A character does not need a long history before an adventure can begin. Sometimes one small secret is enough. Perhaps the royal gardener is afraid of butterflies, a dragon collects buttons, or a knight has never learned to whistle. That unexpected detail gives a storyteller somewhere to start.
Begin with three little choices
Choose who your character is, what they want today and what might make the task difficult. Keep the wish small: finding a missing scarf can be as interesting as finding treasure when the character matters to you. Ask everyone taking part to suggest one possibility, then let the storyteller choose.
Now give the character something to carry. A bent spoon, a coloured ribbon or a pebble with a stripe can become useful later. You do not have to decide how straight away. Discovering its purpose is part of the fun.
Let a drawing change the story
Draw the character before finishing the adventure. A surprising hat or a muddy boot might suggest a new problem. If you are colouring together, ask what happened just before the picture and what could happen next. Different answers can belong to different versions of the same story.
Try taking turns to add a sentence. Give each person room to contribute without correcting their ideas into one adult-approved plot. A silly suggestion can be the detail everyone remembers.
Leave a door open
End with one thing resolved and one question unanswered. The scarf is found, but who tied the ribbon to the gate? That little mystery gives you somewhere to return next time.
Explore the characters of Sam’s Kingdom, then invent a small secret for a character of your own. A pencil, a few colours and an unexpected idea are enough to begin.
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