Writing a “Choose your own Adventure” Story with friends.
SECOND PERSON – This is the one time it is appropriate to use “you” and “your” in the narrative form.
POINT OF VIEW- Write from only one point of view. Always allow the reader to see through the eyes of the protagonist/main character/hero: the reader will make decisions that will change the plot. Allow that reader to experience the adventure through your hero’s senses and to see through the hero’s eyes.
To create a truly engaging experience, describe all sights, sounds, smells, tastes, physical sensations, emotions, and thoughts that only the hero/ the READER experiences. IMPORTANT: Leave out everything another character might think, see behind the hero or facts the hero does not know. That’s cheating. Only write from the hero or lead character’s perspective.
PRESENT TENSE ONLY- Scenes are written in present tense only. This gives the reader a sense of urgency, as if their survival or success of a mission depends on the choice they are about to make.
CHARACTER –The story should begin with plenty of background, setting, action, and descriptions of characters that engage the reader and help them relate early in the storyline. Don’t get too complicated with unfamiliar vocabulary, extra details about the character and unusual names. As scenes develop, consider “Is this a good spot for the reader to branch off from the plot line with a choice?
STAY ORGANIZED AND KEEP LISTS OF ENDINGS
(Len Morse, 2007).
As a class, we will record all story endings, to keep us from repeating too many similar conclusions.
-Who has your hero met? Does your hero have any traveling companions? What is their relationship? (Friends, enemies, peripheral characters, pets, a second head?)
-What is your hero’s inventory? Has your hero lost/gained an item? Is it needed to achieve the goal? (Food, clothing, money, weapons, climbing gear, a holy relic?)
-What special abilities or knowledge does your hero have? For how long? (Where is the hidden letters, how to avoid a fight or pick a lock?)
-Has your hero actually achieved the goal? (Reached a destination, killed the enemy, won over the love interest, found the special item, or rescued the prisoner?)
Source
Morse, L. (2007). Writing tips how to write a choose your own adventure story. Humanities 360. https://web.archive.org/web/20140227043251/http://www.humanities360.com/index.php/writing-tips-how-to-write-a-choose-your-own-adventure-story-4-62671
Woodward, K. (2018). How to write a choose your own adventure http://blog.karenwoodward.org/2014/06/how-to-write-choose-your-own-adventure.html