Bandersnatch.

[Dean Baxter]

I've been toying with the idea of writing a Gamebook, but for adults or maybe YA. Yeah, you know? A Gamebook! Like the old 'pick your own adventure' or 'Secret Path' books, where the reader becomes the protagonist and is able to make decisions that affect the plot and outcome of the story. There doesn't seem to be many about (probably with good reason). Such a thing would be a nightmare to construct, but probably fun, too. But is it A) Cool or B) A naff gimmick?

 

[Emily]

I find those fascinating, but the thoughts of compiling one would bring me out in a cold sweat...!

And, may I ask: what is "Bandersnatch"? It sounds a little... dodgy. Rude. Just if you are planning on it as a title

 

[Dean Baxter]

HAHAHA. Does it sound rude, or do you have a filthy mind? Probably should have cleared that up. Bandersnatch was an episode of Charlie Brooker's Black Mirror, on Netflix, in which the viewer can select what happens to the character, by choosing either yes or no at various plot points in the show.

 

[Emily]

Ah, now! My mind is filth-free

 

[Rich.]

I've been toying with the idea of writing a Gamebook, but for adults or maybe YA. [...] But is it A) Cool or B) A naff gimmick?

Maybe another way of looking at it would be to ask how you can reach the people who think it's cool. For those of us who grew up with Choose Your Own Adventure books, there's a massive nostalgia factor there. And for younger adults there's cachet in analogue artifacts, for the same reason stoners in the 90s listened to 60s Dylan.

A quick Google search suggests there is a market, and publishers, out there for gamebooks. What are the publishers' submission requirements? Do they want ideas or finished manuscripts? Do they have writing guides? Digging into their websites might answer a lot of your questions.

 

[Dean Baxter]

Sage advice, as always, @Rich

 

[Nikky Lee]

For those of us who grew up with Choose Your Own Adventure books, there's a massive nostalgia factor there.

I grew up reading the Goosebumps Choose Your Own Adventure books (a few examples here). So, for me yes, there is definitely a nostalgia factor. But for MG/YA readers new to it? Hmm, hard to tell.

I could see this working well with LitRPG books (where the protagonist/you are trapped in a game). Some already do this I think (but not many). This is one I found after a quick Google. Percival Pouncer and the Problematic Portal

 

[CageSage]

maybe read this; there are other formats for 'choose your own adventure' stories - been around a while.

 

[Robinne Weiss]

Check out Deb Potter's book, Writing Interactive Fiction. Deb is a NZ writer and publisher of the You Say Which Way Adventures books. She's also an awesome person.

 

[georginaK]

I find those fascinating, but the thoughts of compiling one would bring me out in a cold sweat...!

And, may I ask: what is "Bandersnatch"? It sounds a little... dodgy. Rude. Just if you are planning on it as a title

It’s also from The Jabberwocky which I can quote all the way through as I read it to my kids so many times!

 

[Dean Baxter]

Check out Deb Potter's book, Writing Interactive Fiction. Deb is a NZ writer and publisher of the You Say Which Way Adventures books. She's also an awesome person.

Thanks for the tip. I'm going to order it now.