Susan O'Connor Writing Studio

Writer | Speaker | Teacher
If you've got a story to tell, I can help you tell it.
Career Stats

30 million
Units sold
24
Titles shipped
$ 500 million
In sales
Hi, I'm Susan
For over 15 years, I’ve been writing scripts for award-winning, multimillion-dollar franchises.

Now I'm taking what I've learned about storytelling and psychology and human behavior,
and sharing it with people like you.

Who do I work with?
People like these:

Creative Directors | Showrunners

Studios | Muppets | Entrepreneurs

Brand Storytellers | Dorks | Speechwriters

Content Strategists | Political Activists

Game Developers | Journalists | You
Portfolio
Over 25 projects and multiple franchises, including:

Tomb Raider
Crystal Dynamics
Nominee, Outstanding Achievement in Story, AIAS
Nominee, Best Narrative, GDC
Over 8 million copies sold worldwide
Far Cry 2
Ubisoft Montreal
Nominee, Best Writing, GDC
Nominee, Game of the Year, AIAS
BioShock
2K Games
Winner, Game of the Year, AIAS
Winner, Best Writing, GDC
Over 4 million units sold
Launched a franchise
Teaching
Through my online courses,
and the work I do as an adjunct professor at the University of Texas at Austin,
I help creatives like you explore two of the most powerful forces in our lives:
the stories we tell, and the technology we use.

What do stories and computers have in common?
They connect us with the world - and with each other.

Help bring the art of storytelling into the digital age.

"One of the best instructors I've ever had."
- Jack F., Radio-TV-Film graduate, UT Austin
"Amazing writer"
"Susan is an amazing writer who's able to challenge the tired cliches of video game narrative while still accommodating the demands of gameplay. Her style is sharp and creative. She's got great instincts for genre and character motivation. Working with her was a great privilege."

Stephen McManus, Senior Experience Designer, ILMxLAB
"Master storyteller"
"Susan is truly a master storyteller. She makes learning & working with her fun. I find myself applying everything I learned from her almost every day."

Kavita Appachu, Consultant & Experience Designer
"So glad I took her class"
"The amount I’ve learned from Susan about interactive writing is staggering. Her incredible good humor only adds to the cocktail that makes her one of the best writing instructors I’ve ever had."

Lucas Loredo, Michener Center for Writers
"The lady knows her stuff"
"And she's so generous with her knowledge, it's ridiculous. If you want to get better at telling stories that really connect with your audience, listen to what she has to say."

Leah Hoyer, VP Creative, Telltale Games
"Destroyer of work (but in a good way)"
"Susan is a true mentor and master structuralist who taught me the painful lesson of destroying my work to make it better. I often hear her voice in my head when I’m preparing to cut a character or break some story bones. “There’s no crying in baseball, son.” Ain’t that the truth."

John Stafford, Narrative Director, Crystal Dynamics
"She has a gift for connecting the dots"
"Susan has one of the fastest brains in the business. She has a gift for connecting the dots and bringing big ideas to life. She has helped me get to the emotional heart of the matter in my work more than I can say. She's a gem!"

Greg Lanier, VP, Strategic Communications at University of Chicago
Want to find out more?
Get In Touch
Represented by United Talent Agency

Cover photo by Lê Tân on Unsplash

Writer | Speaker | Teacher

If you've got a story to tell, I can help you tell it.

Career Stats

30 million

24

$ 500 million

Hi, I'm Susan

For over 15 years, I’ve been writing scripts for award-winning, multimillion-dollar franchises.

Now I'm taking what I've learned about storytelling and psychology and human behavior,
and sharing it with people like you.

Who do I work with?

People like these:

Portfolio

Over 25 projects and multiple franchises, including:

Tomb Raider

Crystal Dynamics

Far Cry 2

Ubisoft Montreal

BioShock

2K Games

Teaching

"Amazing writer"

"Master storyteller"

"Susan is truly a master storyteller. She makes learning & working with her fun. I find myself applying everything I learned from her almost every day."

Kavita Appachu, Consultant & Experience Designer

"So glad I took her class"

"The amount I’ve learned from Susan about interactive writing is staggering. Her incredible good humor only adds to the cocktail that makes her one of the best writing instructors I’ve ever had."

Lucas Loredo, Michener Center for Writers

"The lady knows her stuff"

"And she's so generous with her knowledge, it's ridiculous. If you want to get better at telling stories that really connect with your audience, listen to what she has to say."

Leah Hoyer, VP Creative, Telltale Games

"Destroyer of work (but in a good way)"

"She has a gift for connecting the dots"

"Susan has one of the fastest brains in the business. She has a gift for connecting the dots and bringing big ideas to life. She has helped me get to the emotional heart of the matter in my work more than I can say. She's a gem!"

Greg Lanier, VP, Strategic Communications at University of Chicago

Want to find out more?

Represented by United Talent Agency

Writer | Speaker | Teacher

If you've got a story to tell, I can help you tell it.

Career Stats

30 million

24

$ 500 million

Hi, I'm Susan

For over 15 years, I’ve been writing scripts for award-winning, multimillion-dollar franchises. Now I'm taking what I've learned about storytelling and psychology and human behavior,and sharing it with people like you.

Who do I work with?

People like these:

Portfolio

Over 25 projects and multiple franchises, including:

Tomb Raider

Crystal Dynamics

Far Cry 2

Ubisoft Montreal

BioShock

2K Games

Teaching

"Amazing writer"

"Master storyteller"

"Susan is truly a master storyteller. She makes learning & working with her fun. I find myself applying everything I learned from her almost every day." Kavita Appachu, Consultant & Experience Designer

"So glad I took her class"

"The amount I’ve learned from Susan about interactive writing is staggering. Her incredible good humor only adds to the cocktail that makes her one of the best writing instructors I’ve ever had." Lucas Loredo, Michener Center for Writers

"The lady knows her stuff"

"And she's so generous with her knowledge, it's ridiculous. If you want to get better at telling stories that really connect with your audience, listen to what she has to say." Leah Hoyer, VP Creative, Telltale Games

"Destroyer of work (but in a good way)"

"She has a gift for connecting the dots"

"Susan has one of the fastest brains in the business. She has a gift for connecting the dots and bringing big ideas to life. She has helped me get to the emotional heart of the matter in my work more than I can say. She's a gem!" Greg Lanier, VP, Strategic Communications at University of Chicago

Want to find out more?

Represented by United Talent Agency

For over 15 years, I’ve been writing scripts for award-winning, multimillion-dollar franchises.

Now I'm taking what I've learned about storytelling and psychology and human behavior,
and sharing it with people like you.

"Susan is truly a master storyteller. She makes learning & working with her fun. I find myself applying everything I learned from her almost every day."

Kavita Appachu, Consultant & Experience Designer

"The amount I’ve learned from Susan about interactive writing is staggering. Her incredible good humor only adds to the cocktail that makes her one of the best writing instructors I’ve ever had."

Lucas Loredo, Michener Center for Writers

"And she's so generous with her knowledge, it's ridiculous. If you want to get better at telling stories that really connect with your audience, listen to what she has to say."

Leah Hoyer, VP Creative, Telltale Games

"Susan has one of the fastest brains in the business. She has a gift for connecting the dots and bringing big ideas to life. She has helped me get to the emotional heart of the matter in my work more than I can say. She's a gem!"

Greg Lanier, VP, Strategic Communications at University of Chicago