Lean Into Uncommon Commonalities (Susan O'Connor)

Course Lab: Lessons from Successful Online Course Creators

Susan O’Connor dives into niche community building within course creation. Her focus on shared experiences, teaching assistants, and constant curriculum updates fosters a dynamic, supportive learning environment. With peer feedback and industry pros, her masterclass offers warmth and connection.

Susan O’Connor is a video game consultant and award-winning video game writer whose titles have generated more than a half-billion dollars in revenue.

In this episode, Ari, Abe, and Susan discuss:

• Leaning into uncommon commonalities within niche communities in course creation
• The importance of teaching assistants in student support and community structure
• Constant updates in teaching niche topics like video game storytelling
• Inviting past graduates to discuss recent games for clear and communal learning
• The implementation of peer feedback structures with small cohorts and buddy systems
• Introducing a “pro tier” with industry professionals providing feedback
• Stringent guidelines to ensure quality feedback
• Susan’s successful transition from video game writer to game writing teacher
• The role of a strong community in achieving significant financial success
• Future plans to expand the program to include game design classes for writers

“Creative people desperately need to be in community and often are not to the point where they just feel like, ‘Well, I don’t really need community. I’m just an oddball weirdo.’” — Susan O’Connor

Guest Bio:

Susan O’Connor’s first job as a game writer was for “a slumber party game — for girls!” She was an award-winning game writer who has worked on over 25 projects, including titles in the BioShock, Far Cry, and Tomb Raider franchises. Titles in her portfolio have sold over 30 million copies and generated over $500 million in sales. She founded the Game Narrative Summit at GDC. Now, she partners with studios, publishers, and writers to help teams ship great games with great stories. She is dedicated to supporting creatives in the games industry so that they can do their best work.

Resources or websites mentioned in this episode:

Mirasee
Ruzuku
Susan’s website: TheNarrativeDepartment.com
Susan's previous episode: "Writing for Video Games"

Credits:

Hosts: Ari Iny and Abe Crystal
Producer: Michi Lantz
Executive Producer: Danny Iny
Audio Editor: Marvin del Rosario
Music Soundscape: Chad Michael Snavely
Making our hosts sound great: Home Brew Audio

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Music credits:

Track Title: Bossa BB
Artist Name: Marie
Writer Name: Chelsea McGough
Publisher Name: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION

Track Title: Coo Coos
Artist Name: Dresden, The Flamingo
Writer Name: Matthew Wigton
Publisher Name: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION

Track Title: Grace
Artist Name: Shimmer
Writer Name: Matthew Wigton
Publisher Name: BOSS SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONS

Track Title: Carousel Lights
Artist Name: Chelsea McGough
Writer Name: Chelsea McGough
Writer Name: Matthew Wigton
Publisher Name: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Publisher Name: BOSS SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONS

Special effects credits:

24990513_birds-chirping_by_promission used with permission of the author and under license by AudioJungle/Envato Market.

Episode transcript: Creating Uncommon Commonalities (Susan O'Connor).