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🧭 Designing Good Threads

A good thread is a topic where every fork is a real decision and every path ends somewhere worth reaching. This page will guide you through shaping a thread, writing choices, sizing stories and planning endings, so readers keep going and come back for the gems they missed.

Start with the question​

Every topic answers a question, such as "How are cities cutting traffic?" Write it down before you write a story. The opening story asks it, the main path answers it in the most direct way, and side paths answer the follow-up questions a curious reader would ask.

Shaping the tree​

  • A strong main path: three to six stories that a reader can follow with "Continue the path" alone and still reach a satisfying ending.
  • Purposeful side paths: each one goes deeper into one idea, such as a case study, the numbers or the other side of the argument.
  • Shallow before deep: two levels of side paths is plenty. Readers lose track of where they are in a deeper tree.
  • A handful of endings: three to seven gems makes a belt that feels finishable.

This ensures most readers get the full story, and the curious ones get more.

Writing choices​

A choice card shows a title and a hook. Readers decide from those alone, so:

  • Say what the reader gets: "The numbers behind the bike lanes" beats "More on this".
  • Make choices different: two choices that sound alike are not a real decision.
  • Use two or three, not three by habit: a story offers up to three choices, but one clear path is better than three vague ones.
  • Use a crossroad to connect topics, not to replace your own main path. See Crossroads.

Sizing stories​

  • Short and complete: most stories should take a few minutes to read. The editor shows the reading time as you write.
  • One idea per story: if a story covers two ideas, it may be two stories with a choice between them.
  • A clear hook: one line that makes someone want to read on. It appears on choice cards and story cards.

Planning endings​

Each published ending is a gem on the topic's belt, so treat it as an arrival, not a stop. A good ending closes the question its path asked and, where it helps, points to another topic with a crossroad. See Endings and gems.

  • Avoid accidental endings: a story you forgot to give choices becomes an ending, and earns a gem.
  • Use "Coming soon" deliberately: a planned ending tells readers there is more to come, but too many make a topic feel unfinished.

Thread or series?​

Use a thread when readers should choose their route. Use a series for steady, dated updates, such as a daily report, where the order is the calendar. See Series.

Best Practices​

  • Sketch on paper first: a few boxes and arrows show the shape before you write.
  • Read your own main path in "Story structure" with "Show only main path" on.
  • Publish the thread together, so readers meet it complete. See Publishing a whole thread.