An Interactive Story is a “choose your own path” story where readers help shape what happens next.
Each chapter presents choices, and every choice leads to a different direction in the story. When you reach the end of a path, you can add the next chapter yourself. Some of the most creative and unpredictable stories on Writing.Com come from Interactive Stories.
When to Use an Interactive Story
Use an Interactive Story when you want:
• Branching storylines with multiple outcomes
• Reader participation and collaboration
• A story that grows in many different directions
How It Works
Each chapter ends with a set of choices.
When a reader selects a choice:
They are taken to the next chapter in that storyline
If no chapter exists yet, they can write the next one
Over time, the story grows into multiple branching paths.
Creating a New Interactive
When you first create an Interactive Story, you begin by adding the first chapter. After that, new chapters are added by clicking an open choice. Creating a new Interactive Story item requires a paid membership. Some older free accounts may still contain grandfathered Interactive Stories.
Adding Chapters
When you reach an open path, you can add a new chapter.
• Each chapter continues the story from a specific choice
• Chapters can include new choices for others to follow
• If a path has no choices, that storyline ends
Choices and Membership Levels
The number of choices a chapter can have depends on both:
• where that chapter appears in the storyline
• the membership level of the person adding it
Free members – Chapters 1 and 2 can have 5 choices each, chapters 3 and 4 can have 3 choices each, and all chapters after that can have 2 choices each
Basic members – Chapters 1 and 2 can have 5 choices each, and all chapters after that can have 3 choices each
Upgraded and higher members – All chapters can have 5 choices each
Owners with a paid membership can also go back and add unused choices to chapters in their own Interactive Stories.
Basic owners can add a third choice
Upgraded and higher owners can add the third, fourth, and fifth choices
Important Rules
• Only the owner of an Interactive Story can edit or delete chapters.
• Deleting a chapter is permanent. Any chapters that branch from it are deleted as well.
• If a chapter has no choice titles filled in, that branch will end until they are added
• If a choice text is removed, that branch will no longer connect until it is restored
• Once a choice is filled, no one else can add to that same spot
Good to Know
• Each storyline can have up to 250 chapters
• Each chapter can be up to 10,000 characters
• The number of choices available depends on membership level
• If you add a chapter, you can also choose to receive email notifications when new chapters are added later.
• If an Interactive Story you were following suddenly gives an error, the item may have been deleted.
Managing an Interactive Story
If you create an Interactive Story, you are responsible for guiding it.
As the owner, you can:
• Edit or remove chapters
• Moderate content
• Update the story’s content rating
Finding Interactive Stories
You can browse Interactive Stories from Browse by Type → Interactive Stories.
Stories appear in listings once they have at least three chapters.
Following a Story
You can Favorite or Fan an Interactive Story to easily find it again and track updates.
Access and Availability
Interactive Stories are one of the most active and resource-intensive features on Writing.Com, and they are provided in an ad-free environment.
To keep them running smoothly and sustainably, access works a little differently than other areas of the site.
• Members with a paid membership have full, unlimited access
• Guests and free members may experience limited availability during busy times
When demand is high, access for free accounts may be temporarily restricted. When resources are available, access opens back up automatically.
Interactive Stories are a major part of what makes Writing.Com unique, and maintaining them requires balancing performance, cost, and community access.
Upgrading your membership helps support this feature and ensures consistent availability.
Dynamic Reading (Paid Feature)
Paid members (Basic and above) can use the Dynamic Interactives option to read multiple chapters on a single page.
Instead of loading a new page for each choice, the next chapter loads directly below your current one. This makes it easier to follow a full storyline without interruption. This is especially helpful for reading longer or more complex story paths.
• Click a choice to load the next chapter instantly
• Continue opening chapters until you reach the end of a path
• Use the Go Back option to return and explore a different branch
You can turn this feature on or off using the toggle below the item header. This setting applies to all Interactive Stories you view.
Owner Responsibilities
If you create an Interactive Story, you are responsible for managing and maintaining it.
• Keep your content rating accurate based on the content being added
• Review and moderate new chapters to ensure they follow your rules
• Edit or remove content that doesn’t fit your story
• Manage participation, including blocking users if needed
Interactive Stories grow through contributions from many members, so active moderation is important to keep the story consistent and appropriate. If content exceeds your item’s rating, it should be removed or the rating updated accordingly. If a chapter appears to exceed the story’s content rating, it can be reported to Content Rating Support. It’s a good idea to keep an eye on new additions so your story stays on track and within your intended direction.
If you update your story’s rules or direction, it’s helpful to make those changes clear so participants know what to expect going forward.
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