Online storytelling continues to evolve, with more complex and engaging forms appearing almost daily. What began as long-form online news articles has branched off in diverse directions, from websites that expand the universe of an upcoming Hollywood movie, to a loose fabric of apps and sites that together reinterpret a classic Victorian novel. This session explored the boom in online storytelling and examined how both developers and users are leveraging WordPress to uniquely support such storytelling. The discussion touched on such WordPress solutions as the Aesop Story Engine plugin and themes such as Storyteller, Longform, Radcliffe and Editor. This session was presented by Kevin A. Barnes at WordCamp Toronto 2015 on October 3, 2015.

1. Let Me Tell
You a Story:
WordPress as a
Storytelling Tool
Kevin A. Barnes WordCamp Toronto Saturday, October 3, 2015

2. STEAL MY
SLIDES
http://kevv.co/wcto15/

3. Hello!
I’m Kevin A. Barnes
 Author
 Storytelling Org Webmaster
 Grassroots ARG Writer
 Director of Web Development

4. Hello!
I’m Kevin A. Barnes
 1st Website in 1995
 1st WordPress Site in 2004
 Managing Web Development
since 2006

5. AGENDA
 A Brief History of Online Storytelling
 Aesop Story Engine
 Select WordPress Themes Designed for
Storytelling
 Q & A
 Appendix: Resources

6. AGENDA
 A Brief History of Online Storytelling
 Aesop Story Engine
 Select WordPress Themes Designed for
Storytelling
 Q & A
 Appendix: Resources

7. “(T)he main function of the human brain, the
primary instinct, is storytelling”
— Joss Whedon, July 2015

8. storytelling (stawr-ee-tel-ing, stohr-) noun
1. The conveying of events in words and images, often
by improvisation or embellishment.

9. A Brief History of
Storytelling

10. A Brief History of
Storytelling

11. A BRIEF HISTORY
OF ONLINE
STORYTELLING

12. A BRIEF HISTORY
OF ONLINE
STORYTELLING

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17.  High Adoption Rates
 SEO Friendly
 Accessibility
 Customizable
 Powerful Themes and
Plugins already exist
for Storytelling
WORDPRESS FOR STORYTELLING
So what makes WordPress such a good choice for
storytelling?
 Cost
 Support
 Scalable
 Easy to Use
 Easy to Maintain

18. AGENDA
 A Brief History of Online Storytelling
 Aesop Story Engine
 Select WordPress Themes Designed for
Storytelling
 Q & A
 Appendix: Resources

19. AESOP STORY ENGINE (WORDPRESS PLUGIN)
Download: http://wordpress.org/plugins/aesop-story-engine/
Showcase / Demos: http://aesopstoryengine.com/showcase/

20. AESOP STORY ENGINE (WORDPRESS PLUGIN)
Features:
 13 unique, customizable story components

21. AESOP STORY ENGINE (WORDPRESS PLUGIN)
Features:
 13 unique, customizable story components
 Quick Start Guide

22. AESOP STORY ENGINE (WORDPRESS PLUGIN)
Features:
 13 unique, customizable story components
 Quick Start Guide
 Developer Portal

23. AESOP STORY ENGINE (WORDPRESS PLUGIN)
Features:
 13 unique, customizable story components
 Quick Start Guide
 Developer Portal
 Aesop Themes
and Add-ons
(Premium)

24. Demo Website:
http://tomorrowsage.com/

25. AGENDA
 A Brief History of Online Storytelling
 Aesop Story Engine
 Select WordPress Themes Designed for
Storytelling
 Q & A
 Appendix: Resources

26. WORDPRESS STORYTELLING THEMES
Download: https://wordpress.org/themes/longform/
Showcase / Demos: http://cohhe.com/project-view/longform/
Longform Theme by Cohhe

27. WORDPRESS STORYTELLING THEMES
Download: https://github.com/cutterkom/storyteller/
Showcase / Demos: http://storyteller.katharinabrunner.de/demo
Storyteller Theme by Katharina Bruner

28. WORDPRESS STORYTELLING THEMES
Download: https://wordpress.org/themes/radcliffe
Showcase / Demos: http://www.andersnoren.se/themes/radcliffe/
Radcliffe Theme by Anders Norén

29. WORDPRESS STORYTELLING THEMES
Download: https://wordpress.org/themes/editor
Showcase / Demos: https://arraythemes.com/themes/editor-wordpress-
theme/
Editor Theme by Array HQ

30. AGENDA
 A Brief History of Online Storytelling
 Aesop Story Engine
 Select WordPress Themes Designed for
Storytelling
 Q & A
 Appendix: Resources

31. Thanks!
Any questions?
You can find me at:
Twitter: @KevinABarnes
Email: connections@kevinabarnes.com
Website: www.kevinabarnes.com
Download Slides: http://kevv.com/wcto15/

32. AGENDA
 A Brief History of Online Storytelling
 Aesop Story Engine
 Select WordPress Themes Designed for
Storytelling
 Q & A
 Appendix: Resources

33. 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)
 7pathways
http://7pathways.net (uses Aesop Story Engine)
 Epic Magazine
http://epicmagazine.com
 n+1 Magazine
https://nplusonemag.com

34. 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 Imagination
http://liquidimagination.silverpen.org

35. APPENDIX: RESOURCES
Learn More About Other Websites:
 Is It WordPress?
http://www.isitwp.com/
 BuiltWith Technology Lookup
http://builtwith.com/
 WordPress Theme/Plugin Detector
http://www.wpthemedetector.com/

36. 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

37. APPENDIX: RESOURCES
Some Blogs that Cover Storytelling:
 “Telling the Story” Blog
http://tellingthestoryblog.com/ (built on WordPress)
 Online Journalism Blog
http://onlinejournalismblog.com/ (built on WordPress)
 Beyond Bylines
http://mediablog.prnewswire.com/ (built on WordPress)