Welcome To The Narrative Department

Fast-Track Your Game-Writing Career

The Narrative Department’s Game Writing Masterclass is an 8-week online program for writers who are passionate about video games and want to make their mark in the industry.

Building a game-writing career requires knowledge, skills, and above all, COMMUNITY - because game dev is a team sport. Writers need to know how to connect their story to the player's experience. Without a roadmap or guidance, the process of breaking in (and staying in!) can be overwhelming.

The Game Writing Masterclass can save you years of expensive trial and error.

Our alumni have gone on to become game writers or narrative designers at Blizzard, Cloud Chamber, Crimson Herring, Deck Nine, Deviation Games, EA, Firaxis, HakJak, High Moon Studios, Jam City, Kluge Interactive, Massive Games, Monumental, Obsidian, Spooky Doorway, Squid Games, System Era Softworks, Telltale, Tencent, Undead Labs, and ZeniMax. And the list keeps growing.

We’d love to help you, too.

Registration is now closed - join our waitlist to be the first to know when we open our doors again!

JOIN WAITLIST

Does this sound familiar?

If you're an aspiring game writer:

You're struggling to break into the industry - you’re scouring job boards, taking writing tests, submitting applications - and not landing the gigs.

You know that there’s so much to learn about writing for video games - and yet you don’t know how to get the training you need.

You feel like your dream of writing for video games is far away and out of reach - you’re just spinning your wheels; you’re afraid you’re going to have to give up on your dreams of becoming a working game writer.

If you're a working game writer:

You're PSYCHED to have the job!!! (But secretly, you're not sure you know how actually to DO it.)

You're wondering how in the world you’re supposed to keep story development on track when the game seems to change on a daily basis.

You’re spiraling at work, struggling to handle competing demands from different departments.

You wish you had someone in your corner, someone who’s been in your shoes and can help you chart the right path forward.

I know EXACTLY what that feels like - because that used to be me.

When I first started writing for games...

...I struggled. A LOT.

I was new to the job, and I didn’t really know what I was doing.

I was the only writer on staff, so I couldn’t find anyone at the studio to mentor or guide me along the way.
(They had hired me to solve problems, not ask questions!)

I did NOT know what I was doing on that Gears of War project, and frankly, it shows.
Take it from me: you do not want to land your dream job only to discover you are in way over your head!

(I look like a total dope in this picture. I felt like a dope, too.)

I didn't realize how hard it was to bring story & gameplay together 😬

The issue was causing friction with the team. I started second-guessing everything I wrote. My confidence was shot, I was feeling stressed and insecure and wondering if I even had what it took to succeed at this.

I knew I needed to figure things out. So, I read a lot of writing books and took a lot of writing classes.

And they were very good! But they were all geared towards screenwriters or TV writers.

(At the time, there were no classes on how to write for games.)

Sometimes, those books and classes were lifesavers. Other times they did more harm than good.

Because it turns out that games aren’t movies. Who knew? (You knew.)

So the things I was learning from books were actually getting in the way and holding me back.

I ended up learning most things the hard way - through trial and error, making a lot of mistakes in front of colleagues and players alike. Yay? :/

After a whole lot of blood, sweat, and especially tears

Things got better

Things only started to get better when I found other game writers.

When I could talk shop with other creatives who were facing the same challenges I was, my skills improved dramatically.

My confidence grew. I figured out how to deliver stories that players love. I felt good about the work I was doing. I started to feel like I was supporting the team, pulling my weight.

Over the years, I’ve taken all that experience and turned it into a set of best practices
that I still use on projects to this day.

But it was HARD to learn this craft through trial and error. And it doesn’t have to be that way.

I still work in the games industry as a story consultant. And I know from talking to creative leads and narrative directors that they have a hard time finding writers who know how to write for games.

Yes, you read that right. Studios need writers who can write for games. It's a rare skill.
Lots of people apply for these roles, but not many of them are ready to do the work.

Are you ready?

Imagine this is you...

It's 10 am, Monday morning. You walk through the front doors of a studio, coffee in hand.

In the lobby, you walk past life-sized statues of characters from one of your favorite games - one you've played through a hundred times. You catch a glimpse of your reflection in the awards cabinet, where over two dozen "Best Of" awards line the shelves.

There's no time to take a closer look - you've got a brainstorming session in a few minutes.
You swipe your keycard and step inside.

You pass the design pit, where the level designers are playing last night's build. To your right, a group of animators are figuring out exactly how a roundhouse kick works. You make sure to duck when you walk by.

You step into a conference room and grab a seat next to the narrative director - your boss.

She turns to you and says,
"I hear you have some story ideas for the new map. I'm all ears."

She's asking because you're the newest writer on the team.

Your dream job? It's finally yours.
And heck yeah you've got some ideas to share.
You spent all weekend thinking about them.

You take a deep breath and get ready to shoot your shot...

-----
If this is a scenario you've been dreaming about for a long time, good news:
this story could be YOUR story - and our class can help get you there.

Announcing:

THE NARRATIVE DEPARTMENT'S GAME WRITING MASTERCLASS

The fastest, most powerful way to grow your skills, your community, and your confidence
so that you can fast-track your game-writing career.

Our alumni have gone on to become game writers or narrative designers at Blizzard, Cloud Chamber, Crimson Herring, Deck Nine, Deviation Games, EA, Firaxis, HakJak, High Moon Studios, Jam City, Kluge Interactive, Massive Games, Monumental, Obsidian, Spooky Doorway, Squid Games, System Era Softworks, Telltale, Tencent, Undead Labs, and ZeniMax. And the list keeps growing.

If you're building your game writing career, and you're ready to do the work,
this class can help you reach your goals.

Registration opens Monday, September 4th.

The deadline to register is Friday, Sept 8th, or once the class is full - whichever comes first.

Our next session takes place September 9 - November 4

You'll learn...

The "magic-wand solution" to building stories for games (this lesson is the most popular one we’ve ever taught!)
Three storytelling strategies you can use to bring story and gameplay together
The one writing tool you have to know in order to write great dialogue
Why the first question we need to ask when creating characters has nothing to do with characters at all
The “extra gear” that most game scripts miss - and that will take your work from good to great
The three questions any good writing portfolio MUST answer
The most effective way to get the job you want (it's the OPPOSITE of what most people do!)

You'll get...

Recorded video lectures, designed for maximum usability, that you can turn to again and again as your own personal game-writing library
Weekly live coworking sessions
Weekly live Ask Me Anything Zoom calls, where we get together as a class to talk about the week’s material, and I answer any questions you may have
Writing pods and accountability buddies that will keep you on track and connected with the community
Writing assignments custom-designed for your portfolio
Career-development assignments that will help you develop your own unique path forward based on your goals
A community of like-minded writers that you can relate to and grow with - including our Slack channel that has become our own digital campfire <3

What makes The Narrative Department different?

Small class size

We limit class size to 30 writers. And every class has a dedicated TA. You'll have weekly live sessions with me, where I answer your questions about every module.

In The Narrative Department, you'll never get lost in the crowd.

Feedback on your work

With TND, you can stop working (and writing) in a vacuum.

Every week, you'll receive direct feedback on your assignments from your fellow writers - and you'll be giving feedback as well.

And if you choose to register for our Pro Tier, you'll receive feedback from professional game writers as well.

A curriculum developed by (and with) game devs

Before we ever taught our first lesson, we went to our game-developer friends -- the people who run writing teams and game studios -- and asked them, "What do you wish game writers knew before joining your team?" We combined their answers with our 20+ years of industry experience. That knowledge informs every lesson we teach.

A course that follows the highest teaching standards

For years, Susan taught game-writing courses at The University of Texas at Austin, learning the art of teaching at a world-class institution. And our Game Writing Masterclass was developed with the support of a professional instructional designer.

We don't just KNOW our stuff; we know how to TEACH our stuff.

Instruction from an award-winning game writer

Susan has worked on over 24 titles in nearly every game genre, from first-person shooters to RPGs to RTS games to action-adventure titles.

She's worked in multiple story genres as well, including fantasy, horror, sci-fi, and of course, action.

Titles in her portfolio have been received multiple awards, including Best Writing and Game of the Year.

No matter what type of game or type of story you want to create, Susan can help.

Career guidance

From the very beginning of class, we help you develop a vision and a strategy for your career through weekly assignments designed to give you clarity and a game plan. Every exercise in this course is designed to be a new addition to your portfolio. We dedicate an entire module to your job search. We've designed this course to help aspiring writers break in -- and to help working writers move their way up the ladder at their studio.

We're proud of all of our graduates who have gone on to break into the industry. We'd love to help you, too.

Industry recognition of TND

The Narrative Department can open doors. People in the industry recognize and respect the course.

As our recent alum, Sam said, "A friend who works at [AAA studio] said, 'In the interview, mention this class - they are gonna love that. I've never had somebody say that to me about my college degree."

Above all, COMMUNITY

If you watch any of our student testimonials, you'll see that the one thing they rave about, over and over again, is the amazing community they've found inside The Narrative Department. And that's by design.

Our number one goal at The Narrative Department is to help writers connect with their tribe.

Our students stay connected during class through Slack and our live Zoom calls. And they stay connected after class in our alumni Discord. We let every new student know that in TND, kindness is the name of the game.

Find your people!

Imagine having...

Clarity on your career path
Greater confidence in your skills and abilities as a game writer
A clear roadmap for guiding a story through a game-dev cycle
Freedom from the paralyzing self-doubt that may be holding you back
Resources, tools, and strategies to improve your ability to collaborate with the team
Wisdom and insights from your instructor, an award-winning, best-selling game writer
A community of supportive, focused, and big-hearted writers, rooting for your success

Your Curriculum

Pre-Course Module: Welcome! Game Narrative Fundamentals
- In this self-study module, we'll look at why, for writers, games are the new frontier. We'll go behind the scenes of one studio to see how the narrative department works and help you develop a deeper understanding of what game writers do (this may surprise even working game writers!) We’ll cover the writing & gaming basics to help you prepare for the start of class.
Module 1: How To Structure Stories For Games
- In this module, you'll learn what one student has called "the magic wand solution" to building stories for games. We'll talk about linear narratives, branching narratives, and open narratives. You'll walk out of this module with step-by-step guides you can use to structure your game narrative - no matter what genre you're working in.
Module 2: How To Create Characters For Games
- In this module, you'll learn the one element every good character has to have. You'll learn why it's so important to design a relationship between the player and their avatar - and how to do it well. You'll learn how to develop great NPCs, and why the first question we need to ask when creating characters has nothing to do with characters at all.
Module 3: How To Write Scripts For Games
- In this module, we’ll look at what it takes to write a script for a tough audience - the player. We’ll explore when (and how) to use narration, monologue, and dialogue in games. You’ll learn how to write in the voices of your favorite characters, and how to create a brand-new voice, too. We’ll share the “extra gear” that most game scripts miss, and the one writing tool you have to know in order to write great dialogue.
Module 4: How To Bring Gameplay & Story Together
- In this module, we'll learn how to work with our most important collaborator: the designer. We'll take a deeper dive into how to create stories players can live in. I'll share three storytelling strategies you can use to bring story and gameplay together, and I'll also share the ONLY three storytelling hills worth dying on.
Module 5: Portfolio Week
- In this module, we’ll help you build the thing every game writer needs - a portfolio. We’ll help you develop a strategy, based on your goals, so that you can be sure you’re putting your best foot forward. We’ll share some insights about the other departments in a game studio, and how they can help you tell your story. You’ll develop strategies for dealing with fellow creatives - as well as those mysterious technical people on the team.
Module 6: How To Get Your First - Or Next - Job Writing For Games
- By popular demand, we’ve put together a module on how to build your game-writing career. This is designed for aspiring and working writers alike. In this module, you'll learn the most effective way to get the job you want. You'll learn what a creative director looks for in a writer, and the three questions any good writing portfolio MUST answer. A fellow game writer will tell you what to expect from those notorious writing tests. You’ll be more ready than ever to step into your dream role.

You'll work on writing assignments, to help you hone your game-writing skills, and reflective career exercises, to help you develop your own strategies for getting where you want to go.

Best of all, you'll join the ever-growing club of

TND Alumni

💖 Say hello to the game-writing community you've been looking for 💖

And when you're finish the course, you'll receive this very excellent certificate

Let the industry know you've gone pro

Recruiters love The Narrative Department...

The word is out in the industry about TND! This recruiter sent us this job link as soon as it went public. He knew we could send good writing talent his way.

...for writers at EVERY level

As he says here, "I am proactively looking for the absolutely BEST experienced game-writing talent." And that's why he reached out to us. Smart!

We believe 100% in the power of this course. But don't take our word for it:

Here's what our students have to say

"[Susan] gave me a language to communicate with other people in the studio... I found myself being able to connect so much better with art and design and production."

Lis Moberly, Narrative Designer, Obsidian Entertainment

"There's so many aspects of narrative design that people just don't explain to you. And I think this class does a fantastic job of explaining and expanding upon those things that might not be immediately clear at first."

Ian McNicol, Quest Designer, Amazon Games

"If I hadn't taken this class, I think I would be spiraling at work... It vastly changed my experience on the development team."

Hannah MacLeod, Senior Writer/Narrative Designer, Crystal Dynamics

Taage Storey: Writer & Narrative Designer, Magic AG

"I think what makes Susan so great is that she gives you powerful tools. And then she leaves you to use them. You form your own process, which I think is ideal training because otherwise, you're just doing someone's method. And you're not expressing your own creative voice and unique way of solving problems. It was very tools-oriented and very practical in terms of game writing. It's easy to make it overcomplicated, and she brings it down to earth."

Leia French: Junior Unity Developer, Spooky Doorway

"In a world that's just so plagued by hyper-individualism and cutthroat competitiveness, Susan just somehow managed to find the kindest, most engaging, talented range of people from all around the world. This is a class that will make you feel like you found your people. These are people who will inspire you, lift you up, and make you feel like you're not alone in this. And many of them feel like they've become lifelong friends."

Crowe Whitney: Narrative Designer / Game Writer

"One big turning point for me was getting the feedback each week from the feedback buddies. It was amazing. I got all these wonderful notes from a variety of people from a variety of backgrounds that really liked my work and gave such interesting insights to make it even better."

Lovro Golac: Narrative Designer, Audio Director, and Producer at Fox & Hound Studio

Lovro is a gaming industry professional with four years of experience. He's a composer, a sound designer, AND a game writer/narrative designer! His warm and generous personality shines through in this video.
"If you decide to embark on this short but long-lasting journey, I can promise you that it'll provide you with all the tools needed to build up your confidence, to build up your skills, and to make sure that you're headed where you need to be."

Sam Smyth: Narrative Designer, Game Designer, AU Game Center Alum

"Doing all the exercises, talking with everybody... gave me that confidence back and reinforced that "Oh, this is the thing that not only this thing that I want to do my whole life, it's the thing that I KNOW that I can do my whole life." And that's the biggest thing. I mean, everything else is just gravy."

Daniele Fusetto: Course Leader of Narrative Design at AIV - Accademia Italiana Videogiochi | Freelance Narrative & Game Designer

"If I hadn't taken this master class, I would probably have missed out on my current freelance gig/job - And without this course, I couldn't even believe to apply for this type of job."

Alex Kubodera: Co-Founder at White Rabbit

"The feature of the course that I liked the most were probably the exercises. I think all of the exercises were incredibly well designed, not just for you, you know, encouraging creativity through time constraints, but the prompts themselves were also pretty real to how the industry functions. It's a great way to quickly work through ideas and develop them into something that is presentable."

Meredith Fletcher: Narrative Designer / Producer

Even accomplished game devs like Meredith get a lot of the masterclass. "Taking Susan's course just was tremendous for building up confidence and making me feel like, yeah, I could walk into a AAA studio and know what I'm talking about when I'm sitting with the rest of the narrative department."

Sergiu Lupse, Writer & Game Designer

"I think if you're really committed to writing; if you really want to discover what goes into the craft of game writing; just go ahead and do it. It's it's really, you know, a cornucopia of knowledge and emotion and friendship."

James Fite: Narrative Designer

"If I had not taken the master class? What would I have missed out on? Man, I'm super cheesy, I'm sorry. But honestly, it just, I would have missed out on that chance to bet on myself and believe in myself."

Sunny Berry: Game Writer and Narrative Designer

"You don't need fancy qualifications or the glowing golden piece of paper. You just need the drive and the willingness to connect with others. [The advice to apply] for jobs that you aren't 100% qualified for was a killer piece of advice for me because I am very much "I need to be 200% qualified for this job" type of person, and that's just not fair on myself."

Roshelle Patterson: From Air Force to games

Roshelle is an amazingly talented person who is ready for a more creative career. She knew she needed a program to help her make the transition, and she found it in The Narrative Department.

Ellie Kirkner: Associate Missions Designer, Monolith

Ellie applied class lessons to her job search - and landed her dream role in our final week! "If you're on the fence about taking this class, you are the exact person this class is meant for."

Izzy Jones-McAuley: From costume design to games

Izzy is pivoting from a brilliant theater career to a new adventure in games. " I feel like I learned as much in the last six weeks as I did in at least a couple of the years when I was at university."

Philip Balli: From TV to games

Phil is a writer who wanted to transition from his work in prestige television to a new career writing for video games - and Susan's class got him there.

William Hinz: From theater to games

This playwright joined us all the way from Australia! Soon after recording this, William landed their first professional narrative design contract. OMG! Congratulations, William!

Cindi Knapton: Game writer & science-fiction world-builder

Cindi's career has taken her to outer space and multiple dimensions. Now she's bringing her creative magic to the world of games. She's starting her next project in a couple of months!

Ethan Pratt: From acting to games

Ethan discovered a community in this class that accelerated his learning. "The class pays it back a million times over, to be honest."

Ian McNicol: From QA to narrative design

With several years of games-industry experience under his belt, Ian took Susan's masterclass so that he could shift into his dream role of narrative designer, (Spoiler alert: he did it!)

Dave Kornfeld: From The Onion to games

"I just loved knowing that the class was coming every week, knowing that I had these people who I could always reach out to on Slack, even if we didn't talk all the time. Just knowing that they were there created that structure and that rising creative tide in me that motivated me to do good work in the class."

Jackie Jin: CEO & Founder, Squid Games

Bosslady Jackie took this class so she could be a stronger advocate for story on her studio's projects. She actually hired one of her fellow Narrative Department students to join her team!

Shara Tran: Writer, editor, narrative designer

Working game writer Shara is a perfect example of the kind of generous, big-hearted writers you'll find in this masterclass.

Lis Moberly: Game Writer, Obsidian

Already a successful game writer, Lis enrolled in the masterclass to further hone her skills.

Hannah MacLeod: Writer/Narrative Designer, Crystal Dynamics

Hannah used this masterclass to take charge of her career and build stronger working relationships with the rest of the team.

Cosette Gonzales, Game Writer, Cloud Chamber

After taking this masterclass, Cosette went on to take a new writing position at Cloud Chamber - working on the next BioShock!

Dan Stout, Novelist & Future Game Writer

Dan's a lifelong learner, always on the hunt for classes & resources to improve his craft. He said this game writing class was one of the absolute best he's experienced.

Darlene Barahona, Narrative Designer, Undead Labs

When it was time to apply for her dream job, Darlene turned to the other writers in The Narrative Department for support. They helped her polish her resume and encouraged her to go for it. She did, and guess what - she got the job. Go Darlene!

Jesse Calder, Game Writer/Narrative Designer, Independent

"Taking this class was helpful for me personally because I didn't realize how helpful it was to have other people to talk to about game writing until I started doing it. Because as I'm sure anyone involved in the arts will realize, art is a lonely thing. People don't understand the value of what you're doing until they see the finished product. So to have other people to talk to within the process, I found very helpful psychologically. It motivated me to keep working."

Pauline Marliere, Narrative Designer

"Six weeks of masterclass is worth one year of my university because you do everything. You speed run the knowledge, you speed run the network, and speed run the friends."

Rachel Heleva, Associate Producer, Maximum Games & Future Studio Head

"Through the course of this class, you're actually empowered to take your own work really seriously and set up a portfolio of your creative writing as well as your career-focused writing and goals. For a long time I had wanted to create this library of samples, but it just wasn't happening. By taking the course I showed up for myself and I got that done."

Would it be worth it to you to get...

Direct training from a best-selling, award-winning game writer;
Guidance and support from your teacher, your TAs and your fellow students;
Small-group training, receiving feedback on every piece of writing you complete in class;
A roadmap to the ins and outs of game writing as quickly and efficiently as possible;
Killer samples for your portfolio;
A reliable, time-tested strategy for landing your dream job...

...and above all, a game-writing community that will be there for you long after the class is over.

What would that do for you? How would that change your future?

We're here to help.

NEW for 2023:

Game Writing Masterclass: Pro Tier

We are very proud of the peer-feedback system we offer in our masterclass. It’s helped our writers grow by leaps and bounds - and it’s the #1 reason our community is so close-knit.

But you may be looking for a different level of feedback from professional writers
who can provide valuable insights on your work.

🌟That’s why we’re introducing Game Writing Masterclass: Pro Tier. 🌟

📝 Imagine having direct access to the insights of experienced game writers every week – that's exactly what the Pro Tier offers. Elevate your game writing journey by receiving personalized feedback on your classwork, accelerating your learning process, and gaining the confidence to let your unique voice shine.

🎮 What You'll Get as a Pro Tier Registrant 🎮

In addition to full membership in the masterclass, you'll receive:

🔹 A Zoom intro each week to the game writer who will be reviewing your work

🔹 Professional feedback on your class exercises, delivered via Loom, by the end of each week

🔹 A continuous cycle of growth as you progress through each module
🔹 The opportunity to receive feedback from a different professional every week

We're very excited to offer this new way for you to grow your skills - and your community. ☀️

Questions? Check the FAQ further down this page!

Remember:

You're protected by our Satisfaction Guarantee

We stand by this course 100%. We know that if you engage with the material fully, and do the work, your skills as a game writer will grow by leaps and bounds. That’s our commitment to you.

If, at the end of the course, you still feel that you don’t have a strong foundation supporting you in your game-writing career, Susan will sit down with you for three additional one-on-one coaching sessions - valued at $1500 - to help get you back on track.

In this course, we share the same material that’s worked for writing teams at major studios and publishers. We know it will work for you as well.

Who this class is for

If you've come this far, you probably already know if this course is right for you. These are the kinds of people who have had great success in this masterclass:

Writers early in their career who have a passion for storytelling and games and are looking for ways to bring them together into one dream job
Mid-career writers who are ready to transition into the world of video games
Game developers looking to move out of their current department (design, QA, etc) and into the narrative department
Working game writers who want to hone their skills and advance their careers
Creatives who love writing, love gaming, and want to - as one writer put it - “professionally craft narrative experiences for gamers on the most exciting storytelling front of my lifetime”

If you're committed to growing your game-writing skills and building your career - if you dream of creating work that will reach millions of people - this course can help you achieve your goals.

Who this class is not for

I care about serving the right people. And if someone isn't a good fit, I don't want them in this program. So instead of trying to convince you to sign up, I actually want to spell out some reasons why you might not want to join this program.

If you aren't passionate about storytelling, this course is probably not for you. This class is designed for writers who love video games.
If you don't play games, this class is not right for you. The writing exercises draw on your love and knowledge of your favorite games, which assumes that there are games that you already know and love!
If you are still in college, please wait to take this course until you graduate. We do not accept college students in this course.
If this isn't a serious pursuit for you, this course may not be right for you. We're invested in the success of my students, but we can't be more committed than you are.
This class is not for lurkers. You'll meet with Susan directly after signing up, you'll be working with your TA, and you'll be giving and receiving feedback on writing exercises weekly. TND is like the bar in Cheers: everybody will know your name (and maybe yell it when you walk in the door).
Don't take this class if it will cause undue financial hardship. I know all too well what it's like to be stressed out financially. I've been there. I would not wish that pain on anyone. Investing in yourself is a good idea, but only if it's the right time. One helpful question to think about this (or ANY) class is not "What does it cost?" -- because that question assumed the money is gone, never to return - but instead, "What return will I get on my investment?" A good investment leads to MORE money and job prospects in the future, but again, it's all about what you can comfortably do right now.
If you are allergic to the idea of spending time with other people, this class is probably not for you. Game dev is a contact sport, and this class is a place to meet new people who share your love for stories and games. We focus on community in this course because it's such an essential part of any game developer's career.

The community is the most important element of this class. My #1 goal is to make sure that we have a good cohort, full of kind-hearted people who are ready to help each other succeed. A rising tide does lift all boats.

Masterclass FAQs

You've got questions. We've got answers.

Who teaches this class?

Your instructor is Susan O'Connor. She's an award-winning game writer (BioShock, Far Cry, Tomb Raider) who founded the Game Narrative Summit at GDC. For over 20 years, she's been an advocate for writers in games.

We'll also have amazing TAs joining us - all graduates of The Narrative Department!! They will support all of us during the live calls as well as on Slack. They are wonderful people; we can't wait for you to meet them.

When does the class begin?

The self-study module opens Saturday, September 9th. We meet as a group for our first day of class the weekend of September 23rd.

How does the class work?

This eight-week masterclass is a mix of pre-recorded lectures and live sessions. We will meet live twice a week - once midweek, to work on writing assignments together, and once on the weekends to ask and answer questions and discuss that week’s module. That means Yes, you’ll be chatting directly with me (and your fellow students) every week. 🥳These live sessions will be opportunities to get to know each other and support each other’s work.

How long does this masterclass last?

The class runs for eight weeks. The first two weeks are a self-study module, followed by six weeks of recorded lessons plus live sessions with me.

When can we access modules?

We release one module every Saturday.

What dates/times do we meet?

That depends on which cohort you are in!

We divide the class into cohorts so that everybody can have a small-class experience.

Live classes begin the weekend of September 22-23 and wrap up the weekend of November 4-5.
We are expecting three cohorts this fall. Here are the days & times for each.

The YELLOW cohort will meet on Saturdays from 10 - 11:30 am Central for AMA, and Wednesday from 12 - 1:30 pm for coworking sessions.

The BLUE cohort will meet on Saturdays from 10 - 11:30 Central for AMA, and Wednesdays from 12 - 1:30 pm for coworking sessions.

The GREEN cohort will meet on Sundays from 10 - 11:30 Central for AMA, and Thursdays from 12 - 1:30 pm for coworking sessions.

Each cohort is limited in size to ~30 people. And each cohort is supported by a dedicated TA, whose only job is to support the students.

We start by placing students in cohorts based on their time zone. This way, you have a better chance of going through the course with people from your hometown or region. (And don't be surprised if you guys hit it off and decide to arrange some IRL meetups!)

If you are concerned about having specific conflicts, no worries: we are happy to work with you to find the best cohort day/time for you.

I have a scheduling conflict with my preferred cohort's coworking session! Help!

We've got you. We have three coworking sessions planned:

Wednesdays:
12 pm central
8 pm central

Thursdays:
12 pm central

We can also mix-and-match your coworking and AMA times to work with your schedule.

I live on the other side of the world from the US! Can I take this class?

So I have good news and bad news.

The good news is that there are multiple possible time slots for AMA calls (on the weekends, either Saturday or Sunday) and coworking calls (midweek, either Wednesday or Thursday).

The bad news is that none of them are great for the Australian time zones!

We had Aussies attend last spring and also last fall, but I think they all attended the live calls at 4 am their time. <Oof>

They still say it was 100% worth it - you can watch some of their testimonials on the sales page, Sunny Berry and William Hinz - but you have to know you're committing to middle-of-the-night calls.

(Of course, the live calls ARE recorded. So you have the option of getting a good night's sleep and then watching the recordings later. And you can submit your questions in advance.)

The lessons are also recorded, and feedback is delivered asynchronously so you can be fully awake for huge portions of the class.

I hope this gives you more information to make a good decision for you.

Will I get feedback on my writing exercises?

Yes! This is an integral part of the course. Every week, you will share your work with other students in the class, and you will review each other's material and provide feedback.

Should I be worried about job prospects?

There's no doubt the job market in games is competitive - for all roles, including game writing. And if we only focus on the high-profile openings from AAA studios that are publicly available, it can feel overwhelming. Everybody swarms to apply to those highly visible roles, and then everybody feels frustrated with the results.

But the jobs you can see are only a fraction of what's available. The majority of jobs are never listed publicly. They're part of the hidden job market - jobs that employers do not advertise or publish publicly. So how do these companies fill these jobs? Often through employee referrals.

What that means for you and your job search is that you want to focus on building your game-writing community. And that's what you do in TND.

As a wise man once said, "Forget about the traditional approaches to job searching. They are woefully ineffective...The more focused and effective the job search method you use, the sooner you will have the job you want."

If you want to learn what the most focused and effective job search method IS - this class will teach it to you.

Don't take our word for it. Look at how many of our alumni are now working game writers. If they can do it, you can do it, too.

What about ChatGPT?

ChatGPT is a big deal, no doubt about it. There are a lot of tech fads that come and go, but this one is like the invention of email - it's here to stay.

And it's got a lot of people in a LOT of different industries spooked, mainly because they don't know much about it and don't have a clear picture of what it can (or can't) do.

The TL;DR on ChatGPT is: it's here, but it's not the job killer some people fear it is.

Some studios are incorporating ChatGPT into their workflow. At GDC 2023, Ben Swanson, a research scientist at Ubisoft LaForge, talked about the process they're using to integrate ChatGPT. It is literally this guy's job to make the tool work for games. And even HE said it's not a good tool for storytelling.

He said, "Honestly, I don’t want to play a story written by a computer. They’re just not good.”

👆 👆 👆 👆 👆

Even ChatGPT designers don’t want computer-generated writing.

So OK! What *is* ChatGPT good for? And what does it mean for game writers?

Think of the tool as a motivated, but not super-smart, assistant.

You can ask it to do research. To write first drafts (which, by the way, will be terrible - but you'll know how to fix that!) It can summarize playtest results.

It will do a lot of grindy work for you.

This frees you up to do creative work - the stuff you really want to do.

What studios are going to expect - what they are going to ask in interviews - is, "Are you familiar with ChatGPT? How do you use it in your work?"

And that's why we are going to have a live, hands-on workshop in this masterclass so that you have a good answer to that interview question.

ChatGPT is coming. You have to be ready. We can help.

Can this class guarantee that I'll get a job in the games industry?

This is important, so I want to be clear: no class, including ours, can GUARANTEE success. (If only life worked that way!) Class alumni landed jobs at game studios through their hard work - including their work in this class. (I'm very proud of them.) This class can set you up for success by teaching you the craft of game writing, giving you writing assignments that you can complete for your portfolio, and connecting you with a community of fellow game writers who will be part of your network for years to come. Don't be surprised if, in the future, you are hired by a TND alum. And maybe some day, you'll be hiring a TND alum, yourself.

Who else is taking this class?

We have people joining us from all over, with all levels of expertise. Some students are established game writers. Others come from television or literary fiction. Some are transitioning from their university studies into the game industry. Some are at the beginning of their writing careers! What they all have in common is that they love storytelling and they love games.

Will we be doing any actual writing in this course?

YES!!!! 💯You will be developing pieces for your portfolio. The important work will be happening between class meetings. This will be you: ✍️

Do we receive a certificate after completing the course?

Yes! You'll receive a certificate once you complete the course, suitable for sharing, framing, and generally bragging.

Will there be a way for students to communicate with each other during the course?

Absolutely - this is one of the best features of the class. Each week, we’ll meet on Zoom; I’m looking forward to those class discussions. (Students LIVE for the breakout rooms.) We’ll also have a Slack channel, where we can ask questions, discuss the week’s topics or just dish on whatever everybody is playing.

We also use a revolving buddy system for accountability and support, and a writer's-group system inspired by Hogwarts (but based on time zones, rather than a Sorting Hat :)

What will I need (desktop app, materials, etc.) to complete the assignments/tasks given?

Just a computer and an Internet connection! No extra software is required.

Can we talk about the current project I’m working on at my game studio?

As you know, privacy is an important topic in the games industry. I don’t want anyone to get in trouble. So we won’t discuss active projects in our group classes. That said, I’ve designed this course to focus on the fundamentals of game narrative, which are relevant to nearly ALL games, regardless of genre or type.

Can I fit this course into my schedule?

If you work at a game studio, you ARE busy. I know you are. The game industry is busier than ever.

And even if you don’t work at a game studio - yet! - life is picking back up, post-pandemic, and that’s a good thing.

The goal of this class is to help you work smarter, not harder. Here’s a rough breakdown of the time you’ll spend on this class each week.

You’ll have roughly an hour of recorded lessons available each week, which you can watch on your own schedule. We’ll also hold two 90-minute live classes per week, which are optional. You’ll also have writing & career exercises each week, which will take 1-2 hours to complete. Expect a time commitment of 5-10 hours a week. #worthit

Is it OK if I miss a live session?

Of course! All Saturday meetings are recorded and posted to our class site on Saturday afternoons. (But please note, writing workshops will NOT be recorded. Because we'll be writing!)

How do installment payments work?

On an installment plan, three payments are spread out over three months. So, for example, if you signed up on September 5, the next charge would come through on October 5, and the final one on November 5 - graduation weekend. 👨🏼‍🎓

What are my payment options?

Credit cards or PayPal.

I love games, but I feel like I'm still new to games. Is this class for me?

You don't have to know all the games; you just have to love the games you do know. :) In other words, if you're excited about the medium, then you're in the right place. Students will bring a wide range of experiences to this class. There will be people who have the same level of experience as you. We pride ourselves on being extremely welcoming and kind. You'll be in good hands with our TAs, and our students are wonderful people.

I hope this helps. :)

What do we receive from the course?

You’ll get:

Six weeks’ worth of lessons and writing exercises - which you’ll have access to, even after class is over
A class Slack channel, where you’ll find your classmates and lots of channels & ways to connect
Clear guidance on how to build your portfolio, and six weeks’ worth of exercises to complete that portfolio
Accountability buddies! Every week you'll be connected to a fellow student as that week's accountability partner, and you'll get a new one every week. This will help you FINISH those exercises, and get peer feedback on your work
LIVE calls with me, Susan! On Saturdays we have our AMA, where I answer any questions you have, and on Wednesdays we hold writing workshops, where you can make progress on the week's assignments and chat with your fellow writers.
An awesome certificate that will let the world know that when it comes to writing for games, you mean BUSINESS :)

And most importantly, you’ll get an incredible new community of writers just like you, who will be there to give you the accountability, support, and cheer squad you deserve. 📣

How can I make the most out of this experience?

The best advice we can give is to be open to the experience - open to learning new ideas that challenge your thinking; open to meeting new people who have so much to offer; and open to the opportunity to put your work out there into the world. You have a gift to share; this is your opportunity to share it. Susan, the TAs, and your fellow students will be there to support you every step of the way.

Pro Tier FAQ

You’ve got more questions? We’ve got more answers.

What is the difference between the masterclass and the pro tier?

Whether you sign up for the main masterclass or Pro Tier, you’ll be in the same class as everyone else. You’ll be going through the same lessons, completing the same exercises, attending the same live sessions, and giving/receiving feedback to peers. We want everybody to get the full TND experience!

Pro Tier registrants will ALSO receive feedback on their assignments from working game writers.

We are very proud of BOTH offerings. If you are trying to decide between them, think about what you are hoping to get out of this experience and which option will help you reach your goals.

How does the process work?

Each week, a new module will open up. Each module includes writing exercises.

At the beginning of each module, you will meet your reader over Zoom. This will be a small-group call with some of the other writers who are also in Pro Tier.

You will complete your exercises by your assigned deadline and let your TA know they’re ready for review.

Your reader will read your work and record their feedback for you over Loom.

When a new module opens up, this process will start all over again with a new reader!

Are any of the reviewers TND alumni?

They’re ALL TND alumni. That’s why we can vouch for every single one of them. They have worked on the same exercises that you’ll be developing in class, and they can look at them through a professional lens.

Could you share the readers’ game credits?

Here is a partial list of our readers’ game credits:

- Weird West (Wolfeye Games)

- Arto (Orion Games)

- The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria (Free Range Games)

- Space Control (MoonMonster Studios)

- MARVEL SNAP (Second Dinner)

Some projects are unannounced / in development.

Our readers have worked (or are working) at Apple, HakJak, Industrial Toys, Jam City, Orion Games, Wildlife Studios, and WolfEye.

Can we choose which pro reader we get feedback from?

Good news - you’re going to hear from ALL the readers. Each week, you’ll be assigned a new reader. This way, you get to hear from a variety of professional perspectives. Sweet!

Which assignments will the pro readers review?

The pro readers will review the writing exercises we assign in class.

Are these separate assignments for the pros specifically, or my usual homework?

The readers will review your masterclass assignments—no additional work is required.

What kind of feedback will I receive?

The readers will be focused on your creative choices, the quality of the writing, and how this material would work in a playable experience. They’ll provide verbal feedback over Loom, which allows them to be more expansive and share more details. They are there to help you improve your writing and feel more confident about your work.

How will the readers deliver their feedback?

The pros will share their feedback over video, using Loom. In these videos, they’ll walk through your documents and share what they think is working and where there might be some areas for improvement. This simulates the verbal feedback you’re likely to receive in a studio.

Do I have to receive feedback every week?

Your reader will record feedback for you every week. The videos will be there for you when you are ready to dig in.

If I have questions about feedback, can the pros provide clarification?

If you have any clarifying questions about feedback, let your TA know - they can help.

Will I be able to iterate on my work after receiving feedback from a working game writer and then request feedback on the same portfolio piece and/or exercise?

We absolutely encourage continued iteration of work, but reviewers will only offer one round of formal feedback as part of the Pro Tier. This is a fast-moving class; we’ll cover a lot of ground, week to week, and you don’t want to miss out.

Can we get extra feedback from the pro readers?

To respect the workload of our readers - who are busy working game writers - feedback is only available for the exercises you complete in class.

Can we get feedback for projects we’ve done outside of the course (i.e. current portfolio pieces, screenplays, etc.)?

To respect the time of our readers - who are busy working game writers - feedback is only available for the exercises you complete in class.

What happens if I miss a week (or am late with an assignment)?

Deadlines matter in game studios - and they matter in this class, too. Students who don’t complete their work by their deadline forfeit the feedback loop for that week. (But good news, the clock starts again with the next module.)

Outside of the weekly feedback, will we have any contact with the working game writers?

Community is a huge part of TND. That said, we want to encourage thoughtfulness in this area. If the reviewers offer their social-media information, you can connect with them that way. But please do not ask for extra feedback or support outside of the course. Reviewers reserve the right to keep their contact information private.

What if I change my mind and want to opt in/out of the service during the masterclass?

We expect there’s going to be a high demand for this offering. So once you’re in, you’re in. And the time to opt in or out is during registration - not afterward. We trust you to make the right decision for you.

Can we continue receiving feedback from the pro readers after the masterclass is done?

This offer is limited to the length of the masterclass. We hope the feedback you receive will continue to serve you long after the class is over.

Will the pros be offering career advice?

While we spend a LOT of time in our masterclass on career development, the focus of our pro readers will be on your writing skills. (And those are essential for your career!) That said, this is a great opportunity for you to meet working professionals in the industry.

How can I make the most out of my experience in the Pro Tier of TND?

This is a great question. The way to make the most of this experience is to be open and curious about the exercises; keep asking yourself, “What can I learn from this?” and give your all to every exercise. Give the readers the same level of quality you would give to your narrative lead at a studio. This will push you past your comfort zone, but that’s where the magic happens. The readers are here to help and support you on your creative journey. They want to see you succeed. Trust that you can do this work because you can.

What You'll Get

As a reminder, here's everything you'll get in this course.

Recorded video lectures, designed for maximum usability, that you can turn to again and again as your own personal game-writing library
Weekly live coworking sessions
Weekly live Ask Me Anything sessions, where we gather as a class to talk about the week’s material and answer any questions you may have
Writing pods and accountability buddies that will keep you on track connected with your class
Writing assignments custom-designed for your portfolio
Career-development assignments that will help you develop your own unique path forward, based on your goals
A community of like-minded writers that you can relate to and grow with - including our Slack channel that has become our own digital campfire <3

Life's not a video game

You don't get extra lives

If you wait until you're 100% ready, you'll be waiting forever.

Life is not perfect. The industry is not perfect. And it never will be.
Is that going to keep you from shooting your shot?

You don't want to find yourself 2, 3, 10 years from now, saying, "woulda, coulda, shoulda,"
full of regrets for the risks you didn't take,
the dreams you refused to believe in.

I want your future to be even greater than you think is possible.
And it starts with taking that first step.

The deadline to register is Friday, Sept 8th, or once the class is full - whichever comes first.

Registration is closed for now...join our waitlist so that you can be the first to know when we open our doors again.

JOIN OUR WAITLIST