Reading · Writing

Choose your own adventure. Or lack of it.

Zen A.

Your curiosity is piqued. Friends or no friends, you wanted to go and see for yourself what was going on in that house. You tell your significant other you’ll be a bit late, and after work you take the road less traveled to the manor. You hesitate for a moment, then you push the iron gates open – they come loose quickly, much to your surprise – and walk up the stony pathway to the gargoyle-flanked oak door.

You now stand in front of the door, coat wrapped tightly around you. You look around for a bit, wondering if this was a good idea, then you make up your mind and reach for the doorknob. It’s pretty rusty and you fear you might break it, but it only twists easily in your grip. You let the door swing open with a loud creak and start to tread inside. But that’s when you hear it, a loud sound akin to someone pulling their long nails across a blackboard.

Do you 4) stop, or 5) continue inside?

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Published by Zen A.

I'm a writer/procrastinator/chocoholic. I'm also apparently a dork. But you know, that's fine; all these things combined make me cool.

108 thoughts on “Choose your own adventure. Or lack of it.”

      1. That’s right — “Bob watched another leaf fall off his aspidistra. If only he knew what was wrong with it. But he just didn’t want to talk to anyone for at least another month…” Yawn.

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        2. Poor Bob. Life could be interesting… If only his issues had issues, maybe he wouldn’t be so lonely… 🙂

    1. Haha, you can do whatever floats your boat! I just didn’t want to make this post too long or people would get bored reading it. 😉

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    1. I actually was inspired by R.L.Stine’s Give Yourself Goosebumps series. 😀 Those were lots of fun! Thank you for your comment!

      Reply

      1. I haven’t read any of his Gooosbumps books, I read the other books that R L Stine wrote. His books, Christopher Pike, and others were the reason why I wanted to start writing. I use to have so much more creative stories in my head 20 years ago than I do now.

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        1. I assume you mean Fear Street? 🙂 It’s funny you should say that, because R.L.Stine’s books made me went to tell stories of my own too. And I can relate! When I was younger I used to come up with story ideas left, right and center. Now I’m lucky if I can come up with one every few months.

    1. “Poppet” is a funny pet name. I will always be grateful to Pirates of the Caribbean for introducing me to it. 😉 Thank you for your comment!

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  16. I know a fellow who’s writing a story based on the choices people vote for, but it seems that his readers are all incredibly dull and choose the safe options most of the time.

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    1. Yikes. Your friend’s method of writing sounds pretty fun, but seems to me they need a new audience! Nothing’s good come out of playing it safe… well, at least in fiction!

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  18. I have to admit that I prefer this media for “choose your own adventure” to paging through a book. I don’t find myself “peeking” at possibilities as I page past. 🙂

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    1. You’re not the only one who used to do that! I always thought that if I took a little peek it wouldn’t be considered as “cheating”, but most of the time I always ended up dead!

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    1. Thanks! I thought I’d try to be a little creative with it. 😉 And I always enjoyed interactive stories, so I thought it would work well!

      Reply
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  30. Thanks you kindly for the fine article full of information I have needed inside out. I will be sure to pay many visits to all future articles of such good taste. Keep up with the good hard work. And speaking, I have some tiny magic pills that will make you know like a tree. Only two cents minus three for a bottle that will give you much happiness for all to see.

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  32. I adore pieces like this,I would go in,heart thumping.Most likely caring a can of Diet Pepsi and in my back pocket a journal,pen. This is me anyway. I would have a ball poking around and seeing what i could. what a great article

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  37. As a child and you teen, choose your own adventure books were quite popular and as an adult I have often thought about them, and missed them. Feeling as though you had some input into the characters’ action, and also having the opportunity to experience the multiple paths and ‘what its’ that often occurs.

    Developing a new medium to bring these potentially endless stories excites me with hope for more to come.

    Reply

    1. Well here’s hoping! I recently came across one written especially for adults. I just may have to look into it.
      Thank you for your comment! 🙂

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        1. Aww, sorry to hear that. But I’m glad you think so! Choose Your Own Adventure books are always a lot of fun. 😀

  39. I just wanted to let you know that this inspired me to do the choose-your-own-adventure style serial, Blood Red Sun, that I just started up on my site. I love when I come across inventive stuff like this. Some great work, keep it up!

    Reply

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