How to Break In and Stay In - Professional Techniques for Video Game Writing - page 3

At its utmost, every job or project you take on should concern either games or
writing. Even jobs you may not see as relating to game writing can lead to more cre-
ative positions. Tracy Seamster, Sony Online Entertainment, whose entry came from
a customer-service job in a text-based game company, points out: “If you can demon-
strate the ability to respond to customers in a quick, concise, and clear manner, your
writing skills will be evident.�
There are, of course, ways to build experience strictly in video game writing.
“One frequently overlooked avenue into the gaming industry is the modding com-
munity. Getting to work with a serious mod development team can give you invalu-
able experience that translates directly into the professional world,� recommends Jay
Posey from Red Storm. The same goes for working on game development projects
with other students as course assignments and landing internships during your edu-
cation.
1.3 Portfolio
Some writers opt to keep permanent portfolios, while others don't, but rather make
portfolios for each job they're applying for. If you're a freelancer just starting out,
you'll need an online presence, possibly with a blog or another way of providing
consistent updates to show possible employers that you're active in your interests.
So what should you include? All of that experience you've been building up.
“The wider range of samples you can provide, the better. Detailed character biogra-
phies, dialogue samples, short prose, gameworld descriptions or history, cutscenes
in screenplay format; all would be valuable examples of your particular talent,� says
Posey. Keep samples brief, and if you don't have any material you can show from
published games, use an idea of your own and write a script or some character de-
scriptions.
If the work you've contributed to a project is protected by a non-disclosure agree-
ment or can't be shown separately from the final work, you should still reference the
project and your role in it. “Your portfolio should contain your greatest hits, in-
cluding pieces that demonstrate a variety of techniques. I refer people to a game's
website in which all the text is mine, pointing out that I wrote both the long, serious
stories as well as the humorous blurbs. That way, my ability to switch styles/voices is
evident,� recommends Seamster.
Posey points out, “If you're interested in or applying for a specific kind of writing
job (say, writing quests for an massively multiplayer online game), you should include
similar samples.� Be clear and concise about what you're capable of and interested in
contributing to a company.
1.4 Networking
When you set out to network, always have in mind that everyone is a resource.
Whether it's another student, a fellow writer, the CEO of a company, or even an au-