Neftaly Improvised Storytelling Momentum Drills
Maintaining momentum in improvised storytelling is essential for creating engaging and dynamic narratives. The following drills are designed to help performers build and sustain momentum, ensuring that stories flow seamlessly and captivate the audience.
1. The 8-Beat Story
This exercise involves constructing a story by adding one sentence at a time, following a specific structure:
- Once upon a time…
- And every day…
- Until one day…
- And because of that…
- And because of that…
- And because of that…
- Until finally…
- And ever since then…
Each participant contributes a sentence, building upon the previous one, to create a cohesive and flowing narrative.
2. Yes, And…
A fundamental principle in improvisation, “Yes, and…” involves accepting what others introduce and expanding upon it. This technique encourages collaboration and ensures that the story progresses without unnecessary interruptions. For example:
- Person 1: “We’re on a plane.”
- Person 2: “Yes, and the plane is crashing.”
- Person 1: “Yes, and we have oxygen masks.”
- Person 2: “Yes, and they’re broken and feeding us laughing gas instead of oxygen!”
This exercise helps in maintaining the narrative flow and building upon each other’s contributions.
3. Shared Story
In this collaborative exercise, participants take turns adding to a story, ensuring that each addition logically follows the previous one. The focus is on strong and collaborative storytelling, with players crafting one unified story through small and logical steps. This practice encourages active listening and thoughtful contributions, enhancing the overall narrative momentum.
4. One Word Story
This exercise involves participants telling a story one word at a time, with each person contributing a single word in sequence. The goal is to create a cohesive story through collective input, fostering teamwork and spontaneity. While the story may not be perfect, the emphasis is on collaboration and the joy of creating together.
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