6. Story Spine Exercises
Based on a storytelling structure often associated with improvisation and narrative work.
The Story Spine
Exercise A: Character Story Spine
Create a Story Spine for your character.
Example:
Exercise B: Scene Story Spine
Apply the structure to a scene.
Summarize the scene using only the Story Spine.
This reveals:
Exercise C: Silent Story Spine
Groups create a Story Spine physically.
No dialogue.
Audience identifies:
Based on a storytelling structure often associated with improvisation and narrative work.
The Story Spine
- Once upon a time...
- Every day...
- But one day...
- Because of that...
- Because of that...
- Until finally...
- Ever since then...
Exercise A: Character Story Spine
Create a Story Spine for your character.
Example:
- Once upon a time there was a student who wanted to be an actor.
- Every day she auditioned.
- But one day she got rejected.
- Because of that she stopped trying.
- Because of that she lost confidence.
- Until finally she auditioned again.
- Ever since then she believes in herself.
- This clarifies the character's journey.
Exercise B: Scene Story Spine
Apply the structure to a scene.
Summarize the scene using only the Story Spine.
This reveals:
- Objective
- Obstacle
- Turning points
- Outcome
Exercise C: Silent Story Spine
Groups create a Story Spine physically.
No dialogue.
Audience identifies:
- Beginning
- Problem
- Escalation
- Resolution