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 originally was presented by Kevin A. Barnes at WordCamp Milwaukee 2015 on July 26, 2015.

1. “LET ME TELL YOU A STORY”
WORDPRESS AS A
STORYTELLING TOOL
KEVIN A. BARNES
WORDCAMP MKE — SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2015

2. STEAL MY SLIDES
Presentation at: http://kevv.co/wcmke15/

3. WHO AM I?
Storytelling:
• Published short story author
• Webmaster for Ex Fabula (storytelling nonprofit)
• Grassroots ARG writer

4. WHO AM I?
Website / WordPress Experience:
• Hand-coded my first website (for fun) in 1995
• Created my first website using WordPress in 2004
• Responsible for website development at Milwaukee marketing
agency Creatonomy from 2006 to 2011
• Currently Director of Web Design & Development at the Orion
Group

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

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

7. STORYTELLING
“(T)he main function of the
human brain, the primary instinct,
is storytelling.”
— Joss Whedon, creator of Buffy, Firefly, Dr. Horrible and
Dollhouse, as well as the director of two Avengers movies
July 11, 2015

8. STORYTELLING
“The conveying of events in
words, and images, often by
improvisation or embellishment.”
* For the purposes of this presentation, we are using a wide
definition of ‘storytelling’ which includes both fictional and
nonfictional narratives.

9. A BRIEF HISTORY OF
STORYTELLING

10. A BRIEF HISTORY OF
STORYTELLING
Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures Corporation
Photo courtesy of Apple Inc.

11. A BRIEF HISTORY OF
ONLINE STORYTELLING

12. 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

13. A BRIEF HISTORY OF
ONLINE STORYTELLING
Envelope-Pushing Examples — The Lizzie Bennet Diaries:
• Multi-platform reimagining of Pride and Prejudice
• Told story using online video diaries, character social media
accounts (Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Facebook, Pinterest)
More Info: http://www.pemberleydigital.com/the-lizzie-bennet-
diaries/

14. A BRIEF HISTORY OF
ONLINE STORYTELLING
Envelope-Pushing Examples — “What Is Code”:
• Long-form article by Paul Ford on Bloomberg.com in June
More Info: http://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2015-paul-ford-
what-is-code/

15. A BRIEF HISTORY OF
ONLINE STORYTELLING
Envelope-Pushing Examples — BBC’s Sherlock:
• “Universe Building” with multiple in-story websites
More Info:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/4yTrVL4srk48mKs8bh
K4TvM/other-sherlock-related-websites
Photo courtesy of
British Broadcasting Corporation

16. WORDPRESS FOR
STORYTELLING
So what makes WordPress such a good choice for this?
• Cost
• Support
• Scalable
• Easy to Use (plus high adoption rates)
• Easy to Maintain
• SEO Friendly
• Accessibility
• Powerful Themes and Plugins already exist for Storytelling
• Customizable

17. AGENDA
A Brief History of Online Storytelling
Aesop Story Engine (WordPress Plugin)
Select WordPress Themes Designed for Storytelling
Q & A
Appendix: Resources

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

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

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

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

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

23. AESOP STORY ENGINE
(WORDPRESS PLUGIN)
Demo Website:
http://tomorrowsage.com/

24. AGENDA
A Brief History of Online Storytelling
Aesop Story Engine (WordPress Plugin)
Select WordPress Themes Designed for Storytelling
Q & A
Appendix: Resources

25. WORDPRESS
STORYTELLING THEMES
Longform (by Cohhe):
Download: https://wordpress.org/themes/longform/
Demo: http://cohhe.com/project-view/longform/

26. WORDPRESS
STORYTELLING THEMES
Longform (by Cohhe):
• Works “out-of-the-box” with Aesop Story Engine
• Extensive documentation (for developers)
• Lots of built-in advanced options
• Responsive and Retina-ready
• Multilingual/Translation-ready
Download: https://wordpress.org/themes/longform/
Demo: http://cohhe.com/project-view/longform/

27. WORDPRESS
STORYTELLING THEMES
Storyteller (by Katharina Bruner):
Download: https://github.com/cutterkom/storyteller
Demo: http://storyteller.katharinabrunner.de/demo

28. WORDPRESS
STORYTELLING THEMES
Storyteller (by Katharina Bruner):
• Open source theme designed for journalists
• Easily build multimedia stories (based on images or video)
• Allows customization well beyond a traditional theme
• Responsive and Retina-ready
Download: https://github.com/cutterkom/storyteller
Demo: http://storyteller.katharinabrunner.de/demo

29. WORDPRESS
STORYTELLING THEMES
Radcliffe (by Anders Norén):
Download: https://wordpress.org/themes/radcliffe
Demo: http://www.andersnoren.se/themes/radcliffe/

30. WORDPRESS
STORYTELLING THEMES
Radcliffe (by Anders Norén):
• Focus on content
• Full-screen photography
• Solid typography
• Responsive and Retina-ready
• Extensive theme customization options
Download: https://wordpress.org/themes/radcliffe
Demo: http://www.andersnoren.se/themes/radcliffe/

31. WORDPRESS
STORYTELLING THEMES
Editor (by Array HQ):
Download: https://wordpress.org/themes/editor
Demo: https://arraythemes.com/themes/editor-wordpress-theme/

32. WORDPRESS
STORYTELLING THEMES
Editor (by Array HQ):
• Responsive
• Emphasis on typography
• Extensive theme customization options
• Translation-ready
Download: https://wordpress.org/themes/editor
Demo: https://arraythemes.com/themes/editor-wordpress-theme/

33. AGENDA
A Brief History of Online Storytelling
Aesop Story Engine (WordPress Plugin)
Select WordPress Themes Designed for Storytelling
Q & A
Appendix: Resources

34. QUESTIONS?
Photo courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Inc.

35. QUESTIONS?
Contact Kevin:
• Website
http://www.kevinabarnes.com/
• Email
connections@kevinabarnes.com
• Twitter
@KevinABarnes
• Download These Slides
http://kevv.co/wcmke15/
• Let’s Talk Live at WordCamp MKE:
I’m around for the remainder of today — catch me between
sessions.

36. AGENDA
A Brief History of Online Storytelling
Aesop Story Engine (WordPress Plugin)
Select WordPress Themes Designed for Storytelling
Q & A
Appendix: Resources

37. RESOURCES
A Small Sampling of Websites using WordPress for
Storytelling (nonfiction):
• The Big Roundtable (uses Aesop Story Engine)
http://www.thebigroundtable.com/
• 7pathways (uses Aesop Story Engine)
http://7pathways.net/
• Epic Magazine
http://epicmagazine.com/
• n+1 Magazine
https://nplusonemag.com/

38. RESOURCES
A Small Sampling of Websites using WordPress for
Storytelling (fiction):
• To Sail Black Seas of Infinity (uses Aesop Story Engine)
http://heathkennings.com/storyteller/
• Liquid Imagination
http://liquidimagination.silverpen.org/

39. 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/

40. RESOURCES
Storytelling Sites and Resources:
• National Storytelling Network
http://www.storynet.org/
• TED Talks on Storytelling
https://www.ted.com/topics/storytelling
• Center for 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

41. 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)

42. RESOURCES
Contact Kevin:
• Website
http://www.kevinabarnes.com/
• Email
connections@kevinabarnes.com
• Twitter
@KevinABarnes
• Download These Slides
http://kevv.co/wcmke15/
• Let’s Talk Live at WordCamp MKE:
I’m around for the remainder of today — catch me between
sessions.