Today we’d like to introduce you to Lynn Johnston.
Hi Lynn, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, where I lived until I was 19. I was (and am) a nerd, through and through. I was a proud “orch dork” as a first violinist in Mr. Nacy’s orchestra, a lover of anatomy/physiology (even unnecessarily taking an unweighted college-level course on the subjects in high school to learn more), and someone who cared more about grades and test scores than dating (or, at least that’s what I told my perpetually single teenage self). After graduating high school, I did my first year of college at Saint Louis University where I came in with two possible career paths in mind: cardiology or film. Those seemingly polar opposite answers often got an eyebrow raise from my parent’s friends, but I had a true passion for both. However, shortly after starting college, I remembered that I’m basically allergic to math…so, I figured the whole “medical career” thing wasn’t the best idea. Since SLU only had one film course available, I knew the only way I’d be able to pursue my dream was to take the plunge and move away from home. So, after applying to several universities for transfer, I was (much to my shock and delight) accepted to my dream school: the University of Southern California. My dad and his side of the family couldn’t have been happier and were so supportive of me pursuing my dream despite being unable to offer any financial support at that time. My mom and some of the more closed-minded members of her family, however, were unsupportive to say the least (even going so far as to try and sabotage my financial aid information to make transferring schools unaffordable for me). After making the choice to cut out the toxic and unsupportive members of my family from my life, I headed out to California for the first time in my life on my own as a 19-year-old.
To “yadda yadda yadda” over the next several years, I eventually internally transferred into the screenwriting program at USC, had a brief stint living in Las Vegas and working odd jobs after graduation, until January 2019 when I came back to LA for a Junior Games Writer position where I was fortunate enough to have met my now dear friends and mentors, Eric Stirpe and Molly Maloney. Molly introduced me to Dave Baronoff, President of Bad Robot Games, and by June of that year, I was working as an Associate Writer with Bad Robot Games.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I often (and sincerely) reflect upon how I have been immensely blessed to have met and been supported by such an amazing network of people. From friends to family to colleagues, I truly would not be where I am today without them and their support for a myriad of reasons. I certainly have had moments where I had to fight to get to the opportunities I’ve been given, especially at times where I just felt like giving up. I still vividly remember when I had 35 cents in my checking account to last me through the end of the year when I was a freshman, struggling to pay for unexpected medical bills when I was uninsured, and often having creeping doubts about if I was really “good enough” to pursue the career I’d been dreaming of. But, even with all the struggles I’ve faced in my life and career so far, I can’t deny the advantages and privileges that have helped me along the way–especially in an industry (games) which still has so much work to do when it comes to representation and diversity. I feel incredibly fortunate to work at a company which puts such concerns at the forefront of our company policies and approaches to making our workplace and the work we do the very best it can possibly be. It’s my hope that as I continue on in my career, I can use my experiences and platform to tell more diverse stories and to hopefully help even more incredible and underrepresented voices to be heard through the amazing, interactive narrative medium of games.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Bad Robot Games is the games division of Bad Robot (Cloverfield, Lovecraft Country, Star Wars episodes VII & IX, etc.), where I have worked as a writer for a little over a year and a half now. It’s an incredible company, run by and populated with even more incredible people who have all come together because of a shared passion for building incredible experiences to share with the world. I truly have never worked for such an open and collaborative company, and I feel so ridiculously lucky to be able to work here. When I tell people I write for games, I’m often asked if I code. Though I wish I could (see earlier “allergic to math” reference), what I actually do as a writer for games depends on the day and the project. Essentially, anything involving characters, worldbuilding, dialogue, and overall story in the game is something I’m involved with. Whether it’s helping to flesh out a high-level outline for a game’s story, writing short lines of dialogue to play in-game (called “barks”), or putting together pitch decks for new game ideas, I’m lucky enough to have the chance to do so much at a company where the sky truly is the limit.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was always a highly energetic and ambitious kid–traits I definitely get from my dad, Randy. He’s an architect who ran his own firm for a little over 20 years, and I loved nothing more than going to job sites with him, showing his clients the stories I was writing (accented with early 2000s Microsoft Clip Art images), and once I even got to point out the playground equipment I thought would be coolest when he designed a children’s hospital. I was so lucky to be raised by such a hardworking, encouraging, and creative person. Nothing was off limits because “you’re a girl”, and no goal was too lofty. Instead, any time I expressed interest in something, he helped me find a way to pursue it further. From getting me Zoo Books and Zoo Tycoon in elementary school when I thought I wanted to be a zoologist to guides on how to draw croquis when I became fascinated with sewing and fashion design in middle and high school, to buying me books on human anatomy and film when I went through my “cardiologist-or-filmmaker” phase, the person who has always cheered me on from the sidelines and who I continually aspire to be like is my dad. I truly would not be who I am, nor where I am, today without him.
Contact info:
- Website: www.lynnmjohnston.com
