STOP GUESSING ABOUT YOUR GAME-WRITING CAREER
The Game Writing Industry Insider's Guide to Breaking In (and Thriving) When Everything Feels Impossible
The Game Writing Industry Insider's Guide to Breaking In (and Thriving) When Everything Feels Impossible
Â
The game writing landscape right now feels absolutely nuts. Layoffs. Job data that makes no sense. "Entry-level" roles requiring 3+ years experience. Job posts that contradict each other. Even working writers unsure about their next move. Studios being pickier than ever.
You're not imagining it - figuring out your path forward really is harder than it used to be.
But here's what the headlines aren't telling you: the opportunities are still there. They're just hidden from view.
After working on over 25 titles across every major game genre - and contributing to Game of the Year projects - I know what studios are actually looking for. I've worked with studio heads, narrative directors, and recruiters to find out what writers need to know now.
This isn't generic writing advice. This is info from inside the industry.
DOES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR?
IF YOU'RE AN ASPIRING GAME WRITER...
You're exhausted. You've been grinding for weeks—maybe longer—scouring job boards, taking writing tests, submitting applications. You're doing everything "right," but you're not getting anywhere.
The worst part? You're starting to wonder if you're just not cut out for this. Every rejection feels personal. Every "entry-level" role asking for 3+ years of experience makes you question if you'll ever break in.
You watch other people land jobs and think, "What do they know that I don't?" The answer feels like it's locked away somewhere you can't access.
Your dream of writing for games feels further away than ever. Some days, you wonder if you should just give up.
IF YOU'RE A WORKING GAME WRITER...
You got the job—congratulations! But now you're drowning.
You're supposed to be the story expert, but you feel like you're making it up as you go. Design wants one thing, art wants another, and you're caught in the middle trying to hold everything together. You're afraid someone's going to figure out you don't actually know what you're doing.
Your confidence is shot. You second-guess every decision. You wonder how long you can keep this up before they realize they made a mistake hiring you.
HERE'S WHAT BOTH OF YOU ARE FACING:
The rules have changed. The advice that worked in 2019 doesn't work anymore. The traditional paths are broken, but nobody's telling you what the new paths look like.
You're not failing. The system is.
But there's another way—one the industry doesn't talk about publicly.
HERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENING BEHIND THE SCENES:
Between 40-75% of jobs in ANY industry - including games - are never posted publicly. Studios don't advertise them—they ask, "Who do you know who can do this?" When they have openings, they ask around for leads. They reach out directly to writers they know. They put the word out among their friends.
While everyone else is fishing in the wrong pond (public job boards), the real opportunities are showing up in groups of people who already know and trust each other.
AND YOU CAN BE PART OF THESE GROUPS
You don’t need to be best friends with every studio CEO. This “hidden job market” includes entry-level game writers, people who used to be at such-and-such studio…pretty much anybody at any level.
The studios that ARE hiring right now aren't looking for perfect candidates. They're looking for writers who understand the fundamentals, who can collaborate across disciplines, and who speak the language of game development.
Most importantly, they're looking for people who get it: game writing isn't like any other kind of writing. The strategies that work for screenwriters or novelists can actually backfire in games.
I learned this the hard way. I spent years making expensive mistakes, struggling to fit square pegs into round holes, before I figured out what actually works.
You don't have to repeat those mistakes.
What if you could skip the trial-and-error phase entirely? What if you could walk into your next interview—or your current job—with the confidence that comes from actually knowing what you're doing?
That's exactly what The Narrative Department's Game Writing Masterclass gives you.
Â
PICTURE YOURSELF SIX MONTHS FROM NOW:Â
You're in a Zoom call with a narrative director at your dream studio. They're walking through their latest project, and you're not just nodding along—you're contributing real insights. You understand the constraints they're working with. You speak their language.
When they ask, "How would you handle the player onboarding for this?" you don't panic. You have frameworks. You have answers. You belong in this conversation.
OR MAYBE YOU'RE ALREADY WORKING IN GAMES, BUT NOW:
Design comes to you with a last-minute change that would normally send you spiraling. Instead, you take a breath and think through your options. You know exactly which storytelling principles are non-negotiable and which ones are flexible. You handle it with confidence.
Your teammates stop seeing you as "the writer who doesn't get how games work" and start seeing you as the narrative expert who makes everyone's job easier.
Here's what becomes possible when you understand how game writing really works:
Â
✓ You walk into interviews knowing exactly what they're looking for—and knowing you can deliver it
âś“ You speak the language that makes designers, artists, and producers light up and say "Yes, this person gets it"
✓ You have a portfolio that doesn't just show good writing—it shows you understand how story and gameplay work together
âś“ You're part of the network that hears about opportunities before they hit job boards
âś“ Most importantly: You stop feeling like you're pretending and start feeling like you belong
That's not wishful thinking. That's what happens when you xxxx
INTRODUCING
THE NARRATIVE DEPARTMENT'S GAME WRITING MASTERCLASS
The fastest way to go from guessing to knowing. From outsider to insider. From hoping to belonging.
Â
This isn't another generic writing course. This is your professional apprenticeship with someone who's been in the trenches for over 20 years - and who knows exactly what studios are looking for right now.
 You'll learn the frameworks that working writers use every day - the same systems I developed while writing for BioShock, Far Cry, and Tomb Raider. The same approaches my consulting clients use to ship great games with great stories.
More importantly, you'll join the community that changes everything. Our alumni now work at Bad Robot Games, Blizzard, Cloud Chamber, EA, Obsidian, Telltale, and dozens of other studios. Not because they got lucky - because they learned how the industry actually works.
When you finish this course, you won't just have better writing skills. You'll have insider knowledge, professional confidence, and a network of people who will champion your success for years to come.
Don't just take our word for it - here's what happens when xxxxx
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, metus at rhoncus dapibus, habitasse vitae cubilia odio sed. Mauris pellentesque eget lorem malesuada wisi nec, nullam mus. Mauris vel mauris. Orci fusce ipsum faucibus scelerisque.
A community testimonial
[if we want text next to testimonial. the other option is to just put up videos on their own, like below].
Want to see more?
Link to VimeoÂ
Our Alumni Are Now Working At:Â
(need to update this list)
- Bad Robot Games
- Blizzard
- Cloud Chamber
- Crimson Herring
- Deck Nine
- EA
- Firaxis
- High Moon Studios
- Jam City
- Massive Games
- Paradox Interactive
- Obsidian
- Telltale
- Undead Labs
- ZeniMax
....and dozens more.
This isn't luck. This is what happens when you understand how the industry actually works.
What You'll Learn
Â
The "magic wand solution" to building stories for games - the single most important framework that changes everything about how you approach game narrative (this is our most popular lesson for a reason)
How to bring story and gameplay together - three proven strategies that working writers use to create seamless narrative experiences, not stories that fight against the game
The counterintuitive "Don't Show, Don't Tell" method - why traditional storytelling advice can backfire in games, and what actually works instead
How to write for your most important collaborator: the player - understand what makes characters compelling to players (hint: it's not what you think)
The professional language that gets you taken seriously - speak like an insider from day one, so designers and producers know you "get it"
The three questions every game-writing portfolio MUST answer - we'll build yours together, with exercises designed specifically for your portfolio
How to navigate the hidden job market - the most effective way to get hired (it's the opposite of what most people do)
What You'll Get
This isn't just a course - it's your entry into the game writing communityÂ
AÂ small, focused cohort
We limit each class to just thirty writers, with a dedicated TA for every group. You'll never get lost in the crowd or feel like just another student ID.
Weeekly live sessions with Susan
Ask Me Anything calls where we dig into the week's material, plus coworking sessions where we write together. This isn't a "watch videos alone" experience.
Writing feedback that actually helps
Every week, you'll share your work with fellow writers and get thoughtful feedback. You'll also review others' work, which makes you a stronger writer faster.
Exercises designed for your portfolio
Every assignment is something you can use to showcase your skills. By week 8, you'll have a portfolio that proves you understand game writing.
Your game writing community
The connections you make here last long after class ends. Our alumni Discord is buzzing with job tips, project collaborations, and celebrations of each other's wins.
Lifetime access to everything
All the recorded lessons, frameworks, and resources become your personal game writing library. Come back whenever you need a refresher.
Most importantly:
You'll never feel alone in this again.Â
You'll have people who understand your goals, celebrate your progress, and cheer you on when you land that dream job.
This is how you stop being an outsider and start being part of a community.
Premium Mentorship Experience
Â
Want to accelerate your growth with direct guidance from working game writers?
Â
Our Pro Tier takes everything in the main masterclass and adds weekly mentorship from industry professionals - a different working writer reviews your assignments each week.
Â
Here's how it works:
Every week, you'll meet your assigned pro reader in a small Zoom group. They'll walk you through what they're looking for, then review your creative work and provide detailed feedback on your writing choices, story decisions, and how your material would work in an actual game.
You'll work with writers currently employed at studios like:
Netflix Games
xxx
xxx
Paragon
Dark Outlaw Games (internal PlayStation studio)
And more...
Â
Why this matters:
Every professional has a different perspective on story, character, and collaboration. Learning to incorporate feedback from multiple industry voices prepares you for the real-world experience of working with different narrative directors, producers, and team leads.
This isn't just feedback - it's apprenticeship with the people doing this work every day.
Spots are extremely limited. Each pro reader can only review 3 writers per week, and we have a small team of professional mentors. When Pro Tier fills up, it's closed until our next session.
YOU'RE IN EXPERT HANDS
I'm Susan O'Connor, and I've spent over 20 years writing for games - from my first project (a "slumber party game for girls!") to critically acclaimed franchises like BioShock, Far Cry, and Tomb Raider. My portfolio includes 25+ titles that have sold over 30 million copies.
But here's what matters more than my credits:Â I've been exactly where you are. I've struggled with imposter syndrome, made expensive mistakes, and felt lost trying to figure out this industry. I learned the hard way so you don't have to.
These days, I work with studios and publishers as a story consultant - which means I see exactly what they're looking for when they hire writers. I know what skills matter, what mistakes to avoid, and how the hiring process really works.
That's the knowledge I'm sharing with you.
I founded GDC's Game Narrative Summit because I believe in lifting up other writers. The Narrative Department is my way of making sure no writer has to figure this out alone.
Ready to stop guessing and start knowing?
I have always loved to paint for fun. But with this course, I’ve been able to create a real business. I’ve already sold 3 paintings!
____ Brad Harvey
I have always loved to paint for fun. But with this course, I’ve been able to create a real business. I’ve already sold 3 paintings!
____ Brad Harvey
JOIN THE NARRATIVE DEPARTMENT'S
GAME WRITING MASTERCLASS
YOUR INVESTMENT IS PROTECTED BY OUR SATISFACTION GUARANTEE
If you complete the course and don't feel confident in your game writing foundation, Susan will provide three additional one-on-one coaching sessions (valued at $1,500) to get you back on track.
Registration closes September 18th or when the cohorts fill up - whichever comes first.
00
DAYS
00
HOURS
00
MINS
00
SECS
