Words In The Magic Of a Gamers Brain
How gaming can change the way you write
Recently, I was surprised to discover how computers and gaming can enhance your creative writing skills.
I enrolled in a writing course at our local college and our first assignment was to write a short story using a scene to create emotion.
As the students read their stories in class, I realized I approached writing from a different angle than they did.
In one way, that made sense. I have a lot more years to draw from, so I pulled from those experiences. But that wasn’t quite what was going on.
They had instant fantasy worlds at their fingertips.
Many students set their stories in game worlds or fantasy realms. Much of what they wrote would begin in these realms. Then they would take the stories a step further, just like the “make your own adventure” books that my children had in school.
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When I asked one of the students, they told me their formula:
First, you take an avatar (the protagonist) and insert them into a game world.
Then you let things happen to them.
Placing the protagonist in a gaming world gave the students the ability to visualize their character in familiar surroundings. The layout of the game was a place they knew well, so they didn’t have to make up a world.
They had a ton of different options to draw on. Games are set in worlds that are interesting and complex enough to be characters on their own.
One story was set on a planet alive with pollen-like creatures that grew out of the planet’s essence to hunt and devour humans.
Another world had a topside settlement and a settlement below ground. A conflict between the two groups usually existed. There were familiar markers such as farms and horses, but they were intermingled with fantasy creatures that behaved in unfamiliar ways.
Then there were the single-player stories. The main character was usually a fighter. Armed characters moved about in squads fighting in a war on another planet. Military terms like commander, infantry, deserters, and lieutenants are all useful terms that eased the understanding of roles without the need for additional explanation.
In post-apocalyptic situations where some things are lost, and other things become more valuable, the characters play out their stories in situations where everyone fights or dies.
One student said he was reminded of a game scenario while writing and changed the setting. Others said they dreamed about a game and the dream inspired their story.
It felt a bit contrived to me, but I envied the ready-to-use worlds they had at their fingertips. It allowed them to focus on their characters.
World building
Using video games for writing helps a writer build amazing imaginary worlds.
Games are a space of imagination with cool places, cultures, and creatures. When writers dive into a game world, we can learn how to make detailed and interesting settings for our stories. This isn't just stream-of-consciousness writing—it's like having pictures and adventures to help us make our made-up worlds seem real.
When a writer’s imagination is stimulated by the options in a gaming world, they can create creatures that feel real. This skill helps in any type of story, making them more exciting and full of details.
A fresh approach to storytelling
Using the idea of writing within a gaming world lets us tell stories in a different and cool way. The students used a "choose your own adventure" style. Your character makes decisions and that changes the story.
When a writer allows their characters to face unexpected problems, the story can go in many directions. I think it encourages a creative approach to storytelling.
I have a different perspective
I write about the messy task of living in this world. I write what I know about human interaction and emotions. To be believable, I always felt that my story had to align with how things work and how people interact irl.
When I tried to shift into a fantasy world, I was faced with inventing one from scratch. I would get lost in creating the world and lose the thread of the story.
My brain hadn’t experienced the same level of possibilities as a gamer. In the gaming world, anything goes, and surprises are an expected part of the play.
There are fewer constraints in the world of gamer writing. Mixing science fiction and advanced technology with fantasy elements created some unexpected situations in very unusual places.
There were a few disadvantages to their technique
I found some of the storylines difficult to follow.
Sometimes the writer didn’t explain their world very well. That was likely a result of their familiarity with the game they were imagining.
I had to reread parts of them so I could sort out what was going on because I wasn’t familiar with the symbols and telltales they were using.
Overall, it was an interesting way to write
I learned how to use a familiar setting to allow myself to focus on character development. That’s what they were doing, after all.
I admired the creative skills that blossomed from the student’s experience in a virtual world.
I found their approach to writing inspiring and learned to appreciate their technique.
I also have a better understanding of the appeal of gaming and the skills that come from spending time in a virtual world.
Are you a writer and a gamer? Do you find that your gaming influences your storylines in a positive way? I’d love to hear what you have to say on the topic.
Paid subscribers can access my poetry and every article I’ve ever written here. If you aren’t a paid subscriber, you can read it all for free with a 7-day trial.