Instructor: Ivan Van Norman

Max: 15 Students

Date: December 6, 2025 / 2-6pm (including a 20 min. break)

(Please arrive 20 minutes early. Parking is ample and easy. )

Instructor Bio:

Ivan Van Norman has been publishing tabletop games for over 15+ and has been working in the digital interactive media space for just as long. He’s worked with properties such as Dungeons & Dragons, Pixar’s Onward, and Legendary’s Altered Carbon and has built games for companies such as Geek & Sundry, Critical Role, IDW, and Skydance Entertainment. He is also responsible for over 25+ games published in his career including titles such as Alice is Missing, Kids on Bikes, Queen by Midnight, and Daggerheart.

Workshop Description + Objective

People have been telling stories as long as civilization has existed. We’ve been weaving tales with heroic adventures, tales of caution, and stories of wonder and passing it from person to person, generation to generation. This workshop is focused on not only the ‘what’ of this unique form of fine art, but also the ‘how’ and ‘why’ as well. Great for writers looking to explore this unique concept more or seasoned storytellers looking to hone their craft.

In this workshop, students will explore the concept of collaborative storytelling and the power it has when you share the story with your audience. While anthologies, shared narratives, and even cave drawings may have been the first example of collaborative storytelling, it has recently been brought into the spotlight again with tabletop roleplaying games and even some video games.

STUDENTS WILL LEAVE THIS WORKSHOP WITH A “STORYTELLING SCREEN” WHICH WILL PROVIDE THEM WITH NOTES AND REFERENCES FOR TELLING COLLABORATIVE STORIES.

THE WORKSHOP WILL INCLUDE:

I. INTRO - 10 minutes

A presentation by Ivan on the history of collaborative storytelling, and a showcase of some of Ivan’s public work as examples.

2. FOLKTALES REIMAGINED - 30 minutes

Students will choose a folktale that everyone is familiar with. Then we will break down the story structure of that folktale into simple beats. This will become the foundation of how we will test and compare stories for the rest of the workshop. At this point they’ll also be handed their storytelling screen to put notes or thoughts.

3. “HOW” TO COLLABORATE - 30 minutes

A short discussion and presentation about how storytellers bring the stories into the hands of the audience. This will cover the process of building questions, slight-of-hand story techniques, and listening and reacting to your audience.

4. ROUND 1 - 30 minutes

The class will be divided into groups of three. One person will be elected to be the ‘storyteller’, and will tell the previously chosen folktale while trying to incorporate their audience, the other students.

5. ASSIGNING A ROLE - 30 minutes

A short discussion and presentation around how collaborative storytelling can be adjusted by assigning specific ‘roles’ to members of the audience, and how they can be given agency to make those decisions.

20 minute break

6. ROUND 2 - 30 minutes

The class will be divided into groups, and one person will be elected to be the ‘storyteller’. Students will tell the previously chosen folktale and try to incorporate their audience while also applying their audiences roles that will contribute to the story.

7. SHARING THE NARRATIVE - 30 minutes

A short discussion and presentation around how storytellers change from being the storyteller to a ‘facilitator’ essentially becoming a cheerleader for the story which is now being played by multiple characters and how entirely new stories can be born from this format in the blink of an eye.

8. ROUND 3 - 30 minutes

The class will be divided into groups, and one person will be elected to be the ‘storyteller’, and they will tell a completely original story (potentially inspired by the folktale), with assigned roles, and shared worldbuilding - either incorporating chance elements or not.

MATERIALS

The cost of the workshop covers tokens, blank cards, blank playing baords, dice, cardboard, etc.

Students will be able to leave the workshop with the rules to their game, any modified game elements that may have been used from class materials and any other notes they may need to take the game further.

CANCELLATION POLICY:

If you need to cancel, please do so at least 3 days before the workshop. No refunds shorter than 3 days before class. If you cancel within a week, you are entitled to a full refund minus $25.