1. TaleUs
Relay-style co-writing community · Best for: Writing short stories together in turns, with friends or strangers
Our own site, so weigh this entry accordingly. Someone starts a story in one of nine genres, other writers add one paragraph at a time, and every story has a set length with a planned ending — written by the last writer or an AI narrator. Finished stories get cover art and audio narration.
Pros
- Built specifically for writing one story together, in turns
- Each writer can add only a limited number of paragraphs, so no one takes over
- Every story reaches an ending
- Optional AI suggestions for titles, openings, and next paragraphs
- Free, and you can start writing straight away
Cons
- Not built for full-length novels
- Younger, smaller community than the big publishing platforms
- No fanfiction focus
2. Wattpad
Story publishing platform · Best for: Publishing your own serialised stories to a huge reading audience
One of the largest storytelling platforms online, where writers publish stories chapter by chapter and readers vote, comment, and follow along. Part of the WEBTOON family of brands.
Pros
- Enormous reading audience
- Great for long, serialised fiction
- Strong fandom and community culture
Cons
- No built-in co-writing — collaborators share an account or alternate chapters
- Hard for new writers to get noticed
3. Archive of Our Own (AO3)
Nonprofit fanworks archive · Best for: Fanfiction writers who want a permanent, ad-free, fan-run home
A nonprofit, open-source archive for fanworks run by the Organization for Transformative Works, with millions of works and a detailed tagging system. Works can list co-creators.
Pros
- Ad-free and nonprofit
- Excellent tagging and filtering
- Supports co-creators on a work (opt-in)
Cons
- Built for fanworks rather than original fiction
- Posting requires an account via an invitation
- Co-authoring rather than turn-based writing
4. Storybird
Art-inspired writing platform · Best for: Young writers, students, and teachers
Writers choose from a library of professional illustrations and write picture books, longform stories, and poems inspired by the art, backed by a writing curriculum with lessons and prompts.
Pros
- Beautiful illustration-led storytelling
- Structured lessons and prompts
- Classroom and school plans
Cons
- Collaboration is limited to students within a Storybird classroom, on picture books
- Aimed mostly at young writers and education
5. AI Dungeon
AI interactive storytelling game · Best for: Playing through open-ended adventures with an AI narrator
Made by Latitude: you describe what your character does and an AI writes what happens next. A multiplayer mode lets friends each control a character in the same story.
Pros
- Instant, always-available AI storytelling
- Multiplayer sessions with friends
- Free tier available
Cons
- The AI writes most of the story, not people
- Open-ended sessions rather than finished stories
- More capable models require a paid membership
6. Inkitt
Reader-powered publisher · Best for: Novelists who want readers and a possible path to publication
Authors post books for free and keep their copyright; reader engagement decides which stories Inkitt publishes on its Galatea reading app.
Pros
- Free to post and to read
- A data-driven path to publication
- Authors keep their copyright
Cons
- Built around individual authors, not co-writing
- Rewards finished, book-length work
7. Google Docs
General-purpose shared documents · Best for: Two or three co-authors drafting a planned manuscript
Not a storytelling site, but many co-writers use it: everyone edits the same document in real time, with comments, suggestions, and version history.
Pros
- Real-time editing, comments, and suggestions
- Version history
- Free with a Google account
Cons
- No turn order, story structure, or ending — the group has to manage all of it
- Anyone with edit access can change anyone's words
- No readers or community built in