Last week, I sat down to write 5,000 words of my fantasy novel, Song of the Drowned. I had every intention of being productive. I had my coffee, my outline, and the smug optimism of a writer who hadn’t yet opened YouTube.
Cut to three hours later: I’m sailing the Aegean Sea, kicking Spartans off cliffs, and looting temples while dressed like a very angry sea witch. I wasn’t writing—I was playing Assassin’s Creed Odyssey.
But here’s the twist: it was the best creative decision I’ve made in weeks.
While I wasn’t technically “writing,” I was doing something equally important for a story-in-progress: I was filling the well. And that well was full of Greek gods, salty ruins, angry curses, and more side quests than a selkie has secrets. Let me explain.
The Myth of the “Always Writing” Writer
There’s a persistent idea in the writing world that if you’re not typing, you’re slacking. That every day off is a missed opportunity. That somewhere, someone else is writing 10k words fueled by coffee and the tears of lesser mortals.
I used to believe this myth. Until my brain staged a mutiny.
The truth is, creativity isn’t an infinite fountain. It’s a tide—it ebbs and flows. And sometimes, the best way to keep your story alive is to walk away from the page and plunge into someone else’s world for a while. Preferably one with oracles and feral animals.
When Ancient Greece Speaks to Selkies
One of the most unexpected gifts of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey has been the sheer scope of its immersive storytelling. Ancient Greece isn’t just a backdrop—it breathes. From crumbling ruins perched on cliff edges to glowing underworld portals and cursed shipwrecks, the game is a feast of folklore and atmospheric detail.
And as a fantasy author? I devoured every myth-soaked inch of it.
I found myself scribbling down ideas mid-quest. A glowing cave entrance reminded me of a forgotten selkie tomb I could add to Song of the Drowned. An abandoned island shrine sparked a writing prompt about sea-bound memory magic. Even the tension between mortals and gods made me think differently about the spiritual structures in my own book’s world.
I didn’t expect an open-world action game to hand me tools for novel plotting—but there it was, handing me a trident and whispering, “What if your sea queen was angrier?”
Science Says You’re Not Wasting Time (Really!)
If you’ve ever felt guilty for choosing game night over draft night, here’s your permission slip—research backs you up.
Studies from the University of York and the University of Wisconsin have found that playing narrative-driven video games can improve divergent thinking, enhance problem-solving, and support a growth mindset. Translation: dodging arrows in a virtual temple might actually help you solve that gnarly plot hole tomorrow.
When we engage in immersive storytelling—even passively—we’re rewiring our brains to see patterns, take creative risks, and rethink consequences. Bonus points if there are sea monsters involved.
As it turns out, Spartan kicking a few mercenaries off cliffs might have the same dopamine-refreshing effect as finishing a scene—without the worry of the dreaded revisions.
Games, Choices, and the Writer’s Toolbox
One thing Assassin’s Creed Odyssey does exceptionally well is player agency. The choices you make—whether to save someone, betray them, or leave them to their very mythological fate—carry weight. Relationships change. The world responds.
As I navigated those choices, I started asking myself: Do my own characters have this kind of impact? Are the consequences in my story layered, or are they just convenient?
It was a quiet nudge from my gamer brain to my writer brain: don’t forget to let your characters make messy, irreversible choices. And give them room to feel those consequences.
Also, I would like to formally petition to include dramatic cape options and customizable sandals in my next novel. Because wow.
The Growth Mindset of Side Quests
Another revelation? Games are masters of the side quest—and those tangents often hold the richest emotional threads.
You don’t succeed at everything on the first try in Odyssey. Sometimes you fail a mission. Sometimes you lose a ship. Sometimes you fall off a cliff because you forgot which button is “jump” (it’s fine, I’m fine). But you always get to try again, learn, and move forward.
Writers could use more of that mindset.
Too often, we treat writing missteps as signs of failure instead of stepping stones. That scene that didn’t work? Side quest. That draft you deleted? Training montage. That villain you accidentally made too hot? Bonus boss fight. Lean into it.
What It Did for Song of the Drowned
So what does all this mean for the actual book?
Song of the Drowned is still in progress—due out in late 2025—but it’s stronger now because I took a detour. My underwater cities feel more alive. My sea-stitched magic has more texture. The themes of prophecy, agency, and cultural tension gained new depth—all because I gave myself space to wander.
Even the villain’s arc took a turn after a particularly harrowing encounter with a mythological beast I refused to slay because… well, he had sad eyes. (Now my antagonist has sad eyes and questionable morals. You’re welcome.)
Closing Words (and a Nudge)
If you’re a writer who’s feeling stuck, burned out, or haunted by an outline that mocks you from your desk—take a break. Play something. Watch something. Get lost in someone else’s imagination for a while.
You might come back with nothing but a few odd dreams and a renewed appreciation for storytelling. Or you might return with a villain, a magic system, or a scene you didn’t know you needed.
Either way, your muse will thank you.
Preferably while wearing a dramatic cloak.
Want to Join the Sea-Soaked Madness?
Song of the Drowned is coming late 2025—featuring selkies, cursed relics, and characters who absolutely would loot a temple just to avoid talking about their feelings. You can follow my writing progress, sneak peeks, and bonus lore over on Instagram and Facebook.
And hey—if you’ve got a favorite game that helped your creativity, drop it in the comments. I’m always looking for my next “research” excuse.
References:
Green, C. S., & Bavelier, D. (2008). Effect of action video games on the spatial resolution of vision. Nature, 423(6939), 534–537. DOI: 10.1037/a0014345
Alloza, S., Escribano, F., Delgado, S., Corneanu, C., & Escalera, S. (2017). XBadges: Identifying and training soft skills with commercial video games. arXiv. DOI: 10.48550/arXiv.1707.00863
Raffalli, A., & Asraf, R. M. (2023). Fostering growth mindset principles in the prevention of Type 2 diabetes through a narrative game. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 22(2), 244–261. https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.22.2.14