Method

This is the same as Word at a time - you tell a story one word at a time, but each time it gets back to the facilitator, it goes up a number of words.

So first time around the circle everyone says one word, then two, then three etc. Ideally, you’d go up to five words at a time and then de-escalate back down to one.

Teaching notes

• You don't always have to be the one that says the funny words, sometimes you're just the person that says "and". But that's just as important. You're ensuring legibility and flow. Even if someone else gets the laugh, that laugh is yours too.
• You might have an idea where the story is going but you only have a small amount of control over that. A better strategy is to be inspired in the moment by what's happening.
• Keep it active. Don’t tell a story where people decide to do something - just have them do it.
• Use what you create in the story.