storytelling for social media

for social media

Gavin Heaton www.servantofchaos.com

In a village in Staffordshire, UK in 2001 ...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/45086087@N00/3357404284/

A girl wrote a message on a red, helium balloon


“Please return to Laura Buxton”


Where would this balloon land? In a lake?


Perhaps it would be caught in a tree


A man found it in his hedge. 140 miles away in Wiltshire


He was worried that his cows might eat the balloon and choke on it ...

He read the message and took the balloonto the 10 year oldgirl next door


Her name ...

Laura Buxton


The balloon had travelled over 140 miles from one Laura Buxton to another Laura Buxton

Laura sent Laura a letter, suggesting they should meet

http://www.flickr.com/photos/zappowbang/2048577203/in/photostream/

When they got together, they were surprised at how similar they looked


They styled their brown hair the same way, wore pink jumpers and jeans

http://www.flickr.com/photos/alicerosen/3913136038/in/photostream/

And they had each brought along a pet guinea pig


Waiting at home, they each had three year old black labradors


And a bunny


Years later they remain firm friends


I’m sure you’ll agree that this is an

STORY

... and it is!


Told with microscopic focus


Facts that don’t support the coincidences are ignored in an effort to create patterns


Our brain is seeking a pattern that we can recognise and respond to

http://www.flickr.com/photos/darwinbell/3999719025/

Each time a pattern is recognised, dopamine is released - the chemical trigger that produces a sense of reward and pleasure


As readers, as listeners, as people engaged with the story, we are being pulled further into the story with each new revelation


Connections and revelations – this is the world of social media.

A world that is brim full of coincidence, happenstance and other wonderful words

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hortensia/190375624/

We need to remember we are talking about SOCIAL media


User generated content

User generated filtering

User generated

distribution

User generated context

http://www.servantofchaos.com/2010/02/simple-social-media.html

And that’s about building affinity before relationship (as a child does). It’s about P-L-A-Y.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/eschipul/4239849264/

P -- for PowerDemanding of attentionTesting limits (boundaries around behaviour, responsibility etc)Controlling the controllableBelongingL -- for learning and curiositySkills developmentNegotiationA -- for adventureExploring an ever changing worldActively making the world a better placeY -- the yelp of surprise and delightRecognition and rewardSelf expression


It’s about creating the coincidences that lead to an emotional connection


Something that you can share with the players in your personal playground

http://www.flickr.com/photos/duchamp/90520897/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/a_mason/19189771/