Guide
What is interactive storytelling? A practical guide
Interactive storytelling is a way of presenting a story on the web where the reader’s actions — usually scrolling — drive what they see. Images change, maps zoom, timelines advance and media plays as the narrative unfolds, so the story becomes an experience the reader moves through at their own pace.
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What is an interactive story?
An interactive story combines writing with visuals that respond to the reader. Instead of scrolling past a fixed sequence of paragraphs and pictures, the reader advances the story step by step, and each step changes the screen to show the right image, chart, map or video at the right moment.
- The reader controls the pace, usually by scrolling.
- Visuals stay on screen and change in sync with the text.
- The story is designed for the web, and adapts to phones, tablets and desktops.
- Evidence — photos, video, maps, timelines and data — is part of the narrative, not an attachment to it.
Interactive storytelling vs. traditional storytelling
Both formats tell a story; they differ in how the reader experiences it.
| Aspect | Traditional web article | Interactive story |
|---|---|---|
| Pace | Fixed: the reader scrolls past text and images | Guided: each scroll step reveals the next moment |
| Visuals | Images placed between paragraphs | Images and video stay on screen and change with the text |
| Structure | Linear blocks of text | Chapters, scenes and steps, often with timelines |
| Evidence and data | Shown separately or linked | Woven into the narrative with zooms, frames and maps |
| Devices | One layout that reflows | Layouts and artwork designed per screen size |
Common interactive storytelling techniques
Sticky backgrounds (scrollytelling)
A full-screen image or video stays pinned while text cards scroll over it, so the reader reads and looks at the same time.
Scroll frames
A sequence of images crossfades as the reader scrolls. Tying each image to its own text card turns the sequence into a visual timeline.
Pan and zoom
One large image — a map, a diagram or a timeline — is explored by moving and zooming from point to point as the story is read.
Entrance animations
Text, images and numbers fade, slide or count up as they come into view, drawing attention to what matters next.
Embedded media
Video, audio and embeds such as maps play inside the story, so the reader never has to leave the page.
How to create an interactive story, step by step
- 1
Define the story and its key moments
Write the narrative first and mark the moments where a visual should change: a new photo, a location, a date or a number.
- 2
Gather and prepare your media
Collect the images, video and audio for each moment. Prepare wide (landscape) artwork for desktop and, where it matters, tall (portrait) versions for phones.
- 3
Start from a template or a blank story
In StoryFlowBuilder, open a template — news, explainer, investigation, profile, photo essay, guided tour or timeline — or start with a blank stage, and name your story.
- 4
Build sections and text cards
Create one section per chapter, add your text cards and media, and arrange them on the canvas.
- 5
Add scroll effects and animations
Turn on sticky backgrounds, add scroll frames tied to their text cards or a pan-and-zoom camera path, and choose entrance animations.
- 6
Check every screen size
Preview the desktop, tablet and mobile layouts and adjust any element that needs a different size or position on smaller screens.
- 7
Export and publish
Export a self-contained HTML5 package and upload it to your website, CMS or any static hosting. Keep the editable source to update the story later.
What is StoryFlowBuilder?
StoryFlowBuilder is a browser-based, no-code editor built for exactly this workflow. Every technique above is a setting in a panel: sticky backgrounds, scroll frames, pan and zoom, animations, responsive layouts and right-to-left languages. Stories export as standard web files that you own and can host anywhere.
See all StoryFlowBuilder features →Who uses interactive stories?
Interactive stories are used wherever understanding matters: newsrooms publishing investigations and explainers, NGOs and researchers presenting reports and field evidence, educators building guided lessons, and brands and cultural institutions launching campaigns and exhibitions.
Learn more about StoryFlowBuilder →