Storytelling hasn't changed much, but the delivery has

Will the new digital platforms transform how we write?

Feb 03, 2024

I like to experiment with new ways of telling stories. New formats, that is. Storytelling, remarkably, hasn’t really changed much in the course of human history. The platforms writers use do evolve —- voice and memory, stone tablets, books, emails, and now serialized newsletters, social media and augmented reality. With the introduction yesterday of the Apple Vision Pro goggles, I’m wondering how we might craft narratives in new ways to fit augmented reality. If these heavy, intrusive goggles take off, there are going to be a lot of people working to get their ideas into people’s minds using Apple Vision Pro.

I’m not there yet. As you know, I serialized my novel, The Lost City of Desire, in this newsletter, using AI, mostly, to illustrate it. That was a fulfilling exercise, though I’m not sure how well the serialized form works. At the moment, I’m working on something else, a one man show I’m writing about a journey I took and the family that influenced it. I’ve written act one (part one? section one? — the word “act” seems too tradition bound). I’m recording 90 second scenes and posting them to TikTok. While most people know TikTok as a vapid space full of dancing and makeup tutorials, it’s actually a rich environment for storytelling and thinking. At least that’s how I see it.

Below, you’ll find the first five “episodes” of my new experiment. I’m learning as I go, and there’s certainly a cringe factor for me as I watch these. I’ve never been much of an actor, as is obvious. But I know that sincerity goes a long way, so I’m working on conveying that. And I plan to take some improv classes in the coming months. It’s a process, and not worth being embarrassed about.

I will post others here as the weeks go on. But for the full effect, download TikTok and follow me. Or look on the web at TikTok: Stephenspeople. Thank you for being here.

Excerpts from An American Family, by Stephen P. Williams