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lisalisa.bsky.social
Writer, Narrative Director, Indie Dev, and Twitter escapee.
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If I had a dime for every time an aspiring writer asked me for career advice but didn't have any samples to show, well, I'd have another dime today.

Here's a challenge for folks who think writing and art aren't "real" jobs: Go a week with no TV, movies, games, music, books, journalism, or art to divert you. I'll wait.

Nearly everyone I know in games is plotting their backup career. Not because they don’t love what they do, but how many times can you get axed before you get sick of it? Creatives could be spending that time improving their skills + pitching cool things, but no. The brain drain is gonna be real

As in tech, writers should "fail fast." If you spend TOO long high-level plans, you essentially ship a 1st draft. Things that work in outline don't always work on the page. A minor character may turn out to be more fun than expected. The writing process itself is often where the best ideas happen.

Expecting anyone to buy a narrative you created with AI is like expecting them to buy a concert ticket to watch you "play" a player piano.

I had the pleasure of play-testing this. Players are in for a treat!

For me, the only acceptable use of AI dialog is for creators who aren't native English speakers, who have long been disadvantaged by an English-skewed industry. For anyone else, if you're writing with AI, then who needs you as a writer?

Been a while since one-button games were a thing, but I am really enjoying Bauhaus Bonk. youtu.be/L-tPJaK06a0?...

If you're in school for writing or art, take some of those business classes your parents want you to take. Being an artist means running a business, if all goes well.

All the stories are real, darlin'. South of Midnight launches April 8th, 2025, on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox App for Windows PC, Steam and cloud, or play it day one with Game Pass. PRE-ORDER NOW! Xbox: t.co/c2fs6s0dYV Steam: t.co/CkFZUSiANV Watch the full story trailer: youtu.be/mduNO0poAnE

Weird when job postings ask for a "digital native." Sure, growing up with tech has benefits. But my dudes, who do you think invented that tech?

AI is for people who hate the craft & mistake art for its end product

After consulting design sites, apparently the problem with my entryway clutter is that we wear parkas and snowpants and boots in winter. Like, why can't I just hang a Birkin and a scarf from two hooks and store my high heels under a slender chair like normal people?

PSA: Everyone likes to complain about Boomers, but if you work at a company of any size, some of your co-workers may be Boomers who conceal their age b/c of prejudice. You are giving them ammo for a hostile workplace lawsuit. Would you talk that way about any other group?

The first Conference on BIPOC Game Studies is this September. We would love to have you involved! If you're interested in submitting, please get your pitches in by January 18. More information here: conference.blackgamestudies.com/index.html

The biggest irony of being a professional writer: You may have a project -- or even multiple projects -- being released right now, but no current job. It's the illusion of great success, with existential angst under the surface.

Bittersweet to be enjoying so many new games at the holidays and also know that so many devs are out of work right now.

Using AI for writing and art doesn't make you "creative" any more than using a calculator makes you a mathematician.

Without naming names, there are certain people in the gaming space who clearly use games as therapy but need actual therapy. It's not normal to spew toxic hate at a product simply because you don't want it yourself. I mean, should I start a hate campaign against aftershave or Huggies?

Some companies are like a toxic ex. You may have moved on to a lovely new studio but still have fight-or-flight anxiety before big meetings. When Lovely New Studio says, "Oh, that's a good idea, let's do it that way" you have no idea what to do with all your pent-up energy.

A game dev secret: People start getting excited about your game at the exact moment you're most sick of it. The community is what gives you your second wind. (It's also why CMs deserve both respect and homemade cookies.)

100 percent. This is actually a good test of whether someone understands game writing at all.

Make-up should come in single-serving sizes, for those of us who only doll up once or twice a year.

The Writer's Block Shame Spiral: 1. Procrastinate by cleaning the house. 2. Discover all the blank notebooks you've bought, which remind you that you should be writing. 3. Repeat.

The Secret Santa swap was like Gift of the Magi: We gave a coffee cup and got coffee in return.

Just experienced an amazing interactive theater performance, performed entirely over the phone. Hard to explain, but highly recommended: beyonddisway.net/2022/03/07/t...

AI Thanksgiving essay: Pilgrims came to America because Amsterdam was too repressive. They wore black clothes with buckles, called their women "mistress," and liked to put each other in stocks. Then they invited the neighbors over and failed to give them a safe word. Somehow a turkey was involved.

Ikea should make furniture with "primer" as the finish option.

Save the Cat was a useful primer for writing 1990s direct-to-video movies. That market dried up a long time ago. Following the book's prescribed beats is a useful writing exercise, but it's not likely to result in a quit-your-day-job script sale.

Huh. If you watch TikTok long enough, it starts showing you content about Signs You Might Have ADHD.

I'm a juror for [REDACTED] Awards, reading a pile of scripts. I notice some writers can make even the dumbest show sing. Writers on "cooler" shows sometimes coast. It's important to judge the writing itself. The same is true of portfolios. A fancier credit doesn't mean someone is a better writer.

@compulsiongames.bsky.social has come over to the Blue side! Follow them for a behind-the-scenes look at SOUTH OF MIDNIGHT, without all the Xitter haters spoiling the fun.

Personally, I think Gritty would make a better Secretary of Defense.