Contract Senior Writer/Narrative Designer (Unannounced Project)

We’re looking for a Senior Writer/Narrative Designer (Contract) to join our Narrative Team. The role of Narrative as a discipline in the game development process is to provide context and meaning to the gameplay experience, binding all aspects of the game together into a coherent and integrated dramatic journey and cementing the emotional bond between player and game. As our products make clear, ArenaNet is a studio that values and respects that role as essential to the development of a great and successful game project.

The Senior Writer/Narrative Designer (Contract) is responsible for the narrative design of assigned game. Designs, writes, revises, implements, and/or edits the narrative of Guild Wars, from smaller episodic events and systemic dialogue to the overarching, character-driven story. Works closely with peers on the Narrative, Cinematics, and Design teams to provide context and meaning to the gameplay experience, binding all aspects of the game together into a coherent and integrated dramatic journey.

This is a senior-level position that reports directly to the Director, Narrative Design.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Drive and/or assist in the creation and development of IP, story, and character arcs in collaboration with other disciplines
• Write in-game dialogue, setting or adopting established tone and distinct character voices
• Participate in story breaking sessions with project leadership.
• Workshop your scripts in a writers’ room.
• Write supporting documentation to effectively communicate development of the narrative to team members in all disciplines (episode and act summaries).
• Design and work with various systems for conveying story in an interactive world, including environmental props, character interactions, and systemic dialogue.
• Use proprietary content creation tools to revise golden path story and ambient dialogue scripts.
• Advocate for diverse perspectives, characters, and representation in our games, while bringing your own experiences to the creative process.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL

• Bachelor’s degree in literature, creative writing, screenwriting, or related field or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• 5 years of experience as a professional writer or copyeditor, with applicable portfolio samples, including 2 years of experience developing MMORPGs and open-world games
• Experience shipping one or more AAA-quality product(s) or nongame equivalent(s), in a writing or editing capacity.
• Understanding of general writing and narrative design concepts
• Dramatic writing skills, preferably in writing for games and at least one other narrative medium (e.g., screenwriting, playwriting, prose, etc.)
• Copyediting skills
• Practical and philosophical editing/writing knowledge
• Understanding of breaking serialized stories at the season and episode levels
• Understanding of or experience in interactive and non-linear storytelling, using non-traditional and non-verbal delivery systems (e.g., environmental storytelling, in-engine storytelling without cutscenes, etc.)
• Knowledge of character creation, story arc design, and dialogue writing
• Able to learn and use proprietary tools to create content
• Familiar with Final Draft and/or Microsoft Word
• Familiar with gameplay systems
• Experience using Unreal Engine
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent organizational skills
• Able to work independently and in a team
• Understanding of and ability to use The Chicago Manual of Style
• Familiar with video game narratives, preferably MMOs
• Familiar with narrative game systems.

This is a 6-month contract position. We are currently prioritizing candidates who are local to the Bellevue, WA area and open to occasional onsite collaboration.

Applications will be accepted until Friday, January 30th by 10am PT. If the deadline is extended, the posting will be updated accordingly. If the position is filled before this date, the posting will be removed.