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Cory Herndon
Veteran Narrative Designer - Bestselling Author - Voice Actor - Encyclopedic Genre Obsessive Creating vibrant worlds rich in lore, steeped in character, and ready for adventure.
Professional Background
Cory Herndon is a distinguished narrative designer and writer, recognized for his substantial contributions to the video game industry. With a diverse background as a writer and editor, Cory has cultivated a wealth of experience in crafting engaging stories and developing immersive worlds. His remarkable journey spans across multiple high-profile gaming studios, where he played pivotal roles in numerous successful projects.
Throughout his career, Cory has collaborated with some of the most respected names in the industry, including Phoenix Labs and Carbine Studios. At Phoenix Labs, as a Writer, he harnessed his storytelling expertise to contribute to innovative game narratives that resonated with players. Transitioning to Carbine Studios, he took on the mantle of Lead Writer, where he not only wrote compelling content but also led the narrative design team to ensure cohesive and engaging storytelling throughout the projects. His journey at Carbine culminated in his role as Senior Narrative Designer, where he oversaw the narrative direction of major titles, solidifying his status as a leader in narrative design within game development.
Cory's stint at Flying Lab Software saw him excel as the Lead World Designer (Narrative), where he was instrumental in building rich game worlds infused with profound story elements. His earlier experiences at ArenaNet further honed his skills as a Writer/Editor, aligning him with the creative needs of high-energy projects.
His background also includes a significant tenure at Wizards of the Coast, where he wore multiple hats, from Associate Editor of periodicals to Editor and Designer for RPG Research and Development. In these roles, he was able to merge his editing finesse with content development, pushing the boundaries of storytelling in tabletop gaming.
Education and Achievements
Cory holds a Bachelor of Arts in Drama with a concentration in Theatre from the prestigious University of Washington. This academic background laid the foundation for his narrative skills, equipping him with the tools necessary to weave intricate stories while understanding character development, pacing, and audience engagement.
In a career marked by creativity and collaboration, Cory has also developed various competencies, including narrative design, world-building, and writing. His ability to direct voice acting sessions showcases his versatility and command over the auditory elements of storytelling, making experiences not just visually appealing but also emotionally resonant.
His skills extend well into the technical realm, with proficiency in tools such as Unreal Engine, Audacity, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and various project management software, including JIRA and Confluence. This multifaceted skill set enables him to streamline the process of narrative development while communicating effectively with different departments within a studio.
Cory's commitment to excellence in storytelling has not gone unnoticed. His involvement in successful projects has consistently elevated the standards of narrative gaming, earning him a place of respect among peers and fans alike.
Achievements
Cory Herndon's career reflects a strong dedication to storytelling and immersive game design. His contributions have shaped narrative experiences that players find both engaging and memorable. As a former Writer at Phoenix Labs, Corey was instrumental in bringing innovative stories to life, while his leadership as the Lead Writer at Carbine Studios established him as a voice of authority in narrative development.
His role at Flying Lab Software as Lead World Designer (Narrative) allowed him to utilize his profound understanding of world-building to create captivating interactive experiences. Each position he has held involved a blend of creativity and leadership, enabling not only the development of rich narratives but also mentoring the next generation of writers within the studio environments.
Through his work with prominent game developers and publishers, Cory has demonstrated the importance of storytelling in game design. His expertise in localization further extends the reach of narratives he has crafted, ensuring that stories resonate across different cultures and languages. His background and skills in voice acting and VO direction complement his narrative work, allowing him to envision comprehensive story experiences that engage players on multiple sensory levels.
In summary, Cory Herndon's extensive background in narrative design, world-building, and creative writing reflects a passion for storytelling in the gaming industry. With an impressive education, a wealth of professional experiences, and a commitment to immersive game narratives, he continues to influence the narrative landscape of video games. Cory not only produces engaging content but also collaborates effectively with teams to foster an environment of creativity and innovation. His dedication to the craft of storytelling embodies a mission to elevate narrative-driven experiences for players around the globe.
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Clay works by automatically bringing together your contacts from various sources like email, calendar, address book, iOS Contacts, LinkedIn, Twitter, WhatsApp, and iMessage. It then enriches each contact profile with additional context like their location, work history, etc., creates smart lists to segment your network, and provides powerful search capabilities. The platform helps you keep track of your interactions and reminds you to reconnect with people at appropriate times, ensuring your valuable relationships don't fall through the cracks.
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Clay is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Clay beneficial.
Clay offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Clay offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Clay's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
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Clay's AI capabilities are at the forefront of personal CRM innovation. Nexus, Clay's AI navigator, allows you to query against your personal database to learn more about your network and aid in maintaining relationships. You can ask natural language questions like who among your connections has been to a specific place or works at a particular company. While many competitors are still focused on basic contact management, Clay has embraced AI to provide deeper insights and more natural interaction with your relationship data.
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