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writingstudio.bsky.social
Degenerate freelancer. Narrative test pilot. Senior Narrative Designer at inXile. Previously provided interactive words for Wallace & Gromit, Sherlock, Need for Speed, a bit of Star Wars and a lot of other games. 🔀davidvarela.com
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Our cat has a neck injury so we got him a black turtle-neck sweater to stop him scratching at it. Now he looks like a Special Forces operative who will knife me the moment my back is turned.

If live music is so great then why do I enjoy watching YouTube videos of DJs playing vinyl records in their kitchen on the TV in my living room?

I was lucky enough to attend this event last night, saluting a playwright who consistently fought against racism, division, oppression and injustice in all its forms. A moving occasion that sadly showed we still need more Athols, in the UK and beyond.

On this day of immigrant-bashing and Englishness tests, I should mention that my Spanish dad not only ran an English village pub for years but also produced a son who wrote for Wallace & Gromit and was paid by the British Council to promote British culture. People with accents can contribute too! 😱

Go to therapy.

chart drafted by a friend about the difference between indie and AA, and AAA game developers

Sixty years ago today, my dad arrived in the UK from Spain (via France). It was supposed to be one stop on a working tour of Europe before going home and settling down with a nice Spanish girl. Instead, he met a flame-haired hotel receptionist from Oldham, settled here and had two kids. Ta, dad. ♥️

There will be career advice and, inherently, a lot of swearing.

Are you the type of person to carefully concoct a watertight tale, complete with world-building and pronunciation guide for that mysterious new stomach bug, all so you don’t have to go to work tomorrow? Lovely jubbly, we want your voice for our brand new storytelling department.

It will forever amuse me that the Writers Guild of America and the Writers' Guild of Great Britain can't agree on whether or not they should have an apostrophe.

I’m on a panel next week for the Writers’ Guild, jabbering about videogames and how to make a living. Other, wiser panelists will also be participating. Details below!

I have an idea of what these devs are going through, having also worked on an unannounced EA project that was cancelled after 18 months. It feels like so much effort with nothing to show. But salvage those portfolio pieces. Maintain the relationships. The diaspora becomes your network.

Oh dear, I seem to have fallen into a pit of nostalgia. This interview and the feature after it have brought back some fantastic memories, not least the photo of us cramming as many people as possible into a phonebox. That’s my arm braced across the ceiling. 🥹

It's rare that I see an entry-level writing job in games so I wanted to share that Media Molecule is hiring a writer. www.brightnetwork.co.uk/graduate-job... On site in Guildford.

Soubhiye, from Lebanese Arabic, is the enjoyment of a quiet moment of peace before everyone else is awake. Gökotta is a Swedish term for waking up early to enjoy the birdsong. For the rest of us, there is hurkle-durkling, from Scots: lingering in bed long after it’s time to get up.

More art from the tunnels.

There is never as much Sunday as you think.

Excellent day on Leake Street today, especially for portraits. Too much good stuff to post.

Friends! ✨ I’m looking for game writers based in Berlin for a freelance contract. Sharing is appreciated! ⭐️

Guys guys guys don't worry I just heard Mercury comes out of retrograde tomorrow so it will all sort itself out then.

I'll be popping in. Who else is going?

high time to revive this one

I can't believe my outie did this to me.

I've been invited to two sad celebrations next month, marking the closure of two of my favourte clients/colaborators. First coneyhq.org, closing after 15 years, and then Aardman's interactive division, after 18 years. The arts & games sectors are in real trouble when institutions like this are lost.

Strong work on Leake Street this morning.

Mordor. Tough place to go

There is never as much Sunday as you think.

Such disheartening news. Six to Start began as a brilliant innovator in its field (and Zombies, Run! was once the most funded game project on Kickstarter), and in ZRX they struck upon an elegant, sustainable way to fund a long-running episodic title. Maybe it's apt they're *not quite dead yet*.🧟🏃

I just signed this petition to demand the UK Government tax the super-rich to rebuild our NHS, schools, and other public services. Will you sign too? you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/pr...

ICMYI: the 2025 Immersive Industry Report is now available for FREE download. If you're interested in data and insights from practitioners in immersive art and entertainment as well as from audience members, please take a look!

Are you an East Midlands-based writer? Working class or low-income? Apply for our Bursary, to attend the @writingeastmidlands.com Annual Writers' Conference. Lots of discussions, workshops & networking to take your career to the next level. Apply for the bursary at www.scripteastmids.co.uk!

We're looking to hire a mid-level or senior Writer and Narrative Designer to work on Fallen London. Full time, permanent, remote! Full spec and details of how to apply: www.failbettergames.com/jobs/writer-...

OPPORTUNITY Narrative internship! Guildford UK with the lovely people at Serious Point. Not affiliated, shares welcome! docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

We are excited to announce the first Game Developers unConference! The unConference is an unconventional experiment –a leap of faith that we can do more when we come together than we can when we are apart. You can learn more here: www.gameworkers.co.uk/unconference/ Register here: lu.ma/3qrghakj

Well it took me waaay too long to realise my website still featured links to the Hellsite rather than to my profile here. Finally fixed: davidvarela.wordpress.com/contact/

I’d give myself a 4 out of 10, but I’ve recently been told that I give off a much angrier/tough tone than I intend so… thoughts?

For a decade, the Unforum was the backbone of the Alternate Reality Game (ARG) community. In 2017, a server crash took the site offline...until today Now, the Unforum has been brought back as a static archive: forums.unfiction.com Read about the restoration effort: cfia.org/preserving-t...

One day, I will post a history of my career in games through the medium of t-shirts and hoodies. Mind Candy will be disproportionately represented.