This is a curated collection of resources for narrative designers and game writers. Apart from books, everything else listed here is free. Enjoy! And if you have any questions, get in touch.
Write Worlds Your Readers Won't Forgetby Stant Litore I'm generally skeptical of any book series about writing: most tend to beat about the bush. However, "Characters" and "Worlds" are short, sweet, and to the point. Check out the entire series here.
Understanding Comicsby Scott McCloud Narrative design often combines verbal and visual. I believe comics offer a fresher perspective on this synergy than cinema.
101 Things I Learned in Architecture Schoolby Matthew Frederick Popular among level designers, this book and its spatial design aspects are equally applicable to narrative.
About Writingby Samuel R. Delany Not to be mixed with Stephen King's On Writing, this book contains some excellent discourse on the subject. To get a taste, check out Delany's article About 5,750 Words.
Exercises in Styleby Raymond Queneau In which an anecdote is retold in 99 literary styles. Teaches by example how to expand your stylistic range.
The Grammar of Fantasy by Gianni Rodari Rodari was one of my favorite childhood writers, but he's not that well-known in the English-speaking world. His guide to teaching storytelling to children can be incredibly useful to any creatives.
In my opinion, books that can actually help you be a better game writer have nothing to do with game writing. But if you're just starting out, the following can be useful: Video Game Storytellingby Evan Skolnick
Unity Disclaimer: I've never used Unity—only worked in Unreal. You might want to learn one or the other or both. Some studios use in-house engines, but between Unreal and Unity you'll be fine. To get started with Unity, check out its documentation and official tutorials.
Miro Digital whiteboard for real-time visual collaboration: brainstorming, mind mapping, and even mood boarding.
Jira Issue management tool essential to agile development.
Confluence Online wiki to organize documentation. For personal projects, Notion is a nice free alternative.
ink Narrative scripting language that can be integrated in Unreal and Unity. Surprisingly simple even for non-technical users. Inky editor allows testing stories on the fly.
articy:draft Comprehensive tool for narrative mapping and content management. Can be integrated in Unreal and Unity. I haven't used it professionally but had a great time dabbling in it.
Self-Training in Narrative Design Emily Short's blog is a gold mine, especially for interactive fiction and choice-based games. I reference her concept of storylets very often.
Cross-disciplinary collaboration is key in game development. Knowledge in different disciplines can not only help you build rapport with your colleagues, but also make you a more well-rounded designer and writer. Some good resources in other design areas:
If you're just starting out in the industry, the following articles will be invaluable on your journey. You'll find tons of advice online. Be humble. Be curious. Take all of it with an open mind and a grain of salt. Remember, you do you.
Numbeo When comparing salaries in different countries and/or looking to relocate, always consider the cost of living. This is the best site to calculate it.
👾Discord Communities
where aspiring and working game narrative people congregate
The Discord for Interactive Narrative (Fill out the form to receive an invite. However, per server rules, "you must be recommended by someone already in the group," and I can recommend you only if I know you personally.)