Branching paths: designing interactive narratives
Interactive storytelling challenges writers to think differently: every choice matters, every path needs meaning. This training shows how to balance freedom with coherence and how to keep audiences emotionally invested no matter which direction the story takes.
Informations
Target Audience
Profile
- assignment_indNarrative designers
- assignment_indAuthors exploring interactive fiction or digital literature
- assignment_indContent creators developing immersive storytelling formats
- assignment_indUX designers
Requirements
- mindfulnessBasic familiarity with games, interactive fiction tools, or digital media platforms
- emoji_objectsParticipants are encouraged to bring a project idea to experiment with branching structures
Learnt Skills
- flareUnderstanding principles of non-linear storytelling
- flareDesigning branching structures and choice-driven plots
- flareCrafting multiple plot endings while maintaining narrative coherence
- flareApplying techniques to games, apps, and immersive media
Programme
Interactive storytelling culture
Discover how non-linear storytelling developed and why it matters today.
- bookHistory of interactive storytelling
- bookGlossary of narrative shifts
- bookVirtual reality as a storytelling medium
Designing choice-driven plots
Learn to create interactive narrative structures.
- bookStructure: basics refresher
- bookIndustry professionals' paradigms
- bookNarrative engines, endings, themes, arcs and choices : a method for non-linear writing
Tools and media
Experiment with the tools and platforms that bring interactive stories to life.
- bookWriting and testing non-linear structures with Twine
- bookApplying interactive storytelling principles to games, apps, and immersive media
This course is originally intended to last 3 days (21 hours), but its duration and content can be adjusted to your needs.