Digital Storytelling

Do I need to know how to code?

Knowledge of coding is not necessary to create products with Twine. Knowledge of CSS, JavaScript, and HTML, however, can help create more complex ones.

Where can I publish the stories after I'm done?

Because Twine stories publish directly to HTML files, they can be uploaded and used nearly everywhere. It is not limited to a specific browser, and can be used on any device with JavaScript enabled, including tablets and phones.

Do I have to download something?

No you can create products with Twine within the browser. 

However, that means that your work is saved only in your browser. And since your work is saved only in your browser, if you clear its saved data, then you'll lose your work. You can get around this by remembering to use the Archive button often. You can also publish individual stories to files using the menu on each story in the story list. Both archive and story files can always be re-imported into Twine.

Another limitation with using Twine in-browser is that anyone who uses the browser can see and make changes to your work. So it would be inadvisable to use a computer where other people have access to it, such as a family computer, or a public one.

I have Windows, can I use it?

Yes. Twine runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Which story format should I use?

There are three story formats within Twine: Harlowe, SugarCube, and Snowman. The default format for Twine 2 is Harlowe. If you have little to no experience with programming then Harlowe is your best bet. If you have a grasp on HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, SugarCube might be better to work with. There are also more tutorials for SugarCube than there are for Harlowe. And finally, if you are experienced in using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript then use Snowman.

There are dozens of creative tools that can be used to generate a digital story, some of which are usable at a very introductory level and some of which require a more advanced familiarity with coding languages or graphic design technologies. 

Depending on the digital storytelling process you'd like to engage in, there are workshops and consultations offered at the Loretta C. Duckworth Scholars studio, as well as online tutorials and instructional videos that can guide new creators through the process of multimedia crafting.

In some cases, the greatest obstacle in exploring new digital tools is individual accessibility. Temple University students, faculty, and staff will have access to the Adobe Creative Cloud, which includes programs to edit audio (Adobe Audition) and video (Adobe Rush), as well as construct and edit illustrative or type-based designs (Adobe Illustrator and Adobe InDesign). 

The goal of the Twine game is to illustrate as clearly as possible the accumulation of microaggressions and acculturative stress upon the physical and mental body, so that it may be better understood by people who may not understand how these incidents play out. You choose a character (Leslie or Alex) and play through various personal and professional experiences within their lives. 

The game uses the "Choose your own adventure" format. These stories are not linear, instead your characters choices guide the direction of the story. All of the choices you make will impact your physical and mental state, as they would in real life. These choices consequently impact the decisions you are able to make in the future. Choices that you are unable to make due to physical and mental fatigue are demonstrated with a strikethrough.