One common misconception I see with aspiring video game journalists is they assume as soon as they write their first review they’ll be rolling in cash and free games. This isn’t true for any job, writing or otherwise, so why would it be any different in the field of video games? If you want to get your foot in the door, you have to start small. Very small. Like, working without getting paid small. It may sound like a waste of time, but if you aren’t willing to sacrifice a little for your craft, you might as well hang up your video game writing hat right now.
Volunteering with a fan-run news site is an easy way to put published reviews under your belt and get a feel for what video game journalism is all about. It helps you hone your writing skills, teaches you to be prompt with your articles, thorough with your research, and timely with your news bites. It also drops a weighty truth that early writers need to get through their heads: writing about video games is work. It’s not just screwing around all day, it’s real work that can be extraordinarily demanding at times. The sooner you learn that the sooner you’ll know if you’ve got what it takes to walk the long path.
I gained invaluable insights with my first few volunteer writing jobs, and when I started applying for paid positions, these served as excellent references to show that I’m dependable. Editors want more than anything someone they can put their trust in to deliver articles and reviews on time. Volunteering at a fansite, even a small one, helps shape your work habits into something more presentable to the career-oriented press. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Send queries to several sites at once, shout your accomplishments from the hills, run your own blog, and after you’ve built a foundation of writing for the sake of writing, you can easily jump into the field of writing for the sake of paying the bills.
One source of apprehension (and guilt) for beginning freelancers is learning the fine art of price quoting. While most websites have a set payrate and aren’t willing to negotiate, you’ll occasionally run across a job where the editor will ask the magic question “How much do you charge?”. It’s frightening at first. After all, you’re being asked to give a number that says how much your work is worth. Bet no one asked you that when you were bagging groceries.
When quoting a price estimate, there are literally dozens of factors you can throw in the mix. There are even websites that offer complex formulas and web forms to help you determine an hourly rate. My advice for new freelancers: forget all of that. There are a few basic things to consider when sending out a price quote. Making sure you’re turning a good profit can come later, for now, you just want to break even!
- How long will it take? – Don’t forget to factor in research, editing, and playing the game if it’s a review. You don’t want to charge a small price when you spend a lot of time working.
- Your experience – Are you just starting off or do you have a robust resume to back up your work? Editors can usually get a feeling for how experienced you are, and it’s a common freelancing mistake to over-quote when first starting out. If you’re new, keep prices low until you’re more confident and your resume is thicker.
- Your market - If you’re writing for a small website, don’t quote a big price they can’t pay. And if you’re being contracted by one of the big guys, don’t be afraid to ask what you’re really worth.
- Quote high – Always, always, always quote a little higher than your initial estimate. Most clients will try and talk you down, and if they don’t, you just scored a little more cash.
- Don’t be vague – Send a solid number, not a price range, and be confident about it.
- Base pay – Ideally, US-based writers would pull in $1 per word. But when you’re writing about video games for websites, that number has to shrink considerably. Instead, start with a base price of $0.20 per finished word and adjust (usually down) as you feel necessary.
Even taking all of this into consideration, it’s still more of an art than a science to quote a fair price. Half the time I find myself going with “what feels right”, which is as subjective as what I want for breakfast today. In the end, put a number out there and stick to it. You’ll learn to raise or lower it as needed, and no one will deny you work because of a high quote. They’ll just talk you down.
As a self-employed writer, you lose one of the greatest assets most professionals take for granted: co-workers. Not too many like-minded people visit your home office each day. But we’re out there, and we want to connect both to further our careers and to discuss the ins and outs of our business. The internet all but erases the barriers to allow communication across the globe. Now the only problem is finding where everyone hangs out!
A fairly recent discovery of mine is the Videogame Journos Network, a social site where fellow writers talk about recent news or just chew the fat. It’s a great source of both inspiration and jobs, and you’ll probably recognize quite a few names there (like me). Don’t be shy!
Of course MySpace and Facebook can be used, but I actually recommend against using them for your professional work unless you keep it confined to just that. A better option is LinkedIn, as it’s designed specifically for business folk to make work connections and further their career. Here’s my LinkedIn profile as an example, and don’t hesitate to add me!
No matter what or how many networking methods you choose, the most important thing to remember is keep at it. Don’t be afraid to tell people what you do (and how good you are at doing it). Half the battle of a freelancing career is learning to plug yourself without sounding like a used car salesman.
Personally, social networking isn’t my thing. But when you’re a writer in a niche market like video games, it’s a necessity, especially if you don’t live in an area where game journalists lurk around every corner. That’s where Videogames Journos Network comes in, a place where game writers of all types gather to discuss the ins and outs of the business. You’ll recognize some of the names I’m sure, and there have been a lot of great discussions going on, not to mention several job listings appearing from time to time. I encourage everyone to sign up (it’s free, of course). Can’t hurt, right?
http://videogamesjournos.ning.com/
And of course, feel free to add me as your friend. 
Although it isn’t as widely discussed as we writers would like, several gaming websites have touched on the video game journalism field in one way or another. Here are a few of the best-known bits from around the web.