Let Me TellYou a Story:
WordPress as a Storytelling Tool
Kevin A. Barnes WordCamp Toronto Saturday, October 3, 2015
STEAL MY SLIDES
http://kevv.co/wcto15/
Hello!I’m Kevin A. Barnes
Author
Storytelling Org Webmaster
Grassroots ARG Writer
Director of Web Development
Hello!I’m Kevin A. Barnes 1st Website in 1995
1st WordPress Site in 2004
Managing Web Development since 2006
AGENDA
A Brief History of Online Storytelling
Aesop Story Engine
Select WordPress Themes Designed for Storytelling
Q & A
Appendix: Resources
AGENDA
A Brief History of Online Storytelling
Aesop Story Engine
Select WordPress Themes Designed for Storytelling
Q & A
Appendix: Resources
“(T)he main function of the human brain, the primary instinct, is storytelling”
— Joss Whedon, July 2015
storytelling (stawr-ee-tel-ing, stohr-) noun1. The conveying of events in words and images,
often by improvisation or embellishment.
A Brief History of Storytelling
A Brief History of Storytelling
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
HISTORY OF ONLINE STORYTELLING
Envelope-Pushing Examples —The Lizzie Bennet Diaries: Multi-platform reimagining of
Pride and Prejudice
Story told using online video diaries, character social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest)
More Info:http://www.pemberleydigital.com/the-lizzie-bennet-diaries/
HISTORY OF ONLINE STORYTELLING
Envelope-Pushing Examples —“What is Code”: Long-form article by Paul Ford on
Bloomberg.com in June 2015
More Info:http://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2015-paul-ford-what-is-code/
HISTORY OF ONLINE STORYTELLING
Envelope-Pushing Examples —How I Met Your Mother (TV): Universe Building with multiple in-story
websites
Story expanded using online videos, character social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook)
More Info:http://how-i-met-your-mother.wikia.com/wiki/Tie-in_sites
HISTORY OF ONLINE STORYTELLING
High Adoption Rates
SEO Friendly
Accessibility
Customizable
Powerful Themes and Plugins already exist for Storytelling
WORDPRESS FOR STORYTELLINGSo what makes WordPress such a good choice for storytelling? Cost
Support
Scalable
Easy to Use
Easy to Maintain
AGENDA
A Brief History of Online Storytelling
Aesop Story Engine
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)
Demo Website:http://tomorrowsage.com/
AGENDA
A Brief History of Online Storytelling
Aesop Story Engine
Select WordPress Themes Designed for Storytelling
Q & A
Appendix: Resources
WORDPRESS STORYTELLING THEMES
Download: https://wordpress.org/themes/longform/ Showcase / Demos: http://cohhe.com/project-view/longform/
Longform Theme by Cohhe
WORDPRESS STORYTELLING THEMES
Download: https://github.com/cutterkom/storyteller/ Showcase / Demos: http://storyteller.katharinabrunner.de/demo
Storyteller Theme by Katharina Bruner
WORDPRESS STORYTELLING THEMES
Download: https://wordpress.org/themes/radcliffeShowcase / Demos: http://www.andersnoren.se/themes/radcliffe/
Radcliffe Theme by Anders Norén
WORDPRESS STORYTELLING THEMES
Download: https://wordpress.org/themes/editor Showcase / Demos: https://arraythemes.com/themes/editor-wordpress-theme/
Editor Theme by Array HQ
AGENDA
A Brief History of Online Storytelling
Aesop Story Engine
Select WordPress Themes Designed for Storytelling
Q & A
Appendix: Resources
Thanks!Any questions?
You can find me at:Twitter: @KevinABarnesEmail: [email protected]: www.kevinabarnes.com
Download Slides: http://kevv.com/wcto15/
AGENDA
A Brief History of Online Storytelling
Aesop Story Engine
Select WordPress Themes Designed for Storytelling
Q & A
Appendix: Resources
APPENDIX: RESOURCES
A Small Sampling of Websites using WordPress for Storytelling (nonfiction): The Big Roundtable
http://www.thebigroundtable.com (uses Aesop Story Engine) CO:BUILT
http://cobuilt-somethingindependent.com (uses Aesop Story Engine)
7pathwayshttp://7pathways.net (uses Aesop Story Engine)
Epic Magazinehttp://epicmagazine.com
n+1 Magazinehttps://nplusonemag.com
APPENDIX: RESOURCES
A Small Sampling of Websites using WordPress for Storytelling (fiction): To Sail Black Seas of Infinity
http://heathkennings.com/storyteller/ (uses Aesop Story Engine)
Liquid Imaginationhttp://liquidimagination.silverpen.org
APPENDIX: 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/
APPENDIX: RESOURCES
Storytelling Sites and Resources: National Storytelling Network
http://www.storynet.org/ TED Talks on Storytelling
https://www.ted.com/topics/storytelling Center on Digital Storytelling
http://storycenter.org/ Ex Fabula (Milwaukee storytelling organization)
http://www.exfabula.com (built on WordPress) The Stanford Storytelling Project
http://web.stanford.edu/group/storytelling/cgi-bin/joomla/index.php
APPENDIX: RESOURCES
Some Blogs that Cover Storytelling: “Telling the Story” Blog
http://tellingthestoryblog.com/ (built on WordPress)
Online Journalism Bloghttp://onlinejournalismblog.com/ (built on WordPress)
Beyond Bylineshttp://mediablog.prnewswire.com/ (built on WordPress)