Writing Assistant?

[Allegra Hughes]

Hello Guys,

I have a quick question about having an assistant writer. Which do you think would be the best option:

A) Have you and your assistant alternate in writing scenes

B) Have your assistant write the other perspective of the story -- so Co-Writer (there will be a choice of playable characters)

C) Have your assistant read your script, and rewrite it to make it sound better


Any other thoughts? I don't know what works best to have multiple people writing since each person has a whole different writing style and you want things to be consistent.

[Asceai]

Something to negotiate between yourself and your assistant, based on the needs of your scenario.

In the commercial Japanese sphere, sub-writers (so, a case where a VN has a main writer and a sub-writer) typically do things like:
- Slice-of-life scenes
- 'Non-route' scenes - basically, writing events that don't actually happen on the story, but can be triggered by picking certain combinations of choices (for example, if you aren't on a certain character's route, they might not appear at a particular location, but if you picked that location, there still needs to be a scene written for it)
- H-scenes (you'd be surprised, but a lot of writers hate writing these!)

In these cases, the sub-writer typically doesn't actually design any of these events - the writer will write what happens, the sub-writer just has to transform a few lines into a full scene in a way that matches the overall game as best as possible.

I wouldn't advise getting someone else on as a co-writer if this isn't a collaborative effort. If it is a collaborative effort, I wouldn't advise referring to them as your assistant =P

Having a proofreader/editor is valuable, but that's a bit of a different task. No reason one person can't wear two hats, though.

[Allegra Hughes]

Any other opinions ?

[cuttlefish]

For your choices:

A) Have you and your assistant alternate in writing scenes

B) Have your assistant write the other perspective of the story -- so Co-Writer (there will be a choice of playable characters)

C) Have your assistant read your script, and rewrite it to make it sound better

A) Sounds like your "assistant" is actually a co-writer.
This could work if you both know the story and characters well and you want to share the task of writing the whole story.
(Both of you likely worked on the story together, and now want to work on writing it together.)

B) This could work out if the co-writer knows the story and alternate playable character well.
(The most you might do is read their script, suggest changes possibly, and okay it.)

C) This sounds like the job of an editor, except a writer would do the rewriting, not the editor (who suggests changes).

(Proofreaders point out technical errors according to a guide (grammar/spelling, format),
but when they start suggesting changes (to content or format), that is now editing, not proofreading.)

If you're in situation A above, you will probably both be editors and writers for the same project.


Deciding on a collaborative writing strategy depends on the co-writer who wants to work with you.
Your co-writer will or won't be up to writing certain things.
You should first ask yourself why you would need a co-writer:
- Would you prefer not to write certain scenes? (Possible need for a co-writer.)
- Do you need someone to review your writing? (Need an editor/proofreader, not a co-writer.)
- Do you want to write a story together with someone? (Because you both thought of the story together?)
- etc.

[Allegra Hughes]

Any other thoughts?

(thanks so far for those who have replied!)