Getting the Work Done - Professional Techniques for Video Game Writing - page 89

Shakespeare, either, but he did okay. You're cultivating your own voice in a whole
new media. A few mistakes are allowed along the way.
Another strategy for dealing with writer's block is to call in some reinforcements.
You're not alone in this. Talk to someone else about why you're stuck. Putting it
into words will clarify the problem and help you find solutions. If you don't know
why you're stuck, try telling someone specifically what you're trying to write and
brainstorm a little with them. There are always multiple ways to say whatever you're
working on. Try batting a couple of approaches around verbally and see if it goes over
the block. The wackiest brainstorm ideas sometimes turn into just the unexpected
twist you were looking for.
Finally, remember the fundamentals. Write an outline. It may be as simple as,
“Get stick. Beat Black Spider with stick. Bring Spider's legs to Grog.� It's not pretty,
but it's a start. Now you can edit each of those sentences into the right voice and
tone. Voila! You've made progress.
9.7 Exercises
1. Brainstorm seven different ways of having an NPC orc tell a player they've
takenawrongturnandneedtogoback.
2. Spend ten minutes editing a writing exercise you produced from a previous
chapter.
3. Write a basic outline for a collection quest.
4. Estimate how long it takes you to write 12 lines of dialog for one of your
favorite characters (an original character or one you know well from another
property). Now time yourself writing 12 lines of unique dialog for that char-
acter and compare the actual time with the estimate.
5. Write a list of ten positive things about yourself and your writing for use when
the demons start shouting you into paralysis.