The Digital Storytelling Process

Understanding key elements such as plot, character, setting, and structure is essential for creating meaningful and impactful narratives. These components not only shape how stories are told but also influence how they are experienced and interpreted by the audience. By mastering these elements, youth workers can guide young people in developing digital stories that are emotionally engaging, authentic, and clear in their message.

• Concept/Theory 1: Plot

The plot is the sequence of events that structure the story. It typically follows a beginning, middle, and end, often revolving around a conflict and its resolution. A strong plot keeps the audience engaged and gives the story a clear purpose.

• Concept/Theory 2:  Character

Characters drive the narrative and create emotional connection. They should be relatable, well-developed, and evoke empathy. Characters can be real, fictional, or symbolic, each offering different storytelling dynamics.

• Concept/Theory 3: Setting and Structure

The setting defines the time and place of the story, providing context and atmosphere. Structure refers to how the story is organized—linear, non-linear, episodic, or interactive—which shapes the audience’s experience and interpretation of the narrative.

• Strategy/Technique 1: Mapping the Story Elements

Encourage young people to outline their story using key elements: Who are the characters? What happens (plot)? Where and when does it take place (setting)? This helps create a strong foundation before any digital tools are used.

• Strategy/Technique 2: Exploring Different Story Structures

Let youth experiment with various structures—linear, non-linear, episodic, or interactive. For example, ask them to retell a personal story using two different formats (e.g., a timeline vs. a choose-your-own-adventure style).

• Strategy/Technique 3: Using Visual Storyboards

Storyboarding is a great way to visualize how the story will unfold. Young people can sketch scenes or use online tools (like Canva or StoryboardThat) to plan the sequence of images, audio, and text they'll include.

Task: Participants will design a digital story outline by applying the key elements of storytelling—plot, character, setting, and structure—through a hands-on creative exercise.

Steps:

• Step 1: Pick a personal or fictional story concept. Define the main message or theme you'd like to share.

• Step 2: Identify the main character(s), describe the setting, and outline the basic plot (beginning, middle, end). Decide which story structure (linear, non-linear, episodic, or interactive) fits best.

• Step 3: Use drawings or a digital tool (e.g. Canva, StoryboardThat) to create a simple visual layout of the story, showing how scenes or moments will flow.

• What did you learn about the core elements of a digital story?

• Which storytelling format or technique do you feel most comfortable using—and why?

• How might you guide a young person in telling a story that’s both personal and impactful?

• What challenges do you think youth may face when creating digital stories, and how can you support them?

• Can a simple story be more powerful than a complex one? Why or why not?

• How does the structure of a story influence the way an audience connects with it?

• In what ways can digital storytelling be used as a tool for social advocacy among youth?

In this unit, we explored the foundational components of storytelling—plot, character, setting, and structure—and how they shape compelling digital narratives. By understanding how each element functions and interacts, youth workers are better equipped to support young people in telling authentic, structured, and emotionally resonant stories. The ability to build stories from the ground up lays the groundwork for creativity, communication, and critical reflection.

In this unit, we explore how narrative techniques can transform a simple story into an emotionally resonant and memorable digital experience. For youth workers, introducing these techniques is key to helping young people add depth, complexity, and creative flair to their stories. From first-person narration to flashbacks and foreshadowing, these tools can help youth build stronger connections with their audience and express themselves more authentically.

• Concept/Theory 1: First-Person Narration

Telling the story through the voice of a character using "I" or "we." Offers a personal, emotional, and immersive perspective that builds trust and intimacy with the audience.

• Concept/Theory 2: Flashbacks

Inserting past events into the current narrative to provide background. Adds depth to characters and plot, revealing motivations and emotional backstories.

• Concept/Theory 3: Foreshadowing

Dropping hints or clues about future events. Builds suspense, keeps the audience engaged, and adds layered meaning to the story.

• Strategy/Technique 1: Narration Voice Choice

Encourage youth to experiment with first-person, second-person, or third-person narration to see how perspective changes the impact of the story.

• Strategy/Technique 2: Backstory Mapping

Use character timelines or memory boards to explore key past events that could be woven into the story using flashbacks.

• Strategy/Technique 3: Foreshadowing through Symbolism

Teach youth to use small visual or verbal cues (e.g., a recurring object, a phrase) to subtly hint at future developments in their story.

Task: Take a well-known story and remix it using narrative techniques like first-person narration, flashbacks, or foreshadowing to give it a fresh twist.

Alternative option: choosing a personal story/ memory.

Steps:

• Step 1: Select a well-known story, fairy tale, or movie plot (e.g., Cinderella, Harry Potter, The Lion King, Frozen).

• Step 2: Apply Narrative Techniques

Rewrite a key scene using one or more techniques:

• Tell it from the perspective of a side character.

• Add a flashback that explains a character’s motivation.

• Use foreshadowing to hint at a future plot twist.

Share and Discuss

Present your remixed scene to the group. Reflect together:

• How did the new technique change the tone or message?

• Was the story more personal, mysterious, or emotional?

• Which narrative technique do you connect with most, and why?

• How did changing the narrative technique change your story?

• What emotions do you want your audience to feel, and which technique supports that goal?

• How can narrative techniques deepen storytelling without making it too complex?

• Can first-person stories feel more "true" even if fictional?

• How do flashbacks or foreshadowing enhance emotional impact?

This unit introduced key narrative techniques—such as first-person narration, flashbacks, and foreshadowing—that enhance depth and engagement. Youth learned how these techniques influence perspective, emotion, and pacing within a story. With hands-on activities and creative experimentation, the unit empowered youth workers to help young people create richer, more layered digital narratives that resonate with real-life experiences and provoke thought and empathy.

In this unit, we explore how different digital storytelling formats—audial, visual, written, and hybrid—offer distinct ways to engage and inspire audiences. Choosing the right format is not just a creative decision; it’s also strategic. Combined with engaging techniques like emotional hooks, interactivity, and relatability, these formats help storytellers connect deeply with their audience, hold attention, and drive real impact.

• Concept/Theory 1:  Storytelling Formats

Digital storytelling formats shape how stories are told, received, and felt.

Each format offers different sensory and cognitive entry points for the audience:

• Audial formats (e.g., podcasts, audiobooks) build emotional closeness. The human voice can convey tone, mood, and sincerity, making the listener feel personally addressed.

• Visual formats (e.g., videos, animations, VR) stimulate attention and memory through movement, imagery, and sound. These are highly immersive and often emotionally intense.

• Written formats (e.g., blogs, e-books, captions) allow for deep reflection, complex arguments, and narrative control. They invite personal pacing and re-reading.

• Hybrid formats combine elements of all three, creating interactive and layered experiences (e.g., transmedia stories, apps, AR). These allow for user agency, exploration, and co-creation.

Each format can amplify different parts of a story. Choosing the right one helps ensure the audience connects deeply with the message.

• Concept/Theory 2:  Audience Engagement

Engagement is about participation, emotion, and relevance. To keep a story from becoming passive content, creators can activate their audience through:

• Interactivity: Polls, comment prompts, clickable story branches, or embedded choices give the audience a role.

• Relatability: Using familiar settings, youth-relevant language, or real-world issues invites identification.

• Emotional appeal: Humor, suspense, vulnerability, and authenticity trigger emotional investment and empathy.

• Multi-sensory experiences: Combining formats stimulates more brain regions—leading to longer attention and stronger memory.

Engaged audiences don’t just watch or read—they feel, respond, and share.

• Concept/Theory 3: Story Impact

Impact is the lasting effect a story has—emotionally, intellectually, or socially.

A story's impact depends on both how it’s told and how it’s experienced.

A strong narrative told in a flat format may be ignored.

A simple story, told powerfully through the right format and tone, can move hearts and inspire change.

Stories that are authentic, well-structured, and delivered in the right medium can:

• Inspire self-reflection

• Change perspectives

• Drive social action

• Foster empathy across differences

When youth learn to intentionally pair format + technique + message, their storytelling becomes a tool for advocacy, connection, and change.

• Strategy/Technique 1: Match Format to Emotion

Audial formats (e.g., podcasts): Great for intimacy, emotion, storytelling through tone.

Visual formats (e.g., video, VR): Ideal for dramatic scenes, humor, or action.

Written formats (e.g., blogs): Perfect for introspection, slow builds, or analysis.

Hybrid formats (e.g., interactive apps): Excellent for dynamic

• Strategy/Technique 2: Embed Engagement Features

Add polls, clickable choices, voice notes, or comment prompts to make stories interactive.

Use personal stories, humor, and cliffhangers to keep audiences emotionally invested.

• Strategy/Technique 3:  Think "Platform + Format"

Instagram stories (visual + interactive polls)

Podcasts with listener Q&A

Blog posts with embedded videos and comment threads

Choose a Basic Story Scenario.

Pick a universal situation (e.g., “Someone gets lost in a new city” or “A big decision must be made”).

Create 2–3 Story Paths.

Write short alternative outcomes or perspectives for the story. Each path should reflect a different format and engagement style: 

• Blog-style entry (written format with reflective tone)

• Voice recording or podcast snippet (audial with emotional narration)

• Video scene or animated visual (visual + emotional or humorous tone)

Add an Audience Choice Point.

Present the story to your peers and let them choose:

• Which format to follow?

• Which decision the character should make?

• Which format made them feel most engaged?

• Which storytelling format felt most natural or exciting for you to work with—and why?

• How did your chosen format influence the way you expressed your story?

• What emotions or reactions do you hope your audience will experience when engaging with your story?

• Did you find it easier or harder to include engagement techniques (e.g., interactivity, emotional hooks)? Why?

• How confident do you feel about guiding youth through the storytelling process using multiple formats?

• Which format do you think works best for engaging young audiences today? What makes it effective?

• How do different formats affect the way a story’s message is interpreted?

• What challenges did you face when trying to combine format and engagement techniques? How did you overcome them?

• Can you think of a story (online or offline) that had a strong emotional or social impact on you? What made it so powerful?

• How can we use digital storytelling not just for expression, but as a tool for advocacy or community change?

In Unit 3, we examined the range of digital storytelling formats—audial, visual, written, and hybrid—and how each can be used strategically to connect with different audiences. We also explored audience engagement techniques, from emotional storytelling to interactive features. Youth workers now have the tools to guide young people in choosing the right format for their message and creating stories that are not only seen or heard—but truly felt and remembered.