Hey everyone,
In this module, we went through the various elements necessary in storytelling, and experimented with using video for a learning purpose.
Branched Stories
One of the tools we explored in this unit is Twine. Twine allows users to tell branching stories, and it is a very neat tool that I’ve never heard of before. Branching stories is something I’ve always found pretty interesting. One of my favourite games, The Stanley Parable, is heavily themed around choice, and as such extensively features branched storytelling.
To test this tool out, I created a simple story about someone waking up and heading to their job. An overview of my story can be seen below.
As shown in the screenshot, I had a lot of branches present in my story. I thought it was really interesting how easy it was to accomplish this in Twine, and it was really fun to experiment with.
The story I created is, for lack of better words, kind of boring. With that being said, I still think this was a great introduction into Twine, and I’m glad I had a chance to learn this tool.
Storytelling Techniques
Out of the storytellers in the TED talks presented to us, I thought Richard Turere was one of the most compelling. I’ve always felt immersion to be a critical aspect in story telling, and it really does separate a decent story from a great one.
Zak Ibrahim also felt very compelling to me. Similar to Richard Turere’s, I thought he did a great job in immersing the listener, and was very descriptive with his scenes. Additionally, his usage of suspense during storytelling was a fantastic element to include, especially in a topic as heavy as what he covered.
Hello Chris,
Your reflection on the module showcases a keen interest in storytelling elements and a hands-on exploration of the Twine tool. It’s great to see your enthusiasm for experimenting with branching stories, and the simplicity of the story you created is a good starting point for learning the tool. Your observation about the ease of creating branches in Twine is valuable, and it’s clear that you had fun experimenting with the tool. Even if the story is described as “kind of boring,” the important part is the learning process and becoming familiar with the capabilities of the tool. Your mention of The Stanley Parable and its heavy reliance on branched storytelling adds a personal touch to your reflection, connecting theory with a favorite game. The incorporation of TED talks and your insights on storytellers like Richard Turere and Zak Ibrahim demonstrate a thoughtful engagement with storytelling techniques.
Overall, your comment provides a concise and engaging overview of your experience with Twine and the storytelling techniques discussed in the module. Keep up the exploration, and I look forward to hearing more about your experiences in future modules.