Getting the Work Done - Professional Techniques for Video Game Writing - page 87

schedule and routine is critical to getting work done. I have a personal schedule each
day and each week. So I know at 10 a.m. on Monday I need to have the dogs walked
and the spam cleared out of the inbox so I can get to work on research. I don't always
stick to my schedule, but at least I know what trade-offs I'm making when friends
want to take me out to lunch at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday.
Also, do everything you can to have a separate, dedicated office in your home.
Not only is it beneficial for tax purposes (at least in the United States), but it also
provides some separation from work and home life. I've found that if I'm not careful,
I'm not working from home—I'm sleeping in my workplace. Sure, sometimes I work
best on the couch with the TV on, but sometimes I need silence with project-related
inspiration around me. I have to change it up sometimes, and it's a lot easier to get
up and go in the other room rather than redecorating the dining room. Get to know
your own quirks and make them work in your favor.
Finally, go ahead and acknowledge the fact that you're working from home some-
times. One of the perks of freelancing is throwing a load of wash in the dryer between
conference calls. Taking breaks and feeling productive can help you avoid writer's
block and burnout as long as you don't go overboard and lose focus.
9.5 Strategies for In-House Staff Writers
When working as a staff writer in-house, the biggest thing I have to watch out for is
losing focus. It's easy to get caught up in the excitement of everything going on with
coworkers. Of course, being connected to the broader development of the game is
very important, but writing takes focus and concentration, so be aware of how your
time is being spent. If you're always getting pulled off task by something shiny across
the cube farm, you'll find yourself missing deadlines. Little things and interruptions
can nibble away your day into nothing.
Chris Klug is Creative Director for Stargate Worlds , a story-heavy MMOG from
Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment. He's worked with in-house teams of writers
in games and television and had several tips to share about getting the work done
while on staff. One thing to remember, he says, is that many game developers aren't
familiar with the way writers work, so there may be some resistance to some of the
strategies writers see as beneficial. They may not understand why you want to take
over an entire wall with index cards and string. Don't let that stop you. He says that
the most important thing for writers on staff at a developer is to take charge of their
own work process. If you need some uninterrupted time to focus on a tricky plot
problem, ask if you can work from home one morning. If you want a whiteboard
to break down a story into beats as a group, ask for one. Of course, you don't want
to be a diva about it, but know the circumstances where you work best and do what
you can to make them a reality. Don't expect the developers to set things up for you
without being told.
In-house writers should also take every opportunity to learn the tools other de-
partments use to do their job. One of the benefits of sitting right there in the office