Meet the Team: Megan Schwarz
Welcome to another entry in our Meet the Team blog series where we highlight different members of Candlelight Games. This week, we’re spotlighting our Head of Narrative, Megan Schwarz!
Megan is Head of Narrative at Candlelight Games. Before that, she worked at Pixelberry Studios as Director of Choices: Stories You Play and Head of the Writing Team. Prior to her leadership roles, she was the Writing Lead on many Choices books, including The Nanny Affair, America’s Most Eligible, and one of her personal favorites: With Every Heartbeat.
What do you do at Candlelight Games?
As Head of Narrative, I’m responsible for the story of our game. This breaks down into two main areas: crafting the story and collaborating with the other teams so we can ensure all parts of the game are working together to tell that story. I spend a lot of time brainstorming, staring at blank documents, and desperately trying to figure out how to get two characters to kiss.
What made you want to co-found Candlelight?
I had my dream job for a few years, and when this opportunity came along, it was a… dreamier job, beyond what I had ever imagined. I love making games with this team and telling stories with heart and soul, and I couldn’t pass up the chance to keep it going.
What was the first video game you played?
Freshman year of college, one of my friends encouraged me to play the first Uncharted game on his PS3. I had barely played console games before, so I struggled, a lot. (I believe an exact quote was, “I didn’t even know you could die that early in the game.”) About halfway through, I hit a gunfight that I ultimately couldn’t get past and stopped playing.
Fast forward many years later, and I had a couple other console games under my belt and decided to give Uncharted another chance… only to discover that I hadn’t even been an hour into the game when I stopped the first time 😭I just thought I was halfway through. I did finish the game (and eventually the entire series) that time around though, and it’s one of my favorite series.
What are your must-have office items?
Ergonomic computer accessories (mouse, keyboard, etc.), post-its and fun-colored pens, and a bowl of sweet treats (usually chocolate).
What’s something most people don’t know about you?
I love to bake in my free time, especially bread. Yeast was very intimidating at first, but after a lot of patience and practice, I now find the whole process relaxing (plus, you have something yummy at the end of it).
What advice would you give yourself as a kid?
Just write the thing.
I had a lot of story ideas floating inside my head for years and years, but most of them never saw the light of day. I was intimidated by the blank page, by the thought of feedback, by the sheer enormity of the stories I wanted to get out… so I kept it all inside. Plus, I always assumed writing would have to be a hobby; I never dreamed I could make a living as a professional writer. But at the end of the day, I deprived myself of years of writing experience and practice. You only get better by doing, so just do it.
It can be bad, and in fact, it will be. I write bad drafts all the time. But you have to write the bad stuff to get to the good stuff. So just write the thing.