1. Storytelling

2. “Digital storytelling begins with the notion that in the
not too distant future, sharing one’s story through
multiple medium of imagery, text, voice, sound,
music, video and animation will be the principal
hobby of the world’s people”.
Joe Lambert, Co-founder, Center for Digital Storytelling

3. 6 Elements of a Good Digital Story

4. # 1: Living Inside Your Story
- Tell the story from first-person perspective
Use your own voice to narrate the tale
Share the story in a personal way that will engage viewers in a very real and emotional experience

5. # 1: Living Inside Your Story
For example, you share through the story:
who you are
what you felt
and what a certain event or situation means for you thus, creating a close emotional connection with your audience.

6. # 1: Living Inside Your Story
Rather than a detached telling that this happened and that happened, viewers experience YOU living inside this story. Your story is shared through the heart of personal meaning, NOT the head.

7. # 2: Lessons Learned
A good story has a point to make, a moral conclusion,
a lesson learned or an understanding gained.
Ex: Aesop’s fables: “The Fox and the Grapes”, “The Tortoise and the Hare”, etc.

8. # 3: Introducing Creative Tension
- Create intrigue or tension around a situation posed at the
beginning of the story and resolve at the end with an
unexpected twist
- Create a hook to intentionally draw the viewer into wondering how it will unfold and how will it all end
Examples:
The story follows the plot of Pride and Prejudice, but
places the novel in an alternative universe version of
Regency-era England where zombies roam the English
countryside.

9. # 3: Introducing Creative Tension
Leave the situation unresolved until the end to retain viewer’s attention
Think about the overall pace of the story. Pacing is an invisible part of sustaining story tension as we know so well from the era of Hitchcock films.
Ex: Hitchocock’s “Psycho”, “Birds”, etc.

10. # 4: Economizing the Story
A good story has a destination – a point to make – and seeks the shortest path to its destination. Each digital story is no more than 3-5 minute based on a script that is no more than one (1) page or five hundred words.

11. # 5: Showing, Not Telling
Use vivid details to reveal feelings and info rather than just
saying something was tall, happy, scary, etc. It was a dark
and stormy night does not have to be said directly in the script.
Use a lot of images and sound:
To show a part of the context
Create a setting
Give story information
Provide emotional meaning not provided by words

12. # 5: Showing, Not Telling
Both words and media need to reveal the story
through details rather than being directly stated.
Watch “The Science of Sleep” trailer here

13. # 6: Developing Craftsmanship
A good story incorporates technology in artful ways demon- strating craftsmanship in communicating with images, sound, voice, color, white space, animations, design, transitions, and special effects. All media elements are selected to extend the meaning.

14. How Do I Get Started?
- Start with a small idea. - Do not concentrate on the details. - Check out different types of stories on this web site: - Have someone interview you, then transcribe the words and see what they tell you about the story you are trying to conceive. - Create a storyboard.

15. How Do I Get Started? The Story About Someone Important
What is or had been your relationship to this person?
How would you describe this person (physical appearance, character, etc)?
Is there an event/incident that best captures their character?

16. How Do I Get Started? The Story About Someone Important
What about them do you most enjoy/ drives you crazy?
What lesson did they give you they you feel is important?
If you had something to say to them, that they may have never heard you say, what would it be?

17. How Do I Get Started? The Story About an Event in My Life
(Adventure, Accomplishment, etc.)
What was the event (time, place, incident, or series of incidents)?
What was your relationship to the event?
With what other people did you experience this event?

18. How Do I Get Started? The Story About an Event in My Life
(Adventure, Accomplishment, etc.)
Was there a defining moment in the event?
How did you feel during this event (fear, exhilaration, sharpened awareness, joy)?
Why did you learn at the end?
How did this event change your life?

19. How Do I Get Started? The Story About a Place in My Life
How would you describe the place?
With whom did you share this place?
What general experiences do you relate to this place?

20. How Do I Get Started? The Story About a Place in My Life
Was there a defining experience at the place?
What lessons about yourself do you draw from your relationship to this place?
If you have returned to this place, how has it changed?

21. Elif Shafak: The politics of fiction, TED Talks
Storytelling
Elif Shafak: The politics of fiction, TED Talks

22. Isabel Allende, TED Talks
Storytelling
Isabel Allende, TED Talks

23. “Porch Light” Storytelling, KQED Arts