Chris Avellone’s Rules for Story Builders

These principles come from Chris Avellone, one of the most respected designers and narrative minds in games. He first published them on Gamasutra, now Game Developer, in 2017. His rules grew out of decades shaping stories in Fallout 2, Planescape, Pillars of Eternity, and other narrative heavy titles. They were meant for game makers, yet they translate smoothly to screen scribblers who build character driven worlds, interactive ideas, and cross-platform storytelling.

Chase resonance. If the audience feels it in their gut, they will stay with you.

Use familiar anchors. Tap into things they already understand, then bend those expectations.

Leave room for discovery. Do not spoon feed every beat, give the viewer space to lean in.

Build scenes for the people who will watch them. Not for executives living in your head.

Let the small choices carry weight. Viewers fall in love through details, not speeches.

Remember that one small shift can change everything. A single beat can redirect an entire act.

Know the emotional target. Tone guides the audience before plot ever does.

Let limits sharpen the story. Fewer resources often lead to bolder choices.

Connect the lessons. Structure, character, pacing, and theme feed each other.

Give the audience something they can claim. A line, a moment, a trait that feels like theirs.

Make the appealing choice the smart choice. If the story rewards the dull option, the story breaks.

Fear boredom, not difficulty. Viewers can follow a complicated story, they will not tolerate a dull one.

Treat the frame like character. Visuals set meaning long before dialogue starts.

Remember that clever is not the same as engaging. Interesting ideas only matter when they land emotionally.

Chase love, not approval. A polite reaction is the death of a story.

Trust your audience to spot problems. They feel what is off, even if they cannot explain it.

Work with human nature. Patterns, instincts, and expectations are your raw material.

Let viewers see themselves in the work. Identification keeps them hooked.

Say what needs saying. Clarity beats coyness when stakes rise.

Build to serve the story, not your ego. Showmanship comes after purpose.

There is something about translating an outsider, but adjacent, perspective that always kicks my process into gear. Seeing my own craft through someone else’s lens helps me grow as a creator. I hope it does the same for you.