Interactive Narrative Social
The Australian Writers’ Guild invites you to the first ever MIGW social for games writers, narrative designers and interactive storytellers! Following an informal in-conversation with special guests Alexander Swords, Ellen Jurik and Hayley Gordon, meet and chat with other interactive storytellers over a drink. Whether you’re in video games, games for change, TTRPG, XR, or beyond you’re welcome to come and connect, with no Guild membership required. Nibbles and drinks provided.
About the Speakers:
Alexander Swords is a writer, narrative designer and director in video games and interactive experiences. He’s also the creator of the Forest Paths Method for Narrative Design, a player-first approach to understanding story in an approachable and collaborative way, used internationally by developers and educators. Advising government, arts organisations, and educators, he’s an advocate for diverse stories and their writers, and is currently teaching at the National Institute for the Dramatic Arts (NIDA) and the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA). He is a resident practitioner at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, and on the Advisory Council for the Australian Writers’ Guild.
Ellen Jurik is a Game Director, Narrative Director, Writer, Designer, and Producer, and was recognised on the 2019 Gender Equality InGames list. She has spent over a decade creating games for mobile, PC, and console, exploring new and existing IPs in both original projects and games for clients. Working with companies including Fox/BlueSky Studios, Scholastic Inc, New Holland Publishing, Valiant Entertainment, EA Respawn, Gameloft, Blowfish Studios, and New Canvas, she has been involved in the pitching, production, development, design, and writing of games across a variety of genres and monetisation methods. She is passionate about storytelling across media, having studied theatre, multimedia design, and script assessment, and has also written commissioned short-form comedy and promotional films, while working on her novel manuscripts in her spare time.
Hayley Gordon is one half of Storybrewers Roleplaying, an indie tabletop roleplaying studio aimed at making games that are emotional, collaborative, and evocative. She's best known for co-designing the award-winning game Good Society: A Jane Austen RPG, in which you create a dramatic (or silly) regency drama with your friends. As a former history major, she enjoys roleplaying in the weirdness of the imagined past.
This event is now fully booked. If you would like to be placed on a waitlist, please contact admin@awg.com.au