Nathan Meunier - Freelance Writer / Game Journalist

Listen to Me Ramble About Freelancing and Book Stuff

nmeunier — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:23:06 +0000

Podcasting, woo! I recently had a great recorded interview with the folks over at Front Towards Gamer for their “Podcast and Bullsh*t” podcast. Chatted with my man Travis Foster about freelancing in the game industry, E3 related stuff, my upcoming how-to book, and other good stuff. It’s a pretty free-flowing interview, wherein I ramble a bit here and there, but there are some helpful tidbits and a few funny moments in there too.

You can stream the podcast online or download it here!

Back Cover for the Book (Work-in-Progress Shot)

nmeunier — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 16:23:20 +0000

Just had to share this. You’re looking at a quick and dirty photo of the work-in-progress painting for the back cover of my upcoming book Up Up Down Down Left WRITE: The Freelance Guide to Video Game Journalism. I am consistently blown away with the amazing work cover artist Blake Wheeler comes up with – particularly since I usually provide him with a crappy Photoshop doodled and hand-scribbled mess with vague notes. This is what he comes up with. Amazing! He’s also been a really stellar guy to work with.

So yeah, the book is coming along! Still shaping up for an August 2013 launch, which is DAMN SOON! I’m wrangling the final bits of front and back matter for the book. Very psyched to have master freelancer, editor, and game journo veteran (and current @Gamer EIC) Andy Eddy on-board writing the foreword for the book. Additionally, editor and freelance comrade Andrew Hayward has been an invaluable asset in shaping the text and helping me spit-shine this beast into something we’re very proud of and eager to share with you all. He’s worked tirelessly on this thing with me over the past few months and numerous rounds of editing and tweaking.

More updates will be coming along shortly, including some early coverage and whatnot. Stay tuned!

Full Scale (Building the Real Millennium Falcon) Feature (@The Magazine)

nmeunier — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 13:19:04 +0000

Super stoked to announce my first contribution to The Magazine is now live! I wrote this fun piece about a group of seriously dedicated Star Wars enthusiasts working to build a full-scale replica of the Millennium Falcon using crowdsourcing online. There’s a touching and funny love story woven throughout the piece too. If you haven’t heard about The Magazine, it’s a very cool site/app that runs a slew of interesting articles every two weeks. ABSOLUTELY worth paying $1.99 a month to subscribe – which also gives you access to all of the back issues.

Here’s the article!

Ask The Freelance Dude #20 – Shopping Around

nmeunier — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:21:50 +0000

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Dear Freelance Dude,

I’m gearing up to start pitching some things but have always wondered what the hard and fast rules on pitching a single idea or spec piece are. Is pitching one piece to multiple outlets a bad idea? Also, can you keep pitching a rejected piece to other outlets until it’s picked up? Are there any other tips to speed up the process or is it best left alone?

Signed,
James A.

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Dear James,

Welcome to the danger zone [cue cheesy Top Gun guitar rock]! Sure, it’s possible to live your freelance life on the edge, but sooner or later you’re bound to hit some turbulence if you play it too fast and loose. Simultaneously pitching the exact same article idea to multiple competing outlets is asking for trouble. It may indeed improve your chances of getting an editor to bite, but it also increases the odds that more than one editor will want to commission the piece, leaving you with a very tough, extremely awkward decision to make.

This type of scenario puts you in the icky position of having to turn around and tell an editor you’ve just piqued the interest of that “Sorry, I just sold this piece to your competition! Whoopsie!” As you can imagine, pulling this kind of stunt isn’t going to endear that editor to giving you another shot down the road. It might even put you on their blacklist of freelancers to ignore. It’s far better to play it safe and keep your pitches targeted at one publication at a time.

Of course, rejection or lack of a response from one outlet doesn’t have to be the death knell for your article pitch. It’s totally fine to take your pitch and try it elsewhere if it gets shot down by an editor or if enough time has passed without any reponse to your follow-ups. If you do decide to try firing your pitch to another outlet, it’s a good idea to take a moment to look it over, see if there’s any way you can improve it, and make any necessary adjustments to better tailor it to the new publication you’re targeting.

If the waiting game is driving you nuts, it’s OK to follow-up a few times with an editor to inquire about the status of your pitch. Aside from the fact they’re often extremely busy, there are many other reasons why an editor may take awhile to get back to you. Not all of them are bad either. Try to space your follow-up e-mails out by a week or two. If they don’t get back to you after a few polite attempts, that’s a good time to start thinking about pitching elsewhere.

When all else fails: On your final attempt to get an editor to respond, consider including a polite note to let them know you appreciate their time but intend to pitch the article elsewhere if you don’t receive a response in the next few days. If they don’t get back to you by that point, you have your answer.

Good luck!

Best,
The Freelance Dude

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Follow @nmeunier on Twitter for more writing advice, game industry commentary, and freelance shenanigans. Also, keep an eye out for his upcoming book Up Up Down Down Left WRITE: The Freelance Guide to Video Game Journalism launching this August! You can also follow @gamejournoguide on Twitter to stay up-to-date on that.

Have a writing, freelancing, or game journalism related question you’d like answered? No problem! Hop on over here for details on how to submit it to The Freelance Dude!

Freelance Game Journo Guide Book Update

nmeunier — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:01:07 +0000

So once upon a time some freelance writer dude who makes a living writing about video games for lots of awesome magazines and websites across the universe had an idea: to write a book and jam-pack it full of in-depth, useful advice for aspiring game journos and established writers looking to carve out a career freelancing in the game industry. Oh hey, that’s me! And the book? Up Up Down Down Left WRITE: The Freelance Guide to Video Game Journalism. It’s coming out in just a few more months! Here’s an update on the project, where it’s at, and how you can help (if you feel so inclined) to spread the word as we gear up for this launch, DIY style.

The Book and Where It’s At

So what is this thing? Up Up Down Down Left WRITE is a detailed how-to guide that gives you everything you need to break into the gaming industry as a freelance writer, then build up towards making the jump to a full-time career covering games and the people who make them. Designed for both total newcomers and more established writers who are already in the thick of it, the book covers a wide range of topics, from how to generate amazing pitches and get the attention of editors to juggling the more challenging aspects of building a freelance career in this unique and exciting industry.

It’s based on years of professional writing experience both inside and outside of the gaming industry, and it’s backed up by countless hours working with editors and talking shop with freelance colleagues across the industry. But now that you get the gist, enough parseltongue marketing speak.

Since successfully Kickstarting the book in Sept 2012, I’ve been able to finally finish the project, polish it up, and prep for birthing it into the world. Yes, it’s my word baby. Over the past few months, I’ve been working very closely with my esteemed colleague Andrew Hayward, an industry freelancer powerhouse and editor at Mac|Life magazine, to edit the book and expand on any sections that needed tweaking. We’ve just finished that process, and we’re super psyched with how it turned out. I’ve also lined up a really awesome guest to write the foreword. Stoked!

At this point, the book is tentatively scheduled for a public launch in late August 2013. Foregoing any production SNAFUs, you should be able to buy both digital or print editions by that point. Kickstarter backers should have most of their goodies and early copies in-hand before that, though if there’s enough interest I may figure out some kind of pre-order setup for anyone who wants to reserve a copy of the book before launch.

Now I’m diving into pre-production for the print and ebook editions, while also cobbling together a grassroots online marketing campaign to get the word out about this thing. That’s where I need a bit of help.

Press, Publicity, Social Media (and YOU)!

As of right now, I’m doing all the promo for the book myself. I’m a DIY kind of dude. Always have been. Maybe I’m a little crazy? Yes, I think so too. STOP THE VOICES GGNNNAAAAA! (Kidding…?)

With the book slated to launch in August, I’ll be looking to line-up as much press and social media love for the project as possible leading up to and right around the release window. To get the ball rolling, I just launched an official website for the book (http://freelancegamejournoguide.com/), which has some good starter info up there and a sample chapter you can check out. There’s also now a dedicated Twitter feed for the book (@gamejournoguide), if you feel inclined to follow it and RT to your peeps (or Tweeps? Tweepers? Wha?). If you’re on the Facebooks in Facebook Land, you can LIKE the Up Up Down Down Left WRITE magical facebook page thing. Doing any or all of these things will make me love as a human being (unless you’re not one), or, failing that, at least you’ll be connected to the latest news on the project.

If you’re an editor or writer who is in a position to run coverage in your magazine or website – be it news, an interview, a book review, a podcast appearance, or whatever – please get in touch. I’m available for that kind of stuff, and I’m also building a press list of outlets and individuals interested in running coverage of some sort. I’ll be putting together an official press release to send out closer to launch too.

Additionally, I’m making a list for review copy requests. I’ll be sending out a limited number of digital copies to press, bloggers, and other media-type folks. Early “reviewable” copies will be available soonish (AND you don’t need debug unit to review them! HAHA! I made a funny!). Keep in mind these will be in digital PDF format only – I don’t anticipate sending out many physical review copies, because that gets expensive quick. Also, please only request a review copy if you are in a position to actually write up review coverage. Thanks!

So yeah, if you’re a member of the press (games or otherwise) interested in generating coverage, don’t hesitate to contact me. Same goes for other folks who run websites (focused on gaming, freelance writing, etc.). And if you’re just some random dude or dudette on the internet who feels like sharing this on Twitter, Facebook, or anywhere else, that’s cool too! Much appreciated. High fives!

Beer Nerdistry Quickie: Smuttynose IPA Review

nmeunier — Thu, 09 May 2013 22:12:24 +0000

There’s something oddly comforting about the old farts hanging about in their lawn chairs on the label of Smuttynose’s “Finest Kind” IPA. Perhaps I’m gazing into my distant future? Life could be worse, right? Cracking the cap off, this 6.9% ABV American IPA pours a effervescent light golden color with a meager white head. A subtle floral fragrance wafts out of the pintglass mingled with a strong blast of yeast aroma. It’s a curious blend that lacks the heavy duty citrus you so often see with the style. The hop flavor starts off subdued, balanced nicely by a subtle sweetness from the malts, but it picks up towards the tail end with a bitterness that creeps in and lingers on the tongue. This lightbodied IPA is deceptively complex and quite drinkable, but it doesn’t inspire me to hit the fridge for another pint.

Verdict: C

Don’t Starve Review (@GameSpot)

nmeunier — Thu, 09 May 2013 14:43:16 +0000

“Like in any extreme survival situation, the early moments of Don’t Starve’s grueling-yet-fascinating struggle to stay alive are electric. Suddenly the clock is ticking. Confidence is high as you first explore a vast open-world wilderness teeming with danger. From trapping a rabbit for the first time to crafting an axe to chop precious firewood before nightfall, every minor accomplishment that keeps you ticking is immediately gratifying. But as the days draw on and dodging death’s icy grip gets harder, the rigors of this unflinchingly brutal roguelike adventure chip away at your patience.”

Check out the full review here at GameSpot.

Sanctum 2 Hands-On Preview (@IGN)

nmeunier — Mon, 06 May 2013 13:28:45 +0000

“It’s great to see Coffee Stain Studios is taking a much-needed baseball bat to the ol’ bees nest for Sanctum 2, the upcoming sequel to its cool first-person shooter/tower defense hybrid, upping the danger and the action in the process. For instance, unlike their more docile brethren from the original game, Sanctum 2′s swarms of alien bug creatures want to gnaw your face off and curb stomp you into nothingness. They don’t mind taking a quick detour for a little human snack as they malevolently march towards your power core.”

Check out the full preview here at IGN.

Sang-Froid: Tales of Werewolves Review (@GameSpot)

nmeunier — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 12:29:12 +0000

“When you’re in the remote wilderness of werewolf country, hunkering down and chopping up all manner of horrific beasts night after night doesn’t seem like the smartest alternative to simply running like hell, but Canadian lumberjack brothers Jacques and Joseph are made of tougher, more stubborn stock. Their quest to save their sister from the demonic fanged beings of the night in Sang-Froid: Tales of Werewolves requires careful planning during the daylight hours and precise execution when the sun goes down. All of the neat ideas at play in this distinct tower defense/third-person brawler hybrid ultimately keep the rough edges at bay long enough to let the cyclical blend of strategizing and action take hold.”

Check out the full review here at GameSpot.

Terraria (Console Version) Review (@IGN)

nmeunier — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 12:46:21 +0000

“Imagine what Minecraft might be like if it had been made with pixel art sprites and released in the Super Nintendo era. That sums up the overall vibe of Terraria pretty well. This devious little indie sandbox game borrows so many ideas that it essentially is Minecraft in 2D, but it also beefs up the familiar gameplay in exciting ways. There’s a lot more creepy-crawly stuff to kill, and the staggering number of deadly doodads you can MacGyver together to slay them with is mouth-watering. There’s some gnarly fun to be had in these uncharted depths.”

Check out my review of the console versions of Terraria, including a snazzy video review, here at IGN.