While you may not want to tell a story as you find it in a novel or movie, consider how storytelling elements can shape your website.
- What is the premise of your site? Often, this refers to location, characters, and circumstances – but for our purposes, you want to think about yourself as the character and the purpose of your website as the premise.
- What is the plot of your website? Or rather, what is the sequence you want your audience to experience your website? Is there a highlight of the site you want to make sure everyone experiences?
- Who is the main character of your site? It is most likely you – but which you do you want to show to the world? Are there other characters who are important? (This may be more relevant if your site focuses on a project, like a community project, rather than what you want the world to know about you.)
- What are your style choices? In the traditional narrative, words, sentences, and style are important, but you may also be thinking about the type of images, videos, and other items you are adding to the website – do they show a variety of styles? And if so, does this mean you have to explain these differences?
- What are the themes of your story? For example, we are asking you to think about your values – do you see your values reflected in your site and should you make them more visible?
- As you add evidence of your skills and knowledge to the site, consider this narrative structure:
- Describe what you want your audience to see in the evidence (e.g., this writing sample was part of a longer writing project in my internship program, cumulating in a poster presentation to the key client).
- Analyze how this evidence showcases the skill or knowledge (e.g., the writing sample clarifies the research and lays out a couple of possible solutions).
- Apply how you will use the skill you are showcasing in other work and learning situations (e.g., explain briefly how the practice of research, revision, and design prepares you to write other communications, like research papers, memos, or formal emails).
- Finally, what is the hook of your story: How do you draw your audience into your site so that they stay and explore? Consider using words, images, color choices.