Behind the Ink: Workspace & Inspirations

Hi guys! I wanted to try a different style of post that would feel like a peek behind the curtain of making the game.

Where am I working from this month?

This month, I’ve mostly been working from my desk, though I’ve spent some time on the couch too. I'm flirting with the idea of working on it at the library or a co-working space, but with the days getting shorter, it's been a little harder to get out the house at reasonable times and not feel like the days been used up. Plus the idea of someone looking over my shoulder at my work would mortify me, lol.

I love working on the game, and its a relief when I can find time to work on it uninterrupted. But I won't lie. It’s been difficult over the past year to carve out space for this game and the creativity it demands. It used to be my escape, but as life has gotten heavier, College Craze has become a project that requires much more energy and focus than it once did. Its crazy how much I would produce in short amounts of time, though in retrospect, I sacrificed a lot to maintain that. Trying to live a more balanced life, and with different circumstances entirely has been an adjustment, but also allowed me to realize I can prioritize myself still.

I still love it deeply, but it’s a different kind of escape now, one that requires planning, persistence, and a hell of a lot of patience with myself. Part of that planning is creating a space to create in.

The space

My setup is simple: a laptop, keyboard, and wrist guards (I stg if I get carpal tunnel I'm flipping a table). I also like to sit by a window when I work. The view isn’t anything special, but the sunlight keeps me grounded, and looking outward helps me stay focused.

I usually have some music playing, but nothing too catchy—otherwise, I get distracted and start singing instead of writing (This happens more often than you realize). Sometimes I’ll put on rain sounds or ambient noise that fits the scene I’m working on, like cafe buzz, a thunderstorm, or a college hallway. I usually find this stuff on Youtube and they really help me immerse myself in the world I’m writing.

Speaking of songs that I've had on repeat in writing the scenes in this last month:

Songs on Repeat

• Talk - Hozier

• Every Other Freckle - Alt J

• Under My Skin - Briston Maroney

• Sleeping with A Ghost - Teddy Hyde

• Freakin' Out on the Interstate - Briston Maroney

The scenes have been one of those that kinda took on a mind of it's own. I had the set up, vibe and circumstances set up, but when it came down to business, variations kinda went off the wall. This is exactly what happened with Gabe, but I'm happy with the variations. They made sense to me for the context and vibes. I hope you guys feel the same when you play through!

Setting up good inspiration is also a big part of my process. I read a lot, though I’ve been in a bit of a lull lately. This past month, I’ve started picking up books again, tabbing scenes or dialogue that spark ideas.

I also watch movies and shows and jot down notes on my phone whenever something catches my attention.

Things I've been into for inspo this month:

Books/Shows for inspo

• Birthday Girl - Penelope Douglas

• It - Stephen King

• Filthy Rich Fae - Geneva Lee

• Gossip Girl

• Shameless

• Kevin Can F*** Himself

If you can figure out a theme between these, good on you, haha.

Writing through the lulls

I’ve also been listening to Stephen King’s On Writing audiobook. He’s one of my all-time favorite authors, and his approach to writing has been hugely inspiring. But writing a branching narrative like College Craze (if you haven't figured out already) is really hard sometimes.

I’m constantly fact-checking my own lore and balancing good writing with programming. Sometimes it feels like I’m juggling too much. I've gotta keep track of plot points, coding, and ensuring every choice aligns with a character’s motivations and the overall story. And honestly, at this stage, thats not achieveable. Things are a bit of a mess, but I have to remind myself: You can't edit an empty page.

So when I get stuck, I remind myself it’s okay to push through and write the basics first. It's okay if things are clunky or ugly or don't sound good yet. I leave comments in the code to revisit later, like to flesh out descriptions or tweak how someone's response might vary. It’s easier to add depth once the structure is in place.

For example, I’ll note how a scene might change if the main character has a low GPA or a specific history with another character. But only after I have the skeleton of the scene down first. Trying to handle all of that in the moment can be overwhelming, so I’ve learned to give myself permission to focus on one thing at a time and get back to it later.

Capturing inspo anywhere

Balancing my day job with game development has been tricky, and I have less time to write than I’d like. But I’ve been intentional about carving out space for it. Keeping notepads handy or using my phone to jot down ideas on the go helps a lot too!

I have a notebook I bring with me when I'm out and about for the other game ideas I have and start structuring the plot or mechanics for those. Its funny how many people give you odd looks when you pull out a notebook and start writing at basketball games lol.

So that’s where I’ve been working this month and how I’ve been navigating the creative process!

If you have any questions about characters, locations, specific plot lines, what inspired parts of the game, etc. you can comment them and I might cover them in the next post!

Thanks for reading!

xoxo

Pretty Ink