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Writers organisation The Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America, which also hosts the Nebula Awards, is to open its doors to games writers for the first time.
Those working in the fields of both video games and tabletop games will be eligible to apply for entry to the non-profit group from the beginning of August, after existing members voted to accept games writers into their fold.
In line with other SFWA inductees, games writers must be working with narrative elements, writing in English and their output must fit under the science-fiction, fantasy or horror genres – or something similar.
In addition, applicants must prove their employment as a writer by showing one of the following:
- At least one paid sale of a minimum of 40,000 words to a qualified market, or three paid sales to qualified markets totalling at least 10,000 words.
- Net income of at least $3,000 from a game that includes at least 40,000 words of text over the course of a 12-month period since January 1st 2013.
- One professionally produced full-length game for which they were paid at least $3,000, and with credits to no more than two writers clearly shown on the work.
Writers who have worked on crowdfunded titles can count the funds raised through services such as Kickstarter as part of their income.
However, while those working to contracts are free to apply for membership, salaried writers remain ineligible for the time being.
Patrick Weekes, one of the writers at Mass Effect studio BioWare (Andromeda pictured), pointed out that this would make the developer’s full-time writing staff exempt, as well as writers at studios such as Telltale Games and Naughty Dog.
