planetMitch note: Muse Storybuilder has launched and for a very short time is on a ‘launch special’ — hurry and check this out before June 1 as this special ends May 31!
I asked Bret Hoy to have a look at Muse Storybuilder to see what were his initial thoughts:
It’s very easy to take story for granted. When you’re producing content for clients day in and day out, you often find yourself in a groove (read: rut) in which you’re functioning as if every story has similar, or the same elements. This is helpful in some ways. It helps you create consistency within your brand, and it keeps you getting content out the door, and if you’re a professional, you have to be always moving forward. But the side effect of this ethic is that it turns your process into something resembling a machine. Pushing out content, and forming it like play-dough around a skeleton that you know works, but isn’t really exciting and not always suited for every story.
So as a creative professional, you find yourself in an interesting predicament. You must find a balance between time spent on a project and being able to focus on each story, find the details and moments that make it unique, interesting and will achieve the greatest impact for your audience.
How do you do this? Well, the answer isn’t simple but Muse Storytelling just released an app that seeks to hone your creative process and help you find the heart of every story and flesh it out quickly. It’s called Muse Storybuilder and it’s got me really excited.
What is Muse Storybuilder – An explainer
Before we dig in and talk about the elements of this website, I want to address something. Muse Storybuilder isn’t a prescription that will cure bad stories. Instead, think of it as a way to diagnose your stories and give you a clear idea of what’s working and what isn’t.
Muse Storybuilder is a comprehensive, beginning to end, story outlining website that allows you to input characters, places, purpose and plot then compile it into a roadmap of sorts.
Not only does it do that, it allows you to add collaborators on the project that can comment and edit each facet of the story. This really changes the pre-production process with your client. Clear and concise communication is key when you’re trying to quickly and confidently put together a story.
Muse Storybuilder provides you the clean looking front for that communication.
Even if you discount all of the potential time saved communicating with your client, Muse Storybuilder almost forces you to create better stories. How does it do this? Well, it draws attention to every element of your story all at once, and that in turn shines a harsh light on each part. As I said before, it’s easy to take stories for granted. When you have to write them out and defend those ideas, characters and plot points, you look at your own work with a more critical eye. This turns your pre-production into a time where you can truly hone your stories.
What really rounds out the Muse Storybuilder are the videos that accompany each section.
They go further than just explaining the website itself. They’re writing classes in and of themselves and show you the importance of each step. This was sort of a surprise when I started using the website myself and speaks to what Storybuilder does as a whole.
planetMitch note: This story about Shane and Lydia Hurlbut was part of the Muse Storybuilder product launch promotion
Muse Storytelling: The Hurlbut’s Story
Initially when I heard about the website, I had my pre-conceived notion about what it would be– something that increases your productivity and allows you to communicate with clients.
But for me, what defines the website is really its ability to force you to make decisions that you otherwise, might not.
This makes you a better story teller.
If you really put the time in and care about what you’re creating, Muse Storybuilder gives you the tools to take it to the next level.
Learn more and Get the Muse Storybuilder Launch Special before it ends on May 31!
(cover photo credit: snap from source in post)
