Good day my name is Adam , I am a 25 year old junior at University Of Baltimore, I am writing to you guys because I am interested in writing for video games, I have not written any specs or character dialogue but I am considering it as a major for my school career at the same time I am going to minor in computer science. I would like to know whether or not this is a good choice. I am also interested to know what game writers do I have a somewhat clear grasp of game writing as writing scenarios and narrative that works alongside the designers ideas and implementation, I do not have a clear idea what video game writing entails. I would like to know if this field would be a correct fit as it is something I have been considering lately and want to explore further. I have a understanding of video game writing from playing games such as Mass Effect series ,Bio-shock series,,Dragon Age, and GTA IV. The main idea I want to know is what do game writers do, how can become a video game writer, is if a field worth pursuing if design and programming games isn't my strong suit and what resources and sites can I go to get involved with writing for games. thank you and have a good day.
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Writing for video games- Where to start?
Good day my name is Adam , I am a 25 year old junior at University Of Baltimore, I am writing to you guys because I am interested in writing for video games, I have not written any specs or character dialogue but I am considering it as a major for my school career at the same time I am going to minor in computer science.
Does your school actually offer some kind of writing for games courses or do you mean minor in screenwriting, or creative writing, or what?
1. Good day my name is Adam , I am a 25 year old junior at University Of Baltimore, I am writing to you guys because I am interested in writing for video games, I have not written any specs or character dialogue but I am considering it as a major for my school career at the same time I am going to minor in computer science. I would like to know whether or not this is a good choice.2. I am also interested to know what game writers do... I do not have a clear idea what video game writing entails. ... what do game writers do,
3. how can become a video game writer,
is if a field worth pursuing if design and programming games isn't my strong suit
1. Probably not, from the looks of your writing. Your first sentence was a 66-word run-on sentence that should have been written as 5 discrete sentences. And the rest of your post was chock full of numerous other writing no-nos. Someone who wants to pursue writing as a career, it seems to me, ought to care more about the rules of writing. Sorry to harsh your buzz, but I hope you see the sense in this.
2. Read these:
http://sloperama.com/advice/lesson32.htm
http://www.penny-arcade.com/patv/episode/bad-writing
http://www.igda.org/games-game-october-2003
3. Get a degree in writing. Write a lot. Write some more. Write a lot more. Write well. Get some credits for your writing, in any kind of media you can - comic books, TV, film, indie games...
Thank you for the reply and feedback I will learn to write and attempt to better my writing, I'm very sure if I can apply myself as a writer I will get better.Take care
Adam. There are a thousand ways to go about being a writer but you essentially need only two things; A pen and a piece of paper.
Write as often as you can. Write about anything and everything. Just don't stop. I would also advise you to read as much as humanly possible because I always believed that great writers are great readers. You will get inspired from the books you love and it will show in your work. Also, don't shy away from imitation. Most idea's come from other ideas anyway. Read. Write. Repeat.
Adam, from my experience writers write because they have to. Artists paint because they have to. Coders code because they have to. They are driven by an innate creative spark. The number of people who actually get financial benefit from writing/painting is small. Coders fare better.
If you want to get into the game industry, start somewhere. Playtesting. Making mods. Something to get your foot in the door. I can almost guarantee you that 3D modeling, C programming, or vector design will get you a foot in the door somewhere.
FWIW I agree with Tom that writing may not be your strength based on the original post. That doesn't mean you can't find a fit in the video game industry.
You can use MobyGames and look in the the credits list of games the names of the professionals responsible for the writing.
Then try to find a way to personally contact them like personal websites, LinkedIn profiles etc.