Brainstorm Better With Improv: Yes, And?

In the realm of creative writing, a brainstorm is where ideas come to life. Yet, sometimes, our minds struggle to break free from the constraints of self-doubt and inhibition. That’s where improv techniques like ‘Yes, And’ come into play, offering a powerful tool for unleashing creativity. Rather than swapping out ideas for each other, it might be better to have each new plot point build off of each other. After all, what’s wrong with adding more twists to your story? Keep yourself on your toes while brainstorming! Pantsers, you’ll LOVE this post.

Understanding ‘Yes, And’

‘Yes, And’ is a foundational principle of improvisational theater, where performers accept and build upon each other’s ideas to create spontaneous scenes and narratives. Instead of blocking or denying a fellow performer’s contributions, improvisers say “Yes, And” to accept the premise and add to it. This creates a collaborative and supportive environment where creativity can flourish. This same principle can be applied to brainstorming sessions, allowing you to embrace new ideas, suspend judgment, and explore unexpected directions for your stories.

Techniques for Using ‘Yes, And’ in Brainstorming

First of all, you want to begin your brainstorming session with an open mind. Let go of your inner critic and remember that this exercise is for your eyes only. It helps to have a clear goal in mind such as developing a character arc. This is not meant to limit your imagination in any way though. let it run free. Once you get the ball rolling, allow yourself to explore further and deeper into your idea. Add any twists you may come up with. now is not the time to revise yourself. Remember, in improv, failure is an opportunity for growth so don’t worry about if you may change your mind later. you can always pivot later.

Practical Tips for Incorporating Improv Techniques

If you struggle at first with utilizing ‘yes and’ while brainstorming, it might help to warm up with a prompt (find more support here). Set a timer for 15 minutes after reading a prompt you like and let your mind wander with it. Don’t judge any ideas that come to you, and try to connect each one with the others. This will promote your creativity and encourage spontaneous ideas to come to you. Remember that you have to train yourself to brainstorm until it becomes a habit. So practice, practice, practice. Soon, you won’t have to dedicate time to brainstorming, you’ll just do it.

Will you try out the ‘yes and’ approach during your next brainstorming? If you do, comment your experience under this blog post! to find more about brainstorming check out my blog post here.

Happy writing y’all!