How to write a story in the Episode: Choose Your Story app on an iPhone or iPad

This wikiHow teaches you how to use the Episode mobile editing app to create your first story on an iPhone or iPad.

Steps

Part 1 of 6: Create a New Story

Step 1. Open Episode on the iPhone or iPad

It is the icon that has two cartoon people and the word "Episode" inside. You'll usually find it on the home screen.

• If you haven't downloaded and configured Episode yet, you can download it for free from the App Store

  

• The mobile application is used to create stories that you can save or share with friends. If you want to create and publish a series of many episodes, you will need to use the Episode Writer Portal on a computer.

Step 2. Press the menu ≡

It's in the upper-left corner of the screen.

Step 3. Press Profile

It's at the top of the menu. The login screen will appear.

Step 4. Press the checkbox to accept the terms of service

Step 5. Select a login method

You will have to log in with a Facebook or Google (or Gmail) account. Select the option you want to use, then follow the instructions on the screen to sign in.

Step 6. Press the menu ≡ again and select Create.

It's at the bottom of the menu.

Step 7. Click Create your story

It's the blue button at the bottom of the screen. Now you will create the first scene.

• The stories are divided into scenes, which are parts of the story and take place in one place (with only one background). The scenes are divided into "beats", which are each fragment of action or dialogue that arises in the scene.
• To create the first scene, you will have to select a background. Everything that happens in the first scene will be added to its own beat, which will have the same background.

Step 8. Press Background

They are the mountains in the lower left corner of the screen. A list of background images will expand.

Step 9. Tap a background to select it

If you don't see one you like, try doing a search by typing a keyword in the "Find funds" bar.

Now that you have created a background, you will see that there is a green circle in the lower left corner of the screen (to the right of the play button). This circle represents the first beat. Each beat will eventually have its own circle

Part 2 of 6: Create Characters

Step 1. Press Characters

It is the silhouette of a person at the bottom of the screen. A list of example characters will appear. You can use any of these characters in the story, although you probably want to create your own.

Step 2. Click on the silhouette of the person with a + sign

It's at the beginning of the character list at the bottom of the screen.

Step 3. Select a genre

This action will take you to the avatar design screen.

Step 4. Press the arrow pointing up

It's in the lower-left corner of the screen. This action will open the avatar editor in a larger window so you can better see the options.

Step 5. Press Skin to select a skin tone

It's the first menu icon at the top of the screen.

• Swipe left or right to see a preview of the character in the selected shade.
• To see all skin tones at once, tap the up arrow in the lower left corner of the screen to open all options in one window.

Step 6. Press Face to choose a face shape

Just like you did with the skin tone, slide the options until the preview shows you the one you want to use.

Step 7. Click on each additional option to customize the rest of the character's appearance

Each of the options at the bottom of the screen modifies a different aspect of the character's appearance, but they all work in the same way.

Step 8. Press Wardrobe to edit the avatar's outfit

This option is at the top of the screen (to the right of "Avatar").

Step 9. Slide the outfits on to try them on the character

Just like you did with the physical appearance of the character, swipe left or right through the options until you find the right style for it.

The options at the bottom of the screen are different categories of outfit. Tap each category to explore its options

Step 10. Click OK when the character is complete

It's in the upper-left corner of the screen. The character name screen will appear.

Step 11. Enter a name for the character and press Save

The new character is now saved.

Repeat these steps to create additional characters

Part 3 of 6: Create the first beat

Step 1. Insert a character on the first beat

The first beat is the first thing that will happen on the scene. The beats are the circles at the bottom of the screen that represent each step of the scene. The first beat is generally a character saying or doing something, sometimes to another character and sometimes to a group of characters. You can insert a character as follows:

• Press Characters at the bottom of the screen. The new character (s) will appear on the list.
• Press a character to insert it.

Step 2. Press a character to select it

Now that you've positioned the character, it's time to get him to do something. A white dotted line will surround the selected character.

Step 3. Change the character position

If the character interacts with another or if it must be oriented in a certain direction, use this characteristic to position it correctly.

• Tap the pencil icon next to the character's head to open the menu, and then tap the icon at the bottom of the list (a vertical line with a curved arrow) to cycle through the different standing positions.
• When the character's position is appropriate, tap the pencil icon to close the positioning screen.

Step 4. Press Talk

It's the speech bubble icon at the bottom of the screen. A text box will appear.

Step 5. Write what this character says or thinks, and click OK

Now the text will appear on the screen with the character's name on top. You can drag the text to the place on the screen you want.

Step 6. Select an emotion

This is a mixture of facial expressions and positions that help the character to express some emotion when speaking or thinking.

• Press the character (if it has not already been selected).
• Press Emotions at the bottom of the screen.
• Press the emotion that suits the character speaking.
• Press Emotions again to exit the selector.

Step 7. Add other characters

If you want to include another character in the first beat, you can add it now. You can only add it now if you want it to appear on the screen while the first character is speaking.

Part 4 of 6: Add more beats

Step 1. Press +

It's in the lower-right corner of the screen. This option adds another beat, which is represented by a circle at the bottom of the screen (next to the play button). Now that you've added the first part of the dialogue and emotion, you may want to add another character reaction (or more dialogue or emotion).

Step 2. Add another character

If a character must appear for the first time on this beat, add it now.

Step 3. Press the character who will speak or express an emotion

It can be any character in the scene (whoever needs to speak or show an emotion next). The character will be surrounded by a white dotted line.

Step 4. Position the character

As you did before, press the pencil and then the positioning icon to change the direction the character will be on this beat.

Step 5. Add dialogue and emotion on the second beat

It can be a response to something the first character has said or done, but it can also be the first character speaking again.

Not all beats require dialogue

Step 6. Add more beats until you finish the scene

When you're done, you can see a preview of the story by tapping the first beat and then the play button.

Part 5 of 6: Add another scene

Step 1. Press Background to start a new scene

When you are done with the part of the story that occurred in the last background, start a new scene by selecting a new background. Tapping a new background opens the “New Scene” pop-up window.

Step 2. Decide if you want to keep the characters on stage

If you want to place the same characters from the first scene in the second, select Yes. If not, press No.

Step 3. Create the first beat

As you did before, add and place a character, then edit the dialogue and emotion.

Step 4. Press + when you are ready to create the second beat

Repeat these steps until you have finished adding beats.

Step 5. Press Background when you are ready to create the next scene

Keep adding scenes and beats until you're done creating.

Part 6 of 6: Share the Story

Step 1. Press the share icon

Now that you have created a masterpiece, you may want to share it with others. Tap the white square with an upward-pointing arrow in the upper-right corner of the screen. Depending on the background and location of the character, it can be difficult to see. Tapping it will open the "Share your story" screen.

Step 2. Fill out the form

The story needs a title, author, description, and genre.

• You can use your real name or a pseudonym if you wish.
• Press the menu Gender to see a list of story genres, then tap your selection.

Step 3. Press Share your story

It's the blue button at the bottom of the screen. This action will open the Share menu.

Step 4. Select a sharing method

You can send a link to the story through any messaging or social media app.

• To save your story to your phone, tablet, or iCloud, select Save to files, then follow the instructions on the screen to save it.

Step 5. Use the selected application to send or publish the story

If you're using a mail or messaging app, select a recipient, then hit the Send button. If you're using a social media app like Facebook, add additional text to the post if you want, then tap To post.