Story Spine
Collaborative storytelling using a structured framework - sparks creativity and builds on each other's ideas.
15-25 min
4-15 people
medium
None needed
About This Game
Story Spine is an improv-based storytelling activity where teams build a narrative together using sentence starters: "Once upon a time... Every day... Until one day... Because of that... Until finally..." Each person adds one line, building on what came before.
Objectives
- Practice creative collaboration
- Build on others' ideas ("Yes, and...")
- Develop storytelling skills
- Create shared creative experience
How to Run This Game
Facilitator Script:
"We're going to tell a story together using a framework. I'll give you sentence starters, and we'll go around adding one sentence each. The framework is: Once upon a time... Every day... Until one day... Because of that, (3x)... Until finally... And ever since then... The moral of the story is..."
Actions:
- Write the framework where everyone can see it
- Explain: each person adds ONE sentence
- Emphasize: build on what came before, don't derail
- Choose a theme (or random)
Tips:
- • Post framework on screen/board
- • Example theme: "A team that worked remotely"
- • Emphasize: be playful!
Facilitator Script:
"Let's start! Once upon a time... [First person adds their sentence]. Every day... [Next person continues]."
Actions:
- Go around circle/screen
- Each person adds their sentence
- Record the story (write or audio)
- Enjoy the absurdity and creativity
Tips:
- • For "Because of that" do 3 rounds
- • Encourage wild ideas - embrace chaos
- • If someone gets stuck: "What happened next?"
- • Laughter is good!
Facilitator Script:
"Let me read back our complete story! [Read it dramatically]. What surprised you? What was it like to build on each other's ideas?"
Actions:
- Read the complete story aloud
- Celebrate the creativity
- Ask: What was challenging? What worked well?
- Connect to team collaboration
Tips:
- • Save the story - share in team channel
- • Highlight moments of great building
- • Debrief: How is this like our work?
Facilitator Tips
- This is from improv theater - "Yes, and..." principle
- The more absurd, the better
- Do multiple rounds with different themes
- Variation: write it down and illustrate
- Great for creative teams or brainstorming sessions
Common Challenges & Solutions
Variations & Adaptations
Theme must be work-related: a project, a client, the team
Each person only adds ONE word
Draw the story as you tell it
teams have used this game