7 Essentials for Creating Digital Stories
In order to help meet the needs of diverse learners through storytelling, one must consider how to effectively create a digital story. The Center for Digital Storytelling is at the forefront in educating writers on how to create effective stories. Lambert (2010), a member of the Center, lays out seven essential elements that are needed to create an effective digital story. The seven steps are: point of view, dramatic question, emotional content, voice, soundtrack, pacing, and economy.
Point of View
Is there a point to the story?
Who is your intended audience?
Who is your intended audience?
Dramatic Question
Examples:
Will the hero defeat the monster and save the princess?
Will Scruffy find an owner who loves him?
Will the protagonist finally attract the boy she likes?
The dramatic question might be really obvious or hidden in its subtlety. As well, the story does not necessarily need to answer the question.
Will the hero defeat the monster and save the princess?
Will Scruffy find an owner who loves him?
Will the protagonist finally attract the boy she likes?
The dramatic question might be really obvious or hidden in its subtlety. As well, the story does not necessarily need to answer the question.
Emotional Content
Humans are driven by emotions and they help readers connect to the story better. Consider what you want your reader to feel while reading your digital story.
Voice
Will you record your voice? Hearing a story read by the author can be more powerful than just reading the print. The reader can hear the inflection and intended tone that was considered by the author. As well, hearing a recorded voice can help bring out the intended emotional content.
Soundtrack
Music and sound effects can add another layer to the story. Every famous movie has an identifiable soundtrack that complements the story and again, helps bring out the emotional content of the story. For example, when Star Wars was written by George Lucas, he instructed the composer, John Williams, that if he removed the actors' voices, the music could still tell the story.
Pacing
Don't overwhelm your reader - give them a chance to process what you are telling them. Changes in pace can help convey meaning and hold a reader's attention.
Economy
You will need to consider how you will acquire images/video - will you pay for them or create your own? If you create your own images, video, music, you can save many dollars. However, make sure you reference or use Creative Commons sources if you intend to cut costs. What equipment and software will you use to create your story? Or will you use online digital storytelling resources? Some online digital storytelling resources cost money, while some are free.