Tag Archives: freelancing

Shop Talk Interviews: Episode 1 – Andrew Groen on kickstarting his new Eve Online history book

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In this debut installment of Shop Talk Interviews, I talk with long-time game journalist Andrew Groen about the massive Kickstarter success off his new book project: A History of the Great Empires of Eve Online. We chat about the project, cover some tips on how to run a slick book Kickstarter campaign, and also briefly touch on turning long-form articles into books.

If you like the show, stay tuned! I’ll be having other special interviews in the near future on a sporadic basis. You can also tune into my regular bi-weekly podcast The Freelance Game, which covers the ins-and-outs of the writing life and freelancing in the video game industry.

 

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The Freelance Game Podcast Ep 6 — Hitting The Panic Button!

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We’ve all had moments of panic in our freelance careers. Those terrifying days you wake up and suddenly discover that half of your steady workload has evaporated in a split second. Or maybe a major outlet you write for is shutting down. Or an important freelance budget is being cut. Or a killer editor you love working with has just been laid off. Or all of the above! In this episode, we talk about some of the setbacks we’ve faced as freelancers — both in the distant and more recent past — and how to avoid and overcome them!

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Shop Talk: Freelancing (How Not To Do It)

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shoptalk copyI cringe every time I hear about hopeful writers who’ve just quit their day job to start a freelance career — BEFORE they have any steady freelance income rolling in. BEFORE they have any backup savings set aside for an emergency. BEFORE they’ve meticulously thought things through and battle-planned out how they’re going to stay afloat. Listen, how you make the leap to freelancing full-time can have a huge impact on whether or not you ultimately succeed.

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Announcing: The Game Journo Guides Book Series

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You might have noticed it’s been a little quiet around these parts lately. That’s because I’ve been hard at work wrapping up my second (and third books) over the holiday months! With the launch of UUDDLW in 2013 wrapping up a wild and diverse year, I’m excited to forge ahead into 2014 with a lot of new book projects in the works. I may have mentioned it here and there in passing to a few people, but I wanted to take a moment to formally announce the new Game Journo Guides Series, talk about my new book Interview Fu coming out later this month, and give a quick update on other bookish things coming down the pike from me this year!

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Mega Sale on Game Journo eBooks! Critical Path + UUDDLW 50% off through Cyber Monday!

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Are you curious about video game journalism? How about freelancing? Or BOTH? You’re in luck! Dan Amrich and I have teamed up to offer you a huge discount on the Kindle versions of our respective how-to guides on nabbing a career writing about games for a living! Both books complement each other well and are packed with helpful tips and advice for aspiring game journalists and writers!

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Shop Talk: Game Journo Gift Guide Vol. 1 (Book Edition)

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shoptalk copyOh, man. It’s that holiday season thing again, isn’t it? What? Gahhh! That means there’s so much crazy holiday shopping to look forward to in the months ahead. Awesome?! If you’re looking for that special gift (or massive pile of gifts) for that special game journo or writerly-type person in your life, never fear! Here’s the first installment of my multi-part series on killer gift picks for writers, game journalists, and nerd-folks. First up? BOOKS. BOOKS. BOOKS. BOOKS!

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Shop Talk: The Five Commandments of Self-Publishing Your Book

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by Nathan Meunier

shoptalk copyThe publishing landscape is changing dramatically. When it comes to writing and launching a new book, DIY is increasingly becoming the way to go these days. The reasons are numerous. You have more control over the end product and more freedom to experiment. Also, it’s faster, there’s less risk involved, and you can get a disgustingly better royalty rate than with traditional publishers. Self-publishing isn’t what it was a decade ago. It’s way better, though you still have to do most of the heavy lifting yourself. Sadly, that’s often becoming the case with a lot of traditionally published authors too. So why not take control and put together your book on your own terms?

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Shop Talk: Keeping a Pitch Graveyard

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shoptalk copyPitching a steady stream of articles is one of the most important recurring tasks you need to stay on top of as a freelancer. Whether you’re trying to break into a new outlet or are simply feeding fresh ideas to editors you already work with, it can be a real challenge to track the status of the many queries you’re constantly sending out into the editorial world. Many fall by the wayside, but you shouldn’t let them grow cold for too long. Undead pitches can sometimes make the best pitches.

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Shop Talk: 5 Great Sites for Finding Paying Freelance Gigs

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shoptalk copyEven when you have a decent amount of work on your plate, hunting down fresh gig leads is an important part of any freelancer’s regular routine. I spend a lot of time researching new publications to pitch, scoping out potential opportunities, and gathering resources to keep my freelance ship afloat during the inevitable slow spells and rough patches that pop-up along the way on this thrilling writing adventure. Here’s a rundown of some great hotspots around the web for sleuthing out paying gig leads. Read on for the goods!

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