Focus and Flow

Effortless inspiration one moment, deliberate refinement the next—this dynamic defines the creative process. In psychology, these modes are known as System 1 (fast, intuitive thinking) and System 2 (slow, deliberate reasoning). Subtxt embraces this duality, providing tools to support both Flow and Focus, two essential perspectives for crafting compelling and meaningful stories.

What Are Flow and Focus?

• Flow: The space for fast, intuitive, and creative brainstorming. Powered by GPT-4o from OpenAI, Flow encourages uninhibited idea generation—perfect for when inspiration strikes.
• Focus: The mode for slow, deliberate narrative refinement. Leveraging OpenAI’s o1 model, Focus ensures your story structure is logical, cohesive, and polished to perfection.

This balance allows Subtxt to meet you where you are in your creative journey, whether you’re generating bold ideas or honing intricate storylines.

How Subtxt Tailors Flow and Focus for You

Subtxt's plans are designed to cater to a variety of storytellers:

Subtxt

Ideal for those new to storytelling or seeking fast-paced brainstorming. This plan is centered around Flow, with automatic Focus checks integrated for narrative consistency. It’s perfect for sparking ideas without worrying about the finer details.

Subtxt Pro

For writers who want the freedom to seamlessly switch between Flow and Focus. Whether you’re brainstorming wildly or fine-tuning the logic of your narrative, Subtxt Pro offers the tools to move effortlessly between modes.

Subtxt Infinite

Built for storytellers tackling epic worlds and complex narratives. Subtxt Infinite unlocks unlimited advanced Focus for large-scale logic checks while still supporting Flow, so your creativity remains unrestricted.

Choosing the Right Mode for Your Storytelling Needs

Flow Mode

When you're looking to explore new ideas, spark creativity, or generate content on the fly, Flow Mode is your best ally. Designed to keep you in the creative zone, Flow is trained on narrative theory and capable of addressing 80–90% of your needs while developing with Subtxt. Whether you're brainstorming, exploring alternate scenarios, or just need a creative boost, Flow helps maintain momentum and unlock your imagination.

Flow is ideal for:

• Brainstorming Story Ideas: Quickly gather concepts for plots, characters, and settings.
• Exploring Narrative Possibilities: What-ifs, alternate scenarios, and creative twists.
• Rapid Ideation: Overcoming writer’s block or generating quick inspiration.

Examples of Flow Mode requests:

• "I'm not sure what to do with this story idea..."
• "Can you help me brainstorm backstory for this character?"
• "What are examples of other stories where the Main Character relinquishes their Resolve?"
• "What was the Relationship Story Throughline in Amadeus?"

Most of the time, Flow Mode will be your go-to, allowing you to stay immersed in the creative process without interruption. Whether you're world-building or brainstorming plot twists, Flow is your playground for creativity.

Focus Mode

For those moments when your story demands precision and structure, Focus Mode steps in to deliver clarity and coherence. Ideal for late-stage edits or refining a draft, Focus leverages a "smarter" model trained for detailed story analysis, ensuring your story aligns perfectly with its intended form and message.

Focus is ideal for:

• Enhancing Story Integrity: Addressing inconsistencies or plot holes.
• Deep Analysis: Examining storyforms, character arcs, and themes in detail.
• Refinement and Structure: Shaping raw ideas into a cohesive narrative.

Examples of Focus Mode requests:

• "Review the uploaded document and find the five major Story Drivers. Are they Action-driven or Decision-driven?"
• "Compare the Main Character's Resolve at the end of the draft with the beginning. Have they relinquished it or remained Steadfast?"
• "Break down the following outline into OS Progressions, and identify any missing pieces."

Focus Mode is your precision tool for crafting and analyzing your story with methodical care, turning raw inspiration into a polished narrative masterpiece.

Why Muse Might Seem to Deviate from Narrative Structure

Muse default operates in Subtxt Flow mode, which is all about giving you creative freedom to play around with ideas and explore new possibilities. It’s a space for brainstorming without the pressure of locking into a rigid structure right away. In Flow, Muse may suggest Domains or narrative relationships that appear to be out of alignment (like the Main Character and Obstacle Character not sharing a Framing or Processing classification) because it prioritizes helping you explore your story ideas over enforcing structure rules.

Behind the scenes, Flow mode may occasionally reach out to check thematic relationships if it thinks it can do so without interrupting your creative process. This is how Subtxt can lightly key things on track, even if the process feels more playful and less formal in Flow mode.

What Happens When You Switch to Focus Mode?

Once you're ready to nail down your story structure — ensuring the Domains, Throughlines, and Appreciations all follow the traditional Dramatica/Subtxt rules — you’ll naturally transition to Subtxt Focus mode. In Focus, the app will solidify the storyform and make sure everything aligns according to the theoretical concepts and structural rules. This currently isn’t a manual toggle; it’s triggered by the way you interact with Muse.

For example, when you start asking Muse questions like:

• "Is the storyform working?"
• "What’s the core inequity of this story?"
• "What’s the throughline structure?"

That signals to Muse that you’re ready to move from exploration to precision. At that point, Muse will automatically switch to Focus mode in the background, check the structural integrity of your storyform and ensure everything lines up correctly.

In Summary: Flow vs. Focus

Think of Flow as a playground to try things out. Focus is where you say, "Okay, let’s get serious and lock this down."

What You Can Do Right Now

If Muse suggested a Domain pairing that doesn’t seem right, don’t worry — just continue engaging with it. Ask questions like:

• "Is this alignment correct?"
• "What should the MC's domain be?"

This will help Muse understand that you're ready to move into Focus mode.

Flow or Focus: Which Mode Fits Your Needs?

When in doubt, stick with Flow Mode for its versatility and ease, keeping your storytelling journey intuitive and creative. Switch to Focus Mode when you want to check the alignment of your storyform or need a deeper dive into narrative structure. Together, these modes adapt seamlessly to every stage of your storytelling process, ensuring your creativity and craft work in harmony.

How Subtxt Enhances Your Workflow

Subtxt empowers storytellers to balance creativity with structure:

• Flow: Freeform brainstorming to generate ideas.
• Focus: Detailed refinement to ensure logical consistency.

Pro and Infinite subscribers can toggle between modes, while entry-level users enjoy Flow with integrated Focus assistance.

Subtxt: Built for Every Storyteller

Subtxt’s dual approach supports both bold, imaginative leaps and meticulous narrative refinement. Whether you’re sketching a blockbuster or fine-tuning a novel, Subtxt helps you bring your stories to life.