So I’ve been spending almost my whole day in front of my computer. Nine in the morning to Midnight when I don’t have other commitments. What am I doing? I’m working. Reading, tweeting, writing e-mails… an endless stream of words in front of me. You’d think a games journalist would be playing more games.
The inestimable John Walker wrote this the other day as a guide to new games journalists. His main point is about sticking up for yourself and not giving someone valuable words without getting your share of the profit. All my free writing is available here on my blog, so I’m good there. But the thing that strikes me is how he de-emphasizes the actual playing of games. I mean, I kinda thought I was unique; that I was just copying habits I developed in history by spending as much time learning about the source as I did with the thing itself. Turns out that’s just the business.
I have a certain advantage. I write mostly about indie games. They are usually shorter, and there are fewer that have reached the public eye. The guys I want to interview are desperate for the publicity in most cases. The hangup is that you are writing lower profile pieces. People are less likely to read your work, so it’s worth less money. I’m guessing I could get some good cash out of claiming I’ve found the new Minecraft, but I haven’t. Or at least not one everyone else hasn’t already found.
The other hangup is that I’m a freelancer. There are an awful lot of stories I can’t get because I’m not going to be able to get an article in before a good staff writer picks it up. I offset that by going indie and doing a lot of research-heavy projects, but still, the escapist hasn’t gotten back to me on a single bloody article, and I suspect it’s largely my fault for not writing about escapisty stuff.
The thing is that all the hangups don’t matter. I write. I love writing. I love reading and criticizing writing. John may come off as a bit of the gruff and grizzled veteran in his post, but I think it’s a facade. It isn’t a warning letter to all those who would write about games for free, it’s an impassioned defense of a livelihood he loves, and doesn’t want to see bastardized by sub-par editors who exploit well-intentioned young hobbyists for shoddy copy. He’s right. They don’t really want to do this. This sucks. Except for the writing.
So if you’re game, buy yourself an AP Writer’s Guide and a copy of Strunk and White and start writing. The worst that can happen is you learn to write.
