GAME NARRATIVE WORKSHOP - 2 SESSIONS
[ NARRATIVE ]
€
Learn how to craft compelling stories for games - no prior experience required.
This workshop, led by Alina Brazdeikene (creative lead with 12+ years in game production and narrative design), will introduce you to the fundamentals of storytelling for games and give you hands-on practice in writing for interactive experiences. You’ll explore how narrative fits into game development, how to design meaningful choices, and how to bring characters and worlds to life.
LIVE sessions with hands-on mentorship! Limited spots available.
“Case studies were the most interesting part. Since I am not a gamer myself, it was very interesting to hear how different game concepts work and how games can have even an emotional effect on you.”
— previous narrative workshop participant
The second session was particularly valuable to me. I have been missing practise-based, low-threshold opportunities where writers without a gaming background can try out game narrative writing and experience the differences compared to traditional mediums.”
— previous narrative workshop participant
WHAT IS INCLUDED?
All shared course materials and case studies.
Live expert-led sessions via Zoom.
Access to a private Discord community to connect with your mentor and other game developers.
Hands-on writing exercises and feedback on your own work.
Option to book follow-up mentoring sessions with Alina
A Certificate of Completion from Game UP! Academy.
Who is it for?
This beginner-friendly workshop is ideal for anyone curious about game storytelling. You will learn the fundamentals of narrative design step by step - from how game stories differ from linear media to designing choices, characters, and dialogue for interactive experiences.
Whether you are a writer, student, game developer, or creative professional with no prior game experience, this workshop gives you a practical introduction to narrative design and the confidence to start writing for games.
What You’ll Learn
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How game narrative differs from linear storytelling
Key genres and milestone games in narrative design
Embedded vs. emergent storytelling
How to marry story and gameplay
Main documents and workflows used by narrative designers
The game development pipeline and where narrative fits in
Skills and expectations for game writers
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Writing for interactive experiences through hands-on exercises
Designing choices and creating emotional stakes
Story ideation and brainstorming
Character and dialogue exploration
Optional: feedback and group discussion on participant work
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By the end of this workshop, you will:
Understand how game narrative differs from traditional linear storytelling
Recognize key genres, milestone games, and approaches in narrative design
Learn how to integrate story with gameplay effectively
Get familiar with core narrative workflows, documents, and pipelines used in game development
Practice writing for interactive experiences, including choices and emotional stakes
Explore story ideation, character creation, and dialogue writing
Gain confidence in applying narrative design techniques, even without prior game experience
Receive optional feedback on your own writing from an experienced narrative designer
Schedule & Format
Classes will be scheduled on Fridays or Saturdays, with options at 09:00 or 18:00 (Estonian time). When you register, you can indicate which day and time work best for you.
The course will begin in Autumn 2025, once the group is full.
All sessions are live on Zoom and held in a small group for personalized support.
Only 10 spots available!
Alina Brazdeikene
Narrative & Game Production
Creative lead with a rare mix of narrative and production expertise, Alina brings 15+ years of experience in building remote teams, crafting strong pipelines, and leading full-scope projects across platforms.
She’s worked on titles like Simpsons: Tapped Out, The X-Files: Deep State, Bus Simulator 21, and Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous.