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80 illustrated cards that invite adults, children, groups and communities to share their stories. Author: John Holton Illustrator: Ray Bowler
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| The Strengths Cafe is an online publishing project sponsored by Innovative Resources.
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Creative writing and journalling ideas
In the Mailbag Dear John, My wife recently bought a set of the new Storycatching cards to use with her Year 8 English class, and I was really impressed with them. So impressed in fact, that I snuck them into my briefcase and took them to work before she'd even had a chance to use them. We were interviewing for three new positions on our local council and I thought it would be good to try something a little different. I spread a selection of the cards on the table in front of each applicant and asked them to choose a card that reminded them of a funny/stressful/unusual situation that had happened in one of their previous work places. I then asked how they dealt with the situation. It certainly created some interesting results. Two of the applicants were a lot more relaxed after the exercise, while the other found it bamboozling and was really thrown by something so left of field. It was a real eye-opener and created a whole new dynamic in the interview room. From a HR perspective it was invigorating. I'm already thinking about the next round of interviews. But unfortunately my wife wants her cards back! Chris Francis HR Manager Newcastle NSW |
How can I use Storycatching?
Like any set of cards that are used for conversation building or story-prompting, the ways in which you use Storycatching will be driven largely by your purpose, passion, curiosity and creativity. Whether Storycatching is used in one-on-one situations or in groups, there are two main methods you can adopt; spread and scan or random choice. Spread and scan means that participants are invited to choose a card, while random choice, as the name suggests, leaves more to chance. There are many fun and creative ways to employ both methods. Cards could be spread on the floor, on table tops, or even stuck to walls. A certain group of cards might be selected by a facilitator, or perhaps spread out in a particular pattern for participants to interact with. The serendipitous connections made from random choice can be both surprising and enlightening. Cards could be shuffled and dealt, placed in a lucky dip, attached to the underside of participant's seats, or selected on a person's behalf by another participant. You could even create a treasure hunt using the cards. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination. One of the best ways to get people talking and responding in creative ways to the Storycatching cards is to ask a question. It could be as simple as: Does this card remind you of a story about yourself? or How does this card make you feel? The questions you ask will depend on whether you're using Storycatching in a therapeutic situation, as conversational tool, a creative writing or visual art prompt, or even as a party game with your family. Some questions are more appropriate for one-on-one conversations, while others lend themselves easily to group discussion. There is no limit to the number or type of questions you can ask. Here are a few ideas:
Feelings, strengths and self-reflection
Selecting cards at random can be a quick way into conversation with surprising results. You might like to try these questions:
Storytelling
Creative writing and journalling ideas Choose a character from a card. Maybe it's the elephant about to leap – the bad hair girl – or the embarrassed manikin. Create a dialogue between two or more characters. Or write a monologue from one character. Imagine what it's like to be in their skin. Choose a card that prompts a vivid childhood memory. Write the words I remember at the top of the page. Now write for ten minutes without taking your pen from the page. Forget spelling and punctuation…or even making sense. Just write. If you get stuck, write I remember and start again. Choose a card at random as a daily journalling prompt. Once you've worked your way through the deck, start again. How different are your journal entries the second time around? Choose a card and use its word or phrase as the first line of a poem. Does the image on the card prompt words for the remainder of your poem. OR try a three-line poem. The first line should consist of an object. The second line, a description, simile or metaphor. The third line, an action. Choose a card to find your object. Here's an example:
Choose cards and write short pieces specifically about memories. Create a special journal called My Book of Memories . Add your own collage, illustrations, photos or scribbles.
Suffering writers block? Don't know where a story's headed? Choose a card and ask yourself ‘what if?'. Is there a new situation, plot direction or other spark that can move your story forward?
Choose a card and turn the situation on its head. For example, if you choose the boredom card, write a story about a character who is fascinated by watching grass grow. Or if you choose the world's worst job card, create a character who sees cleaning toilets as high art.
Games and other possibilities
Conference or workshop introductions Place several decks of Storycatching cards around the room. Play some background music and ask participants to wander around the space introducing themselves to others as they go. When the music stops, participants cluster around the nearest deck of cards with the closest five (or four or six) people around them. Someone selects a card, and each member of the group has a minute to share their story with the others.
Workshop opener Lay the cards out on a table or on the floor where participants arrive. Ask each person to select a card that prompts a story about why they are at the workshop or what they hope to get out of the workshop.
Alternatively, use Storycatching as an opener to a meeting or gathering.
Listening Working in pairs, invite each participant to choose a Storycatching card. Each participant has two minutes to tell their story while their partner simply listens without interruption or comment. How good are we at really listening?
Party game Use Storycatching as a fun distraction or a way of getting a diverse group of people talking. Think dinner parties or family gatherings, such as Christmas. Ask Grandad to choose a card after his second helping of plum pudding. You'll never shut him up!
In the car A nice change from I-spy on long car journeys. Invite each occupant in the car to choose a card. Can you tell a story about your card before you reach the next town? An easy travelling companion to pack in glovebox or suitcase.
Birthdays and anniversaries Use the Storycatching cards to celebrate a life. Invite each guest to choose a card that prompts, for them, a story about the person being celebrated.
Memory game Lay out all the Storycatching cards on the floor or table. Have everyone in the group scan them for a minute. Now turn them all face down. Ask everyone to write on a sheet of paper as many of the objects from the cards as they can remember. How many can you remember? 10? 20? 40? |
