6 Storytelling Games for Aspiring Writers

Aspiring writers often struggle with finding inspiration and honing their storytelling skills. To overcome these challenges, it can be helpful to incorporate storytelling games into your writing practice. Not only do these games make writing more enjoyable, but they also encourage creativity and help you develop a strong narrative voice. In this article, we’ll explore six storytelling games that aspiring writers can play to enhance their skills.

1. Story Cubes

Story Cubes is a popular and versatile storytelling game that uses dice with different images on each side. Players roll the dice and use the images that appear to create a story. This game encourages improvisation and helps writers think outside the box. It’s also a wonderful tool for overcoming writer’s block and generating new story ideas.

2. Once Upon a Time

Once Upon a Time is a card-based storytelling game where players collectively create a fairytale. Each player holds a hand of cards representing story elements such as characters, events, and settings. The goal is to incorporate your cards into the ongoing story while trying to steer it toward a specific ending. This game not only develops storytelling skills but also teaches writers the art of collaboration and narrative structure.

3. Exquisite Corpse

Exquisite Corpse is a collaborative writing game that originated in the Surrealist movement. It involves multiple writers taking turns to contribute sections of a story without knowing what the others have written. This results in a creative and often unpredictable narrative. Playing Exquisite Corpse helps writers practice their improvisation skills, embrace the unexpected, and learn how to adapt to various writing styles and voices.

4. Story Starters

Story Starters is a game that provides writers with a set of random prompts or opening lines to kickstart their stories. These prompts can be written on index cards or generated using online tools. By incorporating elements they may not have considered otherwise, writers can explore new themes and genres. Story Starters are particularly helpful for overcoming writer’s block and initiating the creative process.

5. Consequences

Consequences is a classic writing game that involves multiple players taking turns to write sections of a story. Each player can only see the previous sentence and must continue the narrative without knowing what came before. The resulting story often takes unexpected twists and turns, challenging writers to think on their feet and adapt to changing plot developments. Consequences encourages writers to embrace ambiguity and take risks with their storytelling.

6. Writing Prompts

Writing prompts are a versatile tool for aspiring writers. They can be in the form of a single word, a phrase, or a short paragraph that serves as a creative spark. Writing prompts can be found in various places, including books, websites, and social media platforms dedicated to writing. They can help writers overcome writer’s block, explore different genres and writing styles, and provide a starting point for more in-depth stories.

Conclusion

Incorporating storytelling games into your writing practice can be a fun and effective way to enhance your skills as an aspiring writer. These games encourage creativity, improve improvisation, and teach you to collaborate and adapt to different writing styles. Whether you’re overcoming writer’s block or looking to develop your narrative voice, playing these storytelling games will undoubtedly enrich your writing journey.