Concept development - Idea generation - Storytelling

Introduction: Storytelling activities are a great way to get your team warmed up and generating ideas. Why? Because they help remind people that they are naturally creative, and can improve listening skills, spontaneity, and the ability to accept and build on ideas. Besides, by fictionalizing a situation you can help participants feel safer about thinking “outside the box” or voicing what seem to be silly ideas – which are both at the core of innovation.
How to do it? Try using the Story Spine, a simple template originally created by Kenn Adams, a playwright and improvisational actor, and adapted for organizations by StoryNet LLC. The Story Spine provides just enough structure to make individual or group storytelling fun and engaging, and actually helps people to craft satisfying stories.

STORY SPINE EXERCISE

SET UP 3-5 mins
Explain how this exercise will be used as a creativity warm-up or to generate new ideas directly, depending on your agenda. Divide participants into groups of 2-5 or have them work individually
Post or hand out the Story Spine (see below)
STORYTELLING 3-25 mins
Have participants create a story one sentence at a time, using the cue words from the Story Spine (allow 3-4 minutes per person)
DEBRIEF 3-25 mins
If used for a warm-up:
Was that easier or harder than you expected? What most surprised you about others’ stories? Your own? Did the structure help or hinder you?
If used for idea generation:
Allow participants choose to share their story with the group. What elements of the stories seemed most outlandish to you? Which would be most desirable if they were possible? Which might be most promising for further brainstorming?

The Story Spine

“Once upon a time…”
This is the introduction to the setting and characters in the story. The platform. The exposition. It gives listeners the context and sets the stage.
Example:

• “Once upon a time in the same city, there were two prominent families who despised each other."

“Everyday…”
The platform continues and develops.
Example:

• “Everyday the families feuded, fought and killed each other’s members.”

“But one day…”
This is the catalyst. The reason that the story is being told. Why today is different.
Example:

• “But one day, the son of one of the families crashed the birthday party of the other’s daughter.”

“Because of that…” (repeat at will)
This is the heart of the story. The consequences that ensue from the catalyst. Each event
leads to another event building suspense and tension.
Examples:

• “Because of that, the son and daughter fell in love.”
• “Because of that, they secretly married.”
• “Because of that, the son wanted the killing to stop.”
• “Because of that he stepped into the middle of a fight and inadvertently caused the death of his best friend.”
• “Because of that, in agony and rage, he killed the killer, his wife’s cousin.”
• “Because of that, he was banished.”
• “Because of that the lovers needed to employ a complicated plan to be reunited.”
• “Because the plan was complicated, and depended on other people, communication broke down.” (Does this sound like work?)
• “Because the message didn’t get to him, the son didn’t realize his wife was only faking her death, and he thought she was really dead when he found her in the family tomb.”
• “Because of that, he killed himself.”

“Until finally…”
Here is the climax. The clincher. The moment for which we all wait!
Example:

• “Until finally, the daughter awoke to find her husband dead beside her, and she plunged his knife into her body, just as the members of both families entered the tomb to find their beloved children dead.”

“And ever since then…”
The resolution. The conclusion.
Example:

• “And ever since then, both families have stopped the nonsensical war between them and have learned to cooperate and live happily together.”