Game Narrative Kaleidoscope Podcast Episode 3: Mary Kenney
Mar 11, 2026
Mary Kenney, narrative director and senior writer behind Marvel: Wolverine and Spider-Man: Miles Morales, reflects on recovering from online harassment and its toll on creative work. She discusses players as co-authors, balancing indie and mainstream audiences, rebuilding trust, practical healing methods, and using authentic research to deepen characters and community-driven stories.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Player As Co-Author In Game Narrative
- Players act as co-authors in games, shaping emotional and mechanical responses to narrative choices.
- Mary Kenney compares the player to a scene partner who influences tone, pacing, and which verbs the writer supplies.
Protect Your Boundaries After Harassment
- Set healthy boundaries, take breaks from hostile spaces, and do internal healing instead of waiting for apologies.
- Mary recommends leaving toxic websites, protecting parts of yourself, and remembering the majority of supportive players still exist.
Use Small Private Projects To Reignite Creativity
- Use low-stakes creative practice to reignite play and confidence, like pottery or private short stories.
- Mary keeps a trusted friend with whom she swaps short stories so creation feels safe and valued again.