A collaborative creative writing app where stories are built line by line.

Contribute to multiplayer stories, seeing only what the previous author wrote. Modeled on the game exquisite corpse, each creation is gloriously unique!
Still curious? Learn more.

Already have an account? Sign in!

  • Read
  • Write
  • Help Icon: Active

Read

Recently finished stories

Show more stories

Write

Stories in need of a line

Previous line by
 
The Baguette Boys had retired on the profits from their last caper. They were leading comfortable quiet lives of loafing. Then they heard the news: a spree of carb crimes was being blamed on them. They had to get the gang back together, to cleartheirnames.
Previous line by
 
While cleaning out her grandmother's attic, Eliza finds a box of old letters. "Mum, did you know about these?" she asks, holding up a faded envelope.
Previous line by
 
Madam Toebeans Fluffers Fartbaby had passed away almost 2 years earlier. (The vet knew her as “Fluffy”, of course.) What if my belovedpet was not gone? What if she was back, and 4 times her previous size? Impossible, right?
Previous line by
 
I let the knife slip from my trembling hand, unable to glance at the faces of thelivesItook. My heart pounded as I looked up at the sky, my breaths coming out in short gasps. I went too far. “Good work,” I heard Lucia say. “Took you long enough to deal with them, huh?”
Previous line by
 
"You mean?" she gasped. "Yes," Al said, "we are inside the Earth, walking on the underside of the crust. Gravity seems to not work as it appeared on the surface. Also, you can call me Albert." She smiled. "I'd like that, Albert. My grandfather's name was Albert. But what now?"
Previous line by
 
It’s related to synesthesia. The afflicted are convinced that specific shapes have distinct personalities. They will be sure some shapes are friendly, while others hold a personal grudge. One patient will blush at equilateral triangles, another is enragedbyoctagons.
Previous line by
 
“Because it was apromiseinstead.” She hissed, smiling evilly as her armor continues to get stained from the ashes.
Previous line by
 
The end doesn't always justify the means, but we would all be dead. Not the alternative we wanted...

Help Icon: Active

FAQ
Community
Tips

What is Byline?

A multiplayer creative writing experience where a group of authors creates a story, one line at a time.

How does it work?

Loosely based on exquisite corpse, each author writes a line having only seen the line directly before theirs. Once complete, the creator titles the story and shares it with the group.

Is this a game?

Yes! Get started by creating a story and sharing it with friends. Don't know any writers? No problem. Post your story to Byline and you'll meet some!

Who does the writing?

Public Stories

If you create a story (by clicking the new story button New Story Icon) and don’t invite other authors, then it posts publicly to Byline and can be contributed to by any author on the platform.

Private Stories

If you invite individual people (by username, email, or phone number) and make sure Plus others on Byline is deselected then your story becomes private and only those invited can contribute.

What's a breadcrumb?

Breadcrumbs give authors an opportunity to select a key word/phrase from their line that they think is important. Breadcrumbs are visible for the life a the story and can act as clues that offer additional context.

They are optional, but fun to add!

What's a sequel?

Sequels are stories spawned from the last line of other stories. To create a sequel go to the bottom of a finished story and select Write More Create sequel based on this story.

What if I see something offensive?

If you see something that doesn't live up to our standards report it by clicking the next to any line.