Corey Brotherson

English Language and Literature BA (Hons)

Corey discovered his passion for storytelling early on but found few role models from similar backgrounds, eventually choosing to stay close to home and study English at BCU, where key opportunities—like writing for the student magazine—sparked a successful career in games journalism and narrative design. Now a freelance writer and narrative designer, he’s worked on award-winning projects like Tales of Kenzera: ZAU and Windrush Tales, using storytelling to honour underrepresented histories and build meaningful, culturally rich narratives.

“I had wanted to be a writer since I was eleven years old. At that age, I did not know what kind of writer I wanted to be, I just knew I loved stories. I was fascinated by video games, comic books, films, anything that took me into a new world. But growing up in Birmingham in the early ‘90s, I didn’t have access to writers who looked like me or came from my background. Back then, people didn’t really talk about how they became writers, so it felt mysterious and out of reach.

I chose to study English Language and Literature at what was then UCE (now BCU), and for me, staying in Birmingham was a deliberate choice. I struggled with severe social anxiety at the time and needed to stay close to home and my support system. It also helped that my best friend was going to BCU as well. We navigated university together, which made all the difference.

The course itself gave me a strong foundation in language, storytelling and critical thinking. I got to explore postcolonial literature, children’s fiction, and even tried writing about comics, though not all my lecturers were sold on that idea back then, but they were open to it! But what really shifted things for me was when I got the opportunity to write for the Student Union magazine, Deuce. That was my first ever published work, and the experience that helped me land a place on a master’s in Multimedia Journalism.

After graduating, I started working in games journalism, which eventually led me to a long and rewarding career with PlayStation. I spent over a decade there as a content producer and editor before deciding to go freelance full-time. Since then, I have worked as a narrative designer, writer and editor across video games, comics, books and film.

One of the projects I’m most proud of is Windrush Tales, a narrative game centred on the Windrush generation, including my own family. We’re creating something that doesn’t exist yet: a game about migration, legacy, and culture told through lived experience. When I saw my family play the demo at the British Library, it was overwhelming. It felt like our history was finally being seen in a new light and being honoured.

I was also Lead Narrative Designer on Tales of Kenzera: ZAU, which went on to win a BAFTA Games Award. That was a surreal moment, especially thinking back to the boy who once flipped through gaming magazines, wondering if someone like him could ever write for one.

Freelancing is not always easy. The industry is fast-moving and unpredictable. Some months, the work is constant. Other times, it’s quiet – and as someone who still manages anxiety, that lack of stability can be tough. But I have learned how to build routines, surround myself with community, and remind myself why I do this. It always comes back to the storytelling and the responsibility of telling stories that have not been told before.

For anyone thinking about studying at BCU, I would say, go for it. And don’t feel like you need to have it all figured out. Get involved, write for student publications, seek out opportunities, even the small ones. That first article I wrote for Deuce ended up shaping my career more than I ever expected.

To me, ‘I AM BCU’ means being given the space to grow, both academically and personally. It means being part of a community that supported me when I was not sure of myself yet. It means building a career that might not have followed a straight line, but was always rooted in passion, purpose, and creativity.”