Writer
It is increasingly common for game developers to hire writers. Writing for games can involve everything from writing the back story and basic idea to writing potential dialogue for characters in game to writing menu text which fits the theme of the game.
While many developers will hire writers without a game background it is undoubtedly useful if you understand principles of game development and it will improve your chances of finding writing work in games.
It is unlikely you will be asked to write game ideas, usually a writer will be approached once the design has been agreed in order to flesh out the idea and improve things like the script. You should also be prepared to write several alternatives for lines of dialogue, for example the developer may ask for several variants on something like “pick this up”. Different games have different styles and different requirements for the amount of text needed. For example a role playing game will typically include thousands of lines of text, the type of writer likely to be employed on a role playing game would be someone specialising in fantasy writing.
Occasionally writers will be employed to help with documentation, specifically pitch documents as these are often what secures the deal for the developer to get funding for the game. Whatever the task it is important you pay close attention to any documentation the developer provides you with, while you may think going off on a tangent because you had a great idea is worth while you may unwittingly be adding to the developer’s workload or producing work they simply cannot use, if in doubt check with them first.
Writers are generally hired on a freelance basis and jobs can last anything from a day to several months. It is also worth mentioning you will frequently be expected to provide work to a tight deadline and missing it will cause the developer problems and make it likely they will not use you again.
Getting a Writer Job
You will need a website with a portfolio which shows off your best writing examples. Ensure that you only include work which is finished and which shows off your skills to the maximum, if in doubt then leave it out. A small range of quality examples will always create a better impression than a large range of sub-par or unfinished work. If you have never done any writing for games then work for a modification team to get some experience.
Writing roles for games are hotly contested and because there are so many writers out there you may find it difficult to break into the industry. If you have never been published on the web or in print you are very unlikely to secure this kind of work.
There are different potential routes in. Working for a developer in another role such as designer and developing your writing while there will give you the chance to build up a track record but you will obviously need the skills to fulfil your role. You could offer to do some work for free in order to establish yourself and this is a good idea if you can afford to do it. Writing for other media such as television, comics, books or the film industry will also drastically improve your chances. It may also be worth trying to join a script agency which will help you find work but again they will not hire you unless you have some good quality work to show off and a track record.
It is not a good idea to cold call developers, emails from prospective writers looking for work especially those with no track record are generally ignored.
Useful Links for Writers
IGDA Game Writers Special Interest Group
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