Date post: | 16-Aug-2015 |
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“LET ME TELL YOU A STORY”
WORDPRESS AS A STORYTELLING TOOLKEVIN A. BARNES
WORDCAMP MKE — SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2015
WHO AM I?
Storytelling:
• Published short story author• Webmaster for Ex Fabula (storytelling nonprofit)• Grassroots ARG writer
WHO AM I?
Website / WordPress Experience:
• Hand-coded my first website (for fun) in 1995• Created my first website using WordPress in 2004• Responsible for website development at Milwaukee marketing
agency Creatonomy from 2006 to 2011• Currently Director of Web Design & Development at the Orion
Group
AGENDA
A Brief History of Online Storytelling
Aesop Story Engine (WordPress Plugin)
Select WordPress Themes Designed for Storytelling
Q & A
Appendix: Resources
AGENDA
A Brief History of Online Storytelling
Aesop Story Engine (WordPress Plugin)
Select WordPress Themes Designed for Storytelling
Q & A
Appendix: Resources
STORYTELLING
“(T)he main function of the human brain, the primary instinct, is storytelling.”
— Joss Whedon, creator of Buffy, Firefly, Dr. Horrible and Dollhouse, as well as the director of two Avengers movies
July 11, 2015
STORYTELLING
“The conveying of events in words, and images, often by improvisation or embellishment.”
* For the purposes of this presentation, we are using a wide definition of ‘storytelling’ which includes both fictional and
nonfictional narratives.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF STORYTELLING
Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures Corporation
Photo courtesy of Apple Inc.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF ONLINE STORYTELLING
Some Current Methods for Online Storytelling:
• Traditional applications of Text / Images / Video / Audio• Infographics• Long-Form Journalism• Animation / Animated Interaction• ARGs (Alternate Reality Games)• Transmedia Storytelling
A BRIEF HISTORY OF ONLINE STORYTELLING
Envelope-Pushing Examples — The Lizzie Bennet Diaries:
• Multi-platform reimagining of Pride and Prejudice• Told story using online video diaries, character social media
accounts (Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Facebook, Pinterest)
More Info: http://www.pemberleydigital.com/the-lizzie-bennet-diaries/
A BRIEF HISTORY OF ONLINE STORYTELLING
Envelope-Pushing Examples — “What Is Code”:
• Long-form article by Paul Ford on Bloomberg.com in June
More Info: http://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2015-paul-ford-what-is-code/
A BRIEF HISTORY OF ONLINE STORYTELLING
Envelope-Pushing Examples — BBC’s Sherlock:
• “Universe Building” with multiple in-story websites
More Info: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/4yTrVL4srk48mKs8bhK4TvM/other-sherlock-related-websites
Photo courtesy ofBritish Broadcasting Corporation
WORDPRESS FOR STORYTELLING
So what makes WordPress such a good choice for this?
• Cost• Support• Scalable• Easy to Use (plus high adoption rates)• Easy to Maintain• SEO Friendly• Accessibility• Powerful Themes and Plugins already exist for Storytelling• Customizable
AGENDA
A Brief History of Online Storytelling
Aesop Story Engine (WordPress Plugin)
Select WordPress Themes Designed for Storytelling
Q & A
Appendix: Resources
AESOP STORY ENGINE (WORDPRESS PLUGIN)
Download: http://wordpress.org/plugins/aesop-story-engine/
Showcase / Demos: http://aesopstoryengine.com/showcase/
AESOP STORY ENGINE (WORDPRESS PLUGIN)
Features:
• 13 unique, customizable story components
• Quick Start Guide
AESOP STORY ENGINE (WORDPRESS PLUGIN)
Features:
• 13 unique, customizable story components
• Quick Start Guide
• Developer Portal
AESOP STORY ENGINE (WORDPRESS PLUGIN)
Features:
• 13 unique, customizable story components
• Quick Start Guide
• Developer Portal
• Aesop Themes and Add-Ons(Premium)
AESOP STORY ENGINE (WORDPRESS PLUGIN)
Demo Website: http://tomorrowsage.com/
AGENDA
A Brief History of Online Storytelling
Aesop Story Engine (WordPress Plugin)
Select WordPress Themes Designed for Storytelling
Q & A
Appendix: Resources
WORDPRESS STORYTELLING THEMES
Longform (by Cohhe):
Download: https://wordpress.org/themes/longform/
Demo: http://cohhe.com/project-view/longform/
WORDPRESS STORYTELLING THEMES
Longform (by Cohhe):
• Works “out-of-the-box” with Aesop Story Engine• Extensive documentation (for developers)• Lots of built-in advanced options• Responsive and Retina-ready• Multilingual/Translation-ready
Download: https://wordpress.org/themes/longform/
Demo: http://cohhe.com/project-view/longform/
WORDPRESS STORYTELLING THEMES
Storyteller (by Katharina Bruner):
Download: https://github.com/cutterkom/storyteller
Demo: http://storyteller.katharinabrunner.de/demo
WORDPRESS STORYTELLING THEMES
Storyteller (by Katharina Bruner):
• Open source theme designed for journalists• Easily build multimedia stories (based on images or video)• Allows customization well beyond a traditional theme• Responsive and Retina-ready
Download: https://github.com/cutterkom/storyteller
Demo: http://storyteller.katharinabrunner.de/demo
WORDPRESS STORYTELLING THEMES
Radcliffe (by Anders Norén):
Download: https://wordpress.org/themes/radcliffe
Demo: http://www.andersnoren.se/themes/radcliffe/
WORDPRESS STORYTELLING THEMES
Radcliffe (by Anders Norén):
• Focus on content• Full-screen photography• Solid typography• Responsive and Retina-ready• Extensive theme customization options
Download: https://wordpress.org/themes/radcliffe
Demo: http://www.andersnoren.se/themes/radcliffe/
WORDPRESS STORYTELLING THEMES
Editor (by Array HQ):
Download: https://wordpress.org/themes/editor
Demo: https://arraythemes.com/themes/editor-wordpress-theme/
WORDPRESS STORYTELLING THEMES
Editor (by Array HQ):
• Responsive• Emphasis on typography• Extensive theme customization options• Translation-ready
Download: https://wordpress.org/themes/editor
Demo: https://arraythemes.com/themes/editor-wordpress-theme/
AGENDA
A Brief History of Online Storytelling
Aesop Story Engine (WordPress Plugin)
Select WordPress Themes Designed for Storytelling
Q & A
Appendix: Resources
QUESTIONS?
Contact Kevin:
• Websitehttp://www.kevinabarnes.com/
• Twitter@KevinABarnes
• Download These Slideshttp://kevv.co/wcmke15/
• Let’s Talk Live at WordCamp MKE:I’m around for the remainder of today — catch me between sessions.
AGENDA
A Brief History of Online Storytelling
Aesop Story Engine (WordPress Plugin)
Select WordPress Themes Designed for Storytelling
Q & A
Appendix: Resources
RESOURCES
A Small Sampling of Websites using WordPress for Storytelling (nonfiction):
• The Big Roundtable (uses Aesop Story Engine)http://www.thebigroundtable.com/
• 7pathways (uses Aesop Story Engine)http://7pathways.net/
• Epic Magazinehttp://epicmagazine.com/
• n+1 Magazinehttps://nplusonemag.com/
RESOURCES
A Small Sampling of Websites using WordPress for Storytelling (fiction):
• To Sail Black Seas of Infinity (uses Aesop Story Engine)http://heathkennings.com/storyteller/
• Liquid Imaginationhttp://liquidimagination.silverpen.org/
RESOURCES
Learn More About other Websites:
• Is It WordPress?http://www.isitwp.com/
• BuiltWith Technology Lookuphttp://builtwith.com/
• WordPress Theme/Plugin Detectorhttp://www.wpthemedetector.com/
RESOURCES
Storytelling Sites and Resources:
• National Storytelling Networkhttp://www.storynet.org/
• TED Talks on Storytellinghttps://www.ted.com/topics/storytelling
• Center for Digital Storytellinghttp://storycenter.org/
• Ex Fabula (Milwaukee storytelling organization)http://www.exfabula.com/ (built on WordPress)
• The Stanford Storytelling Projecthttp://web.stanford.edu/group/storytelling/cgi-bin/joomla/index.php
RESOURCES
Some Blogs that cover Storytelling:
• “Telling the Story” bloghttp://tellingthestoryblog.com/ (built on WordPress)
• Online Journalism Bloghttp://onlinejournalismblog.com/ (built on WordPress)
• Beyond Bylineshttp://mediablog.prnewswire.com/ (built on WordPress)
RESOURCES
Contact Kevin:
• Websitehttp://www.kevinabarnes.com/
• Twitter@KevinABarnes
• Download These Slideshttp://kevv.co/wcmke15/
• Let’s Talk Live at WordCamp MKE:I’m around for the remainder of today — catch me between sessions.