Studies in Canalave Library
N's existential adventure.
Roles: Writer.
Tools used: Microsoft Word, Google Docs.
Solo project.
Studies in Canalave Library is a short Pokémon story I wrote between my second and third years at Sheridan College. Set after Pokémon Black and White, this story shows part of the character N's journey that informs his development in Pokémon Black 2 and White 2.
Read it here!
Original Microsoft Word doc here if you want to see the file history.
Roles
Writer
I was interested in exploring how N's character changed between both games. Studying the Sinnoh region's ancient lore on Pokémon and human relationships felt like an obvious choice to learn more. To keep the story succinct and focused, he would need someone to guide him through the legends, which led me to bringing in Cynthia from the Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum games to act as a teacher, given her archaeological expertise. It also created a unique opportunity for interactions between the two that you'd never be able to see in the original works.
Challenges and Lessons Learned
Since the story is essentially one giant conversation between N and Cynthia, it was difficult to write. I had to make sure their dialogue hit all the main beats I'd planned while still flowing well, and that N came to the final conclusion himself instead of seeming like he was being manipulated into it by Cynthia. Trying to get a character from point A to B while feeling natural and in-character for them was a new experience for me, one that'll inform how I write stories using pre-established characters in the future.