*Many thanks to the Writer Emergency Pack Team for sending me both packs for the purpose of this review. All views are my own.*
Photo by: Hannah Taylor
The ‘Writer Emergency Pack’ was first released in 2014. The original pack included 26 card themes with an ‘Idea card’ and a ‘Detail card’ for each theme. The aim of the pack is working towards “getting unstuck” in your story. Each card features a theme which will help solve a roadblock in the story. As the cards cover a variety of themes, there will be a card to choose in order to solve any problem.
A second release, the ‘Writer Emergency Pack XL’, campaigned on Kickstarter in September 2022, featuring 52 cards. The first 26 cards are the same as the first pack along with another 26 brand new card themes. The creator of the pack, John August is an American screenwriter, author and frequent collaborator with Tim Burton. Notably, working on the popular horror-family animation, Frankenweenie (2012). John August and Craig Mazin both run the popular podcast, Scriptnotes, where they discuss all things Screenwriting.
Example Card: The Original ‘Writer Emergency Pack’
(The Writer Emergency Pack Original – L: Idea Card/ R: Detail Card)
Photo By: Hannah Taylor
Example Card: The New ‘Writer Emergency Pack XL’
(The Writer Emergency Pack XL Version – L: Idea Card/ R: Detail Card)
Photo By: Hannah Taylor
Ways to Use the Cards:
The pack can be used in many different ways. It can be used as a writing exercise, for emergency writing procedures as the name suggests, as a ‘Cards Against Normality’ game or to use the cards as a starting point to either create an idea or to help start writing.
1) Writing Exercise
The writing exercise can be followed directly by the points instructed. Another way to approach the exercise is to adapt the steps to suit the story you wish to tell. The ‘Writing Exercise’ suggests to write around a well-known story i.e. a classic and see where your chosen card takes the direction of your story.
This exercise acts as a warm-up stage to eventually approach the cards with your own story. All in all, this exercise is intended to help the writer either start writing or help to make the writing flow more effortlessly.
2) Emergency Writing Procedures
Every writer has experienced a point in their stories where they feel trapped and unable to escape the pit they have created. Either that pit is within a character, a plot point or a specific scene. By taking a card at random, it can evoke ideas, emotions and feelings that the writer just might have needed to take their story further and to make it move.
This exercise is great at allowing space for the writer to explore different pathways and new directions. Most importantly, the ‘Emergency Procedure’ exercise will force the writer to question whether this new direction is something they can incorporate into the story. The experimental exercise will get the story into a completely different and unexpected place.
3) Cards Against Normality Game
Of course, the ‘Writer Emergency Pack’ includes an ironic writer’s spin on the original ‘Cards Against Humanity’ game. This game is recommended for three to six players. The gameplay consists of one storyteller and the players are the ‘retellers.’ The storyteller recites a story – whether made up, from real life or a classic tale.
Then each player has fifteen seconds to choose from three of their cards. Each ‘reteller’ creates their own version of the ‘storytellers’ story using the theme on their card. The player with the best version of the story, voted by the whole group, wins the game and the role of ‘storyteller’ switches to the next player.
I played this game with my family. Although we didn’t fully understand the instructions at first, in a positive spin it created discussion. We found that you can adapt the game to suit the story, situation, audience or atmosphere. The game definitely ended in more laughs than we originally intended. However the best aspect about this game is its adaptability – taking the game either seriously or in a more humorous manner. Whichever tone is chosen, it can meander your scenarios from basic story points, to progressing into story development.
Kickstarter Campaign
The Kickstarter project has reached $121,772 pledges and 2,963 backers from September to October 2022. With every pack sold, they will donate one pack to their partnering organisations. These include, NaNoWriMo’s Young Writers Program and 826LA (A non-profit writing and tutoring organisation).
Also available for pre-order on the official website is the ‘Writer Emergency Survival Guide’ with illustrated journal pages to keep a writing log. The XL pack is available for pre-order and will ship in March 2023 to US and Canada residents with an opportunity to ship to international addresses in the near future.
The Writer Emergency Pack XL
The ‘Writer Emergency Pack XL’ features cards which are double the size of the original pack as they adhere to their title of an ‘XL’ version. Not only this, but they are doubled in the amount of cards included in the pack.
The original cards in the ‘Writer Emergency Pack’ included 26 playing-sized cards. The new XL pack edition features 52 cards. Technically, there are 26 new cards added to this pack, whilst keeping with the original scenarios, which make up the first half of the pack.
One thing both packs celebrate are their travel-friendly sizes. Both packs are small enough to fit in a bag to help with fixing stories when writing on the go. I find the new XL version still maintains the game card appeal even with its larger card size.
Another great aspect which both packs share is their high-quality feel. The premium quality card is printed on a cross-hatch type material, which gives a smooth-to-touch feel.
The Artwork
The artwork in the ‘Writer Emergency Pack XL’ matches the feel, tone and design of the original Writer’s Emergency Pack. They are designed in a way to help the writer remember the image and match the description with the artwork.
(Idea Cards: L: WEP XL/ R: WEP Original)
Photo By: Hannah Taylor
(Detail Cards: L:WEP XL/ R: WEP Original)
Photo By: Hannah Taylor
Another great factor about this writer’s pack is how the themes can be easily memorised through the illustrations. When you think of the theme, the image immediately comes to mind. The pictures are unique to the themes and are both clever and well-thought out with adding a spark of humour at times.
The Main Differences between the ‘Writer Emergency Pack’ & the ‘Writer Emergency Pack XL’.
- Expanded from 26 cards to 52 cards.
- Larger font size and image size.
- Larger playing cards.
- Image and description fits onto one card now instead of two cards.
- ‘The Writer Emergency Pack’ Artwork – The Writer & The Typewriter Theme
- ‘The Writer Emergency Pack XL’ Artwork – The Writer & The Rocket Theme
The Writer Emergency Pack Original & XL Themes
Both packs feature a front cover theme which comes back into play on the cards ‘detail’ side. The writer is breaking away from their typewriter in the original pack. Perhaps signifying a break away into a new creative freedom when using the cards to help breakout new ideas and directions for the story.
(Front Covers – L: WEP XL/ R: WEP Original)
Photo By: Hannah Taylor
In the new XL version, the writer is launched in a rocket, ready to take off with their stories using the cards in the pack to open up new story ideas and directions. Interestingly, the design, layout and colour scheme of the cards are kept the same.
(Back Covers – L: WEP XL/ R: WEP Original)
Photo By: Hannah Taylor
Both card packs are consistent with the ‘Writer Emergency’ brand. The simple yet effective design features a white and orange colour palette with a solid structure of an ‘idea’ side and a ‘detail’ side to each card, used throughout the pack.
The original card pack featured two cards for each ‘emergency’ with one idea card and one detail card. In the new and updated ‘XL’ edition, the cards are back-to-back with the ‘idea’ on one side and the ‘detail’ on the other side. This makes the cards easier to use in all the exercises.
Both packs have clearly been curated by a writer who knows and understands how stories work. Each scenario is something that has been used countless times across cinema. But it is about identifying these themes and traits that make the ‘Writer Emergency Pack’ appealing. The cards force the writer to start imagining their protagonist in that situation. The scenarios could completely transform a story and turn it in a new direction.
Conclusion
Overall, the ‘Writer Emergency Pack’ makes the writer think about and ask the big and impactful but short question of – ‘What if?’ ‘What if my hero was forced to cooperate with the villain by being forced to work together – as the ‘Handcuffs of Fate’ card suggests?’
Or ask ‘What if the hero became part of a cult as the ‘Secret Society’ card gives consideration to – do they become a villain or were they the hidden villain from the start?’
There are countless avenues where the ‘Writer Emergency Pack’ can take the story. If one card does not seem to work it might work for a different story the writer has in mind. The different and overtly varied scenarios means the cards are bound to work with any story. There are 52 cards to choose from in the latest ‘XL’ edition – have fun exploring the different possibilities and pathways they can take you in your own stories.
To purchase the latest edition, the ‘Writer Emergency Pack XL’ visit the Kickstarter Project page here. The pack is currently available for pre-order. Alternatively, the original ‘Writer Emergency Pack’ is available to purchase on the official website here. The packs can be a great gift for yourself, if you are a writer or a gift to a writing friend.
Other important links to check out:
- Writer Emergency Pack Website
- John August Website
- The Script Notes Podcast – Listen on Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podcast Addict and more…
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