David Gallaher
@davidgallaher.bsky.social
Rapscallion | Raconteur | Roustabout | Associated Press | Author | Game Dev | he/him 🌈 🇫🇷 🇺🇸 ✊🏿Ⓥ https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/narrative-operations-7301326370398228480
Pinned
Prioritization
by David Gallaher Between new material to write for Creatures & Cocktails, a game rule set to edit, a slide deck to edit, and a new stage to build tomorrow, my weekend is packed. And while I like to k...
www.linkedin.com
Before I put my 'Do Not Disturb' sign up for the weekend, I wrote something about Time Management:
www.linkedin.com/pulse/priori...
www.linkedin.com/pulse/priori...
How to fix a broken scene: www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-d...
What To Do When A Scene Breaks
by David Gallaher For the last several weeks, Allistar Barrett and I have been building a new set for Creatures & Cocktails to surprise our guests at an upcoming show. The cornerstone of the set was t...
www.linkedin.com
February 9, 2026 at 5:16 PM
How to fix a broken scene: www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-d...
I wish I was running a role-playing game today instead of ::checks laptop:: editing a slide deck for work.
February 8, 2026 at 4:32 PM
I wish I was running a role-playing game today instead of ::checks laptop:: editing a slide deck for work.
Career Insurance
by David Gallaher If you Google “career insurance,” you get a glossy A.I.
www.linkedin.com
February 8, 2026 at 11:59 AM
Before I put my 'Do Not Disturb' sign up for the weekend, I wrote something about Time Management:
www.linkedin.com/pulse/priori...
www.linkedin.com/pulse/priori...
Prioritization
by David Gallaher Between new material to write for Creatures & Cocktails, a game rule set to edit, a slide deck to edit, and a new stage to build tomorrow, my weekend is packed. And while I like to k...
www.linkedin.com
February 7, 2026 at 2:49 PM
Before I put my 'Do Not Disturb' sign up for the weekend, I wrote something about Time Management:
www.linkedin.com/pulse/priori...
www.linkedin.com/pulse/priori...
Five of my favorite movies that were box office flops. What are some of yours?
1. Iron Giant
2. So I Married An Axe Murderer
3. Death to Smoochy
4. Josie and the Pussycats
5. Office Space
1. Iron Giant
2. So I Married An Axe Murderer
3. Death to Smoochy
4. Josie and the Pussycats
5. Office Space
Five of my favorite movies that were box office flops. What are some of yours?
1. Tank Girl
2. Bringing Out the Dead
3. Blade Runner
4. Josie and the Pussycats
5. Speed Racer
1. Tank Girl
2. Bringing Out the Dead
3. Blade Runner
4. Josie and the Pussycats
5. Speed Racer
Five of my favorite movies that were box office flops. What are some of yours?
1. Popeye
2. Joe vs the Volcano
3. Blade Runner
4. The Thing
5. The Iron Giant
1. Popeye
2. Joe vs the Volcano
3. Blade Runner
4. The Thing
5. The Iron Giant
February 6, 2026 at 9:58 PM
Five of my favorite movies that were box office flops. What are some of yours?
1. Iron Giant
2. So I Married An Axe Murderer
3. Death to Smoochy
4. Josie and the Pussycats
5. Office Space
1. Iron Giant
2. So I Married An Axe Murderer
3. Death to Smoochy
4. Josie and the Pussycats
5. Office Space
If you have EVER liked ME or anything I have ever written, so much of who I am comes from my mother whose new book... The Little One Diaries is now available on Amazon. www.amazon.com/Little-One-D...
www.amazon.com
February 6, 2026 at 9:46 PM
If you have EVER liked ME or anything I have ever written, so much of who I am comes from my mother whose new book... The Little One Diaries is now available on Amazon. www.amazon.com/Little-One-D...
Reposted by David Gallaher
Like tarot cards, witchy things, feminist rage (think Taylor's "Who's Afraid of Little Old Me?" & Fleetwood's "Silver Springs."),& mythology?
You can preorder (worldwide) my poetry collection coming out in July @clashbooks.bsky.social. Links below, plus Inkwood:
www.inkwoodnj.com/item/Ta5ktKU....
You can preorder (worldwide) my poetry collection coming out in July @clashbooks.bsky.social. Links below, plus Inkwood:
www.inkwoodnj.com/item/Ta5ktKU....
February 4, 2026 at 10:31 PM
Like tarot cards, witchy things, feminist rage (think Taylor's "Who's Afraid of Little Old Me?" & Fleetwood's "Silver Springs."),& mythology?
You can preorder (worldwide) my poetry collection coming out in July @clashbooks.bsky.social. Links below, plus Inkwood:
www.inkwoodnj.com/item/Ta5ktKU....
You can preorder (worldwide) my poetry collection coming out in July @clashbooks.bsky.social. Links below, plus Inkwood:
www.inkwoodnj.com/item/Ta5ktKU....
I feel very grateful that I am not tied into the Bezos ecosystem. I encourage others to divest and untether as much as they can from massive corporations.
Lots of folks reminding everyone that you can unsubscribe from WaPo the last couple days, but you can also divest from Amazon to whatever degree you feel capable. Some options:
—cancel Prime
—choose to buy certain items from other retailers when you can
—stop shopping at Whole Foods.
—cancel Prime
—choose to buy certain items from other retailers when you can
—stop shopping at Whole Foods.
February 6, 2026 at 1:24 PM
I feel very grateful that I am not tied into the Bezos ecosystem. I encourage others to divest and untether as much as they can from massive corporations.
Post your favorite "Lord of the Rings" character. Wrong answers only.
February 6, 2026 at 11:38 AM
Post your favorite "Lord of the Rings" character. Wrong answers only.
This week we've covered many of the core elements that make scenes great. Today, we're going to look at the process that I learned to create scences and if you want to better and faster, this might help.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/making...
www.linkedin.com/pulse/making...
Making A Scene
by David Gallaher In my journey from comic to television to games, I have written several thousand scenes..
www.linkedin.com
February 6, 2026 at 11:08 AM
This week we've covered many of the core elements that make scenes great. Today, we're going to look at the process that I learned to create scences and if you want to better and faster, this might help.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/making...
www.linkedin.com/pulse/making...
Reposted by David Gallaher
Most writers don’t struggle with ideas. They struggle with structure. Projects stall, revisions circle, and drafts with strong moments never quite hold together.
My Introduction to Narrative class exists to fix that:
www.linkedin.com/pulse/specia...
My Introduction to Narrative class exists to fix that:
www.linkedin.com/pulse/specia...
Special Announcement: Introduction To Narrative
by David Gallaher Most writers don’t struggle with ideas. They struggle with structure.
www.linkedin.com
February 3, 2026 at 9:01 PM
Most writers don’t struggle with ideas. They struggle with structure. Projects stall, revisions circle, and drafts with strong moments never quite hold together.
My Introduction to Narrative class exists to fix that:
www.linkedin.com/pulse/specia...
My Introduction to Narrative class exists to fix that:
www.linkedin.com/pulse/specia...
Did you know that the author of the Iron Giant was the spouse of Sylvia Plath?
a cartoon drawing of a robot with a large helmet on
Alt: Iron Giant
media.tenor.com
February 6, 2026 at 12:18 AM
Did you know that the author of the Iron Giant was the spouse of Sylvia Plath?
Writers often end scenes because the action is finished, the conversation feels complete, or the page count says it is time to stop. None of those are good reasons.
Today's examples include High Moon, Barbie, and Avengers: Endgame.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/cliffh...
Today's examples include High Moon, Barbie, and Avengers: Endgame.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/cliffh...
Cliffhangers & The Art Of Ending A Scene
by David Gallaher A scene ends when the story can no longer stay where it is. That sounds simple, but most pacing problems come from misunderstanding that idea.
www.linkedin.com
February 5, 2026 at 2:29 PM
Writers often end scenes because the action is finished, the conversation feels complete, or the page count says it is time to stop. None of those are good reasons.
Today's examples include High Moon, Barbie, and Avengers: Endgame.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/cliffh...
Today's examples include High Moon, Barbie, and Avengers: Endgame.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/cliffh...
If you see this, post a character that starts with L.
February 5, 2026 at 12:38 AM
If you see this, post a character that starts with L.
My favorite Patsy story is from Solo Avengers #9. It moves Hellcat forward while addressing the past all in a few pages.
She is also one of the characters most requested in the Marvel RPGs I run.
She is also one of the characters most requested in the Marvel RPGs I run.
February 4, 2026 at 6:12 PM
My favorite Patsy story is from Solo Avengers #9. It moves Hellcat forward while addressing the past all in a few pages.
She is also one of the characters most requested in the Marvel RPGs I run.
She is also one of the characters most requested in the Marvel RPGs I run.
Reposted by David Gallaher
Reposted by David Gallaher
Today in the Game Industry Coffee Chat: Writing for Games!
Welcome back @davidgallaher.bsky.social
- Writing vs Narrative Design
- Writing for fun vs professionally
- Dealing with creative blocks
- How narrative with each other
- the AI elephant in the room
- Managing writers
Come listen in:
Welcome back @davidgallaher.bsky.social
- Writing vs Narrative Design
- Writing for fun vs professionally
- Dealing with creative blocks
- How narrative with each other
- the AI elephant in the room
- Managing writers
Come listen in:
Join the Game Industry Coffee Chat Discord Server!
Share industry news, job listings, general questions, and more, with industry vets and aspiring game professionals. 🎮 | 2318 members
discord.gg
February 4, 2026 at 2:40 PM
Today in the Game Industry Coffee Chat: Writing for Games!
Welcome back @davidgallaher.bsky.social
- Writing vs Narrative Design
- Writing for fun vs professionally
- Dealing with creative blocks
- How narrative with each other
- the AI elephant in the room
- Managing writers
Come listen in:
Welcome back @davidgallaher.bsky.social
- Writing vs Narrative Design
- Writing for fun vs professionally
- Dealing with creative blocks
- How narrative with each other
- the AI elephant in the room
- Managing writers
Come listen in:
Escalation is how a story tightens. Fewer options. Higher cost. Less room to maneuver.
Roday's examples: Die Hard, Aliens, Meta Gear Solid
www.linkedin.com/pulse/escala...
Roday's examples: Die Hard, Aliens, Meta Gear Solid
www.linkedin.com/pulse/escala...
Escalation
by David Gallaher Escalation is how a story tightens. Fewer options.
www.linkedin.com
February 4, 2026 at 1:25 PM
Escalation is how a story tightens. Fewer options. Higher cost. Less room to maneuver.
Roday's examples: Die Hard, Aliens, Meta Gear Solid
www.linkedin.com/pulse/escala...
Roday's examples: Die Hard, Aliens, Meta Gear Solid
www.linkedin.com/pulse/escala...
Most writers don’t struggle with ideas. They struggle with structure. Projects stall, revisions circle, and drafts with strong moments never quite hold together.
My Introduction to Narrative class exists to fix that:
www.linkedin.com/pulse/specia...
My Introduction to Narrative class exists to fix that:
www.linkedin.com/pulse/specia...
Special Announcement: Introduction To Narrative
by David Gallaher Most writers don’t struggle with ideas. They struggle with structure.
www.linkedin.com
February 3, 2026 at 9:01 PM
Most writers don’t struggle with ideas. They struggle with structure. Projects stall, revisions circle, and drafts with strong moments never quite hold together.
My Introduction to Narrative class exists to fix that:
www.linkedin.com/pulse/specia...
My Introduction to Narrative class exists to fix that:
www.linkedin.com/pulse/specia...
Huntr released its Annual Job Search Trends Report last week, and the numbers confirm what many job seekers have been saying: getting hired really is taking longer than it used to.
thejobhopper.substack.com/p/heres-how-...
For those of you struggling, it's not just you
thejobhopper.substack.com/p/heres-how-...
For those of you struggling, it's not just you
Here’s How Long It Takes to Get a Job Now
Huntr released its Annual Job Search Trends Report last week, and the numbers confirm what many job seekers have been saying: getting hired really is taking longer than it used to.
thejobhopper.substack.com
February 3, 2026 at 8:22 PM
Huntr released its Annual Job Search Trends Report last week, and the numbers confirm what many job seekers have been saying: getting hired really is taking longer than it used to.
thejobhopper.substack.com/p/heres-how-...
For those of you struggling, it's not just you
thejobhopper.substack.com/p/heres-how-...
For those of you struggling, it's not just you
So weird that they are making us responsible for their problem. We could, instead, get rid of tax havens and make the wealthy pay their share.
They want us working earlier and til we die to pay for their tax cuts for the rich. Supervillains.
February 3, 2026 at 11:59 AM
So weird that they are making us responsible for their problem. We could, instead, get rid of tax havens and make the wealthy pay their share.
Most people think dialogue exists to exchange information. That is almost never true in real life, and it should almost never be true in fiction.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/dialog...
Today's examples: Yours Truly Johnny Dollar, Clue, and The Thin Man.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/dialog...
Today's examples: Yours Truly Johnny Dollar, Clue, and The Thin Man.
Dialogue as Combat | David Gallaher
Most people think dialogue exists to exchange information. That is almost never true in real life, and it should almost never be true in fiction.
linkedin.com
February 3, 2026 at 11:53 AM
Most people think dialogue exists to exchange information. That is almost never true in real life, and it should almost never be true in fiction.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/dialog...
Today's examples: Yours Truly Johnny Dollar, Clue, and The Thin Man.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/dialog...
Today's examples: Yours Truly Johnny Dollar, Clue, and The Thin Man.
28 years.
Comic people are posting how long they've been in comics. I'm at 37 years. Crazy.
February 2, 2026 at 4:04 PM
28 years.
Today we’re talking about scenes that change something. If you haven’t seen Psycho or Better Call Saul and don’t want them spoiled, this is your warning to turn back now.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/scenes...
www.linkedin.com/pulse/scenes...
Scenes That Change Something
by David Gallaher Today we’re talking about scenes that change something. If you haven’t seen Psycho or Better Call Saul and don’t want them spoiled, this is your warning to turn back now.
www.linkedin.com
February 2, 2026 at 11:51 AM
Today we’re talking about scenes that change something. If you haven’t seen Psycho or Better Call Saul and don’t want them spoiled, this is your warning to turn back now.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/scenes...
www.linkedin.com/pulse/scenes...