Sign in

Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist

@lakilarian.bsky.social
562 followers 630 following 327 posts

✒️📖 Writing, drawing, animating - Gettin it into games! 🎮 Bi, Fluid, and 100% Human Love fantasy and psychological horror with interactive relationships, and finding new ways to build them.

PostsRepliesMedia
Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist @lakilarian.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
One idea I'm currently considering is consequences to action scenes, where the player's performance affects how beat up the characters get, or the flow of the scene in general. This could be fun to experience in different ways intentionally, even, not *just* something to be treated as pass or fail.
010 0
Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist @lakilarian.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
In narrative games, the notion of a fail state becomes interesting. Many consider fail states necessary to define a game at all. One of my projects is an "interactive storybook for grown-ups", which means lots to play with, but the main narrative is linear. Thoughts on "toy" vs "game" vs "book"?
110 0
Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist @lakilarian.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
They see the dice as the immediate solution to "proper gameification", so they aren't "just making a VN" because that's been shamed. But there's a lot of innovation to be had in choice and relationship-heavy interactive narratives, clearly! Consequence and player stress can take longer forms.
000 0
Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist @lakilarian.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Meanwhile, like we see in Scarlet Hollow, if we skip the element of random as a measure of pass/fail, more bandwidth can be applied to the number of alternate paths the player just *picks*. I think the anxiety that leads a lot of narrative games to dice is the "games must have fail states" mantra.
100 0
Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist @lakilarian.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
It's notable in DE that the most interesting downstream consequences of "choice" still involved essentially grinding (or praying) to succeed at rolls. And this is where the "ideal run" and savescumming comes into play, even in a uniquely melancholic circumstance where *some* failure is appropriate.
100 0
Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist @lakilarian.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Disco Elysium was explicitly based on TTRPG, though the character situation/theme motivates a unique relationship with failure and accepting roll results compared to other similar games. It buries some downstream choice tie-ins fairly far, allows strategy before rolls, and you can earn re-rolls.
110 0
Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist @lakilarian.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Life took a dramatic, but necessary plot twist which had me under the sand for far too long. Seems I've finally found the blue sky again and there are still cool people and inspiring spirits here. Seems I need to go on a beach walk and do some catching up.
040 0
Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist @lakilarian.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
It's like a signature move! And as an editing nerd, I'd also enjoy seeing the waveforms.
010 0
Reposted by Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist
Elle Cordova @ellecordova.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Rough Draft vs Final Draft
254117023327 0
Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist @lakilarian.bsky.social · 10/08/2025
So we've set our sights on making a mysterious social roguelike of sorts, where the relationship with the party and what they remember is key. It fits my excitement for experimental character writing perfectly! We're going for an 8~ hour play time, so I need to show restraint 😆 #GameDev
0105 0
Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist @lakilarian.bsky.social · 24/07/2025
Blue Prince is probably the most layered, extensive puzzle game I've ever played, and that includes all of the Myst series. I don't think I've ever used quite so much paper! 📃✍️ I want to write them a glowimg review on Steam, just usually want to beat a game first - but this one just keeps going!
010 0
Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist @lakilarian.bsky.social · 21/07/2025
I'll be sharing little glimpses of development during my inevitable dive back into graphic novel-ing and game design, a direction my brain has always not-so-secretly wanted to go. Thank you to everyone who followed me as a book person. I still write tons, just mainly for visual mediums atm.
010 0
Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist @lakilarian.bsky.social · 21/07/2025
In fairness to the piece, this story (Spirit.I.) was originally meant to be an adventure game series, and it seems it has no intention to lose that. The lonely explorer vibe - no matter how jazzed up by my MC's personality it is - invites a lot more desire to participate than observe.
120 0
Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist @lakilarian.bsky.social · 21/07/2025
So! I've been a little quiet lately, as my creative direction has taken a spin... It turns out, in the attempt to write an engaging paranormal mystery with a witchy fantasy twist, I ended up drafter the outline for an extremely cool game instead of a book 🥲 🎮✍️
1331 0
Reposted by Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist
TC @tcustodis.bsky.social · 01/06/2025
Happy Pride Month 2025 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ Be gay do crow stuff #pridemonth #pridecrows
2673939013240 0
Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist @lakilarian.bsky.social · 13/04/2025
Current obsession: Absorbing every psychological and philosophical angle of Slay the Princess 🗡💗 This game is BRILLIANT
010 0
Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist @lakilarian.bsky.social · 07/04/2025
The battle has truly been lost on this one! Especially for writers who draw their own characters (even me). Using "OC" still feels like taking a kind of demotion from being a full-blown author, but I get that people expect fan art, and need the distinction of "self-made" in fewest letters possible.
110 0
Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist @lakilarian.bsky.social · 07/04/2025
Reminds me of how I was *very* confused when I saw people using "OC" to refer to just... characters in their own fictions. It seems the usage has spread and solidified, likely because "OC" is short, so it helps in limited text space. But it was super odd to me at first.
110 0
Reposted by Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist
PosterPit @posterpitevent.bsky.social · 23/03/2025
#PosterPit is coming soon!
Poster Pit
THE RULES
MAXIMUM OF THREE PITCHES FOR THE ENTIRE EVENT, AND NO MORE THAN ONE PER HOUR
PITCH MUST INCLUDE A "MOVIE POSTER" GRAPHIC LIKE IN THE PROVIDED EXAMPLES, WITH ALT TEXT
MOODBOARDS, ART OUTSIDE OF THE POSTER, AND ANY OTHER GRAPHICS ARE PROHIBITED
ANYONE CAN LIKE THE PITCHES, WHETHER IT BE WRITERS, AGENTS, OR EDITORS
USE DESIGNATED AUDIENCE, GENRE, AND #POSTERPIT HASHTAGS
79745 0
Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist @lakilarian.bsky.social · 19/03/2025
Me: I don't know brain, between all the medical appointments, you think we could do some, ya know... writing? That favorite thing we like to do in life? There's a decent number of days between these things- Brain: But one of them is a blood draw... 👀 ONE OF THEM is a BLOOD DRAW.
020 0
Reposted by Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist
Darling Axe Editing @darlingaxe.com · 22/02/2025
Your opening line is your first chance (and sometimes your only chance) to hook a reader, publisher, or agent. Let's look at some ways to make it unforgettable. A thread 🧵🪓 #writingcommunity
media.tenor.com
a man in a pirate costume with a feathered hat and mustache
Alt: a man in a pirate costume with a feathered hat and mustache
75621 0
Reposted by Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist
Amy Oddo✌🏻💙☀️ @amyoddo.bsky.social · 27/02/2025
More to come👇🏻
12204100 0
Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist @lakilarian.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
Thank you! It's really the whole reason my spouse reads my story 😆
010 0
Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist @lakilarian.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
Coolest nonhuman character in my book is Shadow Friend, Sage's silent sidekick. The little shadow spirit peers over Sage's shoulder during investigations, and helps out by slipping into tiny gaps or moving light objects. When not on detective duty, it likes to play and nibble on things!
140 0
Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist @lakilarian.bsky.social · 16/02/2025
Really drives home the point that when we do our job to entertain people, we're writing for a better class of people who need a deeper challenge. ... In which case, thank goodness most of us stick to being good, because Phew! But still. Annoying how much the cartoonish evil lives on.
000 0
Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist @lakilarian.bsky.social · 16/02/2025
I dunno guys, all this time learning how to write complex, nuanced, mastermind villains, and all we get irl is this Saturday Morning Cartoon slop? I now believe we're having a "good guys writing bad guys" problem 🫠
130 0
Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist @lakilarian.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
Had a little binge of major edits on @musedoes.bsky.social and I's shared story for the last few days while waiting out some irl headache issues. The romantasy epic was escalating too far into tragic drama and needed room wedged back in for actual romance ☠️💘
010 0
Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist @lakilarian.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
I'm biased toward Veridian because I have an important fortress/institution in one of my stories name that, explicitly for the color and tropical setting 😄 I think with the *e* makes it more clear it's about the color, while the *i* hides it a little for subtlety, perhaps.
220 0
Reposted by Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist
Kara Moon 🏴‍☠️💜⚓️ @karamoonauthor.com · 06/02/2025
#febredit hahahaha..... The critique that changed my life was @calarion.bsky.social ripping a first draft of a play to shreds. I spent 24 hours thinking divorce was on the cards 😅 When the rage cleared, I realized not only how every point he'd made was right, but that 1/2
1142 0
Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist @lakilarian.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
#QueerPrompts Oh no, they sensed my whole plot!! Run! 👀💦 So, yes, there's a worldbuilding reason that Spirit Eyes are not typically found anywhere near each other. While the scattering of hermits are beyond issues of basic discrimination, the motives behind reinforcing that hermitage run deep 🤫
060 0
Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist @lakilarian.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
Fabulous! I love your art style! I'm sure your video will be great 🙂‍↕️
010 0
Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist @lakilarian.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
Sorry friend 😔 Writing really is a slow world. It's especially true for first books because they represent a HUGE leap of learning to go from first draft to truly publish ready. Figuring out who and what gate checks can help you tell if it's actually time is a big part of that.
120 0
Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist @lakilarian.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
Thank you so much for the last little jigsaw pieces! Now I have the complete picture 😁
110 0
Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist @lakilarian.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
On 6) is the drama triangle from one of the writing books you mentioned? And in 11) what is meant by "by stealth"?
110 0
Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist @lakilarian.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
Thank you so much for going to the trouble to screenshot (and even ALT text!) this for the rest of us! I think your list is brilliant and comprehensive, and very useful to those learning how to get into a more rigorous editing process. If you don't mind, I'd like to ask about two of the points (1/2
110 0
Reposted by Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist
Kara Moon 🏴‍☠️💜⚓️ @karamoonauthor.com · 05/02/2025
books while doing structural edits: Saves the Cat, Take Off Your Pants. For the following revision/edit rounds, I've made up a table of approaches for mini-revision runs, getting a bit granular here but they are included below if you are interested 2/2
1 Do a run per major character, per scene looking at their INTENTION > WHY they have that/feel like that > the OBSTACLE they face (and remember the four key emotions at the core of everything: Anger, Hurt, Fear, Love)

2. Run through checking that every scene has a turning point. If it doesn't, why is it in there?

3. Check there is Inhaling and Exhaling happening (as in, action - reaction, excitement - calm) - also check Motivation-Reaction Units

4. "Scan through the whole text for POV - what assumptions do people make about the feelings of others, and am I making it clear these are assumptions and why they are assuming e.g. body language? Am I ever head hopping? Do I ever info dump out of POV? Am I ever slipping into omniscient?

Third person close: think about -
Word choice
What to focus on and what to ignore
Whether to emphasize the character’s thoughts and emotions
e.g. are descriptions coming from the point of relevance to protag, or her opinion on such things?
When are we getting protag's thoughts, and when are we not?
Drop AS MANY internal questions as possible!"

5. When doing the dialogue run, look at the speech patterns of every character and make some decisions about stylisation for each - contractions? Slang? other features of speech? Edit for everyone having different facial expressions and gestures

6. Look at using the drama triangle for conversations

7. Edit for exposition, especially in speech

8. Edit for showing and telling - search for telling emotions rather than showing, look for any thought/wondered/realised/hoped etc, look for explaining motivations (usually headed off with a 'because')

9. Edit for - is something a scene when it could be a summary - and vice versa. But also for conversations which might not need to be conversations10. Edit for adverbs around speech, and for places where said would be better than other words

11. Edit for stage directions by stealth

12. Edit for active/passive voice

13. Edit for speaking and doing at the same time - make sure it is possible

14. Edit for transitions, especially in and out of memory


15. Edit for thinking rather than feeling the moment


16. Edit for removing some of the scaffolding questions and marrying ideas in, in a more organic fashion


17. "Edit using Steering the Craft (a lot of this is covered in other points but also:
- Watch adjectives and adverbs - do you really need it?
- Have fun with pathetic fallacy - putting mood and exposition into the details eg. foreshadowing events, using evocative words, using descriptive passages as a chance to reveal something about character
- Crowd the necessary moments, leap over the unnecessary)"

18. Edit for sentence grammar and making sense - refer to Elements of Style

19. Vary sentence length more

20. Edit for paragraph length and breaks

21. Edit for repetition of words (crowd, threat, long, turn, suddenly, started to, had, down, up, got and also) - run a word cloud first

22. Edit for scenery (this can come way late)

23. Read aloud!!!
151 0
Reposted by Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist
Kara Moon 🏴‍☠️💜⚓️ @karamoonauthor.com · 05/02/2025
#febredit For me, and I'm only just starting to understand this myself, but it's that the first (arbitrary number, but) 1 million words are just practice, and then after that you'll find your voice. It's been true for me, both with first drafts and with revising too. I actually enjoy revising now 😅
0112 0
Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist @lakilarian.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
#QueerPrompts It's a lot of this... until it snaps 💙
media.tenor.com
two women are standing next to each other and one has a tattoo on her arm of a rose
Alt: Kaitlyn and Vi from Arcane, where Kaitlyn brushes down Vi's arm with her hand, but as much as both want to get closer, they just can't seem to do it.
070 0
Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist @lakilarian.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
It was Wild Robot for my household last night! Very good for both laughs and feels 🥹
110 0
Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist @lakilarian.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
Taking the mandatory two weeks off before beginning edits on my first book in my paranormal mystery series... so of course I've started immediately writing the second! #authorlife #writingobsessed 📚💙
040 0
Reposted by Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist
CPAWS Yukon @cpawsyukon.org · 30/01/2025
OPPORTUNITY: No Wasted Words Writing #Contest ✏️ Submit a short work of fiction, non-fiction, or poetry with a zero waste or #conservation theme by March 24th at buff.ly/4hgBfus. Hosted by Raven Centre & #Yukon Conservation Society
Earth Day 2025 No Wasted Words Writing Contest 

Submit a short work of fiction, non-fiction, or poetry with a conservation or zero waste theme! Juicy local prizes for top 7 submissions! Age Categories: Youth (18 & under) & Adult (19 & up). Submission Deadline: March 24, 2025.
043 0
Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist @lakilarian.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
Now I'm super curious what's ahead of me 😄
110 0
Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist @lakilarian.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
Can relate! It's fun to get into what the characters are into and really try to represent it naturally in the story. And make sure objects/nature work the way we say. It's real world world-building 😄 (Am I the only one who lets major characters also make their own music playlists/radios sometimes?)
110 0
Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist @lakilarian.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
I'm sorry I dropped off for a few days! I was finishing out the January writing marathon like a mad raccoon, and was able to complete my novel's first draft! 🥹 Gonna try to read through some of the earlier answers everyone else made now!
120 0
Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist @lakilarian.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
SOOO much language research! I have an international cast to juggle, and I enjoy letting them sprinkle their own native words into the "magically translated" english. But I'm me, so they have to be Correct words 🫠 Then there's historical facts, architecture, physics, plants... 🤯😂 #PretendPanel
181 0
Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist @lakilarian.bsky.social · 19/01/2025
I would also love to hear answers for this. (Though I think you're going in solid with the full moon burial 👍)
020 0
Reposted by Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist
Jorah Kai 💫 Author | 👽 Existential Detective 🌏 @jorahkai.bsky.social · 19/01/2025
So I have two books I’ve been working really hard on coming out soon- 1 poetry and a cosmic horror novel. What have y’all found successful in getting the word out? We’re going to bury a manuscript in a haunted cemetery during a full moon so I think we’re basically set right? #horrorwriterschat
281 0
Laki - Narrative Designer | Author | Artist @lakilarian.bsky.social · 19/01/2025
It seems pretty natural for our own voices as authors to come through as narrators, so it can really slow things down when we try to think too hard about not sounding like Us so much 😂 I totally get it!
010 0