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Hello Lovelies,
Let’s dive into something that’s shaking up the world of self-publishing: Interactive Storytelling Platforms! In this digital age, traditional storytelling is evolving, and many authors are exploring interactive and immersive experiences to engage readers in new and exciting ways. Platforms like Twine, Episode, and Choice of Games are revolutionizing how stories are told, putting the power of narrative choice into the hands of the reader.
In today’s post, we’ll explore the rise of interactive storytelling platforms, discuss how they can impact reader engagement, and highlight how self-published authors can leverage these platforms to enhance their work.
What Are Interactive Storytelling Platforms?
Interactive storytelling platforms allow authors to craft stories where readers can make choices that directly impact the narrative. Unlike traditional books, which have a linear progression, interactive stories often branch out into multiple pathways, allowing readers to experience different outcomes based on their decisions. These stories can take many forms, such as text-based adventures, visual novels, or even gamified experiences.
Platforms like Twine (a free platform for creating choose-your-own-adventure-style games), Episode (a platform with illustrated, interactive stories), and Choice of Games (a publisher of text-based interactive novels) have become popular avenues for both indie authors and professional writers to create immersive, interactive stories.
The Rise of Interactive Storytelling: A New Frontier for Authors
Over the last few years, the demand for more interactive content has been on the rise. With audiences increasingly drawn to video games, virtual reality, and other forms of media that allow them to participate actively, it’s no surprise that storytelling is following suit. Interactive storytelling platforms have become a powerful way to blend narrative with interactivity, providing a more engaging experience than passive consumption.
Key Platforms for Interactive Storytelling
* Twine: Twine is a free and open-source tool that allows writers to create non-linear, interactive stories. It's highly customizable, making it a favorite for authors who want full control over the design and narrative structure of their work.
* Episode: A mobile storytelling platform known for its episodic, illustrated, and interactive stories. Readers can make decisions for the characters, which impacts the story’s progression. Episode is especially popular in romance and drama genres.
* Choice of Games: This platform is home to text-based interactive novels, where players read the story and make choices that affect the outcome. The platform has a dedicated fan base, especially for genres like fantasy, sci-fi, and historical fiction.
* Radish Fiction: Radish allows authors to serialize their stories and include interactive elements like character customization or decision-based plots. It’s also a great platform for those who want to monetize their writing via microtransactions.
* StoryNexus: A web-based platform that allows users to create complex, branching storylines in a card-based format. StoryNexus emphasizes game mechanics in storytelling, making it ideal for more experimental authors.
Why Interactive Storytelling Engages Readers
Interactive storytelling changes the dynamic between the reader and the story. Instead of passively reading, the audience is now a participant, making decisions that shape the narrative. This level of involvement heightens reader investment and encourages deeper engagement with the material.
Here’s why interactive storytelling boosts reader engagement:
1. Personalized Experiences
Readers love stories they can personalize. In interactive storytelling, the choices they make feel like their own, which allows them to feel more connected to the characters and the plot. When readers can influence how the story unfolds, they’re more likely to stay engaged for longer periods and even return to explore different outcomes.
2. Replayability
One of the unique aspects of interactive storytelling is that it offers high replayability. Readers can go back to the beginning and make different choices to see alternate storylines. This not only increases reader satisfaction but also provides authors with multiple opportunities to showcase different aspects of their world-building.
3. Increased Emotional Investment
Interactive stories often involve moral or emotional decisions, which makes readers feel more personally invested. The ability to steer the narrative heightens the stakes for the reader. They’re no longer just spectators—they are co-creators of the story.
4. Community Building
Interactive storytelling platforms often encourage readers to share their outcomes with others, leading to discussions, theories, and even fan communities. By fostering a sense of community, these platforms help build a loyal fanbase that authors can continually engage with.
How Self-Published Authors Can Leverage Interactive Platforms
So, how can self-published authors harness the power of these platforms to enhance their work and broaden their audience?
1. Experiment with Non-Traditional Formats
One of the biggest advantages of interactive storytelling platforms is the freedom they give authors to play with narrative structure. Don’t be afraid to break away from the traditional three-act structure. Explore branching narratives, multi-layered plots, and different endings. These platforms give you the creative liberty to experiment and redefine the storytelling experience.
2. Reach New Audiences
Interactive storytelling attracts a different kind of audience—one that might not typically be interested in traditional books but loves the interactive elements found in games or digital media. By tapping into these platforms, self-published authors can reach new readers and gain exposure in a fast-growing market.
3. Build a Loyal Following
Interactive platforms often have a built-in community of users who are eager for new content. Engaging with this audience through interactive storytelling can help you grow a dedicated following. Because of the replayability of interactive stories, readers may return multiple times, each time more deeply connected to your work.
4. Monetization Opportunities
Some interactive platforms, such as Radish Fiction and Episode, offer opportunities for authors to monetize their stories. Through microtransactions, premium content, or in-game purchases, authors can earn revenue from their interactive stories. This opens up additional income streams beyond traditional book sales.
5. Promote Existing Work
Interactive storytelling platforms can be a fantastic way to promote your other self-published books. By creating a free interactive story based on your existing world or characters, you can draw readers into your universe and pique their interest in your main works.
Final Thoughts
Interactive storytelling platforms represent an exciting new frontier for authors who want to break away from traditional narratives and offer their readers a unique, immersive experience. Whether you're writing a choose-your-own-adventure-style story or a visual novel, these platforms allow you to engage with readers in a more dynamic, personal way.
Are you ready to explore interactive storytelling in your self-publishing journey? Which platform or format excites you the most?
Discussion Questions
* Have you ever experimented with interactive storytelling in your own work? If so, what challenges did you face?
* What genres do you think lend themselves best to interactive storytelling platforms?
* How do you think interactive storytelling could affect reader engagement compared to traditional books?
* What interactive storytelling platforms would you be most interested in exploring as a self-published author?
* How do you think self-published authors can balance interactivity with traditional narrative elements?
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Want an example of how the Save the Cat Beat Sheet is used? Let's go over one of my favorite movies of all time, Big Hero 6!
Opening Image: The film opens with the sprawling city of Sanfransokyo, a city that resembles San Francisco blended with Tokyo and other Japanese culture.
Set-Up: Hiro Hamada spends his time building homemade robots to fight in illegal underground rings. Not only is Hiro smart, he is clever. He tricks everyone into thinking that he is just a clueless kid, and he wins us over as he defeats the current champion in a robot fight. He is threatened for the win, but his older brother Tadashi comes to his rescue.
Theme Stated: Tadashi scolds Hiro for his actions, noting that while he is brilliant, he needs to use his brains to help people. Hiro appears to be content wasting his life and talents away. Unless Hiro decides to do something with his intelligence, he will never make the mark he is capable of. Hiro will have to learn how to use his intelligence to face impossible odds, relying on his friends to help him persevere.
Set-Up (continued): After arriving home, Hiro is greeted by his Aunt Cass, who has raised the two boys after their parents had died. Hiro asks Tadashi to take him to another illegal robot fight. To Hiro’s surprise, Tadashi agrees, but instead takes him to his university, which Hiro calls “Nerd School.” Honey Lemon spends her time concocting chemical combinations. Go Go Tomago experiments with speed, building a cycle that uses magnetic wheels to eliminate friction. Wasabi has designed lasers that can slice through anything, while Fred is simply a friend who hangs around due to his interest in science (and comic books).
Tadashi shows Hiro his project, an inflatable robotic healthcare nurse named Baymax. Baymax is guided by a chip Tadashi made, and he even seems to have a personality. Hiro meets the esteemed Professor Callaghan, Tadashi’s mentor. All of this intelligence in one room excites Hiro and invigorates him, and he wants to apply to the university.
Catalyst: To get into “Nerd School,” Hiro must invent something to show off at the university’s exhibition, his ticket to earning a personal invitation to attend as a student.
Debate: Hiro must decide what to invent. He struggles with creating something that will amaze Callaghan and those in attendance, and his brother encourages him to look at things from a different angle.
He works tirelessly, filling container after container with his inventions until his makeshift lab in his garage is full. On the day of the exhibition, he arrives, nervous, as he prepares to unveil his creation. But will it be enough to garner him an invitation?
As the time comes to present, Hiro takes to the stage. Using a headband that functions on his brainwaves, Hiro unveils his invention: microbots that swarm and can form whatever he thinks of. The invention clearly amazes the crowd, as well as Tadashi’s friends and Professor Callaghan. They quickly accept Hiro into their fold as one of them.
As the evening ends and Hiro heads home with Tadashi, the exhibition hall erupts into flames. Tadashi runs back in to save his mentor, but an explosion rips through the building, killing Tadashi.
Break into Two: After the funeral, Hiro sits in sadness. While getting up, he stubs his toe, and Baymax inflates and scans him, attending to his “injury.”
B Story: Hiro is at first annoyed by Baymax, especially when Baymax notes Hiro’s sad emotional state. However, it is through his relationship with Baymax and Tadashi’s friends that Hiro will learn the meaning of friendship, sacrifice, and perseverance.
Fun and Games: Hiro hears something under his bed and finds a stray microbot wiggling around. He assumes it is malfunctioning, but Baymax notes that it is probably trying to get somewhere. Nonchalantly, Hiro tells Baymax to find out why. Of course, Baymax obeys the command and walks out into the street. Realizing his mistake, Hiro hurries after him, fully entering the antithesis of his world. Now, he will encounter science being used for evil rather than for good, and he will truly need to put his intelligence to the test.
Baymax locates where the one microbot was leading: an abandoned factory. Hiro and Baymax enter, finding that someone has stolen his microbot design and has been reproducing them. He realizes that his microbot was just trying to join the swarm as it was programmed to do. No sooner does he figure this out than the swarm begins to attack him, guided by a mysterious man in a Kabuki mask.
Hiro and Baymax escape, and when the police do not take him seriously, Hiro decides to upgrade Baymax, using a 3D printer to make armor for him and uploading a chip of his design, one that gives Baymax fighting abilities. With the super strength provided by Baymax’s metal skeleton, Hiro is confident that he will be able to take down the man in the mask.
Baymax, however, is more concerned with Hiro’s emotional well-being at the loss of Tadashi. Referring to his programming, he notes that one method for overcoming sadness is spending time with others, and he calls Tadashi’s friends. Meanwhile, Hiro uses the lone microbot in his possession to find the man in the mask. The microbot leads him to a dock, and the Kabuki man emerges from the water, rising on a pillar formed by the swarm. Hiro tries to fight him using Baymax, but it is clear that he is out of his league. Just in time, his friends from the lab arrive, having been called by Baymax. They drive through the city, barely escaping the villain, until their van plunges into the river.
Midpoint: The man in the mask assumes they are dead and leaves. However, Baymax inflates and carries them to safety. Drenched and freezing, Hiro and his friends go to the only safe place they know: Fred’s house. Though he seems to be a bit odd, it turns out that Fred’s family is extremely wealthy. This wealth will come in handy for the team soon. Also, Baymax notes that he had scanned the villain, as his programming requires him to scan every individual he comes in contact with. This gives the team an advantage, as they can use the medical records to learn the individual’s identity. This appears to be a victory for the team, but it is a false victory, as the stakes have raised and evil is tightening its grip.
Bad Guys Close In: Hiro has a plan to determine the identity of the masked man. If he can upgrade Baymax to scan the whole city at once, they can learn the villain’s identity. Using the resources at his disposal, Hiro upgrades not only Baymax, but each member of the team. Focusing on the invention each team member has created as seen in the Set-Up, Hiro gives them their own super abilities. Honey Lemon now has a lot of chemicals at her disposal, allowing her to create whatever the moment calls for. Go Go is fitted with a suit and wheels that allow her to move and to attack quickly. Wasabi gears up with gloves that can project laser blades from his hands, and Fred gets his ultimate dream: a monster suit that allows him to leap high and breathe flames.
Baymax gets new armor along with the ability to fly. Hiro rides along with him, using super-powered magnets to hold on. After an initial test of their abilities, Hiro and Baymax fly high, resting on top of one of the city’s many balloons. Baymax scans everyone at once, ultimately finding the villain’s lair: an island off the coast.
The team arrives at the island and finds the remnants of what looks like a scientific experiment. Furthermore, a video screen shows an image of Alistair Krei, and the team rewinds it, surprised at what they see. In the video, Krei conducted an experiment using teleporters and a test pilot, but when he was warned of abnormal readings, he continued anyway. Something went wrong, and the pilot was lost. Hiro and the team believe that Krei is the one who stole the microbots after showing great interest in them.
When the man in the mask confronts them, the team uses their abilities to stop him, but it is not as easy as they had hoped. Eventually, they remove his mask and the neurotransmitter, and it is revealed that Professor Callaghan is the villain.
Enraged that his brother died trying to save Callaghan, Hiro takes Baymax’s nurse chip out, leaving only the one Hiro programmed. He tosses the nurse chip away, ordering Baymax to destroy Callaghan, and Baymax obeys, throwing everyone aside in his mad fury. Honey Lemon scrambles to find and insert the chip back into Baymax and does so, barely saving Callaghan’s life.
All Is Lost: Callaghan takes back the neurotransmitter and escapes. All Is Lost for Hiro as he is overcome by his anger and grief. The whiff of death is in the air as he realizes that his brother died for nothing, and now the villain has gotten away. Hiro also faces the whiff of death as he realizes that he almost allowed himself to cause the death of someone else, giving in to his anger rather than thinking rationally as his brother would have wanted.
Dark Night of the Soul: As Baymax, now back to normal, flies home with Hiro, Hiro attempts to remove the nurse chip again. He wants his revenge, but Baymax will not open the compartment, asking if killing Callaghan will make him feel better. Hiro realizes that it will not, and Baymax projects a set of videos Tadashi made. The videos show him programming Baymax despite the difficulties he initially had, yet he persevered. As Tadashi tells Baymax, “I’m not giving up on you,” it seems like he is speaking directly to Hiro.
Arriving to find Hiro, Honey Lemon and the team show him something they had found: the video reveals that the test pilot was Callaghan’s daughter, and he was present at the experiment. Just like Hiro, Callaghan wanted revenge. Hiro knows what he must do, taking what he has learned from both worlds: he must rely on his brains to stop Callaghan, not brawn and force, the synthesis of both worlds.
Break into Three: Realizing that Callaghan will try to get revenge on Krei, the team goes to stop him at a public event.
Finale: Callaghan uses the microbots to bring the teleporters to Krei’s company, trying to take away everything Krei has built. Hiro and his friends try to stop him, but the microbots are too powerful. Hiro notices that he can use the portal to break the microbots away from the swarm, rendering Callaghan powerless. He has used his intelligence to solve the problem, and the plan works, defeating Callaghan.
However, the portal is about to explode, and Baymax scans the portal, finding signs of life inside. Callaghan’s daughter is alive, but in a state of hypersleep. Hiro and Baymax enter it, finding her and rescuing her. Baymax is damaged, and he will not be able to leave with Hiro, but notes that his rocket-powered hand can propel them to safety. Digging down deep, Hiro learns to let go and tells Baymax that he is “satisfied with his service,” allowing Baymax to deactivate.
Back in Tadashi’s lab, Hiro stares sadly at Baymax’s gloved fist when something catches his eye. Inside his palm, Baymax has placed his personality chip. Finding another of Tadashi’s prototypes, Hiro inserts the chip, bringing Baymax back.
Final Image: Now complete, Hiro and his friends have become a superhero team, the Big Hero 6. Just as his brother had admonished him, Hiro has learned what it takes to persevere and to use his intelligence—and his heart—to serve and to help others.
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Ever heard of Save the Cat? Ever wonder who the cat even is, and why it needs saving?
The Blake Snyder Beat Sheet breaks down three-act screenplay structure into 15 bite-size, manageable sections called beats, each with a specific goal for your overall story. Below is an explanation of each beat. The page numbers are not strict, they are approximations of where the beats should occur in a 110 page screenplay.
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Hello Lovelies,
Welcome back! Today, we’re diving into an exciting topic: Collaborative Publishing Projects. While self-publishing is often a solo journey, many authors have found great success through collaboration. Whether it’s co-authoring a book, teaming up with editors or illustrators, or even working with other indie authors to cross-promote each other’s work, collaborative projects offer a range of unique benefits that can elevate your publishing journey to the next level.
In this episode, we’ll highlight successful collaborative projects, explore the benefits of co-authoring and resource sharing, and offer tips for managing collaborations and handling potential conflicts.
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Hello Lovelies,
Today, we’re diving into the inspiring success stories of self-published authors from all walks of life and genres. Self-publishing is no longer just an alternative to traditional publishing—it’s a thriving industry that has paved the way for countless authors to find their voices and their readers, all while maintaining creative control over their work.
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Last week we talked about the cool plotting method that I found by author Sarah Cannon of Heart Breathings. Her entire plotting method can be found over on YouTube, starting with this video. I again want to highly recommend checking her out and subscribing to her channel! Go buy all her books. Leave her comments and reviews. I binge read the book in her series which she gives as an example to see how it all came together, and actually ended up loving the book.
Now, if you are familiar with the three act formula, the Save the Cat beatsheet, and character arcs, this may seem familiar to you. However, this is a different way of putting them all together that really made it click in my brain for one of the stories I’ve had on a backburner for ages.
Sarah goes through the method step-by-step for her own book, Deep Dark Secrets. I'm summarizing how it works here, so there are obviously spoilers. I absolutely want you to go watch her video series for yourself and buy her books if you want to learn more.
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The world of book publishing has evolved dramatically, and one of the most exciting changes is the rise of virtual book launch events. These online events have opened up new possibilities for authors to connect with readers, celebrate their new releases, and generate buzz without geographical limitations. Today, we'll explore how to plan and execute a successful virtual book launch event.
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I'm back this week with another plotting method that I just learned and totally love. This one is from author Sarah Cannon of Heart Breathings and her entire plotting method can be found over on YouTube, starting with this video. So I highly recommend checking her out and subscribing to her channel! Go buy all her books. Leave her comments and reviews. I binge read the book in her series which she gives as an example to see how it all came together, and actually ended up loving the book.
Now, if you are familiar with the three act formula, the Save the Cat beatsheet, and character arcs, this may seem familiar to you. However, this is a different way of putting them all together that really made it click in my brain for one of the stories I've had on a backburner for ages. So let's go through what this method looks like, step-by-step.
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Crafting an effective book description is crucial for capturing the interest of potential readers and turning casual browsers into buyers. Your book description is often the first impression readers get of your book, and it's essential to make it compelling and engaging. Today, we'll explore the key elements of creating a book description that sells.
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Hello, lovelies. Today I'm posting something extra special! Last time we talked about the Snowflake Method, what it is, and how to use it. Now, I want to give you an in-depth view of the Snowflake Method in action, and to demonstrate, I am using a book I'm currently in the process of writing, my very own Middle Grade Science Fiction Novel, code name Multiverse Story.
A few notes before we get into it this week's. This is for an earlier version of this novel, and many of the plots have changed. Spoilers are entirely possible, but I'm not going to point each one out. I am also going to focus on the main character of the first book, Emma, for simplicity's sake, otherwise, this is going to be a very long piece of parchment. With that in mind, let's continue.
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Building a mailing list from scratch can seem daunting, but it's one of the most powerful tools an author can have. Your mailing list allows you to connect directly with readers, promote your work, and build a loyal fanbase. Today, we'll walk you through the steps to create and grow a mailing list from the ground up.
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This time around I'm talking about plot methods. I've talked about plot and wHY you NEEd it before, and my question when I have someone convince me to try something is always, okay, but HOW?
Originally created by Randy Ingermanson, the Snowflake Method teaches you to start really small, and work your way deeper. You'll switch between character development and plot development at each step, which means no matter where you're starting from, you'll always have to work through both aspects of Story.
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Writing a book is a dream many hold dear, but the cost of publishing can be daunting. Fear not! Self-publishing on a budget is entirely feasible with a bit of savvy planning and resourcefulness. Today, we're diving into some practical strategies for getting your book out into the world without breaking the bank.
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Hello lovelies! This week I am going over the Master Plot Formula Case study. If you aren't familiar with this method, you can read more about it in this post, but to summarize, Lester Dent was born in the early part of the 1900's and wrote 159 Doc Savage novels using this formula he created to do so.
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In today's episode, we're diving deep into the mysterious world of Amazon algorithms. If you're a self-published author looking to maximize your book's visibility and sales, understanding how Amazon's algorithms work is essential. Let's explore the secrets of Amazon's algorithms and how you can master them to elevate your self-publishing game.
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Have you ever heard of the Master Plot Formula? Lester Dent was born in the early part of the 1900's and wrote 159 Doc Savage novels using this formula he created to do so.
Meant for 6000 word stories divided into four equal parts, Dent's formula can also be expanded to use in full novels.
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Today, we’re diving into an essential topic for aspiring and seasoned authors alike: self-publishing platforms. With so many options out there, it can be overwhelming to decide which platform best suits your needs. Fear not, because we're here to break down the pros and cons, discuss costs and services, and explore the unique benefits of some of the most popular self-publishing platforms.
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Hello Lovelies. As we work through 2024, it's crucial for authors to revamp their book marketing strategies to stay ahead in the ever-evolving publishing landscape. In this blog post, we'll delve into effective book marketing strategies tailored for the new year, offering insights and tips to help authors navigate the dynamic world of book promotion.
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If you've ever read a Dan Wells novel, you'll know that guy is a genius at story. He's so good, in fact, that he's got his very own story structure, the 7-Point Plot Structure, and today we're going to go into what it looks like. There are three different elements to this, and this is an outlining system Dan uses in which the story moves forward along seven sequential points.
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