Let Me Tell You a Story: WordPress as a Storytelling Tool

“LET ME TELL YOU A STORY”

WORDPRESS AS A STORYTELLING TOOLKEVIN A. BARNES

WORDCAMP MKE — SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2015

STEAL MY SLIDES

Presentation at: http://kevv.co/wcmke15/

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

A BRIEF HISTORY OF STORYTELLING

Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures Corporation

Photo courtesy of Apple Inc.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF ONLINE STORYTELLING

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

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?

Photo courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Inc.

QUESTIONS?

Contact Kevin:

• Websitehttp://www.kevinabarnes.com/

• [email protected]

• 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/

• [email protected]

• 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.