How do you write a branching visual novel?

You write a branching visual novel by planning the branch structure first, then writing scenes that connect through the choices you place at key moments. Start with a map: the opening, the major decision points, where paths diverge, and where they can merge back so the workload stays sane. Write each scene knowing which choices lead out of it and where they go. Because visual novels lean on art and presentation, keep track of which backgrounds and character states each path needs. Tools like Ren'Py are built specifically for visual novels, while a general branching-story tool works well for prototyping the structure. Mapping it visually first saves rewrites, so laying the branches out in a node graph before you commit is worth the time.