The Storytelling Mandala: Purpose-Inspired Transmedia Storytelling

Marketers have always used stories to share information, change opinions and influence decisions. Now, as people create, consume and share brand stories in new ways, marketers need to go beyond the 30-sec product ad or the 300-word press release, and tell purpose-inspired transmedia stories that inspire, organize and energize people. Six Trends in Storytelling Let’s start by recapturing the six important trends that are reshaping how people create, consume and share brand stories: These six trends play an important role in the narrative arc we will draw next: from Hero’s Journey to Heroes to Everyday Heroes. From Hero’s Journey to Heroes to Everyday Heroes Heroʼs Journey: Storytelling The Heroʼs Journey is a good example of a monomyth, or a universal story, that cuts across all types of stories, including myths, movies, novels, and ads. According to Joseph Campbell, all stories follow the same three-part narrative structure of the Hero’s Journey. Heroes: Transmedia Storytelling

Center for Future Storytelling | Research The overall mission of the Center is to explore the convergence between art and technology—particularly as related to creative expression through story forms—in ways that elevate the human experience. To achieve this overall goal, storytelling-related activities of the CFS will address a set of macro themes: Storytelling and Business last updated 5/14/2004 We all have been told stories in our lifetimes since we were quite young. There is a common notion that the role of storytelling is primarily constrained to bedtime or play time for children. The true role of story and storytelling is much greater, older, and elemental than Hollywood. Story and storytelling are tools like any other - a pencil, a computer. The links below represent a sampling of professionals, writers, researchers, and organizations that are furthering the investigation and application of story in business and other organizational contexts. -Kevin Brooks, Ph.D.kevin.brooks@motorola.com General Links Steve Denning Author of The Springboard Story Advance chapters of his new book, "Squirrel Inc.: A Fable Of Leadership & Storytelling", to be published by Jossey-Bass in June 2004.www.stevedenning.com/squirrel.htm Doug Lipman Storyteller, professional story coach and workshop leader. Vandania Story Studio

Tips for Connected Documentarians » The Connected Documentary This is an emerging field. But for filmmakers hacking on web-based stories, it basically boils down to this: You have to commit to the fact the “thing” you are making is not a linear, unchanging video with a discrete runtime (even if your users will experience it as such). And you wouldn’t go about making a web app the same way that you make a traditional film. You can’t tack on “connectedness” after you’ve produced something completely disconnected. #1: Always stay in service of story. Your number one job is to tell a story. Technology can serve as inspiration, but never substitute for story. Technical possibilities can certainly serve as inspiration. Your creative process should start with a strong, compelling story, with characters who have real motivations (or motivating circumstances). Start from the story, think about how you’d want your user to experience that story. #2: To thrive on the web, adopt “systems thinking.” This will be a different process for each story. or like this: