← Bloomin' Genius

Story Collision Lab

Draw four cards. Build a story where every element changes the others.

Story Collision Lab

1Draw your cards

Each expert gets one element. Draw at random, or choose a card from the deck.

WILD CARD:

2Build the story

Each expert writes ONE cause-and-effect sentence: how does YOUR card change ANOTHER element?

EXAMPLE (SETTING EXPERT)
Because the cabin is high on a snowy mountain, the food problem gets worse: nobody can drive up with more food.
teal = what's on MY card (the cause) → gold = how it changes ANOTHER element (the effect)

3Plan the plot

The climax MUST be the moment the character faces the flaw. Stuck? Tap 💡 Help in any box for an explanation, a sentence starter, and an example.

CLIMAXThe character faces the flaw.
💡 Help

What it is: The biggest, most exciting moment: the turning point. The character must face the flaw.

Ask yourself: What is the hardest moment? What does the character finally have to do?

Start with: Finally, ___ has to ___.

Example: Her heater invention sparks a small fire. She finally admits she needs help and radios a neighbor she was too proud to call.

Rising ActionHow does the flaw make it worse?
💡 Help

What it is: The problem shows up and gets worse, step by step. The flaw makes it even worse.

Ask yourself: What goes wrong first? How does the flaw make things worse?

Start with: Then ___ happens. Because ___ (the flaw), things get worse when ___.

Example: Snow closes the roads, and the food starts running out. She refuses to ask for help, so she hides how little food is left and tries to fix everything alone.

Falling ActionWhat happens next?
💡 Help

What it is: What happens right after the climax. Things start to calm down.

Ask yourself: What happens because of the character's choice at the climax?

Start with: After that, ___. Because of this, ___.

Example: The neighbor brings food on a snowmobile, and the family works together to fix the heater.

ExpositionWho, where, what's normal?
💡 Help

What it is: The beginning. Meet the character and the setting, and see what life is like before trouble starts.

Ask yourself: Who is the story about? Where and when are they? What is normal for them?

Start with: At the start, ___ is ___. Everything seems ___ until…

Example: A young inventor is spending a snowy weekend with her family at their mountain cabin. She has her gadgets and plenty of plans.

ResolutionHow is it solved? How did they change?
💡 Help

What it is: The ending. The problem is solved, and the character has changed.

Ask yourself: How is the problem solved? What did the character learn? How are they different now?

Start with: In the end, ___. Now ___ knows that ___.

Example: The roads open, and everyone is safe. She knows that asking for help isn't weakness, and she builds her next invention with her family.

4Collide! Swap one card

Swap ONE card for a new one. What has to change in your story, and what can stay the same?

→

Can stay the same

Think deeper

5Pitch it in 60 seconds

Tell the class your story. Listeners: ask how two elements connect.

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