Senior Writer/Narrative Designer (Contract)

At ArenaNet, we’ve always believed that games are art. They have the power to communicate ideas and tell stories. They can change the way we think, reflect our cultures, and move us. As the developer of the award-winning Guild Wars game series, we’re proud to share our passion for the online worlds we’ve created with over 21 million players worldwide. ArenaNet develops and publishes games for every kind of person, which means our games need to be built by every kind of person. We believe the best experiences come from working together, celebrating differences, and helping each of our team members shine. We’re looking for a Senior Writer/Narrative Designer (Contract) to join our Narrative Team working on Guild Wars 3. The role of Narrative as a discipline in the game development process is to provide context and meaning to the gameplay experience, binding all aspects of the game together into a coherent and integrated dramatic journey and cementing the emotional bond between player and game. As our products make clear, ArenaNet is a studio that values and respects that role as essential to the development of a great and successful game. The Senior Writer/Narrative Designer (Contract) is responsible for the narrative design of assigned content for Guild Wars 3. This role designs, writes, revises, implements, and/or edits narrative content, from smaller episodic events and systemic dialogue to overarching, character-driven stories. You’ll work closely with peers on the Narrative, Cinematics, and Design teams to provide context and meaning to the gameplay experience, binding all aspects of the game together into a coherent and integrated dramatic journey. This is a senior-level contract position that reports to the Director, Narrative Design. WHAT YOU'LL DO Drive and/or assist in the creation and development of IP, story, and character arcs in collaboration with other disciplines Write in-game dialogue, setting or adopting established tone and distinct character voices Participate in story breaking sessions with project leadership. Workshop your scripts in a writers’ room. Write supporting documentation to effectively communicate development of the narrative to team members in all disciplines (episode and act summaries). Design and work with various systems for conveying story in an interactive world, including environmental props, character interactions, and systemic dialogue. Use proprietary content creation tools to revise golden path story and ambient dialogue scripts. Advocate for diverse perspectives, characters, and representation in our games, while bringing your own experiences to the creative process. WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL Bachelor’s degree in literature, creative writing, screenwriting, or related field or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience. 5 years of experience as a professional writer or copyeditor, with applicable portfolio samples, including 2 years of experience developing MMORPGs and open-world games Experience shipping one or more AAA-quality product(s) or nongame equivalent(s), in a writing or editing capacity. Understanding of general writing and narrative design concepts Dramatic writing skills, preferably in writing for games and at least one other narrative medium (e.g., screenwriting, playwriting, prose, etc.) Copyediting skills Practical and philosophical editing/writing knowledge Understanding of breaking serialized stories at the season and episode levels Understanding of or experience in interactive and non-linear storytelling, using non-traditional and non-verbal delivery systems (e.g., environmental storytelling, in-engine storytelling without cutscenes, etc.) Knowledge of character creation, story arc design, and dialogue writing Able to learn and use proprietary tools to create content Familiar with Final Draft and/or Microsoft Word Familiar with gameplay systems Experience using Unreal Engine Excellent written and verbal communication skills Excellent organizational skills Able to work independently and in a team Understanding of and ability to use The Chicago Manual of Style Familiar with video game narratives, preferably MMOs Familiar with narrative game systems This is a 6-month contract position. We are currently prioritizing candidates who are local to the Bellevue, WA area and open to occasional onsite collaboration. Applications will be accepted until Monday, August 31st at 10am PT. If the deadline is extended, the posting will be updated accordingly. If the position is filled before this date, the posting will be removed. Pay Range: 49.05-73.57 per hour This is an hourly contract role with overtime pay when applicable. While we share the full range for transparency, typical offers fall between the minimum and midpoint. The role is benefits-eligible through our third-party employer, including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), and flexible/dependent care accounts. Don’t meet every single requirement on this job post? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At ArenaNet, we believe diversity in culture, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and backgrounds make us a better team – we celebrate it. So, if you’re excited about this role, but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification listed, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.