyform.

1993-1994 Dramatica defines a measurable model of story.

2025 Write Brothers and Narrative First combine stewardship.

Current NCP opens the model for interchange and AI workflows.

Full history