A great road trip game is called “No, It Wasn’t.” It’s played with partners. One begins telling a story—any story. The other interrupts as often as desired with, “No, it wasn’t”—or any grammatically-correct contradiction.
It may sound like this:
1: One morning, Jane went for a walk.
2: No, she didn’t.
1: That’s right. It wasn’t a walk. She was running. For exercise.
2: No, it wasn’t.
1: Actually, it was because someone was chasing her. A bad guy.
2: No, it wasn’t.
1: No, it was the police. Jane is the bad guy.
And so on. The challenge to the storyteller is to instantly change direction, as often as they’re prompted. As the story continues, the predictable story lines usually fall away, and the requirement to make changes opens the doors to great creativity. A new story begins to emerge, one that goes in radical new directions. In the example with Jane above, it would’ve originally been a story about her going to visit her friends. In only three twists, Jane is on the run from the police.
This can be a useful brainstorming game for writers too. Maybe you won’t end up writing the story in the direction the game led you, but it does force you to explore more options than Jane simply being out for a walk.
If you’re already working on a premise, write a quick logline for it. In your first sentence, try a “no, it wasn’t,” and see where it leads you.
Or start fresh. Choose a main character, any main character, then give them something to do. And so your game begins.
Need a prompt?
Here it is: When (Main Character) came home that day an old friend was waiting.
No, it wasn’t.
Jennifer A. Nielsen’s debut novel Elliot and the Goblin War was released in October 2010. And it comes with a warning–as of today, only 7 children who have ever read this book have lived to tell about it. If you’re very brave, perhaps you’re willing to take your chance with it.
The next book in the series, Elliot and the Pixie Plot will be released in May 2011. It’s pretty much like the first book, except it has a different plot. Different artwork too. Because that’d be pretty lame if they just used the same art all over again.
46 comments
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November 5, 2010 at 8:29 am
Ishta Mercurio
I actually want to take a road trip now, just to have an excuse to play this game with someone. 😉
Thanks for the reminder that changing things up isn’t as hard as we sometimes make it out to be.
November 5, 2010 at 8:59 am
Tricia
Love this idea! I’m going to try it with my kids, and also with a short story I’m working on.
November 5, 2010 at 9:03 am
Janice Green
You must be a long lost member of my family… When I write about family memories someone will invariably tell me that it wasn’t the way it happened. :o)
This is a very clever way of exploring all the options in a story line. Thanks for the maverick idea.
November 5, 2010 at 9:14 am
laura brown
“No you didn’t”! Thank you for the creative idea….
November 5, 2010 at 9:20 am
Carolyn Rohrbaugh
What a great idea, thanks
November 5, 2010 at 9:26 am
Melissa Liban
Great brainstorming idea, I learned some brainstorming activies in the fiction writing courses I’ve taken, but none as fun as this. Your books sounds fabulous.
November 5, 2010 at 9:27 am
Kellie DuBay Gillis
This is great! Taking a road trip tonight actually. Wonder how my 5 year old will do trying to play this game! (This is totally the opposite of what I learned in my improv training — to “Yes and” someone’s ideas. . . hope I can be contradictory!)
November 5, 2010 at 9:41 am
ccgevry
This is an excellent idea. I had never considered it–though as much as my daughter and I argue you would think it would have come to mind. thanks for the great idea.
Cheryl
November 5, 2010 at 9:46 am
Dana Carey
I love it when something so simple is just such a good idea. I never played “No, It Wasn’t” before but I will very soon. Thanks for a great creative prompt!
November 5, 2010 at 9:55 am
Heather Kephart
I am in love with this game! I used to play story-telling games with my Grandma, so I know how fun they are for children. Now that I am an adult, I can see all the benefits of this game – amusement, expansion of creativity. The benefits are probably endless and snowballish.
No they aren’t! Snowballish isn’t a word!
November 5, 2010 at 10:24 am
Pat Miller
Jennifer, this is such an interesting way to brainstorm.
No, it isn’t.
No, it’s actually the perfect antidote to this stuck place I’m in.
You’re no place.
That’s right! So I’m off with a notebook on this beautiful Texas morning to chronicle the contraries. Thanks so much.
I agree.
November 5, 2010 at 10:40 am
Pam Jones
This is outstanding! It’s easy to feel painted into a corner with some stories…searching for a new direction…it’s good to be reminded that new direction can take place anywhere within the story. Thank you for this wonderful post!
November 5, 2010 at 11:04 am
Catherine Johnson
What an excellent idea, I thought story boarding helped change your story, now I have two ways to change it up a little. Thanks!
November 5, 2010 at 11:18 am
Lori Degman
What a great way to get out of a rut and think outside the box – thanks!
November 5, 2010 at 11:29 am
melangeofcultures
Jennifer,
I really like your idea. I am currently working on a script, I am going to put your suggestions into practical applications to see where it takes me.
Thanks for a great post!
Nicole Weaver
http://www.melangeofcultures.wordpress.com
http://nicole-weaver.com
November 5, 2010 at 12:12 pm
Megan K. Bickel
What a great way to detach yourself from a plot point that is making you stuck! Thanks for the game!
November 5, 2010 at 12:21 pm
Carol L. M.
I love this exercise. It leads you into completely new & exciting territory. Thanks for the tip!
November 5, 2010 at 12:26 pm
Tabatha
Thank you for this idea — it’s a keeper!
November 5, 2010 at 1:20 pm
Beth MacKinney
Thanks for sharing such a fun game. I can’t wait to play it with my kids and my writing group!
November 5, 2010 at 1:53 pm
Belle
This sounds like a great game! We’ll have to try it out on our next car ride. Might play it at bedtime, too 🙂
November 5, 2010 at 2:12 pm
Valarie Giogas
Ooo. I LOVE this! I’ll have to use it on one of my PiBoIdMo ideas. Thanks!!
November 5, 2010 at 2:37 pm
Marya Jansen-Gruber
What a wonderful tool to use when a story is stagnating! Thank you. Tara, you should take all the tips and turn them into a book!
November 5, 2010 at 2:39 pm
Bonnie Adamson
I’m going to remember this one–thanks for a great writing exercise, as well as a fun game. My family will love it!
November 5, 2010 at 3:40 pm
Stephenie Hovland
Ha! Ha! Our family plays car games, but my kids will love one where you’re SUPPOSED to disagree with your mom!
November 5, 2010 at 3:51 pm
David LaRochelle
What a fun road trip game! I’m always looking for ways to pass the time in the car. And what an excellent devise to use for generating fresh story ideas. Thank you!
November 5, 2010 at 4:17 pm
M. G. King
Fantastic idea for a creativity exercise during school visits! Great post!
November 5, 2010 at 5:10 pm
Sheri Dillard
Very fun! I tried it out, and here’s what happened:
The story started with a princess except she wasn’t really a princess — she was a frog wearing a crown (a fake princess, of all things!) and the frog went roller skating on the moon but she fell off and almost landed on Jupiter, but not really. 🙂
Fun game! I’m not sure about the frog/skating/moon story (LOL), but the exercise really had me brainstorming unusual possibilites. Thanks!
November 5, 2010 at 10:02 pm
Marcy Pusey
That was so much fun! I went straight to a story I’d been stuck on and had a blast! I finished a rough version and laughed all the way through it! Thanks for sharing this tip! What a fun family game and a fun way to liven up a stuck story!!!
November 5, 2010 at 10:10 pm
katswhiskers
What fun!! I love this idea. In fact, I’m also thinking of the classroom applications, too. And definitely as a writer. Right – must go find my kids and challenge them to a duel – of words. 😛
November 5, 2010 at 10:15 pm
katswhiskers
PS After the game…. That is so hard! In my reading, I imagined you bouncing back changes quickly. In reality, there was lots of pausing… and I was stuck! I can see I need to work on this game.
November 6, 2010 at 12:09 am
Christie Wild
This would be the sort of game that I would have a hard time playing all by myself. I personally would HAVE to have someone to play it with me. Could be a real hoot in the classroom. Thanks! I LOVE story games.
November 6, 2010 at 3:22 am
Michelle Dennis Evans
I love it! That sounds like so much fun, I’m going to play with my kids.
Thank you
November 6, 2010 at 6:51 am
Megan K. Bickel
Tara- I left an award for you on my blog today. : )
November 6, 2010 at 11:28 am
Catherine Denton
We always played the conversation game but this sounds more intriguing!
Making Life a Work of Art!
November 6, 2010 at 1:47 pm
Irene
I love this trick. I tried to cater it so that I could do this on my own. It’s a little tricky because I’m the one calling the “no, it wasn’t”.
As I free wrote a piece. I would give myself a few prompts to change courses. The prompts could be a traffic sound or if a phone rings, etc. Or I would just change course every few words or phrases. Well, something to work on. Thanks for the idea.
(And yes, our family car rides will be a lot more fun too.)
November 6, 2010 at 6:37 pm
Lynda Shoup
This post was a life saver. I came home tired last night. I sat in my thinking chair and thought “I’m too tired to have an idea tonight.”
Then I remembered your advice and said “No, you’re not. You are relaxed enough to have a great idea.”
Still I resisted. “I don’t have any ideas.”
Your post chimed in “No, that’s not true. You have plenty of ideas.”
Then it hit me. The idea appeared out of no where and half wrote itself.
I am sure I would not have written that idea without this post.
November 6, 2010 at 9:18 pm
ldegman
That is so awesome!!
November 6, 2010 at 10:44 pm
Connie Mustang
Jennifer what a good idea!
No it wasn’t.
Right, it was a fabulous idea!
I’m having so much fun with this, and I didn’t get into my car once.
Thank you for the exciting road trip!
November 7, 2010 at 6:49 am
PiBoIdMo. Day 7. « Boobook
[…] I’m trying out a new game that I read about over at Tara Lazar’s blog yesterday. Tara is the brains behind PiBoIdMo and she has all sorts of people from the world of […]
November 7, 2010 at 1:13 pm
Pam Zollman
I clicked on the “comment” square and wrote, “Thank you for the helpful article.”
No I didn’t.
I wrote, “Thank you for the informative article. It helped me a lot.”
No I didn’t.
I wrote, “Thanks. I can really use this information on my next road trip, as well as when I write stories.”
No I didn’t.
I wrote, “I’m going to write about dolphins leaving earth and I can use all this information.”
No I didn’t.
I wrote, “I’m going on a road trip to write my picture book. Good bye and thanks for all the fish!”
No I didn’t. That was Douglas Adams. But I am going to write a really good story using this method. Thanks!
Pam Zollman
http://www.pamzollman.com
http://www.anauthorworld.com
http://www.hurtthebunnies.blogspot.com
November 7, 2010 at 9:48 pm
Jessica Stanford
I think I’m going to try this with my class this week. Great idea!
November 8, 2010 at 4:09 pm
Sheri A. Larsen
This is such a great idea! And easy. And creative, especially for picture books.
November 8, 2010 at 5:38 pm
Brenda-Moonsanity
This is such a cool prompt. I love it, and your blog. I’m glad I ran across it today:)
November 9, 2010 at 6:21 am
J Clare Bell
Love it! And so will my six-year-old daughter.
No she won’t. She think it’s ‘really cool, man’.
November 9, 2010 at 9:43 am
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[…] PiBoIdMo Day #5: Go on a Road Trip with Jennifer Nielsen – Writing for Kids (While Raising The… […]
November 9, 2010 at 7:41 pm
Lynne Marie
Great process, Jennifer! Thanks so much for sharing. I am so looking forward to your book 🙂