Want to Be a Game Writer?
Here are my personal favorite resources. Most are free!
If you are curious about the process of how I got into video game writing/narrative design, this page is for you! I included every single resource that I found useful when starting my journey, then added some commonly asked questions at the bottom. You should hopefully find anything you need here to get started. Good luck! I’m rooting for you.
Start Here:
How I Got into Games interviewed by legendary Susan O’ Connor
YouTube Channels:
Fellow Traveller (LudoNarraCon)
GDC (Game Developers Conference)
Interactive Fiction Technology Foundation (NarraScope)
PLEASE check out game playthroughs on YouTube or Twitch! If you can’t play them, watch them. Make note of what works and what doesn’t.
Blogs and Articles:
Game Writing Guide - edited by Danny Salfield Wadeson
Game Dev 101 by Ed Stern
Getting a Job in Game or Narrative Design by Katie Chironis
How to Get a Job as a Games Writer by Marie Dealessandri
Interactive Storytelling by Emily Short
The Narrative Department by Susan O’ Connor
Important Tools:
Final Draft - The screenwriting software?! Yup. Game writers use it, too. This is the film industry standard software for screenwriting. I have used it for cinematic and linear gameplay scripts at multiple studios. You don’t need to drop money on it right now, but at least get familiar with how it works and how to format a screenplay.
Google Sheets/Microsoft Excel - You’d be surprised how much writing happens in a spreadsheet. Get comfy with it.
Twine - This is a great free tool used for making branching stories. It’s perfect for portfolio pieces, too! Learn here.
Unreal Engine - Many jobs will want you to have at least some experience working in-engine. Unreal is an incredibly popular one. Once you start learning in Unreal, you can apply that experience to many in-house engines. Start here, then check out the rest of their great tutorials.
Unity - Publicly available game engine similar to Unreal and used for a lot of indie projects. Check out their robust learning portal.
Game Writing Discord Channels:
Books on Writing and/or Games:
Art of Game Design by Jesse Schell
Blood, Sweat and Pixels by Jason Schreier
The Elements of Style by Strunk & White
Gamer Girls by Mary Kenney
Game Narrative Toolbox by Tobias Heussner, Toiya Kristen Finley, Ann Lemay, and Jennifer Brandes Hepler
Game Writing Guide by Anna Megill
Game Writing: Narrative Skills for Video Games by Chris Bateman
Marvel’s Spider-Man Script Book by Jon Paquette and Ben Arfmann
Story by Robert McKee
Procedural Storytelling in Game Design by Tanya X. Short and Tarn Adams
Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud - trust me, it’s relevant
Additional Favorites:
Game Conference Guide - Find game conferences and events near you.
Itch.io - Participate in game jams! Game jams are some of the best ways to meet other game devs, get experience, and make portfolio pieces. Itch.io has a bunch of online game jams for you to participate in!
Narrative Department Game Writing Masterclass - Susan O’ Connor teaches an eight-week program on game writing. If you’re serious about getting into game writing then I cannot recommend this class enough. I had already been working in games, but it helped me get to the next level. I can properly articulate my job and work better with other members of my team. Not free, but totally worth every penny.
Narrative Design 101 - Johnnemann Nordhagen released his narrative design course to the public. Free! Woo!
Pixelles Game Writing Program - A FREE 3-month game writing program targeted to beginners. Applications open once a year.
Script Lock - A great podcast on games narrative by dynamic duo, Nick and Max Folkman.
TV Writing - A TON of free scripts to look at and study.
Job Listing Sites:
This is posted at the bottom for a reason. Do NOT start blindly applying for jobs. It will end up a waste of your time. Make sure you have a portfolio ready and really understand what the job is about before you start trying to make it a career.
Animation/Games Industry Job Postings
Texas Film Commission - trust me on this one, haha
Popular Questions:
Q: Do you have to know people at the studio in order to get a job there?
A: Not always! So far, the game jobs I’ve gotten are through regular website job postings. I knew nobody at the studios prior to interviewing. It IS possible. HOWEVER, if you plan on reaching out to someone you should make sure the information you’re seeking isn’t publicly available with a quick search.
Q: What are studios looking for in a writer?
A: It can depend on what game the studio is making, but what they usually want to see is that you can tell a short story with a beginning, middle, and end that showcases character.
Q: How long should my writing samples be?
A: All of your writing samples should be 10 pages or LESS. I personally advise each piece should be about 3-5 pages long.
Q: I wrote a really cool movie/pilot. Should I send that script in?
A: No :) that is cool BUT recruiters are receiving hundreds of applications for each posting, so they’re pretty swamped as it is. Plus, most video games prioritize brevity in dialogue. Show that you can say a lot in a few words!
Q: Can I work remote or outside of the US/Europe?
A: There are opportunities for both, but they’re a bit more rare. Job postings will usually say what they’re looking for in regards to location or remote/hybrid/in-office work. Make sure to read through the application!
Q: How did you get into games?
A: I went to school for film and was in an insane amount of extracurriculars for entertainment. This included a game development organization called EGaDS! where I got to know a bunch of great students interested in making games. I was able to take all my college experience and make portfolio pieces, similar to the ones on my website’s home page. I got a writing internship at Insomniac, then I graduated and went full-time. Check out my first link at the top of this page for the full scoop!
Q: Where can I find a game script?
A: There’s not really an official format for game writing, therefore there aren’t really “game scripts.” The closest thing to one that I’ve encountered is the Insomniac Games Marvel’s Spider-Man Script Book, which has a link listed under my book list. It’s not entirely accurate either, since it’s just the main story and cinematics.
Q: Can you get me a games job?
A: If only it were that easy, haha! Unfortunately, no. Neither can anyone else on my narrative team. Those decisions are made outside of our team, usually from HR/Recruiting. Sorry :/
I hope this info was useful to you! This page of resources is 100% free and will be updated continuously. If you feel like saying thanks, feel free to send a ko-fi :)