App Delays and Creative Challenges
Our social storytelling app nears launch—Apple review delays us, but creative challenges and intern-led innovation are full steam ahead. Join us!
Right then, I feel like I haven’t posted in a little while, so I wanted to give you an update about what's been going on and what's coming up – because it's all rather exciting, even with a little hiccup in the works.
First things first, our much-anticipated social storytelling app is currently navigating the sometimes-murky waters of Apple's app assessment. As our lead developer put it: "Still battling through with Apple. If they find an issue, they stop reviewing until it is resolved. We’ve made a few minor changes to the app to make them happy (nothing fundamental) and are working to turn around any questions as quickly as possible. We’re going to push hard to have this approved on all platforms by the end of the week. I’ll keep you posted."
So, while we're champing at the bit to get it into your hands, we're playing the waiting game with Apple. Rest assured, the team is working flat out to smooth things over and get that green light. We're really hopeful for a positive update soon!
Now, onto some truly inspiring news. We've been incredibly fortunate to welcome three bright and enthusiastic interns from Lancaster University to the fold. They're already proving to be a fantastic asset, each bringing their unique skills to the table. We have one intern brilliantly managing the creative challenges we've lined up, another diligently developing the digital assets that will bring our stories to life, and a third focused on ensuring the user interface is as intuitive and enjoyable as possible.
Speaking of those creative challenges, we've put together a cracking plan to really explore the art of social storytelling from every angle. Starting on Monday, April 28th, our interns will be diving into a series of thought-provoking exercises designed to test all sorts of perspectives. Here's a little sneak peek at what they'll be tackling:
Collaboratively brainstorming story concepts and characters, then co-writing scripts turn-by-turn with a social media focus.
Creating stories with audience-driven improvisation through character Q&As, branching narratives, and multiple endings.
Telling a story from an object’s point of view, using a chain-reaction format.
Adapting scenes from existing works into four distinct social media versions, experimenting with different audio and film techniques.
Narrating a single event from multiple characters' emotional and factual perspectives, using varied styles and timelines.
Crafting a three-part story over nine posts, exploring scene length and exposition.
Building a looping story with a found footage style, potentially using real or fake external links.
Developing a relationship between two contrasting characters over a short timeline, using social media interactions and indirect storytelling.
Creating a story where background details subtly support or contradict the main action.
Telling a short story using light filters and background music to convey mood and tone.
It's a comprehensive programme designed to really push the boundaries of what social storytelling can be, and we're incredibly excited to see what innovative ideas emerge.
We've been trying to keep everyone in the loop on our Discord channel, but we've noticed that the level of engagement hasn't been quite what we'd hoped for. Only a handful – five out of thirty-six, to be precise – have been actively participating in the conversations.
Now, this really is our chance to make a significant impact and change things for the better in the world of storytelling. But, and it's a big but, it won't happen overnight, and it certainly won't happen if we don't all get involved.
So, if you are in the Discord channel, please do remember to join in and get involved. And, if you aren’t, here’s the link to come along:
I do want to express my sincere gratitude for the hard work our interns are putting in. They've hit the ground running and are doing a truly fantastic job. We've put a lot of effort into getting this project off the ground, and personally, I'm feeling a tad disheartened that the engagement on Discord hasn't matched our initial hopes. This isn't just for me, but for the project itself, for the future possibilities of storytelling, and indeed, for the interns who are pouring their energy into this.
Of course, we're optimistic that as we move through the next couple of months of testing and, crucially, when the app finally gets the thumbs up from Apple and is released, we'll see a significant increase in engagement.
Your input, your ideas, your perspectives – they are all invaluable. We truly believe that by working together, we can create something special. So, please, do jump into the Discord channel, share your thoughts, and be a part of this journey. We'd love to hear from you!