Writing in a Team - Professional Techniques for Video Game Writing - page 74

8.7 Game-Writing Processes
When it comes to the practical organization of team writing, there are a variety of
approaches in current use. Glibly put, you could say there are as many approaches as
there are teams of writers. Learning every method would take a prohibitive amount
of time, but luckily, they all incorporate a mere handful of fundamental models.
Most writing teams use an integrated approach, choosing the process that works best
in each situation. While majority rule and dictatorship can lead you to a finished
game, try to familiarize yourself with the following three models to better collaborate
with writers: consensus , compromise ,and ownership .

Consensus
Merriam-Webster calls consensus “general agreement: unanimity� as well as “group
solidarity in sentiment and belief.� However, consensus is more than just an end
result; it's a decision-making process. With a keen understanding of consensus, writ-
ers can improve not only the quality of their writing but relationships with their
teammates.
In practice, consensus allows each team member to contribute to and influence
the process. For example, most brainstorming sessions are run by consensus. Team
memberscanofferupideas,whichthegroupexploresforaslongasit'sfruitful.The
goal is to settle upon an idea that excites every member of the team. Writers who
have experienced successful sessions describe a lift in the entire room when they've
hit on the right idea. The energy spikes and smiles appear, making it one of the most
gratifying aspects of working collaboratively.
The goal of consensus is to reach this “lift,� so it's important to move on quickly
from ideas that just aren't hitting. However, sometimes you will need to plow through
an idea before discarding it, and disagreements will arise. Fortunately, consensus
allows for coming to a solution that literally makes everyone happy.
•

Identify the issue at stake. No matter who disagrees with the direction the story
is headed, make sure you understand what specifically is causing contention.
“I don't know, that sounds dumb,� is not helpful. If someone has a negative
reaction to your story idea, ask, “What about this bothers you?� You may
have assumed it had to do with the character you have envisioned, but your
teammate may actually just have an issue with a particular plot point.

• Allow everyone to describe their best-case scenario. In order to make every-

one enjoy the solution, everyone has to share what they enjoy. In the above
case, your best-case scenario may involve a scene where your character has a
change of heart, while your teammate's ideal scene would involve the character
following the most logical path.

• Find a solution that works for everyone. At this point, brainstorm a solution

that addresses everyone's concerns. If problems still arise, begin with Step 1,
or try developing a new idea in its entirety.