Writing Department
If you like to write and flesh out the stories, characters, and narratives for all kinds of games and video games, then come on down to the Writing Department! We make all the flavorful story elements, dialogue lines, item descriptions, etc. you see in lots of games!
Anywhere you see text in a game, you’re seeing the kind of work we focus on. Writers collaborate with the team to build the core concepts and story for games.
What do we do?
We host weekly workshops, which are usually split into two parts: a presentation by an officer for the first half, then a discussion or activity for the second half. However, members are encouraged to share their own thoughts/strategies at any time during the workshops; game writing is a collaborative process, so our workshops are too!
Our goal is to support beginners as they grow, as well as more advanced writers looking to broaden and refine their skills. We encourage members (writers and non-writers alike) to share their work if they need feedback!
What do we teach?
Our workshops are different every quarter. For the Fall, our workshops focus on basic topics, including dialogue, outlining, Twine, screenplay format, and environmental storytelling. This quarter, we'll also be hearing a little about one of our officer's experiences interning at Blizzard over the summer.
During the Winter and Spring, the topics we cover become more varied. In the past, we’ve had workshops on things like video game journalism, playtesting for writers, and dating sims. It’s all about what caught members’ interest in previous quarters!
During midterms and finals, we like to have meetings that focus more on decompression, like casual conversations or collaborative world-building activities.
Industry Relevance
Each game studio is structured a bit differently, but writers are generally found in roles like:
Writing
Script Editing
Story Writing
Screenwriting
Narrative Design
Quest Design (a combination of writing and design)
Software and Tools
Here are some of the applications we use for work in the Writing Department.
FAQs
What can I expect to gain from Writing Workshops?
An improved understanding of writing and how it relates to games, as well as a group of people to bounce ideas off of! You’ll also find space to do some solid literary analysis of game narratives. (It’s fun, we promise!)
Can I get help on my screenplays/other writing projects from the Writing Department?
Yes! We specialize in game writing, but we are more than happy to help with general writing as well.
Are workshops only helpful for people who want to write in the game industry?
Absolutely not! Although we focus on writing for games, many of the topics we cover (like dialogue and outlining) are useful no matter what medium you want to write in.
What skills do I need besides writing?
To be the best game writer you can be, you should have a basic understanding of how the other disciplines in your team work (what they can/can’t do, how they do it, etc.). However, you aren’t expected to know any of that before you join!
VGDC is a beginner-friendly club, and all of our officers are dedicated to making sure you learn what you need to know.
How is game writing different from other media? (i.e. movies or books?)
Games put the reins of the story in the hands of the player in a way that no other medium can. They allow the player to control the pacing, dialogue, and even the direction of the story. In some ways, this extra complexity presents a unique challenge for writers trying to create a coherent, engaging story. But it also opens up new storytelling opportunities that we can’t get anywhere else!