Meet Justin Sloan | Writer of Games, Books, and Screenplays

We had the good fortune of connecting with Justin Sloan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Justin, why did you pursue a creative career?
When I was young, I thought we all had to pursue paths of stability. Concepts like entrepreneurship and the creative life seemed like dreams or made-up ideas from the movies. That’s why I ended up going into the Marines and then working for the government and the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. During the last few years of those jobs, I was writing novels and screenplays on the side. One day I realized that working the day job and writing on the side wasn’t cutting it–I had to make the transition to creative.

Why, and where did this obsession with writing come from?

The “why” of my creative career ties back to when I was eleven and tried to create a videogame with my best friend. We had a blast writing story, drawing maps, and coming up with character sheets. We called companies using the numbers on the back of SNES cartridges. I’m sorry to say that they didn’t take us seriously, but I never gave up the dream. Storytelling simply meant too much to me to ignore.

Growing up, I loved how games and movies could take me out of the moment. I have fond memories of watching THE LAND BEFORE TIME over and over with my brother and seeing how it helped him deal with grief of loss. While he was dealing with the death of his father who was my uncle, as my brother was adopted, movies helped me escape the strange emotions that came from my parents’ divorce. For me, it was THE PRINCESS BRIDE, STAR WARS, and BRAVEHEART. When I started getting serious about writing, it was in an attempt to tell a story that could help others find this type of escapism. My first experience with this was when a reader from a hospital bed wrote to tell me my stories did exactly this–they took her away from the pain and gave her purpose in life. Because of readers like her, I continue to write and know I’m making a difference.

So there I was as a Taiwan and India analyst at the Federal Reserve, networking with everyone I could and writing every night and on weekends. My wife agreed that by May of 2014 that if I didn’t find a way to make the leap, I would leave my job for film school. As fate would have it, that same month I received an offer to work at Telltale Games as a writer. During my two years at Telltale, I discovered the joy and fulfillment of writing stories for top IPs like GAME OF THRONES and THE WALKING DEAD.

Working as a creative was everything I dreamed it would be, and I’m pleased to report that it has been over 10 years since I made the leap and it is still as amazing as I hoped it would be. I’ve had the opportunity to work on various games, a TV show, hybrid interactive experiences, and to serve as the Narrative Lead and author of novels for Galactic Entertainment’s PLANETQUEST.

Now I have other exciting projects as well, including writing on a AAA game and a TV series. Becoming a full-time author allowed me to explore my creativity fully. Moving to Los Angeles expanded my network and provided access to new opportunities (some of which are exciting but that I can’t talk about yet). Such experiences taught me that taking calculated risks can lead to significant personal and professional growth.

No matter what comes next or where my creative career will take me, I never lose sight of the fans or the way that storytelling helps them. And thanks to these fans, I’m able to keep living the creative life. If you’re a current or future fan, thank you!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
In graduate school a career counselor told me that resume needs convey why I’m the perfect person for this job at this time. This lesson made a lot of sense at the time and has carried with me into my creative life. Looking at my brand this way, my brand has to tell a story.

At the base level, my brand includes my military background and obsession with fantasy and science fiction. I served for five years in the Marines in Cryptologic Linguistics, studied international relations, and traveled the world before becoming a writer. This all ties into my storytelling as much as my thousands of hours spent watching STAR WARS and THE LORD OF THE RINGS movies. Likewise, my stories are heavily influenced by the fact that I lived in Japan for several years and obsessed over such shows as SHOGUN or games like GHOST OF TSUSHIMA. This is all evidenced by my novels, but also with my work history at Telltale and everything since.

My brand is most recently evidenced by my work as a Narrative Lead on Galactic Entertainment’s PLANETQUEST, which I mentioned briefly above. This cinematic science-fiction transmedia project invites players to discover a future where humanity has taken to the stars to explore, survive, and discover the far corners of the multiverse. The novels that I wrote for this project span across the galaxy in a way that leverages my international travel and studies, has a heavy military element, futuristic references to Japan through setting and character, and leans heavily into my love of genre fiction. As a shoutout, PLANETQUEST is also producing a comic book by the amazing B. Earl (a Marvel writer with credits on Spiderman and Daredevil comics). Additionally, we have signed Garrett Michael Brown to narrate the audiobook version of the novels, starting with the first one that is titled QUANTUM PARADOX with a release date July 9, 2024.

Having the chance to play such a key role in the establishment of this and other franchises of its nature will take my brand to the next level.

Writing fiction certainly isn’t the easiest life choice, but there hasn’t been a second in my life when I thought it was the wrong path. The passion is simply too strong. The key for me has been to recognize that stages of success don’t always happen when or how you want them to. For me, writing across various media leads to better fulfillment and security. Writing books, games, and screenplays allows me to connect with a larger audience. I’m not limited by one medium, and with such transmedia projects as PLANETQUEST and their emphasis on community building, I’m able to engage with these people firsthand. Connecting with my audience and seeing the impact of my work on their lives is a major source of happiness. Receiving feedback from readers and players who find comfort, inspiration, or joy in my stories is deeply rewarding and it motivates me to keep creating and pushing boundaries.

For anyone else considering going the creative route, I would say to make sure you have other ways of earning a living until the creative route starts paying off. You might need to pivot or try other paths, but if it’s your passion, never give up.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
As a parent, I have to admit that I don’t get out enough. But as a writer, I enjoy a few key coffee shops! Reborn and Constellation are both great, as is the new Geo’s in La Canada. My kids love Lichi’s Mexican food, and there are always the beautiful Malibu beaches not too far away. For me Los Angeles isn’t about the places to go as much as it is about the people you get to interact with. That and proximity to Universal Studios and Disneyland.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First and foremost, I do what I do for my family – my amazing wife Ugulay and my kids Verona, Brendan, and Ella. There are others who have helped me get to where I am, such as Stephan Bugaj who has been a champion throughout my career in entertainment, Matthew Brewbaker who has been a wonderful friend and fellow creative mind, Michael Anderle who helped me first break out as a full-time author, Loren Roosendaal who brought me in on PLANETQUEST, Richard Michael Lucas who has been my longtime Austin Film Festival buddy, and so many more wonderful individuals.

Website: https://justinmsloan.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justinsloanwriter/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/

Twitter: @justinmsloan

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/325471951646808

Other: Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/stores/Justin-Sloan/author/B00OJPAM0K
IMDb – https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1733364/