The Encyclopedia of Interactive Performance

Say as many unrelated words or phrases as possible. Track how many you can generate in one minute.

Variations

Wall pushes – Do the drill while falling toward and pushing away from a wall. Fall and push at an even pace. Say a random word each time your hands hit the wall.

Partners – Do the drill facing a partner. The partner tracks how many random access words were generated. Maintain eye contact the entire time.

Notes

• This drill is good practice for releasing impulses and ignoring the inner critic. It’s also a way to quickly generate random story elements.
• Stay relaxed. Breathe deep. Relax your face.
• Don’t say “umm” between the words.
• Don’t use “crutches” like saying things you see around you or words that start with the same letter. Wait until a word pops into your mind.
• If a related word or a repeated word shows up, it doesn’t count.
• When working with a partner, maintain eye contact while the partner counts words or phrases.
• When working alone, the Gimme Getter can be used as a timer and to keep the count.
• Track your improvement by logging the number of random words you generate in your training journal.