Now that you have a solid understanding of the fundamentals, let’s put your knowledge into action! Below are some exercises and tests to help you practice writing Choose Your Own Adventure (CYOA) stories. These will guide you through the process of creating branching paths and making your story choices engaging for the reader.

Test 1: Write a 3-Choice Scenario

Start by writing a simple CYOA scenario with three possible choices. Focus on setting up an interesting situation where the reader has to make a decision. Each choice should lead to a different outcome.

Scenario Prompt:

You find yourself at the entrance of a mysterious cave. The air is thick with fog, and you hear strange sounds coming from within. You can:

• Option 1: Enter the cave and explore the sounds.
• Option 2: Circle around the cave to investigate the area.
• Option 3: Retreat and search for help.

Task:

• Write out the introduction (1-2 sentences) to set the scene.
• Write three distinct outcomes (one for each option) that are engaging and lead to new situations. Each should be about 2-3 sentences long.

Test 2: Create a Branching Path with 2 Endings

In this exercise, you will create a short CYOA sequence with two branches and each branch leading to a different ending.

Scenario Prompt:

You are on a quest to recover a magical artifact hidden deep within a forest. Along the way, you come to a fork in the path:

• Option 1: Take the path to the left, which leads into dense woods.
• Option 2: Take the path to the right, which leads to a rushing river.

Task:

• Write out what happens if the reader takes each path.
• Each choice should lead to a different outcome—one could be a successful discovery of the artifact, while the other might lead to a challenge or failure.

Test 3: Avoid the Dead End

Write a scenario where the reader’s choice leads them into trouble, but instead of an abrupt “dead end” (where the story just stops), offer them a second chance. Give them a way out of the bad situation through a follow-up decision.

Scenario Prompt:

You are locked in a mysterious room with no visible exit. Suddenly, a secret door opens, revealing a tunnel. Do you:

• Option 1: Walk into the tunnel.
• Option 2: Stay and search the room for other clues.

If the reader chooses the tunnel, it could lead to danger. But instead of ending the story there, let the reader:

• Option 1: Try to escape the danger in the tunnel.
• Option 2: Turn back and attempt to leave through the room.

Task:

• Write a “bad” path but give the reader a chance to escape or fix the situation.

Test 4: Map Your Branching Story

For this test, create a simple flowchart of a CYOA story. This helps you practice organizing multiple choices and keeping track of different storylines.

Task:

• Create a basic structure for your story using 2 main decision points with 2-3 choices each.
• Map the paths to see how each choice leads to different outcomes.

You can draw this on paper or use a flowchart tool like Lucidchart or draw.io to visualize how the branches connect.

Test 5: Connect the Choices

Write a longer CYOA scenario where one choice leads to another, and each path influences the next decision point. Focus on how consequences from earlier decisions shape what happens next.

Scenario Prompt:

You are an astronaut exploring a distant planet when your spaceship runs out of power. Your only option is to search for energy sources on the planet’s surface. After wandering for hours, you come across:

• Option 1: A glowing blue crystal.
• Option 2: An abandoned alien structure.

The choice you make here should directly impact what happens next (e.g., discovering new clues, encountering dangers, or finding a way to fix the ship).

Task:

• Write the first decision and its consequences.
• Then, based on the outcome, write the next decision point with two new options.
• Continue the story for 2-3 decision points.

🏆 Bonus Challenge: Create a Mini CYOA Story

Put everything together by writing a short CYOA story with at least 3 branching choices and multiple endings. Be sure to include:

1. An engaging opening scene.
2. Clear and distinct choices.
3. Interesting outcomes for each path.
4. At least one successful ending and one challenging ending (e.g., where the reader fails but learns something along the way).