Narrative Strategy Documents (Blog Post #8)
A downloadable blog
3-23-21
Whether you like it or not, game design documents and narrative strategy papers can be more compelling to employers than Twine games or visual novels.
Granted, I am starting my career so I'm not speaking from my personal experience; however, this blog entry is based on intensive research and networking with professionals.
A narrative strategy document, story bible, or narrative flow (whatever you would like to call it) is a really intense wiki page. There is a robust index and glossary of story terms, main characters, themes, tones, moods, creatures, environments, and details; strategy docs pair nicely with a game design document.
Strategy docs are a powerful option when showcasing your work as an entry-level if you haven't shipped AAA titles. With game design documents, employers, producers, and publishers can see your formatting, sample work, and your style.
Isaac Phoenix, lead narrative designer at Iplay, wrote a paper that's designed, in theory, to be every supporting element a story may have. It's a 35-page document; papers like these showcasing writer's narrative intuition may turn heads more than a game demo.
Lastly, I highly recommend following TV and film pitch decks for format and structure within your own narrative strategy documents; pitch decks are more expressive and vibrant than words on paper.
Narrative strategy documents may include in the following:
- Synopsis, Pitch, and Logline
- Mission Fiction and Quest Design
- World Building, Setting, and Lore
- Character Sheets, Profiles, and Summary
Well, that's all for now. Keep on writing everyone❤️
Sources -
How Game Design Document Contributes to the Success of Video Game Development
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