Reverse Biography
Each participant has 7 minutes to describe his life starting with the present moment, ending in early childhood.
Goal
Develop openness, trust
Attachments
Instructions
Emphasis:
1. We’re not dealing with “and so” transitions here.
In a chronological plot, each scene is linked with, “and so” – that’s how we traditionally think of this. In a reverse chronology, those scenes are all linked with, “and because.”
2. The focus is on why and how, not what.
We know the “end” of a reverse chronology right away, so that means one thing: the ending isn’t as important as the rest of the story. In other words, it’s about the journey, not the destination.
While you can say this is true of most stories, it’s magnified to the nth in a reverse chronology. As readers, we are continuously pushed and inspired to wonder how and why something could be happening.
3. Be very strict with the timing! Otherwise, participants can get offended.
4. The ideal setting is in the evening, around a campfire.
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