By Heide R. Orleth

My favorite guest speaker session this year was Yen Ooi’s talk about her writing journey. She has a fascinating career in the publishing industry, and got her master’s at Westminster! She was a finalist for the 2023 Hugo Awards, and is co-editor of Ab Terra, Brain Mill Press’s science fiction imprint.

I really enjoyed her presentation, especially because of her clear enthusiasm for the science-fiction genre and the projects she has been involved in. Yen even dressed up as a zombie to help develop a mobile game! I have not yet read her fictional prose, but her novel Sun: Queens of Earth is on my to-be-read list, along with the Ab Terra short story anthologies she edited.

I am a big fan of nerdy conventions, so hearing about her experiences promoting her work at WorldCon (a global sci-fi convention) was exciting. I think conventions are some of the best places to express your nerdiness and knowing that I could theoretically display my work in a similar way was encouraging.

In addition to her novels and publishing career, she also has experience in a lesser-known writing form: writing for video games. It is an entirely different beast than ordinary prose writing. The game she writes for is called Road to Guangdong, and it is simulation racing game set in China.

According to Yen, there are key differences to writing for games. Unlike readers, players of a game have agency within the story. They can shape it and interact with the world to variable degrees. However, it is impossible to account for every single decision a player might want to make. Writers must toe the line between letting the player feel like they are in control and making an impact in the story, while also leading them to a finite number of outcomes. I find this to be a really intriguing challenge.

The video games I usually play are more sandbox/simulation types, but thanks to Baldur’s Gate 3 I’ve been obsessed with the sheer volume of writing that goes into a roleplaying-game of its caliber. Constant choices, countless moments that make or break relationships with NPCs (non-player characters), and the ripple effect of every decision can be felt as you make your way through the adventure. It speaks to how I want my readers to feel: immersed in the story and emotionally invested in its outcome.

Perhaps I will try my hand at games writing someday. I can only hope that someday my career is as fascinating and fulfilling as Yen Ooi’s!

Heide R. Orleth is a 2nd year Creative Writing & English Language student at the University of Westminster. She loves to write fantasy & science-fiction, and is an avid reader, anime enjoyer, and occasional cosplayer. Instagram: @aechrwrites.