Interactive Media

Media as we know it is changing. whether this is for the better I cannot say. I can say that, when you compare today's media to that produced fifty or more years ago you can see a remarkable difference in the way it is packaged and sold.

 Today more digital media is sold, allowing a more flexible presentation of content. While the stories follow the familiar movement of Freytag's triangle -having a beginning, middle and an end- it strays off a bit by allowing heavy user interactions. That is, it allows users to chose how they want to view the media as well how much and in what order. This form of choosing does exist in the traditional form of publishing as well but mostly allows for one possible outcome.

 The first of these to come out were text based RPGs and choose your own adventure books. They changed how people thought of producing content and even the way the creators interacted with their followers. with each book or game made creators provided the raw content needed for users who can pick and choose what is best for them or even re-invent more ways to enjoy the content stretching the enjoyment out from hours to days or even weeks.

 While maybe books, games and movies are still published in the traditional style there is a growing niche market for media that incorporates multiple plot lines.

Telling Stories in the New Millennium

At the turn of the new millennium stories began going digital. Anyone with a camera and some free time wanted to have their shot at fifteen minutes of fame. To this end everyone was running around making indie movies and trying to hit it big with very few success stories and lots of movies that would never see a large enough audience to give investors the confidence they needed to support up and coming artists.

 This is how Youtube began. With Youtube's birth, many up and coming directors, producers, actors and singers could have their shot at making it big and being discovered but it also opened the door for more hobbits movie makers, re-inventing the way we see digital stories.

The usual format for a digital story is beginning, middle and end, this introduces the audience to the topic, builds suspense and resolves any problems formed during the timeline. With youtube videos there is no need for an introduction as the audience can see the creator and interact with him/her by leaving comments or even posting response videos.

 The story doesn't even have to end and can continue for as long as the user posts videos.

How I learned to write.

When I was a young girl, around the age of nine. I began writing stories. Like most stories written by children, they were focused more on the self than actual plot progression and character development. I mean, how would you develop your self? Isn't that the same as seeing the future? I really had no concept of a good story outside of 'add more drama!'

 It wasn't until I picked up my first manga that I began to refine my craft. Micing the lines of plots I saw there to create my own stories. I still have the fanfic I wrote for that series but I shall never let anyone see it every again. 

 When I learned to write it was a trial and error kinda thing. where I would wonder: Does this make sense for this character or is this story easy to follow? Questioning my writing worked in the beginning, allowing me to correct my mistakes and move forward with a more defined purpose but until I started learning the techniques behind the craft I was still slowly progressing.

 I honestly suggest picking up books on the writer's craft. They help immensely when trying to edit your work or even just get better at writing in general. More often than not, they help you see where the major mistakes in your writing are, if you can swallow their medicine.