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This is how to become a Game Writer

  • February 8, 2022 February 18, 2022

Becoming a game writer is not as difficult as one may think. There are many different ways to break into the game industry, and with hard work and dedication, anyone can make it as a game writer. In this article, we will explore some of the methods that aspiring game writers can use to start their career in writing video games. We will also look at the various benefits that come with this type of career. So if you’re looking for a way to become a game writer, read on!

Writing games is a fun thing to do from home

What video game writers do

Writers are responsible for writing game dialogue, game design documents, game narratives, game plots, game quests and other information required of the game. They are usually given a brief by their superiors containing details on what is expected from them. With this information in hand, they work on creating products that will aid game designers to bring the video game’s vision into fruition.

What formal education game writers have

Most game writers have a Bachelor’s degree or higher in creative writing. Many game writers also have a background in English literature, scriptwriting and journalism. Some game writers, however, do not receive formal training for game writing and instead pick up their skills through independent practice. Game writing is becoming popular enough that there are game writing courses that people can take to improve their game writing skills.

What game writer jobs are available

For game writers, there are many different job opportunities available in the game industry. Some game writers work for large game development companies while others work independently on projects of their own or with small teams consisting of around 6 members. Others choose to work as game script doctors, game narrative designers and game dialogue writers .

Game writing jobs available

What skills game writers need

Game writing jobs require certain writing skills such as creative writing, storytelling, and the ability to convey information effectively through written word. There is no set career path for game writers, so it is better to gain a wider knowledge on game development and game design. This will help game writers create better game products that will lead to more success for the game developer or game development company.

How game writers break into the game industry

As with any other occupation, there are different ways to break into the game industry. Let’s look at some of them below.

Games development companies – Game writers find employment either by working for large game development companies or independently on projects of their own or with smaller teams of less than 6. Independent game writers – Some game writers choose to freelance and write for a number of video games in a project-to-project basis.

Self-employment – This way, the writer either writes their own story independently or works with other members on a team. They usually have to self-fund their projects because publishers are not willing to take chances on novel ideas.

Going to school – Many game writers start their careers by enrolling in a degree or certificate program, or through an apprenticeship. They use this as a stepping stone to break into the industry and move on from there. The advantage of going this route is that it may lead directly to employment, especially if one graduates with a portfolio of work.

Finishing school

Writing contests – Writing contests such as those held by the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) and the Independent Gaming Source (IGS) offer a good opportunity for writers to break into the industry. The contests present many aspiring game writers with an active platform where they can share their ideas and interest people in hiring them for future.

A game writer’s typical day at work

A game writer usually spends their time researching for their work, thinking of ideas and writing the video game script . They also meet with other members of the development team to make sure that they are on track and working towards achieving project goals.

In order to be on the same page with the rest of the team, workflow tools are often used to keep track of tasks and projects, such as task management software and project management software.

Example of time

What kind of writing style do I need?

Since games are interactive, game writers must ensure that the story they write is engaging and easy to understand. The writing style for video games is usually less formal than other forms of literary writing because game stories are not about literature or dramatic storytelling; it’s also more casual than technical documentation or other forms of non-fiction writing. It should be simple and direct as video games are often played by casual readers or speakers.

When we say video game writer, we usually mean the main story writer(s) of a video game and not video game designers who design games and characters and other video game developers. It is possible for video game writers to work on video games with different development teams such as those listed below:

Different types of game writers

In order for people to be able to play games that are good, these roles need to be filled first during the game creation process:

– video game designers

– video game programmers

– video game artists/visual designers and animators

– video game musicians and composers.

The responsibilities of video game writers can vary from one video games development company to another, but the main ones are listed below

1. Video Game Script Writer – The videogame script writer is responsible for coming up with video game plots and writing video game scripts. These video games stories must get the creative juices flowing in the video games development team and get them excited about working on a project. They also need to make sure that what they write is conducive to video game design and programming, which will lead to a more successful product.

Video game manuscript example

2. Video Game Editor – A video game editor is responsible for improving and polishing the video games scripts written by the video game writer, making sure that they flow well and read smoothly. They will also play a big role in determining how gripping the story is and whether or not gamers would want to play on

3. Video Game Producer – These are the people who head up creative development projects. They will take the various ideas generated by members of the video game development team and develop them into video game plots, scripts and storyboards that can be easily translated into game development products.

4. Video Game Tester – This position requires creative thinking as well because they will play the game and try to break it by finding glitches. Once these bugs are found, they need to make a list of them and report back to the development team

5. Video Game Level Designer – This job also needs creative thinking because they will determine how each level will play out since they will design the layout of every level in the video game. They will also determine how difficult each level would be and what kind of game play mechanics there will be.

6. Video Game Writer – this person needs to have a solid understanding of game design as well as good communication skills since they need to tell the stories that will unfold in the game through video game dialogues and monologues. They also need to be able to help game designers determine game play mechanics that would lead to more gripping game stories.

Video game writing process

Once game developers have decided what game they want to make, video game writers will come up with the game’s plot and characters, which are found in game design documents (GDDs). When the game is almost finished, game writers will be able to see what game designers have made and make any necessary changes if they don’t like game play mechanics or game dialogues.

Video game writers usually work on game design documents (GDDs), which are speculative documents that expand upon game design ideas; however, video game writing is not the only activity game writers do. During game development, game writers also have to think about game dialogue and game narration which may take up a lot of the game writer’s time depending on how much they are involved in game design. Game writers can also spend a majority of their time proofreading game text and dialogues that have been written by other members of the video game development team. Some game writers may also create game plots, game scripts and game storyboards which can vary between game developers.

Some game writers also spend time playing video games that are similar to the game they are currently writing for in order to get a feel of what other people like about these types of games; however, this depends on the game writer and game developer.

For game developers, game writers can come up with game plots and characters. They can help game designers determine game play mechanics; however, it’s not necessary for all game writers to be involved in the entire process of making a video game. Some game writers may not like or be interested in playing games that are similar to what game developers are making; therefore, game writers may focus mainly on game dialogues and game narration. Since game writers rely heavily on game design documents (GDDs) for game dialogue and game narration ideas, game writers that do not create game plots or game storyboards can rely more on these types of documents than game writers who create game plots and game storyboards.

Narrative designers are also important in the video game industry

Narrative designers help shape the stories that will be told in video games. Sometimes, a collaborative effort is necessary when creating a video game because it’s difficult for one person to create all of the dialogue and narration within a video game. This type of job requires creativity as well as strong communication skills because it can be challenging to this one this combined with other members of the video game writing team. Video games that have been released with a strong narrative can be a major hit with gamers because story-telling is what pulls people in, especially when it comes to video games.

Start writing to perfect your skills

Since there are so many different types of video games available, it’s important to decide what type of video game writer you would like to be. If you haven’t played a lot of video games in the past, don’t worry because there will always be new video games coming out and you can start playing any time. Play games you like and play games that are similar to the game developers’ games.

Blank page

If you’re interested in becoming a video game writer, start writing now. Start writing about your favorite games or make up scenarios on what could happen next. This can help you practice your skills as well as gain interest in this type of career path.

Game studios need Creative writing skills and a story-telling ability.

With so many games and stories to experience, there’s no limit to what you could do next! And this is exactly what game studios are looking out for. A video game company needs a game world that hasn’t been explored yet, narrative driven games are the best selling and often cheapest to build products.

When you write games make sure to let your imagination run wild so the game’s story is unpredictable. Focus on making the best possible story you can, so the video game studio will turn it into an interactive storytelling masterpiece. The ability to keep things from being mundane is the true measurement of your writing ability.

How to start writing your own games

If you would like to create your own video game, start by brainstorming . You can start writing about the story and the characters you want to include in your game as well as ideas for quests and missions within your game. This can help increase your motivation and interest in creating a video game of your own.

Make sure it’s something you’re interested in!

Keep writing and become more confident in your skills. Write about other games that you enjoy playing or write about something else if you’d rather do this. With practice, you’ll be able to hone your skills as a video game writer and create the perfect game for yourself.

A mountain ahead to climb

The hardest part about starting your own game projects is getting over how much writing you’ll actually have to do. It can be very daunting to see the mountain of work ahead of you with no end in sight. This is why it’s always important to have mini goals to keep up consistent great writing.

Document what you’d like to write before you start writing it so that it is easier to complete tasks like finishing smaller story arcs while constantly branching narratives and driving the story forward. It is essential to get a sense of progress and accomplishment throughout the writing process or you might just give up entirely before you finish.

You don’t want to be like George RR Martin and take 20 years to finish your books! So focus on finishing short stories within your overall game script to get forward progress. Writing can be a dream job, if you allow it to be one!

Easy beginner writing gigs for video game companies – build up a portfolio

Being a video game writer can be a very fun career if you’re passionate about the games that you work on. When starting out, it’s important to focus on projects that will help improve your craft and build up your writing portfolio.

There are different types of beginner writing gigs available in the gaming industry such as:

– Writing for small video game companies

– Writing for freelance jobs (Upwork)

– Writing for large video game companies

Each of these writing gigs is different and it’s important to make sure that you choose a gig with a company or studio where you’ll be able to write the type of games that you want. This will ensure that your time spent working on whatever task they need done is time that’s well spent and that you feel good about what you’re working on.

Game writing can be an extremely rewarding career if it’s something you really enjoy doing. As with all writing, the most important thing to remember is to practice and keep honing your craft! The more work you put in, the better a writer you’ll be!

Gaming technology that helps with your writing job

It is always important to keep up with the advancements in technology, especially if you are writing for video games. Games like The Last of Us, Bioshock and Uncharted use advanced technologies like motion capture or 3D animation. These technologies help enhance the gaming experience by making it more realistic and immersive; this means that you will have to write accordingly.

For example, let’s say that you’re writing the story for a new video game. One of your tasks would be to write dialogue (or whatever medium is appropriate such as in-game text) for the characters in your game. If your characters are going to be talking while they’re shooting at enemies or when there’s action going on, you’ll need to write these conversations in a way that they seem natural and realistic, but also won’t slow down the pace of the game’s action.

Call of Duty action

Now imagine that you’re writing a video game script for a first person shooter, much like Call of Duty or Battlefield where you take on the role as a military soldier who is fighting against the enemy. Your job in this perspective is to be the eyes and ears of the player who is taking control of your character in the game; they will only see what your character sees, so it’s important that you relay all of the information that your character would notice. This of course fits into character development also.

This might seem simple enough, but there are many different things that are taken into account when you’re writing a video game. You’ll need to keep the player engaged and at the same time, not lose focus of your overall story and character development. Many games rely on their storylines and characters to set themselves apart from other games in the genre; this means that you will have quite a bit of pressure if you are working on this type of project.

Write with particular types of voice actors in mind

Writing for video games is a very interactive process, this means that you’ll be writing a lot of dialogue and voice over. Depending on the type of game you’re working on, will determine what type of voice actors you need to write with in mind.

For example, let’s say that you’re going to work as a video game writer for a company that is making a brand new zombie-survival game. You’ll need to write your dialogue and voice over with certain types of voice actors in mind, such as Bruce Campbell, Sarah Michelle Gellar or Danny Trejo. These are all popular voice actors who have been in past zombie movies and games; writing with these specific actors in mind will give your game a great deal of authenticity.

Voice acting mic

However, if you’re working on an entirely different type of video game, one that isn’t focused on zombies or anything horror-based, then it would be wise to write with other types of voice actors in mind, such as Jennifer Lawrence or Ryan Gosling. Maybe try and do some voice work of your own to get a better idea of your character’s traits!

How much can video Game writers make?

Game writers can make from around $17 per hour on average, but their pay rate depends on the type of games they write for and how much experience they have. For example, at a small company where there are only a few employees it’s possible to get paid upwards of $20 an hour with no prior experience.

Dollars

There is also a big difference between being employed in a game development company or working as a freelancer. As a freelancer you can set your own price to meet growing demands… the more popular you become, the higher your hourly rates will be! The cliffside of this argument is that you obviously will make less, if there is a less demand.

How much can Narrative designers make?

Narrative designers make around $21 per hour on average and like many other writers, their pay rate depends on experience and the company. This type of writer usually works to develop characters and storylines in video games, movies or novels. They often work closely with developers and the creative director in order to meet their vision for a project.

“If you only care about being a writer, then you should probably go work for someone else. You have to want to make games.” – Richard Rouse III

The tasks of a narrative designer

Just like any other media, storytelling is an art form that takes on different forms. However there are some key elements that can help define if a story is good or bad. There are four key elements to every story – these include emotion, plot, control and subtext.

When you’re writing a video game it’s important for the player to feel something other than frustration when they play your game! Think about what emotions you want your players to experience as they play through your storyline and make sure that you’re conveying them properly.

As a video game writer, it’s important for you to think about what type of plot will be present in your story and how the player moves from one stage or level to another. This means that there needs to be some sort of control placed onto the storyline so it doesn’t become too convoluted and so you don’t lose track of your pacing and character development.

Getting your player to care about the story and characters is not an easy task, so it’s important that you create a strong subtext beneath the surface of what they can see. This means having them look deeper into the motives of your main characters, for example why are they in the situation that they’re in?

Are Game Writers in high demand?

Game writers are always in demand because game companies need them to convey the story through dialogue and text. Gaming companies always require more scriptwriters due to the high demand of video games worldwide that is still steadily growing.

Even without specific degrees such as English Literature & history, you will still be able to find jobs in the games industry so long as your quality of writing is sufficient.

Final Advice for aspiring game writers to get their foot in the door

The way to achieve one’s dreams is by taking the first step. For aspiring game writers, that first step involves figuring out what they hope to accomplish and getting training for it. The more experience you have as a writer, the closer you are to breaking into this industry. You can also try networking with others in your chosen field or look for people who would be interested in your ideas. Developing relationships with other writers is also a good way to learn about the industry and get feedback on your work before you contact game development companies.

Door Opens

Once you are done, this article should have provided you enough information for you to know what type of career path would fit your goals best, as well as giving you insight on how to achieve those goals by identifying the best way for you. You don’t even need a writing degree, just get to it by starting now!

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How to get a job as a games writer

The GamesIndustry.biz Academy looks into how to get a job writing video games

Finding a job in the games industry is no easy task. Our guides can help you to find the right path to the games industry job of your dreams. You can read our other in-depth guides on how to get a job in the games industry on this page , covering various areas of expertise.

After 68 years of recognising excellence in science-fiction and fantasy literature, the Hugo Awards added a video game category to the 2021 edition .

While the accolade will only be offered this year and has yet to be added permanently to the organisation's roster, it still represents a great step towards the recognition of interactive storytelling.

With each year passing, the games industry becomes more interested in story. While the big blockbusters are still typically gameplay-focused -- as shown by the best-selling games in the US in 2020 -- there's a growing trend towards trying to push the boundaries of narrative in AAA games.

"One of my favourite writers told me that she runs to have something she hates more than writing" Olivia Wood

Even developers who have historically been purely focused on gameplay have experimented with narrative elements, such as EA venturing into story modes in recent FIFA titles, or NBA 2K making the narrative MyCareer Mode a core feature of the series.

Pushed by an indie scene that's always at the avant-garde of storytelling, AAA has a new appetite for carefully crafted stories, which have shined in recent years with titles such as God of War, The Witcher 3, Persona 5 or The Last of Us Part II.

This shift, which contributes to making interactive storytelling more visible, might motivate an entire new generation towards games writing as a job. But before opting for such a career, you need to make sure you're getting into it for the right reasons. Like most artistic jobs, it's easy to idealise games writing.

Much like game artists don't just draw what they want all day and game journalists are not paid to play video games , writing games doesn't mean writing compelling stories day in, day out. So be aware of the caveats, says Olivia Wood. She's a narrative designer, writer and content manager at Failbetter Games, and also works as a freelancer as part of Bear Wolf -- she was one of the writers on the indie anthology game Where the Water Tastes Like Wine, among others.

how to become a game writer

"Writing is hard," she says. "It will sometimes make you miserable. Just because it does, doesn't mean you suck. One of my favourite writers told me that she runs to have something she hates more than writing. Although if you hate it too much, do something else. Life is too short. It's not a good way to have your name remembered in the annals of history. It's also not the best paid job in the industry, and it's very competitive."

There are a lot of jobs you can put under the games writing label. Narrative designers and writers are typically the most common ones you'll encounter.

"As a writer, the entirety of your job is based around writing and solving problems related to writing," says Xalavier Nelson Jr., narrative designer and writer of Hypnospace Outlaw and Skate Bird, and creator of An Airport for Aliens Currently Run by Dogs and the recently announced Space Warlord Organ Trading Simulator .

"So if you are a game's writer, it is feasible that you could spend your entire tenure at a studio writing screenplay and format scripts. Narrative design, alongside also doing writing, usually involves looking at the mechanical basis of the game and visual aspects, and collaborating with a team to determine ways to convey your narrative through other elements that are not solely narrative components."

What education do I need to get a job in games writing?

What do i need to get noticed as a games writer, what qualities and skills do i need to work in games writing, what are the common misconceptions about games writing, advice for new and aspiring games writers.

how to become a game writer

Some of the most memorable stories told in games have been written by creators with an educational background that has little to do with storytelling. Uncharted creator Amy Hennig studied film theory and production. Mass Effect lead writer Drew Karpyshyn has a BA in fine arts. Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima studied economics.

Your degree isn't what's going to make you a game writer. But that's not to say you shouldn't study for one.

"I hold a bachelors in English: Creative Writing Emphasis, Theater minor," says Lauren Stone, Clancy IP writer at Ubisoft Reflections. "I don't believe a specific degree in writing is necessary to become a games writer, however, big caveat , it makes it much easier to get a work visa as a 'skilled worker' in a foreign country.

"Because games are global, and you sometimes have to chase the projects and jobs, being able to get a visa to work in another country could be necessary to advance your career. If you want to be a full-time staff writer for a major studio, then having a bachelor's degree can make that pursuit easier, especially before you have a substantial body of work that you can use to support your visa application to immigration boards."

how to become a game writer

Wood agrees with Stone on the visa front, but insists that it's not necessarily a writing degree that you need.

"I do think that enough of an education that you understand grammar rules is useful -- so that you can pick and choose when to ignore 'correct' style, fight the right battles, and not be intimidated by pedants," she explains. "A formal education can also introduce you to subjects that you wouldn't have sought out of your own volition, expose you to writing that you might not otherwise have got around to.

"A degree can provide you with the opportunity to develop your skills in criticism. I think history degrees can be incredibly useful -- I'm envious of some of the rich layers of history that my colleagues know exist to draw from. At the same time, I have no regrets about studying philosophy and politics -- that gave me different advantages. But all this is stuff you can do on your own time, and don't need to be formally guided into. While not a games writer, Terry Pratchett, one of the best and most compassionate writers we've had, didn't go to university."

Corey Brotherson, comic book writer and lead narrative designer at Silver Rain Games, spent most of his 20-year career in the industry as a journalist, as well as a content producer and writer for PlayStation Europe, for over 12 years. He has a BA in English language and literature, as well as a master's in journalism.

how to become a game writer

"I thought if I got a degree in English language and literature, then I've got a foundation for fiction, which is something I wanted to do but I had no idea how to get into. I was trying to think long term: I don't know if you need a degree to become a fiction writer, but hopefully that will help. Both degrees actually became really important in being able to create this foundation for games writing. Mainly in terms of organisational writing, communication and creativity -- there's a lot of transposable skills from journalism, to games writing, to marketing. They have helped in terms of being able to let employers know that I was serious about becoming a writer and that I had enough grounding there."

how to become a game writer

Kike Ayoola, writer at The Wagadu Chronicles developer Twin Drums, has a BSc in computer science. She explains that a formal education in game design can also be very beneficial to being a good games writer.

"You're writing for games with mechanics and so many other design elements that you need to integrate your narrative with; I think having a good understanding of all of the parts that bring games together could be a huge advantage," she says.

The degree you choose to pursue can also be linked to the genre of games you want to work with, or the type of stories you want to write.

"Don't forget that we have all kinds of writers in AAA," Stone says, adding that many programs could be beneficial depending on the game being made. "If you're working on a Clancy game [and] you have a degree in Criminal Justice or Political Science you may be more appealing than someone with a degree in English because you bring specific expertise to the table. Being able to highlight what makes you unique and targeting projects and teams that will see the value in your knowledge is more important than ticking the box for 'has a degree'."

"The ideal education for a writer is something that makes you as broad of a person as possible" Xalavier Nelson Jr.

When he's in a position to recommend or hire writers, Nelson says he doesn't care where or how they trained -- what matters is their technical skill as well as the perspective they bring to their worlds.

"The ideal education for a narrative designer or writer in my opinion is something that makes you as broad of a person as possible. The more resources you can pull from in terms of mythology, strange technical minutia and trivia, little pieces of how other mediums have solved problems, history, and philosophy, the better equipped you'll be able to not just solve problems with your teams, but to write richer stories coming right out of the gate. Any education, whether it's formal or not, that provides you with that full broad scope of being human, is the way to go in my opinion."

how to become a game writer

  • Build a portfolio of writing samples

As made abundantly clear by the variety of educational options available to aspiring game writers, there is no one path into the job. But there are essential elements that you need to perfect, and most of them revolve around your writing portfolio and what should be in it. It is your most precious ally, and ideally it should be composed of work that is relevant to games.

"This includes things like writing samples that show off your ability to write dialogue [and] an understanding of barks [short lines of ambient dialog]," says lead narrative designer at Capy Games, Kaitlin Tremblay.

how to become a game writer

It's all about showcasing that you can write for games specifically, so you should display "a focus on dialogue and cinematic scene construction, as well as an understanding of the different types of writing and narrative structures used in games," she continues. That includes choice writing, branching stories, open-world and combat barks, item descriptions and flavour text, tutorials, linear versus non-linear narrative, authored content versus systemic behaviours, and more.

However, it's worth noting that any writing is better than no writing at all. "If you want to be a writer, write," Stone says, before noting that she's honed her craft as a writer in other media before transitioning to games. She adds that she knows plenty of novelists and screenwriters who have transitioned because they created a body of work. What matters is that you have done writing before applying for jobs.

"You can't apply somewhere, even as a junior, and expect to start writing there," Wood adds. "While junior writers should be taught and given room to expand, not all companies will be great at this, and writing jobs are so popular that you need to have samples to show genuine interest in the role, and that you can actually write. So, while there's lots of advice telling you 'don't work for free' -- which is largely true -- it should probably be 'don't work for others for free.' To get into game writing you need to have written."

  • Finish and publish stories

Writing for yourself so you have writing samples to show is sometimes still not quite enough though -- you ideally need to actually finish and seek publication of your work.

"There's a lot of people in all creative industries that said to me: if you can finish a story, then that shows at least you're dedicated to the craft itself," Brotherson says, noting that he had roughly a dozen stories under his belt when he was approached about working on indie project Windrush Tales and (separately) working at Silver Rain Games.

"And that probably gave [me] the confidence to be able to say: [I] know how to create a plot, how to finesse a story, how to create compelling characters, how to write dialogue. Those things were just as important as me being able to say: I've got a MA and I've got a BA. That will give you a substantial advantage when you're applying for jobs."

how to become a game writer

Wood recommends regularly writing flash fiction and sending it to any company that might publish it. If you can't show your work to other people and listen to feedback, you're never going to learn or improve. She warns that this can be a bruising education -- but it is all necessary.

"In games writing you are going to have work cut, changed, rewritten by someone else, thrown out," she explains. "Getting used to rejection, trying to learn not to take it personally or to heart... is pretty vital. I'd look at competitions, at game jams, and use them as motivation for the creation of portfolio pieces. There are loads of talks on writing online; many GDC talks are on YouTube. Watch them. Build a portfolio, apply for jobs, politely ask for feedback and be gracious when you get rejections."

  • Make playable content

Your portfolio should also demonstrate an understanding of the tools of the craft, and showcase playable content.

"Try as much as possible to familiarise yourself with the variety of game writing software available and try as soon as possible to start making games," Ayoola says. "Even making small practice games on your own shows your enthusiasm and dedication to the art, and helps you as a game writer to begin to understand the structure of your stories and how to use your narrative to drive it forward."

how to become a game writer

Twine was overwhelmingly mentioned by our interviewees as an essential piece of software for aspiring games writers to get accustomed to. Nelson points out that he "got the work by doing the work" and he started with Twine because that's what he "could wrap [his] head around." And the more he practiced it, the better he became at it, allowing him to embrace story and game development as a whole.

"[I saw] my initial lack of knowledge not as a limitation but as a constraint that I could do interesting creativity within," he explains. "What I could pull off technically gave me an avenue through which to view the game development process as a whole, and later on really benefit my clients when it came to building narrative structures and designs that specifically took advantage of solutions that would make the game easier to build, as opposed to trying to cellophane wrap a story over a shape that really did not want it."

Tremblay adds that making a game in Twine really teaches you fundamentals of choice design, branching narrative, and how to use variables to tell a player-driven story.

"You can include barks and you can show off snappy dialogue in a Twine," she continues. "While not all studios make branching narratives, a released game made in something like Twine is still valuable because it's a released game, and there is so much you learn about scoping, balancing work for a release date, and so on, from developing and releasing a game, no matter the size or engine it is made in. Whatever engine or software you want to use, know what you want to get out of it, formalise your learnings from it, and treat it as what it is: a released game in your portfolio that people can play and that you can use to build your reputation, experience, and skills."

how to become a game writer

  • Play the networking game

Finally, networking is absolutely key to getting noticed as a games writer. Doing all of the above will be almost worthless if you don't take the time to put yourself in the spotlight and interact with peers.

"Junior games writing jobs are notoriously hard to come by, but that doesn't mean they don't exist," Tremblay says. "Building genuine relationships with other game writers and developers is an important way to gain connections to people who are looking and hiring. A lot of people want to be games writers, so the competition is tough, and landing a gig often relies on words of recommendations and people being suggested to fulfill roles.

how to become a game writer

"So genuinely participating in the games writing community through events, on Twitter, is one way of building your network and letting people know you're looking for a job. But remember not to treat people like conduits to a job; treat people like people, build earnest friendships, and grow your network and community through shared interests, enthusiasm, and support."

Brotherson says networking played a fundamental part in a good portion of his career, whether that's in games or comic books. So it's worth being persistent even if that's not your thing.

"[Networking] does have this wonderful trickle down effect -- and I wouldn't necessarily say that I'm a particularly good networker," he laughs. "I'm quite introverted, I tend to be quite nervous and anxious in large crowds. But I think that combination of putting yourself out there, being open to talking to people and being open to opportunities that come up [is fundamental]."

Before getting into the essential skills needed to be a good games writer, it's important to understand that different studios will have different needs and requirements.

"A lot of AAA studios rely heavily on barks, so demonstrating a thorough understanding of the role of barks, and how to write barks well, is important," Tremblay explains. "Other studios, especially mobile, focus a lot on dialogue choice and branching narrative, so being able to demonstrate a scalable understanding of how to develop meaningful branches that don't blow up scope, and how to write dialogue choices for expressive player agency, are important experiences there. Some studios have all their dialogue voiced, and others don't. A games writing portfolio isn't one-size-fits-all."

  • You need to be a good writer

This is an obvious one but to get a job in games writing, you need to be a good writer -- especially with strong dialogue chops, Tremblay says.

"An eye for detail never goes amiss in writing -- people notice the small but pleasant things in your work" Kike Ayoola

"'Good writing' is obviously subjective, but a focus on being adaptive, writing strong dialogue, [and] knowing how to balance thematic and gameplay needs in writing are all crucial skills to have. Knowing how to create and develop characters, how to write dialogue, how to write scenes, how to construct plot, and how to use and break structures and conventions is really important since that is the job."

Being a good writer also means being detail-oriented and having enough imagination to turn a setting that is being given to you into a believable story or world.

"[You need] good understanding of the lore you're working with and the ability to build worlds and characters from this," Ayoola says. "I think an eye for detail never goes amiss in writing -- people notice the small but pleasant things that end up in your work."

how to become a game writer

  • You need to learn how story fits in the game-making puzzle

No one will expect you to know game development in and out as a writer, but having a willingness and ability to understand the mechanics and features of the game you are working on will go a long way, Ayoola points out.

Tremblay adds that learning how games are made is about understanding the processes, the difficulties, and the successes.

"Knowing how a game gets made can only ever help you know how to better tell a story for games" Kaitlin Tremblay

"Understand the role of different disciplines, how they work together, how different engines determine what, and how story gets implemented into a game, since that will determine what you can write and where it can be triggered and surfaced to the player," she says. "Knowing, generally, how a game gets made can only ever help you know how to better tell a story for games. This will also help you respect other job disciplines, their responsibilities, and how you can collaborate with them to tell the best story.

"You're obviously telling the story of the game and providing characterisation, but writing is also often reinforcing gameplay goals, mission directives, abilities. So understand that your writing will likely have to fulfill a few functions, and try to write with all of those goals in mind."

  • You need to be collaborative and open

Making games is highly collaborative, and as a writer you will be working with a lot of different departments. So knowing how to work with others and receive feedback is paramount.

"You have to put your ego aside," Brotherson says. "Being able to communicate your ideas and being able to work with people who have their own ideas about what the story should be and what the character should be doing, and being able to convey and work together to make the best story possible, is the only way you can work forward on a game."

"Often we are told to 'kill our darlings' -- in games, you're less of a parent and more of a farmer" Lauren Stone

Stone explains that it doesn't mean that you shouldn't fight for your work if you really believe in it, but you will have to let some things go.

"Often we are told as writers to 'kill our darlings' -- in games, you're less of a parent and more of a farmer," she says. "You raise chickens for eggs, but eventually you're going to have to kill your old hens that stopped laying. 90% of everything you write will never see the light of day. You can try to use them for soup or coq au vin, but they no longer work as intended. If you're good, that 10% will ship. You have to be diligent, thorough, but not controlling and that is a very delicate line to walk.

"I would highly recommend getting into writing groups or collaborative creation, whether that is game jams or another discipline, like improv or theater. Learning to work with other people and take feedback and realign to support the team is crucial to staying in games."

how to become a game writer

  • You need to be able to work to specs and deadlines

None of your creativity is worth anything if you're not able to deliver it on time or within the guidelines that have been given to you.

"You [can't] complain about writing barks every single day for about a week," Brotherson adds. "[Sometimes] you're writing one bit of dialogue in lots of different ways that are conveying the same message. 'Take cover', 'I'm taking cover', 'okay, I'm getting undercover now'... and you're just basically doing that repeatedly over and over again in an Excel sheet, until you're absolutely sick of trying to find different ways of saying the same thing. This is part of the process and it's part of the job."

"It's all wonderful if you can create glittering characters, but if you can't do it within a deadline, you're going to be nobody's friend" Corey Brotherson

He adds that he learnt about the primordial importance of working to specs the hard way, after a writing test gone wrong at a AAA studio. While he was praised for his imagination and creativity, he failed a part of the test that asked to write according to specific constraints.

"It's all wonderful if you can create a story and create glittering characters, but if you can't do it within a deadline and you're holding up lots of other departments in the process, you're going to be nobody's friend. Creativity can only take you so far. Being able to stay on spec is super vital. And it sounds obvious, but it's very easy to get caught up in the excitement and the whole: 'Oh my god they've given me X, Y and Z from this game to write about and I'm gonna really show them how amazingly imaginative I can be.'

"You need to sometimes be able to step back and let go of what you're doing and saying: I've done the best I can. Yes, I could reiterate it and work on it, and make it even better, but there are deadlines, there are money situations here that need to be considered. There's wider considerations and consequences. As important as writing is, you are not the centre of the game."

how to become a game writer

The most common misconception about being a games writer is that everything you do revolves around writing words. But it isn't the case.

"There's a really strong misconception where, as a games writer, you're just sitting there and you're turning out characters, and you're writing dialogue, and you're doing all this really really fun stuff," Brotherson says. "You do get to do that. But before you get to do that, you have to do an absolute ton of structural work. You're having to get around putting ideas down and working through those ideas and rewriting those ideas constantly, and making sure that it works not just from a narrative and storytelling perspective, but from a game's design perspective as well."

You might also not get to write your own ideas, so you need to be able to get excited about writing about other people's concepts.

"You are not the 'author of your own story'. If you want to tell 'your story', write a novel, but a game is a collaborative effort" Lauren Stone

"You are not the 'author of your own story'," Stone says. "If you want to tell 'your story', write a novel, but a game is a collaborative effort. There will be more stakeholders who get a say in what you're writing and whether or not it ever sees the light of day than you will ever know. Some work you think is completely brilliant other people will hate, and something you think is too much will make it into the trailer for your game. You never know what people will connect with, so treat everything like it is that million-dollar cinematic."

Sometimes a part of the story will need changing because the animation team couldn't get around a technical challenge. Sometimes shareholders will ask the team to cut a character because it performed poorly in a focus test. That is just the reality of game development.

Nelson clarifies that the job of a game's writer is not just to tell a story, but to support whatever the creative team's vision is.

"You are an enabler as a games writer, not a driver, even if the game is a narrative-driven game. The first experience I had in games was discovering just how much the mundane, frustrating, reality of game development had been obfuscated for me as a player. Things that I assumed were trivial, like even putting a dialogue box on the screen, were actually nightmarish processes. So, I think, coming through the door with a great amount of humility and with a desire to learn as much as possible about the other pieces of the project that you will be impacting is essential. Because one line of dialogue you write can mean up to months of work for your collaborators.

"The more you know the costs of your words and your work, the more you can intentionally harness those moments so that if you're spending a lot of money, you're doing it to make something incredible. You're walking into it with your eyes fully wide open to all of the challenges that await you."

how to become a game writer

  • Operate from a basis of stability

As touched upon by Olivia Wood, games writing is a labour of love and certainly isn't the best paying job the games industry has to offer. So you may need to have a day job to support your creative endeavours, which is something Nelson is keen to normalise.

"The greatest piece of advice I could give to a games writer as well as anyone else looking to join the game industry is to operate from a basis of stability whenever possible," he says. "A huge plot point in an '80s movie is when someone tells the aspiring creative hero: 'Don't quit your day job kid!' and it's a motivator to prove that sucker wrong, and move towards your dreams and show the world just what you can do.

"As tiring as it is to maintain a day job, it's that much harder to write 50 grenade barks when you haven't eaten today" Xalavier Nelson Jr.

"And I want to heavily destigmatise the idea of maintaining a day job while writing for games or searching for a career in games, so that you not only have a backup but you have a basis of stability to operate from in terms of pursuing your career.

"Because let me tell you two things. When you make choices, especially important career choices, from a position of desperation, it is very likely you will be making incorrect choices. Or at least choices that do not benefit and work towards your future. The second major thing is that once you have the money, credits, reputation, funding, to move fully into game development, you can do that whenever. But as tiring as it is to maintain a day job alongside a potential career in creativity, it's that much harder to write 50 grenade barks when you haven't eaten today."

While it may sound like a cliché, reading a lot is essential to becoming a better writer, whether that's reading fiction or books about writing.

"I think we're in a wonderful age where lots of people have put out lots of books on what games narrative is, and how to be successful in creating a good game story," Brotherson says. "Getting to expand that toolbox and understanding all the mechanics that come with games writing and games narrative is really just a fantastic way of being able to prepare yourself for that job."

However, whatever you read, do not be a passive reader. As Wood explains, you need to read thoughtfully.

"Reading for entertainment and pleasure is good, and you'll absorb things unconsciously. But you'll learn a lot more by thinking why you liked something, why you disliked something, and how you can extract tricks and tools to replicate things in your own work."

Tremblay works with a community of games writers as part of DMG, a queer and feminist nonprofit organisation for marginalised game creators, and as part of that work she put together a reading list for folks who want to learn a bit more about the craft. It includes books, talks, and blogs and you can find it right here .

how to become a game writer

  • Reach out to peers and seek mentorship

We've already highlighted the importance of networking. If you're lucky enough, networking may lead you to finding a mentor, which is an invaluable way to learn and progress.

After initial interest in a games writing position, Ayoola ended up in contact with Jana Sloan van Geest, senior game writer at story-driven casual games firm Wooga, and former scriptwriter at Guerilla Games and Ubisoft.

"She really took me under her wing as her mentee," Ayoola says. "She gave me her precious time, sharing all of her knowledge and pretty much gave me all of the advice I needed to both understand the role and start off as a game writer. She was also the one who invited me to the event where I would later meet Allan [Cudicio], founder of Twin Drums.

"I let my self-doubt and anxiety keep me from reaching out to people who I know would've been wonderful career advocates for myself" Kaitlin Tremblay

"Don't be afraid to reach out to people; there are lots of really kind and supportive people in the game writing community who despite having worked on some really big titles are so warm and really want to support those who are still up and coming."

A good mentor will help you get a job, Stone says, but a great one will help you to keep the job. Looking back at her first experience in games, Tremblay says she had to do a lot of the learning by herself because she didn't have a mentor.

"I always missed not having a mentor-type figure I could ask specific questions to and somebody who could help me navigate legalese of contracts, studio politics, as well as the craft of narrative design and games writing," she says. "There wasn't a lack of qualified people, I just let my self-doubt and anxiety keep me from reaching out to people who I know would've been kind, supportive, and wonderful career advocates for myself."

  • Listen to music

One final piece of advice from Nelson, which he describes as an "immensely powerful thing," is to listen to as much music as you can, including genres that you do not care about and that you perhaps look down upon.

"When you're working as a game writer, a lot of times, you will not just be working with material and genres that you personally care about. You also are going to be dealing with collaborators who have wildly different bases of inspiration and creative joy than you. Music is among the most digestible and accessible forms, so if you can listen to a metal song and find something to value in it and understand why people would like it, without disregarding it or going with an oversimplified answer, you will have the mental framework through which to approach a new genre of writing, and find something special to bring to the table."

To conclude, Wood wants to remind aspiring writers that getting into games is hard. But once you have your first gig, it's immediately easier.

"I have heard people say: 'don't apply for jobs you don't want as a stepping stone to the one you do.' But, honestly, a lot of people transition to writing from other disciplines. And if you're multi-skilled, you're more likely to be useful to small companies that can't afford specialists. You can learn a lot about games, and thus about how writing works within them, by working in other roles. If you can get other roles, take them!"

More GamesIndustry.biz Academy guides to Working in Games

Our guides to working in games cover various perspectives, from hiring to retention, to landing the job of your dream or creating the right company culture:

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  • Mike Bithell: What I wish I knew when I started in games
  • A brief guide to writing for video games
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What does a video game writer do, and how can I start in that career?

In this episode of Game Industry Career Guide Podcast, I answer a question from Lance, who asks, “It sounds like game writing and game designing are very similar. I was looking to become a game designer due to the fact that I was able to make the story but it seems like that’s what game writers do. Is it realistic to think that I can make the plot and story by being a game designer or should I consider switching to game writer?”

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • What a video game writer does at their job
  • How you can start learning video game writing
  • Why you should also learn game design to be a successful game writer

Hello, and welcome to the Game Industry Career Guide podcast. This is episode number 16. I’m Jason W. Bay from gameindustrycareerguide.com and this is the podcast where I answer your questions about getting a job and growing your career making video games.

This week’s question is from Lance. Lance wrote in and asked, “It sounds like game writing and game designing are very similar. I was looking to become a game designer due to the fact that I was able to make the story. But it seems like that’s what game writers do. Is it realistic to think that I can make the plot and story by being a game designer or should I consider switching to a game writer?”

All right, I like this question because there’s a lot of information available on the Internet about being a game designer. But there’s not much info about the job of a game writer or how a person like Lance could pursue a career as a game writer. Fortunately, I did an interview recently with a professional game writer . I interviewed Darby McDevitt who is a writer on the Assassin’s Creed series of games. You can read the interview on Game Industry Career Guide website but let’s take a few minutes now to discuss the major questions: What does a game writer do and how can you get a job as a game writer?

Your alt text

What does a game writer do?

First of all, let’s talk about what exactly the game writer’s job is on a game team. What does a game writer do? According to Darby, the writer’s job changes quite a lot over the course of the game’s development cycle.

Early in the game, during the conception phase, the writer spends a lot of time doing research. For example, if your game is to be in a certain historical time period, then you’d need to read up on that time period to help you develop an understanding of what it was like for people living at that time, how people talked and dressed, and other aspects of the world that could inspire the game’s story and characters and make the game feel more authentic.

That’s the conception phase. Next, once the game development is finally underway and into the production phase, that’s when the real writing begins–writing the backstory, the story, the dialogue.

But the game writer doesn’t just go into a room and write everything all at once by herself. It’s a highly collaborative process. You’ll work with others from the game team , like the game designers, the mission designers, and even the voice actors and the directors. Many people on the team will contribute to the story. Darby said that on Assassin’s Creed, he got some of his best story ideas from the designers, artists, and other contributors on the game team. It’s the writer’s job to pull it all together and write it into a cohesive whole.

That’s the production phase , which takes by far the most time to complete. In the later parts of the game’s production when things are mostly finished, the writer works tirelessly to playtest the game and proofread everything to make sure that their work is well represented.

So that’s a good overview of what a game writer does. Next, let’s talk about how you could start working toward a career as a game writer.

How can I become a game writer?

For starters, if you haven’t done much creative writing yet… well, what are you waiting for?

Seriously! If you have a pen and paper–or, like, a computer–then you have the tools you need to start writing stories. If you aren’t quite sure how to start writing stories, there’s already a ton of help online. Just do a Google search for “learn creative writing.” You’ll find just dozens of articles and tutorials, and they’ll help you get your creative juices flowing, and give you a framework to start thinking about how to construct a narrative.

You don’t necessarily need to write stories that are for games. Just start learning the basics of crafting a compelling story with interesting characters and dialogue. After that? Practice, then practice some more. Just keep practicing, because as you do more and more creative writing, you’ll get better.

And then you can start putting it together into a portfolio that you can show to prospective employers. You can post your writing to a blog online, or honestly you could even turn them into an e-book and self-publish them on Amazon.com. The key is to start writing, finish some stories, and them get them out into the world.

You can hone your craft by getting feedback from your friends and family. Every story you write will be better than the last. So just keep writing, keep making stuff, keep showing it to people, keep improving.

Game writing and game design

One last thing: Along the way, it’s also a good idea to start learning about game design. Because as a writer, you’ll be working really closely with the team’s game designers. So the more you understand their jobs, the better off you’re going to be, because the better you can do your job.

And there’s another reason that you should learn game design: It’s because the majority of video game teams don’t actually need a full-time writer. It’s only the biggest AAA games , the ones that have a big budget and they’re heavily story-driven. They’re the only ones that really need a full-time writer. So there aren’t very many game writer jobs in the game industry compared to some other jobs in the game industry.

That’s why it’s likely that your fist game job might need to be more of a game designer role. Then you can leverage your writing skills from time to time. Then you keep your eyes and ears open for additional writing opportunities as your career progresses. And once you meet people, make connections, gain some experience eventually you might be able to actually get a full-time job writing.

That’s an overview of the job of a video game writer and some tips to get started towards that career path. If you want to read the full interview with professional game writer Darby McDevitt, go to gameindustrycareerguide.com/writer.

Thanks to Lance for this question. And thank you for hanging out and listening to the show today. If you liked it, please leave me a review in iTunes. Your review will help others find this podcast and it will let me know that you like what you heard.

For more information and inspiration on getting and growing your job making video games, visit me at gameindustrycareerguide.com. I am Jason W. Bay and I’ll see you next time, right here on the Game Industry Career Guide podcast.

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3 Comments on “ What does a video game writer do, and how can I start in that career? ”

Dear Jason,

I am writing to thank you for this helpful podcast on game writing as well as for your interview with Darby McDevitt.

I am a university English professor, and I am creating materials for our undergraduates on career options with an English degree.

Your podcast and interview have been most helpful in the section I’m putting together on a career as a video game writer.

Thank you, again.

I’m glad it’s been helpful! Thank you for letting me know. If your students have any unanswered questions about the career, send them along and I’ll try to get answers from people I know in the field.

Thank you. I really appreciate that.

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how to become a game writer

Skill Build: How to become a game writer

We talk to The Signal From Tolva writer Jim Rossignol to find out what you need to get started writing for games. The answer is spreadsheets.

No other entertainment medium depends on writing as much as games. "Er, books?" You might think, sarcastically, and yes, you may have a point there. Well done. But also think about the countless lines of dialogue, and lore entries, and UI tutorials, and technical design documents involved in making a game. Even Tolstoy would balk at the size of the writing files for a AAA RPG.

But becoming a writer for games isn't quite as fun as thinking up witty one-liners for Nathan Drake to yell as he blows away another platoon of mercenaries. Nor is it a simple case of writing a novel or a screenplay and sending it off to Nintendo. So how do you start writing for games, or even find out what sort of writing you want to do for games?

In our Skill Build series we talk to the people who have already navigated these confusing journeys about how they started making games. Previously we've found out how game designers , game artists  and the all-important producers  are made, but this week is the turn of the humble writer.

Jim Rossignol founded indie studio Big Robot Ltd in 2010, best known for suspenseful murderbot stealther Sir, You Are Being Hunted and your chance to get back at bloodthirsty robots in sci-fi shooter The Signal From Tölva . The studio's latest release, The Light Keeps Us Safe , returns to the fear of being hunted by terrifying machines. Like all great literary works, there is a theme here.

Before inflicting mechanophobia on the gaming public, Jim was the co-founder of PC gaming blog Rock, Paper, Shotgun , where he wrote about games rather than for them. It's a thin distinction, which in the end helped him start his journey across the divide. So how exactly do you get a job in games writing? Dear reader, let us find out together.

Jim's latest game, The Light Keeps Us Safe, in which you are hunted by machines.

Jim's latest game, The Light Keeps Us Safe, in which you are hunted by machines.

© Big Robot Ltd.

Were you always interested in writing at school?

Enormously, yes. I went through phases of thinking I'd be an archaeologist or a physicist, but being a writer was basically there the whole time. I read and discussed books and writing with my mum from the earliest times, so it's not hard to trace where that influence came from. It took a while for me to really understand what writing could be, however, and it wasn't until that One Good Teacher talked to me about my ambitions at High School that I realized it didn't have to mean being a novelist or a newspaper reporter. That lesson has sort of stuck with me. People write the technical manuals for dishwashers, or the introductory paragraphs to collections of 17th century folklore, and literature is often at hand without being obvious, as it is in games.

How did you first realize writing would be a viable career option for you?

Thanks to the influence of certain key people I knew, even at school. When I finally started looking for work I applied for anything vaguely related to writing: marketing for some plumbing company, random websites which were beginning to appear. Initially the job I got was in financial news, then briefly in local news, and then finally at a games magazine. Much my sort of speed. That said, I was always a little confused about my own knowledge of games or my ability to write, and I was initially shockingly bad at it. I caught up fast.

What did you do to get your foot in the door for your first writing job?

I interviewed at PC Gamer for a staff writer position, and didn't get the job. I did, however, know more about 56k modems than the rest of Future Publishing put together, so they commissioned me to write a piece about those. A phonecall followed, and I joined the magazine full time that summer.

A design document for Jim's first game, Fallen City.

A design document for Jim's first game, Fallen City.

© Marsh Davies

How did you transition to writing for games?

Accidentally. I formed a small games company to work on a game commissioned by Channel 4 (the sadly vanished Fallen City ) and the writing began there. Design docs, tutorial prompts, dialogue, menus. There are so many words in most games that it's easy to miss or neglect.

Who did you turn to for help when you were starting out?

When it came to games, I didn't really have anyone at the time. The indie community was still vestigial and although GDC and such was beginning to build a community I didn't feel even remotely a part of it. So I just winged it and relied on close friends to look things over.

What sort of software do you use for writing and organizing dialogue?

I tend to draft everything in Google Docs now, then I will move it to wherever it needs to be. Perhaps a spreadsheet parsed by a game, or a text file. If it's a really big project that I need to be able to juggle text chunks I use Scrivener. The important thing for me is that it be accessible from anywhere, because I use a lot of different devices, so cloud-based setups are critical. I often make edits to docs on my phone while in a queue at the shops.

What does the workflow look like for a writer at a game studio?

I think this varies fairly widely, and it'll depend at what point the writer is brought in, and why. Sometimes they'll be parachuted in on some half-finished script that you need to sew up before a milestone, and other times you're sketching things from day one, reacting to the project as it evolves, helping create characters and doing the world-building that everything will evolve from. Obviously the task that faces my friends writing full-blown RPGs is vastly different from those writing dialogue for action-game cutscenes, and so the workflow will be dependent on how those are structured in development.

Concept art from The Signal From Tölva, Jim's second major game.

Concept art from The Signal From Tölva, Big Robot's third major game released on Steam.

I've known writers who have been added at the last minute and expected to tidy up a mountain of awful placeholder dialogue, while others have been able to gently steer games into places where design and literature make a beautiful whole, thanks to being included in the process from the start. As a rule, the earlier a writer is involved, the better the workflow will be, because it gets baked into the development.

I think the thing to remember is that "writing" involves ten noises a badguy can make when they die, what the text says when you hover over the doohickey button, and spreadsheets full of names for bazookas, as well as beautiful dialogue and clever plots. I've been extremely lucky to creatively lead on some fairly ambitious indie games at Big Robot, and there I was able to indulge my love of backgrounding exposition and story, so that there was very little "front end" writing, but a tonne of stuff to investigate if you looked for it. I was able to spend time developing that, especially on Tolva, and I think that ended up being the work I am proudest of.

How do you work with other members of a studio to mesh writing with other game elements like art or design?

Talk, basically. I spend almost as much time in voice calls as I do on actual words. We have to talk about what we're going to do, why we're going to do it, and how. Each idea is weighed, each practicality gets measured. Everyone making a videogame needs their own work to click together with everyone else's, and so planning is everything. Project management, not design, or art, or code, is arguably the biggest potential pitfall in making games. The other elements can all be fixed, but if the project is mismanaged, you can simply run out of time to do even that.

Do you have any advice you wish you'd received when getting started?

Get as familiar with spreadsheets as you are with Word documents!

If you're interested in learning more about getting a job in the games industry, check out some of the other entries in our Skill Build series where we talk to developers about their jobs. It might be the start of a long journey, but you can do it, we believe in you.

how to become a game writer

Chris is the captain of the good ship AllGamers, which would explain everything you're seeing here. Get in touch to talk about work or the $6 million Echo Slam by emailing  [email protected]  or   finding him on Twitter .  

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How to Become a Video Game Writer

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Step 1: Understand the job description and responsibilities of a Video Game Writer

What does a video game writer do.

A Video game writing is the art and craft of writing scripts for video games. Similar to screenwriting, it is typically a freelance profession. It includes many differences from writing for film, due to the non-linear and interactive nature of most video games, and the necessity to work closely with video game designers and voice actors. There are many differing types of text in video games in comparison to stage shows or movies, including written text, foreign or made-up languages, and often situation-based information. Especially when developing Triple A games, more than one writer will be required to create the game, split into different roles.

Lance wrote in and asked, “It sounds like game writing and game designing are very similar.

Early in the game, during the conception phase, the writer spends a lot of time doing research.

But the game writer doesn’t just go into a room and write everything all at once by herself.

You’ll work with others from the game team, like the game designers, the mission designers, and even the voice actors and the directors.

It’s the writer’s job to pull it all together and write it into a cohesive whole.

Step 2: Learn best tips to become a Video Game Writer

Best tips for those who want to become a video game writer.

Here are some tips to become a Video Game Writer.

Choose Specific Video Games And Accessories To Write About.

Practice Writing About Video Games.

Take Feedback From Your Readers.

Keep the player responses short.

If they don’t sound natural to you, they won’t sound natural to us.

Step 3: View best colleges and universities for Video Game Writer

Best colleges and universities for video game writer.

  • Butler University
  • Carroll College
  • Cooper Union
  • High Point University
  • Princeton University
  • Providence College

Step 4: Think about whether is it worth to be a Video Game Writer

Is being a video game writer worth it.

A lot of jobs for game level designers require coding skills and 3-5 years of experience, but Joanne set up specific Handshake searches and went through every page of results (regularly) until the Lux Science position appeared.

Look for video game writing opportunities in mobile games or apps, which have more flexible requirements.

More Forbes Daily Cover Stories Forbes Editors' Picks Daily Dozen Briefing Crypto Confidential Newsletters Forbes Finds Forbes Coupons Forbes 8 Forbes Video Dark Capital Forbes Magazine Investing Digest Free Issue of Forbes.

Your story probably won’t work in Odyssey, so you won’t want to publish it in the game, but that shouldn’t stop you from writing.

These will be informal sessions with several Fusebox writers in attendance, so feel free to bring any work you’d like them to take a look at, and think in advance about anything you’d like to discuss.

Step 5: Prepare relevant skills for being a Video Game Writer

What skills do you need to be a video game writer.

Management often looks to professional level roles for execution on their visions and goals, as such some specific skills are required.  The workload of this role requires knowledge of: Bug/Defect Analysis, Debugging, Programming, Software Design, Software Development, Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC), Software Engineering, Software Requirements Specification, Software Testing.  Sometimes for this role, knowledge of the following is helpful: Application lifecycle management (ALM) Software, Bug Tracking Software, Integrated Development Environment (IDE) Software, Source Code Management Software, Programming Language.  If you highlight these skills during your interview process, you will be more likely to land the job!

Good ideas come from everywhere, and everyone on the team must be receptive and open to them if they want the game to succeed.

Do you know if Game Design requires heavy math skills, its not really my forte.

Hi Blake! Good news – game design does not require heavy math skills.

Hi Amanda, congrats on your MA! Starting as a game writer can be tricky until you pull together a small fiction portfolio, but you may be able to leverage your coding skills to start out on a smaller game team in a design/scripting/writing role.

1-2 years’ experience writing about video games or a related field.

Step 6: View average salary for Video Game Writer

How much does a video game writer make.

The average salary range for a Video Game Writer is from $60,925 to $83,054. The salary will change depending on your location, job level, experience, education, and skills.

Average salary for Video Game Writer jobs

  • Video Game Artist
  • Video Game Producer
  • Video Game Programmer

Step 7: Find relevant Video Game Writer jobs, and apply.

Looking for video game writer jobs.

Here are some Video Game Writer jobs in the United States.

Step 8: Explore Career Path of Video Game Writer

  • – elvtr magazine – WHAT A GAME WRITER DOES AND HOW TO BECOME ONE

WHAT A GAME WRITER DOES AND HOW TO BECOME ONE

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With nearly three decades in the entertainment industry under his belt, Adrian Ropp is a creative director and narrative designer who has explored the artistic capabilities of all mediums, from film animation to gaming and comics. 

As the lead writer of the award-winning studio Avalanche, he has helped develop legendary game franchises, including Hogwarts Legacy, Wizarding World, Star Wars: The Force Awakens Play Set and the Infinity series. Overall, he has created $1bn+ projects for Disney, Lucasfilm and Marvel and is now ready to share his knowledge with a new generation of game writers. 

Andrew sat for a chat with ELVTR on what it takes to become a successful game writer, how to write a great cutscene, and the future paths of the gaming industry, courtesy of VR.

What got you interested in game writing? 

Ever since I was about six years old, I was obsessed with stories and film. As I got older, I developed a successful career in animation, but then I discovered gaming. I love the challenges of writing games. It’s different from writing films. I love writing stories that engage people and draw them into the world more. 

So how do you get a job in this industry today? 

There are many ways. If you're a writer, you look for just writing jobs. If you can get a job writing for a magazine, a television show or a comic book, you can develop your craft and write stories that will look attractive to an employer. There's not one path to get there. You need to show you are passionate, smart and you know how to analyze a story correctly. 

Why are characters developed this way? Why is the story narrated this way? Understanding the structure and why you're making those choices makes you a better writer.

What advice would you give to someone who aspires to be a game writer?

Many of my students tell me that they don't have any background in writing and therefore will never get into the industry. I respond that I grew up in a small farming community where the only job was potato farming.  Somehow I made it, so there's no reason to think that you can't. 

But it's become a very competitive market. You have to show great qualities as a human being on top of good writing to get a job. There are wonderful opportunities, but producers can reject someone if they're a difficult person to work with. So I tell my students that apart from wonderful writing, they need to make sure that people enjoy working with them. 

When I started my career, I was in animation, but there were more job opportunities in gaming, because it was a brand new industry. Now it's very competitive. So you have to know what you're doing and understand how a story works to be attractive to employers.

What skills does a game writer need to have? 

You need to understand games, ideally be a gamer yourself. It's hard to get into an industry if you don't know it well. So play video games and look at things that work and don't work and understand game theory. Also get some sense of game design, so that you understand the decisions designers make. 

Crucially, you want to make smart, informed decisions on how you develop your story. You can't do that unless you understand how gaming works. 

What's the process of writing a game and how do you collaborate with developers and designers? 

It varies from studio to studio. First, there's a pitch for a game. The story team and the design team work together to come up with a pitch. They decide what they want the gameplay to look like and then write the story. 

We call this “story wrapper” and we use it to present gameplay in an intriguing way. We work together to pitch this idea to the studio, and then as soon as they greenlight it, we flesh it out more and turn it into a longer summary. 

Then we take it back again to do a check-in and make sure that they're still happy with it. At that point, we can start outlining what the missions are and how the stories are going to work within them. It's a collaborative process between the design team and the story team. You need game designers, because you're working with them as a co-pilot. 

I've worked a lot with Pixar, and it's a very iterative process where you try something and if it doesn't work, you fix it. This is why you need to be analytical. You need to look at why something's not working and figure out how to fix it. 

The last game I worked on, it took about six years to find a really good story. So you're always constantly reiterating things to make them work better.

*Unlock your potential for game writing, whether you’re a seasoned copywriter, tech writer, journalist, or creative writer. Dive into the game development world and gain industry-specific skills. Let Adrian Ropp , the lead writer of the award-winning studio Avalanche, share his secrets with you on the Become a Game Writer course.

Do you need an understanding of what game designers do?

I think so. Maybe not a very deep understanding. But you need to have an understanding of how to communicate with them. One of the biggest problems studios have is that the writers and the designers don't communicate very well. If you have a problem, you go to your designer, your producer and you say what is your goal with this game or mission. 

When they tell you that goal, then you can write and support that goal as much as possible. If you don't do that, you will come up with your own goals and then it will be a very tense situation, fighting back and forth on who's gonna win. You should be on the same team and have a common goal. Once you get there, it's easier.

How do you adapt your writing to different genres? 

There are different things that are important to each genre. If you're writing an identity RPG, you want to write dialogue to support the avatar’s identity, so that the world can say back to you, “Oh what a great accomplishment, now you can do this!” If you're doing a puzzle game, you want to celebrate every time they solve a puzzle. If you're doing a shooter game, you want to have a lot of call-outs and things where the world is adversarial against you. You decide what's the genre and lean into that for the way you're approaching the story. 

And how do you adapt your writing to different platforms, mobile, PC, consoles etc?

You have to understand the platform and be analytical in the way you approach things. If you're writing a VR game, you're immersed in the game, so you have to approach the writing differently. If you're writing a mobile game, it's probably text only, so you give scene information in the dialogue. 

I've been a screenwriter and I've directed actors and voiceover sessions. So I know what sounds natural from a dialogue perspective. It's the “Don't say it, show it” rule. In a larger platform game, you have cinematics, visuals that tell you things without dialogue. You don't need to say “Here's this apple, I hope you enjoy it.” You can just say, “Hey, do you want a snack?” It's conversational. They see that you are handing them an apple. 

In a mobile game, you might not have that option, so you have to say it. You have to provide more visual input that you wouldn't need in a platform game.

VR games are different because you have to imagine yourself being encompassed by this entire experience. Any direction you look, you are in the game. So you approach that dialogue differently, but you might not be looking in the right direction when they say something, so you have to be aware of that. You have to think how this is going to look from the experiential level.

YOU WOULD LIKE THIS ARTICLE:

The Art of Writing Game Quests and Missions image

The Art of Writing Game Quests and Missions

What does it take to create epic game adventures and thrill millions of players?

What's the secret to keeping players engaged, for example by using cutscenes?

There's an unspoken secret about cutscenes: people like to skip them, because often they don't have any important information. They just look cool. So part of the challenge is to have those cutscenes reward a story narrative that you've developed the whole time.

If you can come up with a setup that is interesting and draw people through it, they want to see the payoff for that, instead of skipping that cutscene. But sometimes cutscenes are just tutorials or something cool to look at. And that's not the deep meaningful experience a player wants. 

So the key is to figure out what it is that you can do in gameplay that the players want to see. If the goal of your game is to rescue the princess from the castle, that's a great cutscene at the end, because you can see what happens when you're near your goal. 

But if it's just a cutscene to teach you something, it's boring and people skip them and you have to write extra dialogue. Cinematics are very expensive. So you want to utilize as much of that footage as you possibly can.

How do you evaluate and benchmark your own work? 

There are several ways. The most important one is to have focus groups or test groups. I know what I'm trying to say when I write a story. So it's not evident to me if it's not clear, unless I have somebody else look at it. 

You have to be willing and brave enough to share your work and get honest feedback. I've done things in the past thinking they were my best work. And then somebody told me "I don't understand that at all", so I realised I'd made a horrible mistake and I needed to fix it. 

This happens to everybody. The Pixar storytelling methodology is to show what you've done. You get good feedback from people you trust and you adjust accordingly.

Which game did you enjoy writing the most?

I worked on the award-winning Disney Infinity series and I really loved writing that. The challenge was to take these existing characters, and the Disney and Marvel and Star Wars brands, and write new adventures for them. We wanted to make it feel authentic, like natural continuations of the original story. So that was really fun.

What’s your favorite game in terms of storyline? 

I love the Zelda series. Ocarina of Time and Breath of the Wild are two of my favorite games. I also love the Uncharted series because it feels like I'm watching an Indiana Jones movie. 

Breath of the Wild is really interesting because it has very little dialogue and the storytelling is very ambient, like you're going into another world. No two people who have ever played that game would tell you the same story, because you invent your story as you play it. It's very clever.

how to become a game writer

Where do you see the gaming industry heading to over the next few years?

I've become intrigued with VR. It's very immersive. It hasn't hit its stride yet, but it's on its way there. It's an interesting concept to put on a headset to get literally into another world.

I feel that 20-30 years ago game writing was more fun and humorous. Now it's the same trend we're seeing in movies and television where we've become more jaded as a society. So we want to see things that are more authentic and realistic. I see that trend continuing on for quite a while. 

The maturity of the storytelling has been really impressive. There are many people writing video games that would have been award-winning movies in the ’90s because the industry has grown so much.

What about AI?

AI is an interesting tool to use to get you into the first step. However, we're all human beings that have experiences and that's not something that AI can duplicate. A studio that tries to use AI to replace the writers is making a horrible mistake. 

One of the strengths of humans writing your game is they can make it understandable and relatable to the audience. AI cannot do that. At least not now. If it does that in the future, it will be very scary.

There's a big difference between crafting a story and typing. AI can type, but it can’t create a good story. There's a place for it to help you walk through a few ideas, but a human has to do the final work. 

Will the Apple Vision Pro headset change anything?

I haven't actually used it, but there's a good chance it will. Oculus is changing things just as much. What's great about these VR games is that the price point on buying a game is lower than a platform game. You don't have to commit to quite as much financially. That will open a lot of people up to playing VR games. I see a trend of releasing them for a smaller price point and doing them as episodes. 

For example, Vader Immortal releases an episode and it's $10 versus a $70 platform game. And it's a cool experience doing lightsaber battles. I think they did a really good job with that game. It's more bite-sized. You can take on a smaller amount of it at a time and enjoy as much of it as you want. And when you're ready to buy the next chapter, you just do it.

*ELVTR is disrupting education by putting proven industry leaders in a virtual classroom with eager rising stars. ELVTR courses offer 100% instructor driven content designed to give you practical knowledge within a convenient time frame. Choose  the right course for you!

What Qualifications Do I Need to be a Game Writer?

  • March 1, 2023

Video games have adopted a robust narrative focus. While simple pick-up and play titles will always thrive, the demand for thought-provoking interactive stories continues to grow. This means that the market for video game writers is expanding just as quickly. If you are fascinated by both storytelling and interactive entertainment, a career as a video game writer is likely your dream job.

Although the dream may seem larger than life, the path to becoming a professional game writer is more straightforward than it sounds. Like many professions, you must meet a list of qualifications set out by your future employers. After you learn about each qualification and how to obtain it, diligent practice of consistent study will lead you to your goal.

What Does a Game Writer Do?

A video game writer creates all the text elements featured in games. There are numerous forms of written content in video games, including plot structure, dialog, menu text, item descriptions, and character design. As a game writer, you may work on a combination of these aspects. Your role will depend on what style of game you are making and at what point in the development cycle you join the team.

Plot and Narrative Structure

As you might expect, a professional game writer is in charge of creating the core concepts featured throughout the game’s story. You will develop a narrative structure and story arcs for the player to navigate. This role is sometimes referred to as a scenario designer, as the interactive nature of games calls for a unique approach to storytelling. There is more action than in a typical tale and potential player choices must be considered when constructing the narrative.

Character Design

Writers will often work out the details of each main character in a story. This includes their basic motivations and how each person develops throughout the story. In this position, you often work with a character artist to finalize the look of each character. Visual form is a fantastic way to convey character traits, so a writer and artist will usually team up during this phase of development.

While it is not the most exciting part of game development, the menu and usability text is pretty crucial to a player’s overall enjoyment. Some of the most popular tiles, such as Call of Duty, gained their status because of the simple to understand menu interfaces in the industry. Intuitively guiding the player in interacting with the game is an art form in itself.

Crafting the conversations between each character is another core component of most game writing jobs. Modern titles have thousands of lines of written dialogue, and not just in massive open-world RPGs. This is because of the sheer number of actions and branching decisions that must be accounted for. The interactive nature of the medium allows for several ways to solve each problem. Many games even strive for multiple endings with radically different outcomes depending on how the player impacts the world around them. Learning how to account for player decisions and branching paths is key to becoming a competent game writer.

Flavor Text and Item Descriptions

One of the primary goals of any game is to fully immerse the player in the digital realm Worldbuilding and other environmental details are an effective way of giving inquisitive players more to enjoy. This can include audio logs, text notes, and even full books that are featured in some ambitious titles.

Another critical element of the game experience comes in the form of explanations about what each item in the world is good for. Players will not get very excited about picking up an item unless they know what utility it can provide to their character. Item descriptions must be carefully constructed to inform the player in a concise manner. Simple and unambiguous language works best here. However, do not discount the charm that audiences experience when clever wit is successfully injected into flavor text or item descriptions.

Where Does a Game Writer Work?

The primary place a game writer is employed is in dedicated game design studios. These facilities have all the office space and technology needed to make professional quality software. In this environment, everyone on the team collaborates on a daily basis. The community dynamic is a huge part of what makes game studios work. Since most major game developers have at least one studio, chances are you will work at one of these established locations.

If you are not too thrilled about working in an office, you will be happy to learn that remote work opportunities are continuing to pop up across the gaming landscape. Many writing projects can be done from the comfort of your home as you wear whatever you feel like that day. Keep in mind you may need to occasionally meet in person for various developmental milestones. Always work out such details with your employer to avoid any misunderstandings about what is expected of you. The good news is that most written work can be submitted remotely without any hiccups to a game’s production.

How Do You Become a Game Writer?

The most efficient way to become a professional game writer is to attend a formal degree program at a creative arts college. Unless you are already an accomplished author in another medium, you will need to prove your merit and develop a reputation that employers are willing to acknowledge. During a Digital Art and Animation program with an emphasis in Game Writing, you will learn all about writing in general, as well as the techniques that apply specifically to your medium of choice.

Although it may be tempting to train yourself with self-study, there are several issues with the approach. You cannot be sure if the info online is outdated or incorrect. Also, your progress toward developing the necessary skills will be significantly slower than if guided by a curated curriculum. The disjointed nature of the various online tutorials will make your education more confusing than it should be. That is not to say that all writing advice you find online is poor quality. You can use some self-study research to supplement your formal education. Just be sure to always refer to an official source when possible. Then, you can use web tutorials as an additional reference to strengthen your skillset.

When you get down to it, there are three main pillars to focus on when applying for game writer jobs. Your ability to display merit in each area will impress an employer enough to give you a chance. Once you have your foot in the door of the entertainment industry, it will be much easier to land subsequent jobs in your desired field.

Qualification #1: Network of References

The idea that it is not what you know, but who you know, rings true in the games industry. While you will need enough skill to keep your position, getting hired is often a matter of knowing someone who knows of an opening before anyone else. Having someone put in a good word for you significantly improves your chances of getting hired. In some cases, you might even skip portions of the interview process depending on how quickly a role needs filling.

Qualification #2: Portfolio of Written Work

The main way you demonstrate your merit is through a portfolio of completed projects. The wonderful thing about attending a formal education is you will work on multiple game projects. These projects can serve as portfolio pieces, which makes it easier to get hired. If you get stuck without writing samples, and no other forms of relevant experience, then you will not meet the requirements to land that crucial first industry job. Of course, you can always write your own sample pieces outside of classroom responsibilities.

Qualification #3: Strong Soft Skills

Surviving in a modern work environment requires an adept proficiency in soft skills. These skills include common workplace staples such as communication, productivity, the ability to solve problems, mental outlook, digital literacy, and creativity. Again, you will get to practice each soft skill throughout your degree program. Each soft skill contributes to your overall professionalism and how easy it is to collaborate with you. While there is nothing wrong with actively articulating your ideas, having a reputation of being easy to work with will further enhance your career prospects.

What Do You Learn During a Game Writing Degree Program?

Your game writing education begins with a breakdown of traditional writing techniques. Analyzing what has worked historically will guide in the future. The more reading and writing you participate in, the sharper your skills will be. Once you have a sturdy foundation established, you will explore what makes writing for an interactive medium so unique.

The game writing course teaches you how to consider the numerous player choices and branching dialogue paths incumbent to any engaging title. Practice crafting dialogue, designing characters, directing cutscenes, and penning interesting scenarios for players to experience. Due to the sheer length of game development cycles, flexibility is emphasized throughout each class. Things can change over the course of five years, even some of your beloved story directives. You must be willing to roll with the punches and expect that some aspects of your original vision may be cut.

You will also get to explore the duties and responsibilities of a lead narrative designer. In addition to mentoring the junior writers on the team, you will manage administrative tasks such as budgeting and deadline management. Understanding how to assess the scope of a project and adjust design parameters accordingly will make you a well-rounded candidate for a variety of game design positions.

Throughout each course, you will work in groups on various game projects. Here is where you will pick up all the soft skills that 21st-century employers are expecting from new recruits. Much like a portfolio, you will build upon your soft skills throughout the curriculum. With that said, ensure you put as much effort as possible into both your portfolio and soft skills throughout your core studies. Every bit of progress will make you more confident in your job prospects. The mental effect of confidence will further enhance your ability to get hired after graduation.

Want To Learn More?

Did learning about writing for video games interest you? Today, the creative and financial success of major game releases increasingly depend on the strength of the game’s world, characters, and story. University of Silicon Valley’s new—one of only a few such programs in the world—was developed to empower and support aspiring writers and narrative designers who want to be a part of this bold new storytelling frontier.

University of Silicon Valley is uniquely poised to offer a meaningful and valuable education for 21st century students. We believe in an education that directly correlates with the work you’ll be doing after you graduate. Interested in learning more? Contact Us today.

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15 video game writing jobs for the gamer in you

how to become a game writer

Do you enjoy playing video games? Are you a skilled writer? If you answered yes to both questions, you'll definitely want to check out these video game writing jobs.

Video game writers are a part of the  growing entertainment industry , so it can be a lucrative career if you have what it takes. This detailed post on video game writing and the types of opportunities out there can help you start. You’ll also find plenty of tips to guide you to game writing success.

What is video game writing?

Think about your favorite video game. What’s the storyline? Is there any dialogue? Did it come with a game guide? From Super Mario Brothers to Call of Duty, you’ll find many types of writing within the game. Full-time and freelance writers are tasked with creating that content, and they’re also needed in the planning, development, and marketing phases of a game.

You can find video game writing jobs for video game guides, sales copy, walk-throughs, game narratives, reviews, gaming books, and so much more. You can also be asked to create posts on industry trends and events, in-depth articles about games and creators, media scripts, and other materials relevant for gaming audiences.

Basically, any written content about video games is considered video game writing. It’s a growing industry with plenty of room for you. Part of your work outside of video game writing may include researching, interviewing, analyzing games, developing storyline ideas, and other tasks that’ll help you create the content your client needs.

In 2020, approximately 10,263 video games were released. - Statista

Where can you work as a video game writer?

Options are abundant when it comes to where you can work as a video game writer, but the best choices come down to how you like to work and get paid. If you prefer a more traditional job, you’ll want to look for an established gaming company that hires writers on a full-time or part-time basis.

There are often opportunities with game development companies, gaming magazines, and large media companies that cover video games. While these positions won’t always allow you to work from home, they typically come with a regular paycheck, and could even include benefits.

If you prefer to be your own boss, you also become a freelance writer in the video game industry. Instead of working directly for one company, many freelancers work with a variety of clients. For instance, one week you could write blog posts for an up-and-coming gaming blog while you’re also creating social media content for a small startup and working on a game guide project for a larger company. As a freelancer, you’ll experience more control and flexibility as you work.

No matter which type of work you decide to pursue, video game writing isn’t for everyone. If you aren’t passionate about gaming, you’ll have a hard time in this challenging industry. Your clients expect you to understand gaming culture and be comfortable writing about it. Moreover, games and gaming technology are continually changing, so you must be willing to do the research and stay current.

If you think writing about video games sounds like a great fit for you, keep reading to see what other qualifications will help you succeed in this role.

What qualifications do you need as a video game writer?

how to become a game writer

You don’t need a college degree in writing or tons of expertise to land most of these video game writing jobs. While each company sets its requirements, here are six basic qualifications most ask for when looking for writers:

  • Writing skills. You’ve got to be able to write great content and ensure it’s ready for an audience to devour; grammar mistakes are one of the most common video game writing mistakes that can damage your reputation.
  • Industry knowledge. If you don’t know (or care) about the popular games, this isn’t the right field for you.
  • Communication skills. You’ll be interacting with clients and creating content for a specific audience. You must be able to communicate well.
  • Organization skills. As a freelance writer, you’ll be keeping track of your assignments and handling your business paperwork. If you aren’t organized, you’ll miss deadlines or forget to send an invoice .
  • Willingness to research. You aren’t going to be an expert in every single game you’re ever asked to write about. But, with passion and research, you can create engaging (and accurate) content for your clients.
  • Ability to work on a team. Freelance video game writer jobs often require collaboration with other group members, so you’ll need to work effectively with them.

How to become a video game writer

If you’ve got the skills companies want, the next step is getting started. As a video game writer, there are a few things you can do to get your business launched, find gigs, and start making money.

1. Create your portfolio

Before you start landing gigs, you’ll need to create a video game writer portfolio to show potential clients. They want to see that you can write great content. If you don’t have previous experience in the video game industry, take time to create some video game writing samples and publish them on a personal website, guest post on gaming sites, or post it to a place like Medium .

If you plan on guest posting, take some time to research before you submit your post. You’ll want to do a Google search to find gaming sites that allow contributors. You can use these keywords to help find some opportunities: “Video games + Write for us."

how to become a game writer

When you find a site that looks promising, check out their other content and past posts. You’ll have a better chance of getting published if you create the type of material their audience expects and that is fresh compared to their existing content.

Once you’ve got a published link or video game work to share, add it to your digital portfolio. Many people house portfolios on their website, but you can also build a digital portfolio on places like ClearVoice and Contently if you’re not ready to create your own site. As a bonus, these companies are also platforms that connect clients and freelancers. If your portfolio and experience match a need, you could have jobs sent your way.

2. Find video game writing jobs

Once you have a couple of samples ready, it’s time to start looking for video game writing jobs. Here are four ideas to get your name out there:

  • Scour and apply for video game writing jobs on free writing job boards. Here are several you can peruse:
  • Blogging Pro
  • Freelance Writing
  • Freelance Writing Gigs and its job board
  • All Freelance Writing
  • Facebook groups with writing jobs
  • Cold pitch gaming companies. Start with gaming companies who produce games you’re passionate about and then branch out.
  • Ask your network for leads and let everyone you know or come in contact with what you do and what you’re looking for.
  • Google "video game writing jobs" and see what's available on company websites and employment sites.

Other options include:

  • Ziprecruiter
  • Craiglist boards for local and big cities like New York. Look at both the jobs and gigs sections.

how to become a game writer

If you see video game writing jobs with interesting titles, use those specific keywords to find the perfect video game writing job for your skillset.

3. Write great content for each video game writing job

Once you land a job, do your best work on it. You want to deliver work that exceeds your client’s expectations.

Always proofread your work before you submit it. Also, stick to your deadline and do a good job communicating with your client. Your reputation plays a big role in your game writing career, and happy clients are often excellent referral sources.

4. Do your financial paperwork

Many video game writing jobs are done on a freelancing basis, which means you’re typically considered a contract worker , not an employee.

This means you won’t get an automatic paycheck for the work you turn in. Instead, you need to submit an invoice if you want to get paid. As a contractor, you’ll also be responsible for paying your own taxes on income earned. You’ll need to send that quarterly, and it’s a good idea to have extra cash on hand to cover business expenses while you wait for client payments.

5. Market your business

Work won’t automatically start rolling in once you’ve completed one or two pieces of writing. You must keep marketing your business and applying for new writing gigs.

You can draw in some additional business by giving yourself a title on your social media profiles. Add “video game writer” to your bio, and occasionally post that you’re looking for additional writing opportunities.

Also consider creating a website so potential clients can learn who you are and what writing services you offer. This is the perfect place to explain your availability, pricing, unique selling point, and portfolio. Hosting providers like SiteGround and Bluehost are popular. Many sites on the web use WordPress.org to build their site and free WordPress themes to make it easier.

Social proof also helps with marketing. If a client likes what you’ve created, ask them for a testimonial. Then, with their permission, use their words on your website, LinkedIn profile, and even emails when responding to inquiries, so others can see that you’ve done great work in the past.

Approximately 44,690 Americans are employed as video game writers. - MyMajors

6. Rinse and repeat

It can take some time to get your video game writing business up and running, so don’t worry if things seem slow at first. Instead, keep repeating the above steps and watch your business slowly grow.

Always be on the lookout for new video game writing jobs and continue to gain new samples and market yourself. As you publish new pieces, update your portfolio and add the experience to your resume. Then, you’ll be in a better position to land writing jobs in the future.

How much do video game writers make?

You can earn a lot of money as a video game writer. According to Salary.com , the national average annual salary for someone in this field in the United States is $70,366.

Of course, your income potential depends on many factors. Your experience, skill level, number of hours worked, and rates all play a role in how much you earn. Full-time game writing positions typically pay more than part-time or freelance jobs. You’ll have less flexibility with your time and responsibilities when working full-time for someone else, but there are benefits and employee perks that make it worth it.

15 video game writing jobs to try

how to become a game writer

Now that you know how to make money as a video game writer, it’s time to explore 15 different opportunities available in this field. If you see one that looks fun or promising, head to Google or one of the job boards listed above to find gaming companies currently hiring.

1. Video game scriptwriter

Do you love the idea of bringing games to life? If yes, consider looking for work as a video game scriptwriter. Without a script, the games wouldn’t play well. There’d be no consistent plot or storyline, and the characters wouldn’t stay true to themselves.

To help make games compelling, companies hire video game writers to create the script. Often, several writers work together to complete this project. Each writer must be willing to collaborate with others, including game designers and voice actors.

2. Video game guide writer

When you were a kid, did you eagerly dive into the booklet that came with new games? These books explained gameplay and controls and gave some basic backstory to help players succeed. While printed books have been replaced with digital guides, you can still teach others how to play new games by writing video game guides.

To succeed as a video game guide writer, you must be able to explain complicated tasks succinctly. Familiarity with gaming controls and knowing the ins and outs of the video game are also essential.

3. Video game copywriter

If you can create compelling copy, you’ll be able to help video game companies sell their game. Copywriters create sales pages, box copy, advertisements, email sequences, and more.

To apply for this type of video game writing gig, you’ll need some proven samples of your copy, even if it’s in a different niche. Your clients want to see that you have what it takes to create content that encourages readers to click through and make a purchase.

4. Video game narrative designer

Are you a storyteller who can help shape the narrative of a new game? As a video games narrative designer, you’ll put your creative writing skills and technical expertise to work.

In this writing role, you’ll help shape gameplay to tell the desired story. You’ll help:

  • Pace out gameplay
  • Write mission dialogue
  • Contribute to the narrative vision of the game
  • Ensure voice actors are properly capturing the narrative vision

This role is a bit more time-consuming, so it may be full-time. Always make sure you ask about the time expectations before you accept a position.

5. Gaming news writer

The gaming industry always has news to share with the public. If you enjoy staying up to date on all things gaming, one of these game writer jobs could be a good fit.

As a news writer, expect to write newspaper-style articles about popular gaming systems, up-and-coming video games, and gaming technology changes. You might even be asked to cover popular industry events such as Comic-Con and Gamescom. How cool would it be to get paid to attend and write about one of those?

6. Video game reviewer

Consider looking for work as a game review writer if you enjoy diving deep into video games and gaming trends. In this role, you’ll create honest reviews about new video games. You may also be asked to compare video games to help players decide which one to go with.

To succeed as this type of video game writer, you must be familiar with each game. You should play them several times before you start writing to understand better how the game actually works. While you can do some research to help you create content, your audience can detect whether or not you’ve played the game.

7. Creative story editor

This video game writing position is similar to the narrative designer above. However, it’s different enough that it deserves its own spot on the list.

As a creative story editor, you get to work with other members of the game production team to ensure the gameplay is a good fit for the target demographic. You’ll also look for inconsistencies in the script, story, and gameplay. This way, players have the best experience possible as they work their way through the game.

These types of writing jobs aren’t typically for beginners, so you might need experience in other kinds of video game writing and development. They’re also more likely to be full-time, so check the details carefully.

8. Gaming channel scriptwriter

Have you ever watched video gamers play on YouTube or other video channels? You can find really popular channels for a variety of games.

how to become a game writer

While some users write their own scripts for their channel, many prefer to lean on those with more expertise to create professional scripts that provide magnetic opening hooks, compelling descriptions, and smooth transitions.

You’ll need lots of creativity for these writing jobs since they’re so different. For instance, some people love to watch videos of gamers trying tough challenges or new ways to accomplish familiar goals. You’ll get to brainstorm ideas and see what fun videos you can help create.

If there’s a gamer you enjoy watching, reach out and ask if they ever work with freelancers. You might be able to create content for your favorite YouTuber.

9. Video game walkthrough writer

Do you love finding all of the secrets as you play? Are you familiar with cheat codes and how to use them?

If you dive deep into the video games you play, you should look for opportunities to create video game walkthroughs. Your content can help a frustrated player learn how to tackle the next challenge, and finally make progress in the game. In fact, a well-written walkthrough can help a player finally achieve all of the game’s objectives and feel the pride that comes with it.

Since companies want their guides to rank well in search engines, you’ll want to have SEO experience in this position. That way, you can include the long-tail keywords (you'll learn about those) that people are actually searching for. You can look for patterns in searches and deliver the best information for readers.

10. Video game social media writer

There’s a lot of buzz about gaming on social media. Companies need someone to create shareable content to help spread the word about their games.

With social media writing jobs, you could create content about:

  • The latest gaming news
  • Updates on developing games
  • Tips for gameplay
  • Upcoming gaming events
  • Fun facts about games or the company

Video game writing jobs in this category will likely include some social media management as well as content creation, so you’ll want to read the expectations carefully. That way, you don’t get stuck on social media when you’d prefer to be writing.

11. Video game list post writers

List style posts are super popular in the video game industry. If you would enjoy writing content like these:

  • The top 5 strategy video games of all times
  • 10 video games to try if you like Call of Duty
  • 7 video games to help your kids practice reading

Then video games list writing jobs might be in your future. To succeed, you must be a good researcher so that your list includes the best gaming options. You also want your passion for gaming to shine, so readers view you as an authority in the gaming space.

There are plenty of list-style sites that don’t specialize in gaming, but still might be open to content in this niche. So, don’t rule out a site just because it doesn’t specify gaming. If they accept a wide variety of content, it’s worth trying.

12. Strategy guide writer

While walkthroughs help gamers complete the game, strategy guides help them tackle a specific objective. In this job, you write about a variety of video games. This means you need a broad knowledge of gaming culture.

As with the walkthrough video game writing jobs, you must be skilled in SEO best practices. You want to deliver exactly what the gamer is looking for, so they can quickly get the answer in your video game guide and move on.

13. Video game book writer

There’s a rich history of gaming culture , and several books have been written on this topic. From Hyrule Historia to The Art of Super Mario Odyssey , you can find actual books on many video games.

Those books? Someone needs to write them. And if you enjoy writing longer content, you might be the best writer for the job.

Since video game books are often in-depth, several writers might collaborate on them. You’ll need to work well with others so that projects get completed on time. Since it’s a team effort, you’ll likely be a ghostwriter, meaning you won’t get your name on the cover or other recognition. Make sure you know the terms and conditions of the position before you begin.

A quick word of warning about this type of video game writing job: video games and characters are licensed. You must work directly with the production company, or a company they’ve given express, written permission to. Otherwise, you could be violating copyright laws and wind up in legal trouble.

14. Video game features writer

If you enjoy writing feature stories , you can be a feature post writer. Feature writers create easy-to-read material on popular gamers, talented designers, and other hot topics in the gaming industry.

To succeed in one of these video game writer jobs, you might need to interview people over the phone or in person. Top-notch communication skills are a must, but showing up as confident (even when you’re not) can go a long way. Having key talking points about your portfolio and preparing interview questions ahead of time can help calm nerves.

15. Gaming blogger

With a simple Google search, you can find thousands of blogs devoted to video games. Many of these blogs have a never-ending need for fresh content their audience is interested in, and freelance gaming writers deliver that.

To succeed in this role, you’ll need to create video-game-themed content your readers can quickly scan. You’ll also need to communicate effectively in email, since that’s how you’ll typically send pitches to companies.

4 tips to help you succeed in video game writing jobs

Did you see any writing positions you’d like to try? To help stand out from the other applicants and have your business succeed your business, try these five quick tips:

  • Always research the company you’re applying for. They want to know that you’ll be a good fit, so customize your writer application materials to show why you would be. Also, when sending your pitch email, try to find a name to address it to. It shows you’ve done your homework, and comes off much better than the vague and outdated, “To whom this may concern.”
  • Push past rejection. As a freelance video game writer, many companies will tell you no. Rejection is part of the journey, so don’t let it get you down or take it personally. Just keep pitching.
  • Keep your writer portfolio updated. As you get better samples from experience, replace the old ones you’ve been using.
  • Build relationships with other freelance video game writers. Instead of viewing them as competitors, view them as coworkers. You never know when someone might have too many video game writer jobs and send a referral your way.

You really can earn money from home as a video game writer with these jobs. Any one of them would be a great way to get your business off the ground.

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how to become a game writer

EarlyGame

How To Become A Game Illustrator?

In this article, we explain the role of a Game Illustrator and how you can become one.

  • Looking for a job? Check out our job offers for gamers !

The Tasks Of A Game Illustrator

A Game Illustrator plays a crucial role in the design of graphics, characters, and environments for video games. Your main task is to develop visual concepts and integrate them into the game world to create an engaging gaming experience.

You are responsible for the creative implementation of the game idea, creating storyboards, designing game characters, and producing 2D or 3D graphics.

Collaborating with other team members, such as game designers and developers, is an essential part of your role to ensure a successful game project.

Requirements And Paths To Working As A Game Illustrator

To be successful as a Game Illustrator, you need creative skills, a good understanding of aesthetics, and often an education or degree in graphic design, illustration, or computer graphics .

Practical experience with graphics software, drawing techniques, and texture creation is also important.

Education And Training

The path to becoming a Game Illustrator can lead through various educational routes, including a degree in graphic design or specialized training in game art and design . Internships or freelance projects in the gaming industry can help you develop your skills and build a portfolio.

The gaming community also offers numerous online courses and tutorials that can help you improve your skills as a Game Illustrator.

  • Looking for more options? Check out our job offers for gamers !

In summary, working as a Game Illustrator is an exciting opportunity to apply your creative skills in the gaming industry. If you are passionate about playing games and have a talent for graphic design, this might be the right profession for you.

What does a Game Illustrator do? | © OpenAi/EarlyGame

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A Writer With Skin in the Game

The essayist Leslie Jamison has become known for her careful balancing acts of self-exposure.

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A close-up portrait of Leslie Jamison, who is wearing a green and black floral dress and earrings shaped like lemon wheels.

By Kate Dwyer

“If the self is a guesthouse, most of the rooms are full of ghosts,” Leslie Jamison said on a recent Monday afternoon in a Columbia University lecture hall. Ms. Jamison, wearing an ethereal blue maxi dress, stood before a projector screen showing 19th-century spirit photography. “Being haunted can be a state of abundance,” she said. “Living in the ghost hotel is a state of abundance. Memories are raw material.”

One does not check into a ghost hotel without taking inventory of its specters: “Who are you haunted by?” Ms. Jamison told her students to ask themselves. “What versions of yourself are you haunted by? What moments are you haunted by?”

Ms. Jamison’s graduate course is called “The Self” and addresses the challenges of writing in the first person. Each class tackles a different self that can come through in a work: There is the “loving self” in relationships; the “shameful self,” who reckons with pain; the “self at risk,” who is in peril; and, during class that Monday, the “haunted self,” who lives in the aftermath of disaster and must confront the past.

Ms. Jamison said she became acquainted with each of these while writing her new memoir, “ Splinters ,” which recounts the birth of her child and the end of her marriage. Her writing often includes intensely personal details — in “ The Empathy Exams ” she wrote about her excessive drinking and an abortion, and in “ The Recovering ” she shared an unvarnished account of her path to sobriety. But this is her first book drawn entirely from her own life, without the essayistic pivots between criticism and reportage that made her name in literary circles alongside writers like Maggie Nelson, Roxane Gay and Eula Biss.

“Part of what spoke to me in the form of ‘Splinters’ was this idea of accessing something different by staying so close to the body and lived experience,” Ms. Jamison, 40, said.

But her character on the page, she added, is a “partial, built thing.”

“Who I am in ‘Splinters,’ yes, is me — I lived all of those things,” she said. “But at the same time, I’m choosing what that narrator does and says and is on the page, and building her piece by piece.”

Her raw material is this: Ms. Jamison grew up in Los Angeles, and knew from a young age that she wanted to write even before she could physically do so, enlisting her two older brothers to write down the stories she told them. She left the West Coast to attend Harvard and then moved to Iowa City for an M.F.A. in fiction from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop; from there, she pursued a Ph.D in English at Yale. But she says she completed her debut novel, “The Gin Closet,” while working as an innkeeper in her hometown — one of a handful of odd jobs she’s had, including baker, office temp, juice barista, Gap sales clerk and medical actor . Her breakout essay collection, “The Empathy Exams,” followed four years later.

That spring, at a writers’ work space near Union Square in Manhattan, she met the writer Charles Bock , who appears in “Splinters” as “C.” They got married just a few months later, and settled down in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn.

The marital troubles began after the birth of their daughter and the publication of “The Recovering” in 2018, she writes in the memoir, when she and Mr. Bock became emotionally distant. “Our home was a place in which I’d come to feel alone, and so — in retaliation, or from depletion — I made C feel alone, too,” she writes. “His barbed comments left me so frayed that I stopped trying to detect or soothe the hurt beneath them.”

After separating in 2019, she began to take notes for “Splinters” while living in a sublet next to a firehouse, where she felt the grief of rupture alongside a “sense of hope and deep love,” she said. She wanted to explore those seemingly contradictory feelings on the page.

In her memoir, Ms. Jamison breaks these life events into shards for the reader to piece together over the course of the book. By writing in short, intense vignettes, she said, “it felt like I broke open something in my language,” and discovered a new way of writing. “That’s always the feeling that I want.”

Less than an hour after Ms. Jamison’s daughter is born, on Page 9, a nurse takes the baby down the hall to receive treatment for jaundice. It takes another nurse’s words of comfort for Ms. Jamison to feel the tears on her cheeks. After a little while, Ms. Jamison writes, she wheels her IV pole down the hall to observe her daughter blue-lit under the nursery’s bilirubin lights.

Forty pages later, she reveals that during that “little while,” she had pulled out her laptop and continued fact-checking an essay on female rage from her hospital bed, “bleary with shame and pride.” Having finished copy edits just before her water broke, she had planned to continue working from the hospital.

“Why did it feel somehow like saying, ‘I got to work and I was glad to get to work’?” she asked. “Why does that threaten to invalidate the feeling of sadness that I narrate the first time?”

The revelations that arrive in “Splinters” are not the payoff; instead, Ms. Jamison sees the thrill of narrative as “dramatizing the process of getting there,” she said, and “getting to watch thought become suspicious of itself, but then still be hungry for some sort of meaning.”

Ms. Jamison arrived on the literary scene when the hybrid essay was becoming more popular in the wake of “ It Happened to Me ”-style confessional essays that populated blogs the decade before, often relying on writers to expose their deepest wounds for page views.

“There was a moment, sometime between 2008 and 2010, when a woman’s insides — her exploits, her eating habits, her feelings, her sex life — became a lucrative internet product,” Anne Helen Petersen wrote in a review of “How to Murder Your Life,” the 2017 memoir by Cat Marnell, a former beauty editor at xoJane, which became known for that form of personal writing.

In a workshop at the end of her M.F.A., Ms. Jamison said she had tried to write these self-lacerating essays. But she found them claustrophobic and felt they didn’t make room for the range of feelings she wanted to convey. Incorporating journalism and criticism made the personal essay feel more outward-looking, she said. Ms. Jamison set out to prove that “personal narrative doesn’t have to be as solipsistic as we think it is.”

That has earned her a devoted following. The rise of the hybrid essay “coincided with a rise in the creative nonfiction programs across the country,” said Jan Weissmiller, a poet and an owner of Prairie Lights Books in Iowa City, where Ms. Jamison drafted parts of “The Empathy Exams.” Ms. Weissmiller said that book “was formative for all those young people that were studying and starting to write that way.”

Ms. Jamison is one of 30 or so writers who Michael Taeckens, the former marketing director of Graywolf Press, said had “spawned legions of imitators” — or at least legions of young writers and students who want to learn the secrets of this genre-bending high-wire act.

Emmeline Clein, a former student of Ms. Jamison’s whose forthcoming book “Dead Weight” recounts her struggle with an eating disorder, said Ms. Jamison was the first writer she read who captured “a certain type of human void that manifests in emotional and mental distress,” and whose approach “is grounded in research but is very human and lived.”

Anika Jade Levy, the co-editor of Forever Magazine, marveled over Ms. Jamison’s “ability to intellectualize her own experiences without diluting their emotional resonances.” Madelaine Lucas, another former Columbia student, said Ms. Jamison’s 2014 essay “ Grand Unified Theory of Female Pain ” — about women who numb themselves to avoid seeming melodramatic — is “maybe not a battle cry, but something that spoke to a particular generation of women.”

This semester, all but three of the 60 students in Ms. Jamison’s course are women, many of them longtime Leslie-heads who applied to the program hoping to work with her.

Ms. Jamison’s life looks much different now than it does in the pages of “Splinters.” These days, she lives with a partner in Brooklyn and splits the week between what she calls “outward”-facing days teaching at Columbia and internet-free writing days at home, where she is working on a novel, a book about daydreaming and a version of her “Self” lectures to publish widely. Friday afternoons are reserved for time with her daughter, who is now in kindergarten.

Ms. Jamison said she tries to bring some of the vulnerability she uses in her books to her classroom to show students that she, too, has skin in the game. She talks openly about addiction, anorexia and unhealthy relationships. “People are just so much more ready and willing and eager to share parts of themselves because they already feel like they’re on this particular radio channel with you,” she said.

During a 10-minute break, she asked her students to respond to a writing prompt about “haunted sweetness.” When class resumed, students talked about learning to sew and embarking upon ill-advised affairs.

“To believe in writing from a first-person perspective is not just about believing in your own first person,” Ms. Jamison said later, during an interview in her tidy, bohemian office, where a colleague’s origami mobile hangs from a shelf. “It’s literally about believing in the richness of anybody’s subjectivity.”

She recounted how she had read a biography of the 19th-century mathematician Georg Cantor as a child, an attempt to impress one of her older brothers. One of Cantor’s great discoveries was that there were different types of infinities.

In writing creative nonfiction, she said, there’s one kind of infinity available in examining one’s life alongside the lives of others, something she hopes she manages to capture in her essays.

“Then there’s this other kind of infinity — that’s not a lesser infinity, it’s just a different infinity — that’s between zero and one,” she said, “when you’re hewing closer to your own experience.”

Back in the classroom, Ms. Jamison recounted an anecdote about an apple farmer who coined the term “ghost apples” to describe the icy formations he noticed growing in his orchard. During a cold snap in Michigan, the farmer realized that his apples had turned to mush and escaped their icy shells, leaving behind perfect crystalline forms.

“When I think of writing the moments that haunt me, I think of these ghost apples,” Ms. Jamison said. “How to let the excess drop away, the mush and skin of what happened but isn’t necessary to the telling.”

Explore More in Books

Want to know about the best books to read and the latest news start here..

In her new memoir, “Splinters,” the essayist Leslie Jamison  recounts the birth of her child  and the end of her marriage.

The Oscar-nominated film “Poor Things” is based on a 1992 book by Alasdair Gray. Beloved by writers, it was never widely read  but is now ripe for reconsideration.

Even in countries where homophobia is pervasive and same-sex relationships are illegal, queer African writers are pushing boundaries , finding an audience and winning awards.

In Lucy Sante’s new memoir, “I Heard Her Call My Name,” the author reflects on her life and embarking on a gender transition  in her late 60s.

Do you want to be a better reader?   Here’s some helpful advice to show you how to get the most out of your literary endeavor .

Each week, top authors and critics join the Book Review’s podcast to talk about the latest news in the literary world. Listen here .

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  1. How to Become a Video Game Writer

    How to Become a Video Game Writer Written by MasterClass Last updated: Jul 21, 2021 • 3 min read A video game writer helps create the story, dialogue, and characters in a video game. Learn how to master the necessary skills for a career in the video game industry. A video game writer helps create the story, dialogue, and characters in a video game.

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    Background, Player Preference, Metal Gear Solid A video game writer is a member of the creative team for a certain game that, drumroll please, writes aspects of the narrative. Characters like Geralt of Rivia, Cloud Strife, GLaDOS, and John Marston all have great video game writers and a team of creatives behind them.

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    Darby makes his own luck by working hard and saying "yes" at every opportunity. Darby McDevitt is a scriptwriter for the hugely successful Assassin's Creed series of games. But he doesn't only write for games.

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    Writing character dialogue Overseeing recording sessions with voice actors Editing and updating the script as needed Testing the game to ensure the narrative meets the needs of the gameplay For smaller or less narrative-driven games, video game writers may also play a considerable role in the coding and designing aspect of the physical gameplay.

  5. How to become a Game Writer

    February 8, 2022 Becoming a game writer is not as difficult as one may think. There are many different ways to break into the game industry, and with hard work and dedication, anyone can make it as a game writer. In this article, we will explore some of the methods that aspiring game writers can use to start their career in writing video games.

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    What qualities and skills do I need to work in games writing? What are the common misconceptions about games writing? Advice for new and aspiring games writers You need to learn how story...

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    A game narrative is a multitude of things in a game to drive plot and storyline: dialogue, atmosphere, and more. Overall, these aspects are meant to heavily draw the player into the story, raising the stakes and developing bonds between players and these characters like Cloud and Sephiroth. The game narrative in Final Fantasy VII pulled off ...

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    This week's question is from Lance. Lance wrote in and asked, "It sounds like game writing and game designing are very similar. I was looking to become a game designer due to the fact that I was able to make the story. But it seems like that's what game writers do.

  9. Make Your Mark as a Video Game Writer

    As a video game writer, you can create the games you love to play. He won a Pulitzer Prize. This man was one of the most famous critics of the 20th century. He was an international bestselling author of over 20 books. But when it came to video games, Roger Ebert was also completely wrong.". Video games can never be art ," argued Ebert.

  10. How To Become A Video Game Writer in 9 Simple Steps

    1. Finish secondary school Finishing secondary school and attaining your GCSEs is the minimum education requirement for becoming a video game writer. There's no specific requirement regarding what grade you get, however, a C grade or above in English and ICT can help demonstrate your capabilities.

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    Are you passionate about video games? Are you a good storyteller? A career as a game writer is part researcher and part writer. If this sounds like what you are passionate about, becoming a game writer may be a good career for you. Video games were a $79 Billion dollar industry in 2017, according to WePC.

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    Previously we've found out how game designers, game artists and the all-important producers are made, but this week is the turn of the humble writer. Jim Rossignol founded indie studio Big Robot Ltd in 2010, best known for suspenseful murderbot stealther Sir, You Are Being Hunted and your chance to get back at bloodthirsty robots in sci-fi ...

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    How to become a professionalGame Writer Learn how to write for games, decide if you want to do it professionally, create your first projects, find your early collaborators, build your portfolio and CV, strategies for writing at game jam events, and more. Read below to begin: Already in the industry and looking for job alerts?

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    A Video game writing is the art and craft of writing scripts for video games. Similar to screenwriting, it is typically a freelance profession. It includes many differences from writing for film, due to the non-linear and interactive nature of most video games, and the necessity to work closely with video game designers and voice actors.

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    Why is the story narrated this way? Understanding the structure and why you're making those choices makes you a better writer. What advice would you give to someone who aspires to be a game writer? Many of my students tell me that they don't have any background in writing and therefore will never get into the industry.

  16. What Qualifications Do I Need to be a Game Writer?

    What Qualifications Do I Need to be a Game Writer? March 1, 2023 Video games have adopted a robust narrative focus. While simple pick-up and play titles will always thrive, the demand for thought-provoking interactive stories continues to grow. This means that the market for video game writers is expanding just as quickly.

  17. 15 video game writing jobs for the gamer in you

    As a video game writer, there are a few things you can do to get your business launched, find gigs, and start making money. 1. Create your portfolio. Before you start landing gigs, you'll need to create a video game writer portfolio to show potential clients. They want to see that you can write great content.

  18. What Is a Video Game Writer and How to Become One

    A video game writer works to develop the plot and write the dialogue for a video game. In this career, your responsibilities may include working to design the story for a video game during pre-production. Your duties may include working to create characters and describe the game narrative. The video game designers and programmers may rely on ...

  19. 13 Video Game Writing Jobs For The Gamer In You

    3 Create a Pitching Process. As a new writer, you have to hustle hard to land a video game writing job. This means taking action and pitching, rather than waiting for jobs to come to you. To keep you motivated you can create a pitching process whereby you give yourself a deadline or a metric to follow.

  20. Game Writer Job Description: Salary, Duties, & More

    Top 10% Annual Salary: $122,000 ($58.65/hour) The employment of game writers is expected to grow much faster than average over the next decade. As technology continues to improve, video games will become more realistic and immersive. As a result, these games will require more complex storylines and plots.

  21. What Does A Game Writer Do (including Their Typical Day at Work)

    Write short stories and compile a portfolio of all your original work. Many Game Writers have experience as Writers. For example, it is common for Game Writers to be published Authors. Step 4: Submit Story Ideas to Video Game Studios. The most common path to becoming a Game Writer involves submitting story ideas directly to video game studios ...

  22. Getting into the video game industry as a writer. : r/writing

    Getting into the video game industry as a writer. I've been writing my own stories through scripts for more than ten years now. Recently, I've gotten into short story/novella storytelling and plan on illustrating portions of that finished short story/novella. But I've always loved games and longed to be a part of them.

  23. Which path to become a video game writer? : r/gamedev

    A) Get a degree in Game Design, improve my portfolio and write freelance in the meantime. B) Don't go to college, work in marketing/communications at a company, improve my portfolio and write fiction in the meantime. If someone here happens to be a game writer, I would like to chat with you as well! Sort by: m0ds • 1 yr. ago

  24. How To Become A Game Illustrator?

    The path to becoming a Game Illustrator can lead through various educational routes, including a degree in graphic design or specialized training in game art and design. Internships or freelance ...

  25. A Writer With Skin in the Game

    The essayist Leslie Jamison has become known for her careful balancing acts of self-exposure. By Kate Dwyer "If the self is a guesthouse, most of the rooms are full of ghosts," Leslie Jamison ...

  26. Chargers Should Target Veteran Cornerback in Free Agency

    The Los Angeles Chargers should consider going after veteran cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, who will become a free agent in March.

  27. How To Become a Software Developer

    Becoming a software developer is an exciting and rewarding career path, and software development is one of the largest tech occupation categories with more than 1 in 4 (27%) of the 5.8 million tech jobs in 2023 being software developers. With more than 1.1 million job postings for software developers in the United States, it's no surprise that software developers are in high demand, reaching ...

  28. 'Balatro': The Poker Deck Builder That's A Huge Hit On Steam

    Despite costing only $13.49, Balatro is hovering around the top 10 games by revenue on Steam at the time of writing, muscling in alongside big hitters such as Apex Legends, Counter-Strike 2 and ...

  29. Kansas City shooting believed to have stemmed from personal dispute

    Baker vowed to "get answers" in a post on X Thursday morning, writing in part, "I will use every tool at my disposal under Missouri law that allows me to address this tragedy.". The ...