Color / Advance / Emotion
- Apr 1
- 1 min read
What This Game Teaches
This exercise teaches participants how to build scenes by separating action, description, and emotional context.
Categories
Storytelling craft, scene building, improv games, communication skills, creativity, narrative development, performance training
Group Size
Groups of three
Time
10–20 minutes
Energy Level
Medium
How to Play
Form groups of three and assign roles: Person 1: Advance (what happens) Person 2: Color (details and description) Person 3: Emotion (feelings and reactions)
Build a story one line at a time in this order: Advance → Color → Emotion
Continue for several rounds.
After two rounds, rotate roles so each participant experiences each function.
Variations
Add a specific setting or genre
Turn it into a performance for a larger group
Increase the number of rounds for a longer story
Why It Works
Strong storytelling balances action, detail, and emotion.
Many storytellers default to one of these and neglect the others. This exercise isolates each component so participants can understand and practice them individually.
When combined, these elements create vivid, engaging stories.
Pro Tips
Encourage clear, simple contributions in each role
Remind participants to build on what came before
Focus on balance—no single element should dominate
Origins / References
-Expanded from improv exercises exploring narrative roles and scene building
Try This In Real Life
When telling a story, check whether you are including what happened, what it looked like, and how it felt.
Want to develop richer, more engaging stories? Learn more about storytelling workshops at Your Story, Well Told.
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