Nataly Goico Storyworld expert and founder of Bellyfeel, Krishna Stott, discusses 5 crucial mistakes people can make when developing a storyworld for their projects.
We are happy to have Krishna giving a Storyworld Development Surgery at Conducttr Conference, where he will provide consultancy to anyone interested in developing a rich storyworld and transmedia projects.
5 Project Killing Storyworld Development Mistakes
by Krishna Stott
Transmedia is a very exciting area to work in; creatively thrilling with the potential to reach a vast audience across different devices and platforms.
But it’s hard work too – make no mistake. And so it’s a good idea to use structures, tools and techniques that are proven to work already, to help you create, develop, produce and deliver your Transmedia project.
This article will uncover the common mistakes that Transmedia Producers have made already – and you can discover techniques that will allow you to work with greater flexibility, creativity and opportunity.
So without further ado…
1 – If It Ain’t Got A Storyworld…
Then it’s probably not Transmedia. Mistake number 1 is not having a Storyworld.
It is crucial that you create a Storyworld as part of your writing and development process. Storyworld’s allow you and your story many more opportunities to connect with your audience; both creatively and business wise.
And that’s why we’re here right?
2 – Too Much Expansion – Not Enough Limitation
When you “get” the idea of Storyworld Development, it can be incredibly stimulating, and your imagination may well run away with you. Expansion of your story and characters is all part of the Storyworld Development process – but it can also mean free flowing chaos.
So you need to set limits and it can be helpful to put these boundaries and borders on your Storyworld.
Restrictions are also part of the creative process so it’s win-win!
3 – Writing Only – No Visuals
There will be lots of writing, notes and lists as you develop your Storyworld. But also try to visualise your world with drawings and diagrams too.
These visuals will be an aid to collaboration with your team as you can share and discuss the shape, direction and concepts you are planning.
Also the visual development can be better way to discover hidden aspects and natural flows within your story.
At Bellyfeel we always have a roll of lining paper and some markers to hand.
Here’s a snapshot of a previous project.
4 – You Don’t Visit Your World
The esteemed film maker and storyteller extraordinaire Stanley Kubrick once said,
“The truth of a thing is not in the think of it but in the feel of it”.
And he was right.
With Transmedia it’s hard when you’re starting out not to not to over intellectualise your ideas and approach. How can you get the FEEL of your world rather than the THINK of it?
It will help to imagine going to your Storyworld. Take a walk and smell the roses. Look at the people, places and things within the world.
Do you like it there?
Does it feel like there’s something about to happen?
5 – Not Starting A Storyworld Bible
If you’re going to go to this much effort to create a compelling Transmedia story then why don’t you start to organise the material you’re generating into a proper Storyworld Bible?
This is like a show bible that you would get for a TV show, but enhanced to include the different technology, audience and game elements that a Transmedia story will usually include.
If your project suddenly gets picked up and requires you to move quickly to respond to a funding, production or audience request – then you run the risk of bringing everything to a halt if you have to organise the project at that stage. Best to start as you mean to go on – with a Storyworld Bible.
A Storyworld Bible will arrange the Storyworld information properly and allow for easy sharing, expansion and rapid development.
Did you know all 5 of these “Project Killing Storyworld Development Mistakes”?
More Help
These techniques for creating robust Storyworlds and exciting Transmedia stories are part of a toolkit we use daily at Bellyfeel to create compelling Transmedia and Multiplatform stories.
The techniques are what allow us to turbo charge our story experiences and help our many clients to get their stories out; efficiently and without wasting valuable resources.
As part of our ongoing collaboration with Transmedia Storyteller we are hosting a number of free Storyworld Surgery consultancy sessions at the Conducttr Conference on the 17th October 2014 in London. These sessions are a chance for you to get our consulting expertise for free. We will apply our strategies and techniques to create solutions that help you and your project reach your intended audience profitably on all devices and platforms.
The Conducttr Conference
If you want to get a free Storyworld Surgery with us you must attend the conference:
http://www.conducttrconference.com/
If you’re coming, then book a Storyworld Surgery here:
http://www.conducttrconference.com/#!expert-advice/c23om
Download PDF here.
Krishna Stott is a story and technology pioneer who has been pushing back boundaries in storytelling and media business for 15 years. He has worked on dozens of Interactive and Transmedia Storytelling projects. His interactive film Crimeface won 2 Webby Awards (Oscars of the Internet) in 2008. Since then he has helped numerous media companies and individuals to multiply audience size and increase revenue using new devices and platforms.
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