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The Improv Toolbelt - Story

  • Writer: Catherine Seed
    Catherine Seed
  • Mar 3
  • 1 min read


The Improv Toolbelt: Story PROMISES Feeling that we have to keep this big complex story together can be overwhelming. Instead see ‘shiny things’ that come up as promises. A promise to the audience and improvisers that it will come up later. RAISE THE STAKES Are the characters pursuing something with consequences? How can you build the tension? Is there a deadline? Personal impact? ADVANCE AND EXPAND Two of the tools we have at hand are thinking about how our scene choices affect what we know. Are we moving the story forward, or alternatively are we adding detail and exploring, before we move forward again? HILLS AND VALLEYS Every story has high and low points of tension. We can weave this into our scenes. Remember, one intense choice after another can feel both overwhelming and samey. Let the tension fall and build again instead.
Story

The Improv Toolbelt is a series of infographics with tips for improvisers looking to focus on a particular aspect of their craft. These are created under a creative commons- attribution license. Please feel free to use, but do credit @CatherineSeed on X, Instagram or just in name. Thank you :)


Text version:

The Improv Toolbelt: Story

  1. PROMISES

    1. Feeling that we have to keep this big complex story together can be overwhelming. Instead see ‘shiny things’ that come up as promises. A promise to the audience and improvisers that it will come up later.

  2. RAISE THE STAKES

    1. Are the characters pursuing something with consequences? How can you build the tension? Is there a deadline? Personal impact?

  3. ADVANCE AND EXPAND

    1. Two of the tools we have at hand are thinking about how our scene choices affect what we know. Are we moving the story forward, or alternatively are we adding detail and exploring, before we move forward again?

  4. HILLS AND VALLEYS

    1. Every story has high and low points of tension. We can weave this into our scenes. Remember, one intense choice after another can feel both overwhelming and samey. Let the tension fall and build again instead.  

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