1. Essential Components of Stories Jason Ohler Seven Elements Digital Storytelling Cookbook

2. Story as Transformation Process ~ Emergence ~
Beginning (call to adventure)
Problem (tension)
Central Challenge (question, problem, obstacle, opportunity, goal)
Changes (conflict, transformation)
Response to conflict is often the transformation the character must undergo to address the problem
Solution (resolution)
Addressing the challenge & resolving the tension
End (closure, learning)

3. Call to Adventure
Normal life is interrupted by a significant event, initiating a physical, emotional, intellectual, or spiritual journey for the main character

4. Problem-Solution Involving Transformation
Characters encounter problems that are solved through a personal transformation of some kind. Transformation can happen in a number of ways, including skill acquisition, maturation, learning, and self-discovery.

5. Closure
The story comes to a meaningful conclusion, not necessarily through a happy ending. Often, closure involves the main character’s realization of something significant, a moral, or evidence that something or someone has changed.

6. Seven Elements Digital Storytelling Cookbook
The Point
Dramatic Question
Emotional Content
The Gift of Your Voice
The Power of Soundtrack
Economy
Pacing

7. 1. The Point
Addressing the issue of defining the specific realization you, as an author, are trying to communicate within your story
Central Premise
Transformative Realization
Reason for Telling This Story

8. 2. Dramatic Question Tension Romance – will the girl get the guy?
Desire – Action – Realization
Conflict between our desires being met and the desires of others
Romance – will the girl get the guy?
Adventure – will the hero reach the goal?
Crime or Mystery – who did it?
Manipulating expectations is what entertains us.
Will the girl find happiness? (real question)
Twist the expectation

9. 3. Emotional Content A truthful approach to emotional material
Death or sense of loss
Love and loneliness
Confidence and vulnerability
Acceptance and rejection
Resurrection Tales
Love must be lost to feel satisfaction of hope
Protagonist destroyed so others (we) can understand the character flaw
Hero on very edge of extinction before victory or goal of quest is achieved

10. 4. The Gift of Your Voice
We listen to different forms of speech differently
Conversation – to affirm or respond
Speech – applause line
Lecture – major points
Story – rhythmic pattern invoking associative memories
Voiceover
Reading vs reciting the script
Keep writing terse
Speak slowly in conversational style
Digitally construct the story from an interview

11. 5. The Power of the Soundtrack
We create personal soundtracks on our MP3 players
Music adds an emotional aspect to the story
Instrumental music often works best under voice overs
Consider copyright issues
Use self-composed music created on programs such as Garage Band

12. 6. Economy
Sequential composition repurposing existing images (and perhaps video)
Consciously economize language as juxtaposed with a small number of images
Use of symbolism and metaphor for implicit meaning

13. 7. Pacing Rhythm sustains audience interest Fast-paced Slow-paced
Urgency, action, nervousness, exasperation and excitement
Slow-paced
Contemplation, romanticism, relaxation or simple pleasures
Changing the pace of the music or narrative can be very effective
Maintain the vitality
Good stories breathe