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#7 Easy

Story Building

One person starts a story, the next adds a sentence, and you keep going around the circle. Gets creative juices flowing and builds collaboration through shared laughter at absurd plot twists.

work team student youth fun easy quick small

Group Size:

5-20 people

Duration:

10-20 minutes

Difficulty:

Easy

How to Play:

Story Building - How to Play
  1. 1

    One person starts with an opening sentence for a story

  2. 2

    Go around the circle with each person adding one sentence

  3. 3

    Build on what others have said to create a cohesive narrative

  4. 4

    Continue until the story reaches a natural conclusion

Best For:

Creative teams, brainstorming sessions, warm-up activities

Pro Tips

  • Start with an engaging opening line to set an interesting direction

  • Encourage participants to build on what came before rather than contradicting it

  • Keep the pace moving by limiting thinking time between contributions

Variations

  • Genre Specific: Set a genre like mystery, romance, or sci-fi before starting

  • Word Limit: Each person adds exactly five words to increase the challenge

FAQ

What if someone derails the story completely?
Encourage building on what came before, but some absurdity adds humor. Set a 'yes, and' rule from improv.
How do we know when to end the story?
Set a time limit, go around the circle twice, or let the story reach a natural conclusion organically.
Can this work with large groups?
Split into smaller circles of 5-8 people. Large groups make wait times too long between turns.

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