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Breaking down barriers and exploring local heritage with young people
Writing a Digital Story
Digital storytelling begins with constructing a story...
Stories are told in the first person, and should be structured around a theme.
In writing a story, you should explore elements such as characters, style and tone, and think about engaging all six senses to make the story come alive.
Key questions to ask in building the story are:
Where is the dramatic moment—the actual moment in time when something momentous occurs?
What does this story reveal about the topic?
Why is it necessary to tell this story?
Do you open by grabbing the reader’s interest in hearing this story? Do you end in a way that suits your objective?
Key elements of a good story
Theme
Plot
Story Structure
Characters
Turning Points (a significant moment of change within the narrative)
Some Story Prompts
The most difficult part is to start writing the story.
Here are some themes for prompts, which could form the basis of some powerful stories
Take a post card. Choose a person that you think this story is for, and write them a postcard about the story. Start with, “Dear…”
“The Road Not Taken.” Write about a decisive moment in your life
Draw a map of the neighbourhood where you grew up
Tell the story of a mentor or hero in your life
Describe a time when you felt really scared
Describe an occasion when you did something for the first time
TIPS
Find your own voice. Don't imitate. Be aware of how you like to use words and have the confidence to use your own idiom.
Picture what you are writing about in as much detail as possible - feelings, colours, textures, smells, etc. This will influence how you write.
You don't have lots of words - so dive in.
Less is more. Expect to re-write and re-write. Edit rigorously.
Avoid cliché and banal sentiments.
Treat your story with respect as if it was the best story in the world!
You will find more tips on writing a digital story, together with story prompts, in the PDF file, below - part of the Digital Storytelling Toolkit produced by melting pro for the Breaking Down Barriers project.
Return to the Toolkit menu, or continue to the next page (Making a DST Video).