Visual Novel Writer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Crazy Maple Studio is a fast-growing company based in the Bay Area and Los Angeles, focusing on mobile gaming, reading, and streaming. We are proud to have a global team that drives our innovation and success across diverse markets.

Our flagship platform, ReelShort, is the #1 vertical streaming app in the U.S., with over 8 million DAU, delivering bite-sized episodic content that keeps viewers hooked. Other standout products include Chapters, where users shape immersive stories across drama, fantasy, and romance, and My Fiction, a platform for consuming and creating serialized romance.

We're proud to be recognized as one of the Global Most Loved Workplaces 2025, reflecting our commitment to innovation, creativity, and an employee-first culture.
Position Overview:

As a ReelShort Visual Novel Writer for AI Content, you will play a key role in creating emotionally resonant, high-impact novellas tailored for mobile-first storytelling. The distinguishing feature of this role: the novellas you write will be produced using AI video generation tools, rather than traditional film production. Your craft remains the heart of the job-writing strong, emotionally driven stories-but you'll also develop an understanding of how to shape stories so they translate cleanly into AI-generated visuals. 

The ideal candidate can adapt across multiple genres and tonal styles, with a strong command of romance and drama at the core. We're looking for a natural storyteller, an insightful editor, and a collaborative creative partner. In this role, you'll help elevate story quality across the platform, contribute to workshop feedback, and guide content toward performance-based goals.

This role is ideal for a writer with 3+ years of experience, an interest in AI-produced video content, and a demonstrated ability to craft commercially successful, emotion-driven narratives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Adapt and create a wide range of source materials-including web novels, original ideas, and global IP-into episodic novellas for short-form, mobile-first content. 
• Write original novellas that balance emotional depth with high entertainment value, across a variety of tones.
• Write novellas intended for AI video production (e.g., Seedance and similar tools): craft scenes, action lines, and visual descriptions in a way that AI generation tools can interpret faithfully, and that hold up on screen.

• Iterate on novellas based on AI production output-revising scenes or dialogue when the generated footage reveals what's working and what isn't. 

• Participate in writing workshops and content training sessions, including sessions focused on writing effectively for AI-produced content.
• Utilize data and performance insights to revise, refine, and optimize content for in-app retention, reader conversion, and marketing hooks.
• Stay informed on storytelling trends in vertical media and on the evolving capabilities of AI video tools, and bring fresh, adaptable ideas to the table.
• Utilize data analytics to make informed adjustments to writing projects, optimizing content performance and engagement.
• Seamlessly integrate marketing content into scripts, ensuring a cohesive and engaging narrative.

Requirements

• Minimum of 3 years of writing experience in relevant medium-publishing, serialized fiction, Wattpad, AO3, etc.
• Strong creative writing skills in romance and drama.
• Interest in-and willingness to learn-how to write effectively for AI video generation tools such as Seedance and Kling. Prior experience writing for AI-produced content is a strong plus.
• Bachelor's degree in Creative Writing, English, Fine Arts, History, or a related field.
• Comfortable writing young adult and adult romance/drama, which may include sensitive and triggering content.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Strong interest in reading novels.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the online reading or publishing industry, both historical and current.
• Passion for content creation and prior experience in the field are a plus.
• Familiarity with AI writing tools is welcome; the primary measure of success is the quality of the final novella.
• Ability to work well under pressure and possess strong interpersonal skills.
• Flexibility to work across different time zones.
• Eagerness to learn and gain experience in the gaming, AI video, and content industry.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced startup environment.
• A deep understanding of the romance genre and the ability to stay current with evolving publishing trends are a plus.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to producing high-quality work.

Application Requirements:

Please provide 2-3 writing samples that best showcase your abilities by sharing links or attachments. If available, include at least one sample of steamy romance or other explicit romantic fiction.

Benefits

$71,000-$75,000/annually, based on experience

Crazy Maple Studio, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.