For the last several months now I’ve been trying to write an “immersive novel”.

What is an immersive novel?

I am borrowing a name used by another company that publishes those kinds of stories. Think a grown up version of the Choose Your Own Adventure books. It’s a story told from second person perspective that gives the reader “choices” that can and do markedly change the outcome of the story.

To put it very plainly, trying to write one has not been easy.

My first attempt was an unmitigated disaster. I tried writing one start to “finishes” and ended up with enough wild story branches to choke a whale with only about five complete “endings”, four of which were “bad”.

It was disappointing to say the least.

I’m about to start a second attempt, and I’m hoping I’ll yield better results this time around.

This time, I’m writing one story first. No branches. I don’t even intend for this story to exist on the final work. However, I’ve decided this needs to exist for at least my own sake.

What story is that?

It’s the story of what happens if the “bad guy” wins.