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The Narrative Department/TND Workshop Series: Characters
Enrollment is closed

  • $97

TND Workshop Series: Characters

  • Closed
  • Webinar
  • Started Jan 29, 2023 at 8:00 PM UTC

Welcome to The Narrative Department's character workshop! In this hands-on session, we'll go beyond the standard character-development advice and dive DEEP into what it takes to create a character for video games. You'll discover how to write for your game, your team, and above all else, your PLAYER. See you there!
Register Now

Imagine creating characters that millions of people love to play

Kratos. Lara Croft. Ellie.

What makes characters like these so unforgettable?

They are designed to work perfectly - IN GAMES.

Video games are a storytelling medium like no other. Our characters are highly physical, often living in fantasy worlds, letting players live out the wildest adventures.

It isn't easy to create fantastic avatars and NPCs. But it CAN be done. The key is to go beyond the usual screenwriting advice. Instead, focus on the most essential character of all - the player.

Game-dev teams count on their writers to create and develop characters that will stand the test of time.
But how do they do it?
We'll explore that question in this workshop and give you tools you can use to develop characters for your team.

Like all of our workshops, this event will feature hands-on writing exercises.
If you need to build samples for your portfolio
or want to spend some quality time practicing the dark art of writing for games,
this workshop is for you.

Join us for this three-hour workshop, 2-5 pm Central Time, on Sunday, January 29th.

(Can't make it live? No worries, we'll send out a workshop recording to all registrants.)

 See you there!

What You'll Learn

  • How gameplay defines what you can - and what you CAN'T - do with a character 🎮
  • How a Help Wanted sign will help you create the right characters for your game - and story 🪧
  • How to collaborate with your team to co-create characters 🤝
  • What it means to go on a road trip with your avatar 🚗
  • Why the best game characters play WITH the player (!) 🫢

Who This Workshop Is For

  • Aspiring game writers & narrative designers who want to build out their portfolio
  • Working game writers & narrative designers who want to hone their skills
  • Writers from other mediums who are curious about what it takes to write for games

What People Are Saying

Attendee feedback from our last workshop

Frequently asked questions

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

When is this workshop, exactly?

The workshop will take place on Sunday, January 29th from 2-5pm Central Time. There will be breaks. 

Are you teaching online?

Yes! We will be running this workshop over Zoom. You can attend from wherever you are.

Will we really have time to write during this workshop?

YES. We'll present concepts, and then you'll start working with them right away. This workshop is a hands-on. interactive experience. The best way to learn is by doing, so we'll do A LOT together over the course of three hours!

I’m a working game writer/ND. How will this workshop be useful for me?

We'll be sharing best practices, and as well as writing pitfalls to avoid. We'll also be providing checklists and guides to help writers double-check their work to know they're on the right track, even when they're working under tight deadlines with lots of pressure. As a fellow working writer, I know that a little support goes a long way! 

I'm new to this! Will I be overwhelmed?

Not at all. There's nothing wrong with being a beginner. We were all beginners once. The only way to become a writer is to start writing, so if you've been looking for a way to get more done, this workshop is for you. It will provide the structure and accountability that makes writing possible - with no pressure, because you won't be sharing your work with other attendees. 

I can't attend live. Will there be a recording?

Yes! We'll make a recording available to all registrants after the event. (But if you can attend live, please do!) 

Wait, I have another question...

We're here to help. Just click the chat button in the lower-right-hand corner of this page - your message will go straight to Susan, and she'll reply ASAP.

Your Instructor:

Award-winning game writer Susan O'Connor

Susan’s first job as a game writer was for “a slumber party game - for girls!” She’s gone on to work on over 25 projects, including groundbreaking, award-winning titles in the BioShock, Far Cry and Tomb Raider franchises. Titles in her portfolio have sold over 30 million copies and generated over $500 million in sales. For many years she was an adjunct professor at UT Austin, where she taught a course on writing for games. She also founded the Game Narrative Summit at GDC. Now, she partners with studios, publishers, and writers to help teams ship great games with great stories. She is dedicated to supporting creatives in the games industry so that they can do their best work.
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