Three forbidden words: a 10-minute writing game

Set up one round

Take paper and a pen, or open a document. Choose one of the six situations below. Your task is to write a story of exactly six sentences that starts from that situation and avoids its three forbidden words. You can invent people, explanations and events; the situation must remain true at the start.

Use the suggested ten-minute schedule, or pause whenever you want. This is a writing game, with no points, winner or requirement to be funny. A quiet explanation works as well as a strange answer.

What counts as a forbidden word?

The ban applies to your six sentences, including anything a character says. Capital letters make no difference. The listed words and their ordinary plurals are forbidden: “box” also bans “boxes”. Other words that merely contain the same letters are allowed.

Synonyms and descriptions are allowed. You can call a box a carton, but the story still needs something to happen. You do not have to hide the object from the reader. The prompt itself is not part of your six sentences; do not copy it as an extra opening.

Ten minutes, from choice to story

• Minute 0–1: choose a situation. Write its three forbidden words at the top of your notes, outside the story.
• Minutes 1–6: write six sentences. Let someone try something and show what happens next. Put each sentence on its own line so you can count it; short sentences are welcome.
• Minutes 6–8: check the count, the starting situation and all three forbidden words, including plurals. Repair a slip by changing the sentence. Then mark one sentence you would like to keep.
• Minutes 8–10: read the story aloud or silently. Change one sentence if you want, without adding a seventh. Give the story an optional title outside the six sentences; the word ban does not apply to the title.

Choose a starting situation

• 1. The party: someone arrives carrying a large empty box and refuses to put it down. Forbidden: box, ribbon, gift.
• 2. The balcony: a gardener finds that someone has labelled each pot with a different emotion. Forbidden: plant, leaf, water.
• 3. The café: a visitor reserves two seats, then explains that only one person is coming. Forbidden: chair, table, coffee.
• 4. The complaint: a resident receives a very polite written complaint from the building’s lift. Forbidden: lift, floor, button.
• 5. The crossing: a passenger’s luggage begins to applaud just before a ferry departs. Forbidden: bag, boat, hand.
• 6. The tailor: a customer wants somewhere in their clothing to keep something that cannot be carried. Forbidden: pocket, coat, thread.

One six-sentence answer to “The party”

Nina carried a large hollow cardboard cube into the party and held it against her chest.

Ben offered her a place to put it, but she shook her head.

Then she tapped its side twice and waited.

Across the room, her grandfather answered with two taps of his walking stick.

She played the rhythm he had taught her, and he filled the pauses with his stick.

When the song was over, she finally set her instrument down.

Why this fits

The cardboard container becomes an instrument. Nina initially refuses to put it down, then does so after playing: the starting situation stays true without having to last forever. This is one possible answer, not a solution to guess.

For two people

Choose the same situation and write separately during the five writing minutes. Check your own draft, then use the final two minutes to share both stories. Either person can read silently; you do not have to perform.

Ask each other: which detail made the situation change? Where did avoiding a word lead to an unexpected choice? Point to a sentence, rather than deciding whose story is better. Offer a change only if the writer wants one. Playing alone, answer the same questions in your notes.

For another round, keep the situation and choose a different explanation, or move to the next number. These prompts, rules and examples were created by Coru.