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WORKSHOP PHILOSOPHY
Nobody needs formal training to get started—but I founded this workshop because MFA-style courses were invaluable in my own development. The community, structure, advice, and commitment I made to myself all propelled me forward—experiences that ultimately benefited my career precisely because they weren’t about careers. They were about passion and honing my craft.
Over several years, I’ve refined this model for game writing, always holding fast to one core ambition: don’t wait for a “perfect time” to create—such a thing does not and will not exist. If you want to be a writer, be a writer. And with workshops like this one? You don’t have to do it alone.
Read the full essay: Yes, You Can Get Better at Writing ↗
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Dr. Greg Buchanan is a bestselling novelist, Game Writer, and Senior Narrative Designer for BAFTA-award winning games.
- Writer for NO MAN’S SKY - over 10 million copies sold, with a 30 hour long branching text story introduced post-launch.
- Worked on Dark Souls, Until Dawn, The Dark Pictures, Metro, and more
- A Voice Director for Divinity: Original Sin 2
- Author of Sixteen Horses (TV adaptation in development) and Consumed
- PhD in identification and ethics across novels and video games.
- Taught nearly 100 students since the workshop’s inception
- Began his career with American Election, a BAFTA-longlisted text game built using the same tools taught in this course
WRITING INTERACTIVE ACADEMY: INTERACTIVE NARRATIVE WORKSHOP
Branching Narrative & Video Game Writing Skills Development
The Game Writing Workshop
This workshop guides you through the creation of a complete interactive fiction game using tools like Twine and Ink. Whether you’re an aspiring writer or a seasoned narrative designer, you’ll find a focused, collaborative space to sharpen your craft and build something real.
Aspiring + Pro Writers Selective Admission Live Video Discussion Bespoke Teacher Feedback Industry Showcase Lifetime Premium Substack
What Makes This Workshop Different (And Why It Works)
🧩 Tools That Prioritize Story
We use free, text-based tools like Twine and Ink that let you focus on what really matters: story and experience.
👥 Small Cohort, Deep Feedback
Capped at ~8–12 participants for in-depth, personalized critique and collaborative learning.
🎥 Live, Not Pre-Recorded
All sessions are live and discussion-based—no passive video watching. You’ll be part of a real-time creative community.
🚀 Immediate Start
Sign up early to begin planning and writing exercises before the main sessions even begin.
🧠 MFA-Style Feedback
Weekly, personalized critique. No generic templates. No filler. Just real, rigorous feedback on your work.
🎤 Industry Showcase
Present your polished demo to a senior industry guest at the end of the course before your final work towards your certificate.
“This is the sort of structure that interactive narrative is crying out for. Access to honest, gentle, professional feedback in a medium where it can be hard to find is a blessing.”
— Thomas Davies (Whispers in the West)
WHO IS THIS FOR:
Aspiring Writers & Narrative Designers
Think you need complex coding, 3D graphics, or a massive budget to create a “real” game? You don’t. We’ll use free, accessible tools like Twine and Ink. If you’re motivated to write, this workshop helps you produce an actual playable script—proving to yourself (and others) that you are a game writer.
Professionals & Experienced Creators
Already writing or designing narrative for indie or AAA titles? This is your space to explore new branches of interactive storytelling, freed from corporate constraints. Our close-knit sessions and peer critiques will challenge you to experiment with deeper choices, advanced branching structures, and unconventional approaches.
Everyone in Between
We’re selective—because we want folks who truly care about storytelling—but we’re also welcoming. If you’re ready to learn and committed to finishing a playable game, we’ll guide you every step of the way.
"There's no substitute for other people reading & critiquing your work. Doing so in the safe & encouraging space that Greg provides has been genuinely career-changing.”
— Kate Gray (Moonstone Island, Winding Worlds)
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:
Design and write branching narrative structures using Twine, Ink, and other tools in a way that will scale from 15 minutes to 2 hours +
Create emotionally resonant player choices with meaningful consequences, while developing a greater sense of scope
Develop and improve your dialogue, character, description, action, and atmosphere writing abilities across mediums
Prototype and test narrative mechanics in a collaborative environment, learning how to give critique to others and how to improve your own work
The surprising similarity between non-interactive and interactive stories — and when that’s mastered? The vast differences that await…
FINAL PROJECT
You’ll finish the workshop with a 30+ minute interactive game, including a polished 8-minute demo presented to a senior industry guest at our end-of-course showcase.
This is tangible proof of your abilities and creativity—something that goes beyond fragments in a document. It sets you apart in a competitive industry and gives you the foundation for your first (or next) indie release.
On Completion:
- Graduation Certificate with LinkedIn integration (subject to passing course criteria)
- Lifetime access to Greg’s Substack archive
📝 Apply Now —>
Course Fee: £1,500 GBP + VAT
Alternative arrangements available on request.
JOIN THE WAITING LIST 🔗
Selective Admission Group Video Discussion Bespoke Teacher Feedback
Alumni have worked for:
Rockstar Games, Infinity Ward’s Call of Duty, Cloud Imperium’s Star Citizen, Raw Fury, The Lord of the Rings, PUBG Corporation & more, with writing across TTRPGs, TV, film & bestselling novels
“Greg’s guidance & the support of fellow students make this an invaluable experience for anyone interested in writing for interactive mediums.”
— Nathan Vokal (Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Infinity Ward)
"Greg moved heaven and earth for me to keep working when I could and to give me the space to do what I needed to do. I'm going to publish a game this year: that is down to this course and what it has taught me.”
- Alastair Stuart (The Magnus Archives VA; Doctor Who TTRPG; Game Developer)
"I really think that without this course it wouldn't have turned out as good as it did. The group feedback and dialogue exercises helped me streamline my work and create a range of dialogue options that were fun and interesting for the player to explore."
- Jillian Nerat (Narrative Designer and Storyboard Artist, BFA Game Design)
"The one-on-one support from Greg was a really helpful and unique offering that I found even more personal and helpful than most of my college-level workshops. In the end, I created a prototype for a game that I was really happy with, and I loved getting feedback from industry professionals.”
- Luna Raydue (Gamedev, Voice Actor, Twitch Streamer, MFA Stony Brook)
(If the Waiting List form is not displayed above, visit: https://toolbox.writinginteractive.com/gamewritingworkshop-apply)