I find it hard to believe that there are more people in the world who love video games than there are people who want to write about them if anything, that gap seems even wider than the skills gap for developers. Still, this means that breaking into gaming journalism can be a challenge.
Thankfully, I’ve been working as a freelance writer in this industry for over 10 years now (and even longer as a gamer).
So if you’re interested in writing about video games and finding your place among the nerds and geeks who call this industry their home, these tips should help you get started:
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Develop a strong passion for gaming and writing to fuel your motivation in pursuing a career as a freelance writer in the gaming industry. |
| 2. Build a diverse portfolio of written work that showcases your writing skills and demonstrates your understanding of the gaming industry. |
| 3. Network with professionals in the gaming industry, attend gaming conventions, and engage with gaming communities to establish connections and gain insights. |
| 4. Stay updated on the latest trends, technologies, and developments in the gaming industry to ensure your writing remains relevant and appealing to game developers. |
| 5. Consider specializing in specific areas within the gaming industry, such as narrative design, character development, or game reviews, to differentiate yourself and enhance your expertise. |
| 6. Be open to freelance opportunities on various platforms, such as gaming websites, game development studios, or freelance job boards, to find writing gigs in the gaming industry. |
| 7. Continuously improve your writing skills, seek feedback from peers and professionals, and be open to learning and adapting as the gaming industry evolves. |
| 8. Embrace the freelance lifestyle by managing your time effectively, setting reasonable rates, and maintaining a professional and reliable reputation in the gaming industry. |
You’ll Need A Portfolio
The first thing you’ll need to get your foot in the door is a portfolio. This can be as simple as a folder or Google Drive doc with extensive notes explaining what you’ve written and why it’s good. It should be concise, easy-to-navigate, updated regularly, and accessible online.
There are plenty of ways to build up such a portfolio; the most common method for many freelancers is through websites like Upwork or Freelance Writers Den.
These sites allow writers to post their work and receive reviews from clients who are interested in hiring them (and also from other writers).
When submitting your portfolio for review, remember that first impressions matter make sure yours is well organized with an eye toward clarity for prospective employers.
If you’re passionate about both gaming and writing, you can turn your skills into a rewarding career. Discover the steps to becoming a freelance writer in the gaming industry with our comprehensive guide on How to Become a Freelance Writer in the Gaming Industry.
Pick Your Niche
To succeed as a freelance writer, you need to pick a niche. You should choose a topic that you’re passionate about and that interests you. It should also be something that you know a lot about.
If it’s easy for you to research, then this can be helpful as well. If so, then there’s no need to spend time researching because everything will already be at your fingertips!
You also have another option writing about something that is easy for anyone else in the gaming industry to research on their own if they wanted to write an article on it themselves (such as how many people play Fortnite).
Use The Right Tools To Promote Yourself
Use Social Media
Social media is a great way to promote yourself as a freelance writer and build relationships with the right people in the gaming industry. Here are some tips:
Be active on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. You can share interesting articles about your niche that you have written or posted by others.
Also use these platforms to connect with current clients, potential clients and other freelancers in the industry (you can find them on these sites).
Start building an audience now before you have published any content at all! The more followers/likes/follows/views (etc.) you have on social media sites like Facebook or Twitter when you launch your site means that people will be able to find out about it more easily.
And more likely to click through onto your site which leads directly into…
Get Some Education And Experience If You Can
The best way to get into the gaming industry as a writer is to get some education and experience. There are many options available, but if you want to be a freelance writer, it’s important that you do something with your writing before applying for jobs.
As far as education goes: if you’re interested in being a journalist or editor, get a degree in English or journalism. This will help open up more career opportunities for you once you’re ready to start working as a freelancer.
While getting an education isn’t necessary if all you want is write about games, it does make the process easier because employers will know that your writing skills are top-notch (and hey you might even learn something new).
In addition to attending school for journalism or English classes related to writing (such as composition).
Consider taking up some electives such as creative nonfiction writing or other topics that can be applied directly toward gaming journalism careers such as sports writing and video game reviews/critiques!
Parenthood doesn’t mean you have to put your writing career on hold. Learn how to balance motherhood and freelance writing with our insightful tips in How to Be a Freelance Writer on Maternity Leave.
Find The Right Publications
Finding the right publications is key to getting your writing career off the ground. It’s important that you find publications that are in the same niche as your writing, and it’s also important to look at publications that pay well and are open to new writers.
Make sure you have a good working relationship with these people, because they’re going to be your foundation for years (or possibly decades) of successful freelancing.
It will take time for them to get used to having you on staff, but once they do, make sure you meet deadlines every time and don’t be afraid to chase people for feedback!
Network With Other Writers And Editors
Networking is an essential part of your career as a writer. It’s the best way to find new work, meet with clients and get your name out there. If you’re just getting started in the field, networking can be intimidating.
You need to know how to introduce yourself, what questions to ask and how much information is too much information when it comes time for introductions.
Below are some tips on how to network effectively:
Be open-minded about who you talk with! Some people will be more helpful than others, but everyone has something valuable to tell you along your journey as a freelance writer or editor.
The most important thing about networking is making connections not just having lots of contacts.
Don’t limit yourself by saying “I only want people who have X experience” because that means limiting yourself from possibly landing jobs later on down the road if those opportunities arise sooner than expected.
Find one person every day who has something interesting going on in their life that they think deserves attention;
Maybe they’ve written some really good articles recently that got published online somewhere or perhaps someone close knows someone interesting in development who needs help writing some dialogue lines for upcoming projects (this happened recently).
This way even though we don’t all have time today; I’ll know there’s always tomorrow!
Devise A Strategy To Find Work
Now that you’re ready to put your writing skills to use, how do you find work? There are many different ways of going about this, and they depend on your personal preferences and skills. Here are some tips:
Approach editors directly by sending an email pitch with an example of your work attached. This can be viewed as aggressive, so make sure that the pitch is well-crafted and professional.
Be sure to include relevant information about yourself in the body of the email such as where you studied journalism or creative writing; what publications or websites have published your work before; any awards or accolades from previous employers; etc.
This will help editors get a sense of whether or not they should consider hiring you based on who you are as a writer rather than just solely based on their initial perception from reading one sample article.
Look for contacts in publishing houses, magazines/newspapers/blogs/websites related specifically
If you have a passion for automobiles and writing, why not combine the two? Dive into the world of automotive freelancing and discover how our expert freelancer made it happen in How I Became an Automotive Freelancer.
Be Prepared For Rejection And Failure
As you start your freelance writing career, you’re going to get rejected. You’re going to take on assignments and have them fall through. You’re going to pitch ideas and not hear back from the client for weeks or maybe never at all.
It’s frustrating, but it’s also part of the process and it can actually help you improve as a writer over time. In fact, failure is one of my biggest motivators when I’m trying something new or pushing myself into unfamiliar territory as a freelancer.
If your first attempt doesn’t work out as well as planned (or better), then that just means there’s more room for growth!
Learn How To Pitch And Interview
Prepare a pitch. To get started, you’ll want to craft a basic outline of what the story will look like and how you plan on presenting it.
Make sure your writing is clear and easy-to-follow, so when an editor reads your pitch they can understand exactly what they’re getting into without having to ask questions or request additional information.
Prepare for an interview. As with any job interview, being prepared is key! This means coming up with good questions that show off your knowledge of gaming culture while also making sure you’re ready to explain why YOU are the best person for this job. Remember: don’t just talk about yourself ask questions too!
You’ll impress potential employers by demonstrating that not only do you have strong opinions but also strong relationships with other people in the industry (that’s why we all love Twitter).
If someone asks about hobbies outside work life, try asking something like “How much time do you spend gaming?” or “What was _________’s favorite game from last year?”.
It shows that even though I’m a writer who lives alone all day long and sometimes even spends hours at night playing video games myself I still enjoy talking about other things besides just myself and my interests.”
Start With Some Low-Level Freelancing Jobs
As a beginner, you have to start at the bottom and that means working for free. You’re not going to get paid right away, but there are plenty of ways to gain experience and build your portfolio while earning valuable contacts in the gaming industry.
Start by writing for yourself or someone else’s blog or website (like ours!). This is an incredible way to get your feet wet by creating content for an audience that may be interested in what you have to say.
If this sounds like something you might be interested in doing, check out our post on how freelance writers can make money from blogging!
Once you feel comfortable enough with the tools of the trade and have proven yourself as a competent writer you can begin pitching stories directly to publications like magazines and newspapers.
These jobs tend to pay much better than freelancing websites because they require more time and effort on both sides of the equation: The publication needs quality content written by knowledgeable authors who can provide an interesting perspective on current events;
And freelance writers need editors who understand their craft well enough to recognize when something doesn’t belong within their publication’s style guide (for example).
Meet Your Deadlines No Matter What
You should also make sure to meet all deadlines, no matter what. Deadlines are important because they’re a good motivator, they keep you on track and they give you a way of measuring your progress.
When it comes to gaming freelancers, the more deadlines you can meet, the better off you’ll be. If a client is late with their payment or asks you for something that takes longer than expected which is common in this industry it’s usually not helpful if you can’t deliver on time either.
Freelancing has revolutionized the way people are hired for various projects. Find out how this changing landscape impacts job seekers and employers in our thought-provoking article on How Freelancing Is Changing the Kinds of People That Get Hired.
The Gaming Industry Is Hard To Break Into But It’s Worth It, As Long As You’re Willing To Work Hard
The gaming industry is extremely competitive. Even with a degree in English and experience writing previews and reviews for the local news team, I had to send out dozens of applications before the right one finally came through.
That said, you can’t be afraid to work hard or fail; both will be part of your journey as a freelance writer. The worst thing that can happen is that you don’t make it into the first round of interviews at big companies like Sony or Nintendo, but this doesn’t mean that it’s not worth trying!
Just keep trying until something happens it might take months or even years (I waited five years between my first application and landing my first job).
But just keep going because if nothing else comes from your hard work then at least someday you’ll have gained valuable experience from having tried so hard for so long.
Blogging is a fantastic way to express your thoughts and expertise while building a freelance writing career. Discover the essential steps to becoming a successful freelance blogger in How to Become a Freelance Blogger.
Conclusion
If you’re still reading this, then congratulations! You’ve made it to the end of the article. It’s been our pleasure writing it for you, and we hope that we were able to answer any of your questions about how to become a freelance writer in the gaming industry.
We know that this can be an intimidating industry at first glance, but with these tips and resources on hand, there’s no reason why you can’t succeed!
If you have any more questions or want to hear more from us on this topic, feel free to leave a comment below and share your thoughts.
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources that provide further information on becoming a video game writer:
Indeed: How to Become a Video Game Writer: Explore a comprehensive guide on the steps and skills required to pursue a career as a video game writer.
ZipRecruiter: Freelance Video Game Writer – What Is How to Become: Learn more about the freelance aspect of video game writing, including the necessary qualifications and steps to get started in this field.
MasterClass: How to Become a Video Game Writer: Gain insights from industry professionals and discover valuable tips and techniques to develop your skills as a video game writer
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Become A Freelance Writer In The Gaming Industry?
First, you need to decide what kind of writing you want to do. Do you want to write game reviews, news articles, or guides on how to play games?
Are you interested in creating your games? Once you’ve decided what kind of work you’re looking for, it’s time to get started finding jobs.
What Do I Need To Be A Freelance Writer?
You need a computer with internet access, a good working environment, and a lot of patience.
How Do I Get Started?
You need to start by writing as much as possible. Try to find any job related to writing and apply for it.
If you don’t get any response, you can always start your blog or business website that deals with gaming. Make sure that whatever you write is well written and informative to attract readers.
What Should I Do After Getting Hired?
Always make sure that you deliver on time! Timely delivery is very important in the gaming industry because most companies rely on their writers to provide them with quality content on time. If you miss deadlines or deliver late, there is no second chance!
How Do I Get Started Writing For Gaming Companies?
The best way to get started is to work with small websites and blogs that cover gaming. From there, you can begin to build your portfolio which will help if you decide to apply for jobs at larger.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.