How to write a "you decide" interactive book
Updated November 2026
Interactive books, where the reader makes choices and turns to different sections, are one of the few formats where a new author can still stand out. They're also hard to plan by hand. Here's how to do it well.
Write in second person
"You open the door. The hallway is dark." Second person, present tense puts the reader inside the story and makes each choice feel like theirs.
Map the branches before writing
Draw the whole map first: every section, every choice and where it leads. A thriller-length interactive book usually has 20 to 40 sections and several endings. Branches can rejoin later so the book doesn't explode in size.
Make choices matter
Every choice should be a real dilemma with a consequence: trust or don't trust, run or hide, open the letter or burn it. Avoid choices where one answer is obviously right.
Plan several kinds of endings
Give readers a best ending, a few good ones, at least one bad one and a twist. Readers replay to find the one they missed, and they recommend books they replayed.
Make choices clickable
In a Kindle e-book, each "turn to section 12" should be a link that jumps straight there. In a paperback, number the sections clearly.
In Authora
Choose "Interactive book" when you start. Authora maps the branches, choices and endings, writes every section in second person, and exports a Kindle e-book where every choice is a working link.
Questions
How many endings should a choose-your-own-adventure book have?
Most have between four and ten: one best ending, several good or bad ones, and at least one twist.
Can I sell interactive books on Amazon KDP?
Yes. Use clickable links between sections in the Kindle e-book and clearly numbered sections in the paperback.
Try it on your own book
Authora plans, writes and edits your book in the style you choose, then makes the cover, the Kindle e-book and the print-ready paperback. The free trial includes 10,000 words, no card needed.