Narrative News June 2024: Resources, Jobs, and a Reflection on 'Natural Talent'
Was she born with it, or is it just a bag of tools she collected over time?
Hi fellow narrative designers!
Without even noticing it, I made it to the one-year mark of publishing this newsletter last month—I feel like that’s a sign that chatting to all of you lovely people is as breezy as a June walk in the lupins. Speaking of, before I head out to enjoy this beautiful weather, I thought I’d offer a little creative pep talk ahead of the resources below. Hopefully it speaks to you if you’re feeling low about your skills.
Oh, and MOST IMPORTANTLY: HAPPY PRIDE!!
On Natural Talent: Who Needs It Anyway?
I would count myself among those who don’t have a natural aptitude for creative writing, apart from a knack for prose descriptions.
There is so much that I don’t do well. I’m not great at plotting; I deflate tension too quickly, I get too wrapped up in trivialities and can’t see alternatives, I’m often loathe to kill characters or put them in harm’s way. I have a tendency to use my own (far too formal) voice for every character. I get easily confused by branching, so it takes me a long time to plan out satisfying choices.
I’ve sucked real bad in the past. I’ll probably suck again in the future. But that doesn’t matter. What matters is that over time I used every failure to create a tool to avoid that same pitfall in the future. They’re labeled in my brain. “Remember That Time Everyone Said Your Characters Sounded Like They Were From the Victorian Era?” or “Remember When You Killed the Stakes By Resolving that Conflict without a Proper Catharsis?”
Every time I flag that I might be heading toward a previously flagged mistake, I add another pass to my editing: Character Voice Pass or Stakes Pass, for instance.
Is my editing a long and arduous process?
YES.
Will it get less long and arduous as I get better at my craft?
Hopefully, but I also think that even for the best of writers, writing is a long and arduous process of getting it wrong ninety-nine times so you can get it right (or mostly right) on the hundredth.
There’s even a saying for that: writing is rewriting. I’m sure we’ve all heard that before but maybe, like me, you didn’t really take to heart the hidden message: you’re not a bad writer for failing on your first try. You’re just a writer. Failing over and over until it finally starts to take shape is how it works. Writing is, at the end of the day, only effort.
And that’s is encouraging. Because it means that you don’t need ‘natural talent’. You just need will. You just need to get back into the notebook or laptop and try again.
I’m with you, writing yet another hopelessly convoluted first draft that not even my endlessly supportive mother could love. All that stands between our shitty first drafts and something we’re proud to show the world is time and hard work.
So, let’s get to work.
Meetups + Conferences
Guys, it’s finally here, NarraScope month! I’m just so excited about this interactive fiction/game writing conference coming up in Rochester, NY. I’ll be there, so hit me up if you see me! In-person registration ends June 7th.
Toronto Games Week is also coming up, and there’s a writing workshop on June 16th hosted by Tanya Kan (Solace State, @vividfoundry) at TTL Makerspace.
Jams + Competitions
Love/Violence Jam runs from June 1st to June 30th 2024. “The Love/Violence jam is all about messy feelings and messy actions. Tell a story about love and violence, one as a metaphor for the other, one masquerading as the other, or some less-defined relationship between the two.” Interactive fiction-focused but all games welcome.
Neo-Twiny Jam runs from June 1st to July 1st 2024. “Create a tiny Interactive Fiction piece in 500 words or less!”
Nouvim 3000 Jam for French language interactive fiction games is running from May 31st to June 30th 2024.
SunNoFes 2024 Jam opens July 1st and runs until Aug 31st 2024. “An online game jam focused on visual novels and story-based games. Starts July 1st, ends August 31st. Feel free to start working before the festival begins.”
Resources
Check out this amazing article by the ever-helpful and wise John Ryan: How to Become a Video Game Writer Realistically
These are sets of questions for roleplaying games, but I actually think these are wonderfully useful for character creation/decision-making, thanks James Pianka!
Jobs
Junior Narrative Designer at Volka Games Cyprus-based. We are looking for a talented Narrative Designer to join our game development team working on Taonga: the Island Farm!
Screenwriter at HoYoverse LA-based. “Game products such as Genshin Impact, Honkai Impact 3rd, Tears of Themis, and Honkai: Star Rail.”
Scriptwriter at World of Warships Belgrade-based. “World of Warships Video team in Belgrade is looking for a creative Scriptwriter, out of the box thinker who is able to bring fresh ideas and a unique perspective to the table.”
Associate Game Writer at EA Toronto-based. “We are the Casual Mobile group at EA, and our portfolio includes both original and iconic IPs such as Design Home, Sim City Build-It, Covet Fashion, Pogo, and other catalog titles.”
Writer at Larian Studios Warsaw-based. “As we move on to new projects, the studio that brought you Baldur’s Gate 3 & Divinity: Original Sin 2 is looking for a Writerto join the team and help us in crafting the high caliber games our fans have come to expect.”
Game Writer at Wooga Berlin, Germany-based. “As our next Game Writer, you are skilled at building worlds, creating exciting story hooks, and bringing memorable characters to life in concise, clear, characterful dialogue.”
Associate Narrative Designer at Hasbro Rhode Island-based. “In this role, you would be working closely with a Mid-Level Narrative Designer or Senior Narrative Designer to craft on-brand copy as part of the Gaming Product Design team, working across the games portfolio.”
Writer and Narrative Designer at Wicked Saints Remote. “We’re currently building our flagship title, World Reborn. World Reborn is a mobile game and experience driving large-scale social change through play.”
Video Game Writer at Seismic Squirrel Remote USA or Canada. “Game: A vehicular RPG videogame set in an alternate history 1930s New York. Pay: $32 - $38 USD per hour – Depends on skills and experience.”
Narrative Designer at CaptureAge Remote UK-based. “As a Narrative Designer at CaptureAge, you will be working as part of an integrated narrative and level design team on ambitious narrative-driven projects in Age of Empires II and Age of Mythology.”
Narrative Designer at Artificial Core Remote. “Artificial Core is a developer and publisher of Corepunk.”
Narrative Designer at Series AI Remote. “Series AI is seeking a talented Narrative Designer who will help concept, write, script & implement story content for our upcoming story releases.”
Narrative Designer at Cloud Chamber Montreal-based. “Cloud Chamber is looking for an adventurously creative Narrative Designer to join our global development team.”
Narrative Designer at NetEase Games Toronto-based. “We are a co-development studio working with our partners in China helping build an authentic realistic video game. This is your chance to work on a narratively driven historical game in the early stages of production.”
Video Game Designer and Writer at Refactor Games Santa Monica-based. “We are looking for a talented game designer and writer who is passionate about sports, fantasy and space video games as well as technologies like VR, AR and blockchain gaming.”
Game Narrative Designer at Yotta Games Remote as a contractor or full-time in Shanghai. “Set and write the Portrayed Game World according to the game producers’ requirements.”
Senior Narrative Designer at Yotta Games Hybrid LA. “We are on the lookout for a senior narrative designer who could help us create a new criminal world for our AAA game project in the LA studio.”
Senior Narrative Designer at Riot Games Shanghai-based. “As a Senior Narrative Designer in Research & Development working on an early stage product, you will help decipher one of Riot’s next big bets.”
Senior Narrative Designer at Netflix Helsinki-based. “Next Games, a Netflix Game Studio, is a Helsinki-based studio dedicated to crafting fans-first interactive experiences that combine the stories from popular movies and shows with engaging game mechanics.”
Senior Narrative Writer at Liquid Swords Stockholm-based. “Senior Narrative Writers at Liquid Swords are expert craftspeople; deftly-handed in interactive storytelling with the ability to pitch and execute on bold narrative vision - macro and micro, surgical and systemic.”
Senior Writer at Beamdog Edmonton-based. “Reporting to the Design Director, the Senior Writer will help us craft compelling, immersive narrative content for our upcoming titles.”
Senior Games Writer at Escape Velocity “We are currently looking for a Games Writer to join us to work within the narrative team to craft best-in-class stories, develop unique characters, and collaborate on the design of our current project.”
Senior Game Writer at EA (Star Wars Jedi) Remote possible. “We're looking for a Senior Game Writer to join the narrative team on an unannounced Star Wars™ title - someone with a passion for world-class, ambitious, interactive storytelling in an established universe.”
Lead Narrative Designer at Aardvark Swift Remote Canada. “Canadian indie studio, Riyo Games are working with us to find a Lead Narrative Designer to join their team as they develop their debut title, Threads of Time, a retro inspired 2.5D JRPG where players travel from the pre-historic era to the end of time!”
Lead Scriptwriter at Ubisoft Montreal-based. “As a Lead Scriptwriter at Ubi MTL, you'll foster the overall narrative vision from concept to completion.”
Senior Narrative Designer at Bigpoint GmbH Hamburg, Germany-based. “As Senior Narrative Designer your main job is to develop canon, stories, plots, and written content for different game projects.”
Lead Narrative Designer at Eleven Eleven Quebec or Ontario-based remote. “We are seeking an experienced Lead Narrative Designer to join a leading remote game studio, known for working on exciting games that you grew up wanting to play!”
Senior Writer at Epic Games North Carolina or Montreal-based. “Epic Games is looking for a Sr. Writer to join our team working on LEGO Fortnite.”
Senior Narrative Director at Mob Entertainment Remote. “Mob Entertainment is a startup multimedia studio that is best known for our hit indie horror game Poppy Playtime.”
Expert Writer (AAA Project) at Ubisoft Paris-based but remote possible. “We are seeking a talented and experienced Expert Writer to join our dynamic team on an ambitious AAA and unannounced project.”
Thanks for reading! Pass on the good vibes and share this newsletter with other narrative designers.
About the Writer:
Rose Behar is a narrative designer at Scopely working on a new IP. Her previous work is featured in Longleaf Valley and Ashe Cove by Double Loop Games, among other projects. She puts out the free Narrative News roundup every month.
Yes, and yes, re your comments on writing. The first draft is for my eyes only. All excellent points, and very encouraging! (From the e.s.m.)