Hi everyone! You can call me stravolto. I'm a writer with 10 years of experience as well as a visual novel and indie game enthusiast. I've been a lurker on LemmaSoft for a while; some of my favorite VNs here are Hierofanía and Juniper's Knot. Lately I've wanted to try my hand at game writing, so I'm offering my services as a writer, editor, and/or proofreader.
Writing Experience: I have written multiple sci-fi/fantasy novels as part of NaNoWriMo (7-time participant), have been mentored by published authors in traditional creative writing workshops, and write poetry and fanfiction for fun. On the editing front, aside from the inevitable essays and letters friends and family ask me to proofread as the resident English major, I've had experience critiquing others' writing in a workshop setting, beta-ing fanfiction, and professionally editing college application essays.
Services:
[*]Story consulting/game design for any genre. I am addicted to narrative, story tropes, and the endless possibilities of their combinations and execution that visual novels provide. I've taken classes on story structure, and have spent countless nights getting lost in the labyrinth that is TVTropes. I would love to assist you or your creative team in discussing the story, setting, or characters, and perhaps how to implement these choices in the game, as I've had some experience programming in Ren'Py.
[*]Writing for shorter projects. I'm most comfortable with science fiction, fantasy, drama, or otome games. My strengths are character psychology and style, my weakness action.
[*]Editing and proofreading for projects of any length. No typos will escape me.
Writing sample (fantasy):
This was from a fanfiction piece for Drakengard. I can provide further samples upon request.Twelve years old, and she was running away.
It was the darkest part of night, and they slept in an alcove in the wilderness close to a town. They’d stayed in the town a week while Caim settled business pertaining to the Union, or the Knights of the Seal as they were now known, and Manah had made a friend. He was a villager not much older than she, the son of the innkeeper at their former lodgings, and he came to visit her when she was locked in her room during Caim’s meetings. In their shared brashness, he had promised to help her escape.
Now he waited outside the cave, ready to lead her through the shortest forest route to the next town. All she had to do—was—escape—
There! Tiptoed past Caim’s sleeping figure and out into the star-wrought night. She and the boy smiled at each other in the dark. They began to slowly walk, feet gingerly treading fallen leaves, hand in hand. It had been too long since she’d held a hand that spoke of kindness. Knowing her rebellion, she hardly dared to breathe. But as the minutes passed a quiet celebration began to lick at her heart.
They had been walking half an hour when the shadow leapt from the tree ahead. Before either could react, the sword was at the boy’s throat. His hand tightened on hers, but he did not scream.
Manah did. “No! Don’t hurt him!” Caim’s eyes slid to her, and she was stunned by their depth. This was a look of wrath reserved for her, first seen six years ago. And while it had not dulled over their journey, now it seemed to be newly whetted on her disobedience.
The sword hovered closer. Every inch of her longed to drop to her knees shaking, but the boy’s hand on hers prevented her. So different from Caim’s grip—not like a vise but a warm glove. She found Caim’s eyes in the darkness again and pleaded. “He didn’t do anything. He only wanted to help.”
His thoughts flashed through her mind. What know you of mercy?
In one sweep he ran the sword down the boy’s body, and blood spattered them both. She was too shocked to let go of his hand, but as she felt his arm sway limply, she dropped it with a scream. Without that support, she too fell forward at Caim’s knees. The boy’s eyes were already blank in death.
The sight of Caim murdering was intimately familiar by now, but it was the first time she felt as if the sword were inside her as well. Despite this, words drew themselves out of her—clichéd, hackneyed words she always had heard from other people and never dreamed of using herself. “How could you! He was innocent! He didn’t hurt you or me! If you’re mad, you should have killed me! Kill me!”
She positioned herself under his still-raised sword and tipped her head back. Her neck sought his blade, and like six years ago, he denied it to her. No. You still have more to witness. This is your punishment, to see those you care for murdered without thought as you did to innumerable others. I will not let you run from it. I will not let you go.
The vise clamped around her hand again. He dragged her back to the alcove, where he made her sleep next to the sword still running with the boy’s blood. She was, like he predicted, too terrified of it to raise it to her own throat.
That's all! I am offering my services for free for now, as I want to build my portfolio, although I'd appreciate a small stipend if you'd like me to look at a commercial VN. I am very communicative and responsive on Skype and email, and am happy to work solo or be part of a creative team. If interested, please PM me with a description of your project (genre, summary, length, and what stage it is currently at) and what kind of service(s) you require. The more details, the better. Thanks! Looking forward to working together.