Practicalities and Ideologies, (Re)-Considering the Interactive Digital Narrative Authoring Paradigm

In this paper, we discuss the hypothetical nature of authoring Interactive Digital Narratives (IDNs) and the formal authorial process for this medium. We explore the current state-of-the-Art in IDN authorial approaches and consider the perspective of a traditional and technologically naïve author. We propose a combination of meta-narrative and autonomous agent approaches in a quest to democratize IDN authoring to a wider, less technically oriented audience. In doing so, we ask fundamental questions with regards to how the user experience can be expressed within the authorial process. We also, as part of this discussion, reflect on the nature of authoring IDNs and the author him/herself