Ryan Costello

Creative writing multitool and project manager

Ryan's Thoughts

Sharing what's on my mind.
A 2021 vax-selfie, masked up as was the style at the time

Getting Into Con Shape

April 29, 2026
If I expect to keep up with all my responsibilities as a Keycon guest of honour, I need to admit something: I'm out of shape. 

Unless I go out of my way to work out, my day basically goes from bed to desk then desk to dining room and back. When standing while I make my lunch is one of the most active things I do in a day, it's a problem. 

A 2021 vax-selfie, masked up as was the style at the time

My Keycon 42 Panels

March 30, 2026
Keycon, Winnipeg, Manitoba's mixed-media fandom convention, invited me to participate as a Guest Of Honour this year. Bonus, it's the 42nd Keycon, my favourite number for obvious Douglas Adams reasons. Even though this will be my first Keycon, the banner's embrace of The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy tells me I'm going to have a good time. 

The con recently teased this year's panel programming.  I don't know exactly when they'll be scheduled, but here are the panels I'm participating in.

Why I Gave Up On Google

Jan 5, 2026
The days of "don't be evil" are done. 

I don't swear much. I've never felt the need. But even I appreciate that "enshittification" caught on as the word for the gradual decline of the online experience. It's a word that makes a statement. It doesn't even roll off the tongue, which is that much more impressive that enough people heard it and said "yes!" This is a word that captures the feelings of the moment. 

Writing and Design

A selection of my biggest successes as lead writer at Laughing Dragon Studios and as a freelance writer and game designer.

Essence20 TTRPG System

Renegade Game Studios' house TTRPG System.

I co-designed the Essence20 System, and wrote on three of the system's first four Core Rulebooks. 

In the four years since, Renegade published 25+ Essence20 books based on licensed properties, for which I've written over 300 000 words. 

Coal

Coal is a sentimental short film that asks what happens when a naughty child gets coal for Christmas? 

I pitched this concept, earning me a Story By credit.

My story treatment led to Laughing Dragon Studios' first original  property to go into production, funded by a grant from Netflix.

Looking For Group

One of the original webcomics, LFG satirizes fantasy fiction and popular culture, all while telling an epic story with amazing artwork. 

I took over as the comic's writer, only the second person to every write for LFG in its 15 years. When the comic went on hiatus a year later, Lar deSouza, the comic's artist for the entire run, told me "You’re an amazing fun collaborator and a thorough and thoughtful writer."  

Management & Development

Projects I've helped bring to life.

Voltron Social Media

The official Facebook and Instagram pages of Voltron, WEP's IP that's been adapted into four animated series and currently has a live action feature film in post-production with Amazon MGM Studios. 

In the year I managed Voltron's content, the pages archived over 25 million impressions, and engagement grew from 0.72% to 2100%.

Richard The Warlock Action Figure

An action figure based on Looking For Group's breakout character, Richard the Warlock.

Raised $20,794 in 7 days on a $10,000 goal. 

I coordinated with an action figure designer and a toy manufacturer to create an action figure in line with the quality, articulation, accessories, and price of leading collector's action figures on the market at the time.

Field Guide to Action and Adventure 

The ENnie Award winning Essence 20 Roleplaying System crossover sourcebook.

I served as project lead on multiple Essence20 books, The Field Guide to Action & Adventure being the first. Not only is it the first award-winning Essence20  product, it is the first official media in which Power Rangers, one of Hasbro's biggest brands, crossed  over with either Transformers or G.I. JOE. 

Odds And Ends

Older and odder projects I've worked on.

Board Game Bento

A box of board games at your door every month. 

I managed and curated the first and longest running board games subscription box for three years. We worked with some of the biggest board game publishers, including Brotherwise Games, Iello, and Gamewright.

GTFO

Get out of the city before it's destroyed by meteorites. You have the best chance of surviving this apocalypse since you, y'know, caused the meteorite shower. 

An unproduced freemium mobile game that I served as creative lead on, designing levels and developing a monetization plan. 

Book of Wisdom

Loveable loser Danny Brown thinks he's turned his life around after finding a magical self-help book, until the book tries to take over. 

I wrote and co-produced this short film, which played as part of the Tupelo International Film Festival and aired on Movieola. 

Canadian G.I. JOE Convention Comics

In 2009, Hasbro recognized the Canadian G.I. JOE Meet as the official Canadian G.I. JOE Convention

I wrote the main stories in the 2010, 2011, and 2012 Canadian G.I. JOE Convention Set comics, with artist Jason Loo. 

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