Screenshots: Ishmael
Simon Groth
Screenshots is a regular feature by Simon Groth, highlighting a project, app, or other resource of interest.
Ishmael
by Jordan Magnuson
Rather than pushing the boundaries of its technology, this short story focuses squarely on how the web can be used in the service of a narrative. Though it contains elements of interactive fiction, with some branching pathways, the story itself is mostly linear: a first-person narrative of a boy attempting to preserve his childhood while war rages around him. Magnuson’s use of gaming conventions in the prose bring an interesting aesthetic to its otherwise more traditional approach: enabling the reader to interrogate the scenery, the narrator’s thoughts, and inspect other characters directly. And its use of visual cues and sound give the story depth and texture, supporting and never distracting from the text.

This approach to presentation is used to tremendous effect as the story closes in on its devastating conclusion and the experience on screen begins to mirror both its character’s and the reader’s emotional intensity. And like any well-told story, it’s that intensity that stays with the reader, even after the browser window is closed.
Ishmael is available to read online.
Related posts
The Writing Platform Bursary, supported by the NALD Futures Fund, is designed to support inter-disciplinary learning and collaboration between writers and technologists. The fund ...
Screenshots is a regular feature by Simon Groth, highlighting a project, app, or other resource of interest. The Cartographer’s Confession By James Attlee The Cartograph...
The Writing Platform has partnered with Arts Council England to run an advice session about funding for digital writers. The event is taking place on Wednesday 8th April, 6.30pm -...
Screenshots is a regular feature by Simon Groth, highlighting a project, app, or other resource of interest. Black Room by Casssie McQuater Described by its creator as ‘...
If you’re a writer interested in finding out more about immersive entertainment - discovering how your audiences can be immersed and play an active part in your story – then we hav...
A version of this illustrated article was given by J.R. Carpenter as a Keynote Address at the New Media Writing Prize Award Event at Bournemouth University in January 2017. Thi...