For Promotional Letters and Brochures

Something I’ve been developing in the course of my publishing support business is what I call generically a storygraph. A storygraph is a directional sequencing of images and textboxes laid out on an electronic page, where the images (or textboxes) are linked to books, videos, or sound recordings on the World Wide Web.

My construction method uses a Visio graphics software package combined with printing to a portable domain format (pdf) file, then I run a pdf ‘write’ program that enables me to specify for any of the regions on the page a corresponding Web link, if any.

1. The first storygraph I composed was of my own personal (mainly ideological) history that I used to give me a context for a presentation on political strategy to a local Libertarian group. This general type of storygraph I call a life scroll. Go to this page here for a sample: http://www.brianrwright.com/Swing.pdf.
2. The second storygraph I composed was a cause-oriented diagram of an argument for principles and practices that I see as leading to a general benefit to humankind. I sent these as Christmas cards, and I call this type of storygraph a syllograph. The Paradigm Shift diagram is here: http://www.brianrwright.com/Shakabuku.pdf.
3. A third type of storygraph—which I have yet to ‘paint’ but probably will soon—is a general description diagram. It is akin to the data flow diagram in systems design, or processing documentation in manufacturing, or even a map of landmarks showing directions. I guess I call this a descriptograph?

Each of the main types has important subtypes. For example, the life scroll can focus on one’s career like a resume, or it can show one’s lifelong learning milestones like a living diploma. I haven’t got to the point of naming the several applications I envision. It’s all ‘open source,’ so who knows where the new medium will go. [Note: storygraphs can be ‘nested’ into several layers.]

The most artistic of them is Type 1, the life scroll. It has such a humanitarian quality. I relish the thought of good people keeping a living scroll of themselves of all the important stuff.

Helen, what I’d like to propose or have you consider is constructing a life scroll for Don. I am firming up a general process, and you and the family would have as much a role as you want. Typically the loved one(s) provides images, textbox roughs, links, and a layout concept. Then I scan and edit, putting it all together, making it available as an active-link file or on the Web.

I’d have to do my part for remuneration, but it certainly will be reasonable. Let me know.

Brian Wright
248.320.2813
http://www.brianrwright.com/publish