Planning Branches

Before writing, map out the structure of your branches:

1. Identify the Decision Point:
   • What moment leads to the branch? Why is it important?
2. Define the Outcomes:
   • What happens as a result of each choice? How do the outcomes differ?
3. Determine Reconnection Points:
   • Will branches merge back into the main storyline or lead to unique conclusions?

Balancing Breadth and Depth

• Breadth: How many branches are available at a given point?
• Depth: How far each branch extends before reconnecting or ending.
• Guideline: Focus on fewer, richer branches rather than many shallow ones.

Tools for Structuring

• Use AdventureBuildr’s node editor to visually map out branches.
• Color-code or label nodes to track critical, minor, and exploratory paths.

Reasoning

Structuring branches before writing ensures narrative coherence and prevents the story from becoming unwieldy. It also helps balance the workload, especially for complex branching paths.