The Future of Storytelling

Hello!

If anyone is interested I’d like to make you aware of a free course ‘The Future of Storytelling’ being run by iversity. Here’s the main link:

https://iversity.org/courses/the-future-of-storytelling

You need to check out the link to get the full low down as I’m not going to repeat all the details here, but I have listed the course outcomes below:

Learning Outcomes

Our MOOC will help you answer the following questions:
1. How do fictional stories work? Which structures and mechanics are used?
2. How do new technologies influence the ways stories are told and perceived - and which new media formats have been developed during the last years?
3. How can technologies, interfaces and visuals engage an audience fast and continuously?
4. How can I develop and implement my own story-ideas - on my own or in teams?

I’ve signed up already. I’d like to think that I have a strong grip on point 1, but points 2 – 4 interest me immensely. Technology is undoubtedly expanding the avenues, and opportunities, that exist for the aspiring writer. It’s something that was first brought home to me a couple of years ago.

I’m an occasional console games player, and while certain games have had back stories to them they never had what you would call ‘a story’ in the true sense of the word. That changed for me a couple of years ago when I played ‘Red Dead Redemption’. For the first time I was playing a game not just for the pleasure of the game itself, but because I cared about the central character. I cared about what would happen to the character, and his personal journey, in exactly the same way I would as if I was reading a good book, or watching a great film.

The same thing happened to me with GTA V, and the story between two of the central characters. Although, I think that particular story arc fizzled out towards the end.

The point is that the gaming industry is employing scriptwriters. I’ve also noticed novelizations of some of the bigger gaming franchises. As the industry grows – and it’s already huge – there will be more and more opportunities for writers emerging.

I suspect – I don’t know – that the course will cover aspects of the gaming industry, but I’m also confident that it will cover media formats and opportunities that I haven’t even thought of. And that’s why I signed up!

If anybody else signs up let me know. The iversity course description mentions a few group exercises. Collaboration with fellow writers is something I always enjoy. I’ve always taken something from the experience, and I expect the same to happen here.

Remember it’s free!

Mike 

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