Sequential Storytweeting

Twitter could be an intriguing method for storytelling. Think of it as an Information Age, ADD-version of Charles Dickens monthly novel serialization. The size and format of content bursts are up to the creator. Whether your work is straight text in short story format or chapters in a novel, creators have the freedom to update and release their content at will. There are some drawbacks that I'll address later but let's focus on the possibilities first.

The idea originate from my experience with web comics. The rule of thumb is the more content updates, the more readers frequently visit. Yeah, obvious, I know. The web is driven by immediacy and a voracious appetite for news. Entertainment content without time expiration (something not driven by today's headlines) is different although the update frequency rule still holds. Your audience is divided into separate categories. Some readers loyally return to the site everyday while some wait for a chunk of story to reach a satisfying finish. Trying to build a readership for a comic that flirts with longform storytelling while incorporating a punchline into every post is difficult as some readers forget to check for updates or wait for the story to reach completion.

We already use Twitter to announce a new strip on the site to our followers. While trying to brainstorm extra value for following us on Twitter, I imagined a Twitter-structured comic strip. The idea would be to tell a story in 8 panels tweeted on the hour for 8 hours daily. Each new tweet would link to the latest panel. The effect being new content spread throughout the day for readers to follow.

There are two huge problems with this method. First, is one panel really satisfying to a reader or just extremely annoying? The novelty would wear off quickly for each individual. But you might attract as many new readers as the old ones burn off. Second, presentation is key. The panels can't be displayed in a vacuum or on different pages. The format requires a type of easing scrolling viewer for readers to start at the latest panel but also have easy access to previous panels for that day's strips.

Ultimately, Storytweeting is probably a great ancillary idea to a larger project. If used in moderation or as special event, creators might generate buzz about their content while using the storytweeting medium to direct readers to other, more traditional content.