Collaborative storytelling
Folded Story Circle
Write one part of a fictional adventure, fold it out of sight, and pass the page. Unfold the finished story together.
Writers use short phrases; an adult may write for a child.
Download the host card PDFBring to the table
- One sheet and pencil per player
- Enough table space to fold and pass paper
Set up
- Use imaginary characters and places. Avoid writing about a guest or somebody’s private life.
- Every player begins with a sheet. The host reads the same prompt to everybody; each person writes, folds just that line out of view and passes clockwise.
How to play
- Complete the six prompts in order. Keep earlier writing hidden, but leave enough blank paper for the next writer.
- Move all sheets at the same time. With fewer than six players a sheet will return to an earlier writer; that is fine.
- After the last prompt, pass once more, unfold and read the story in order. A player may ask the host to read their sheet.
A complete six-part story
A curious robot / visited a floating library / to borrow a map / but the shelves began to sing / so it asked a friendly cloud for help / and everyone found the way home. The parts need not fit this neatly to form a playable story.
Your three-part session
Preview all the prompts here. The host controls the pace and can repeat, skip or shorten a part to suit the group.
1. Character and place
First write an imaginary character; fold and pass. Then write where the character went; fold and pass again.
2. Goal and surprise
Write what the character wanted; fold and pass. Then add an unexpected obstacle; fold and pass.
3. Help and ending
Write how the character tried to solve it; fold and pass. Write what happened at the end; pass, unfold and read.
Host one part at a time
Use this on the host’s screen. It keeps the current instruction visible while your group plays.
Character and place
First write an imaginary character; fold and pass. Then write where the character went; fold and pass again.
Goal and surprise
Write what the character wanted; fold and pass. Then add an unexpected obstacle; fold and pass.
Help and ending
Write how the character tried to solve it; fold and pass. Write what happened at the end; pass, unfold and read.
Ready when your group is.
Offer more support
Let a child draw a character or dictate a short phrase. The host can read each prompt twice and wait until every sheet is ready.
Add a challenge
After reading, choose one story and work together to add a sentence that connects its most surprising pair of ideas.
If something goes wrong
If someone sees an earlier line, continue without restarting. If passing gets out of step, check which prompt each sheet needs before writing again.
Finish together
Read every story that its writers are comfortable sharing. Let the group choose a title for one of them.