Have you
used any of the writing games that are sold by various retailers? I have one of
them, The Storymatic®. There are three versions. I have the Classic edition. It’s
made in the USA, by The Storymatic Corporation of Vermont and has been around
for several years.
My
writers group played with The Storymatic recently. The box is filled with cards
of two different colors. One color is about characters, the other color is
about situations. There are nine suggested games within The Storymatic to choose from, but you do not have to use any of them.
At our meeting we tried “Add
to It.” Each person takes turns drawing cards and adding to the story that the
first person started. You can go as long as you want. My group took turns
telling a story about a couple out on a date. An engagement ring, a paramedic,
an ambulance, a Chihuahua, a baby
elephant, and a veterinarian hospital were involved. I have forgotten
what else was thrown into the story. It was very funny! We were meeting in a
public place, so our laughter generated some looks from other customers. We
decided to play again sometime, but in the “safety and comfort” of a member’s
home!
To
generate new ideas and have some fun, I recommend The Storymatic. If you want
to learn more about this game, two websites that contain
additional information are http://thestorymatic.com/ and http://archive.wired.com/geekdad/2012/02/storymatic/. The latter site includes an
interview with the man who created The Storymatic.
Have you
tried a game to get new ideas or to break writers block? Please post about your
experiences here.
Have fun playing and writing!
Debbie A. Byrne has a
B.S. in Mass Communication with a minor in History. She is a member of the
Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and is working on
her first children’s book.
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