Writing Games

Okay, so my friends over at Smash Fiction put out a new episode where they played a little writing game. I won't get too deep into because I think it's way better if you just give them a listen, so I'll link that below. Suffice it to say, everyone in the group was required to retell a well known story with changes they made. After listening to them play, I immediately, and I'm talking within an hour of finishing the podcast, played this with a group of friends and they LOVED it.

It was a fun game, it got everything thinking, and most of all, it really got creative juices stirring. It came to me that stuff like this should be a writer's bread and butter when it comes to those strange, rare occurrences where we're expected to socialize with others.

Now I'm on a hunt. I really enjoyed that game and I'd love to find more games that can get a group thinking and, maybe not literally writing, but telling stories. I've played games like Balderdash where you have to come up with fake definitions for words, but never something where story telling was such a central focus. Even when I've run a role-playing campaign, there are often players who are satisfied sitting in the background and contributing only as needed. This game got everyone telling a story, and the fun rules meant that people had to think creatively and act cautiously.

If you want to give it a try for yourself (which I highly recommend) the game is called Surprise Party and consists of players replacing a well-known fictional group with their own set of characters from established fiction, then explaining how this new group would fare better to a player who acts as judge.  Check out Smash Fiction's podcast on it, listen through, and give a try with your friends, I know you'll love it. Smash Fiction's Surprise Party.

Be Excellent to Each Other