The Joystiq network is looking for a few good writers

by Elizabeth Harper { Oct 3rd 2007 at 7:00AM }

Do you live and breathe massively multiplayer online games? Can you chart the history of your game characters all the way back to Ultima Online? Is the list of betas you've participated in enough to wallpaper a small room? Then you may just have what it makes to join us and make some money doing something you love -- writing about games. The Joystiq network is looking for some talented writers with an interest in those funny "massively multiplayer online" games to add to the team. Have we got your interest yet? Then keep reading for complete application instructions!

Please read all instructions before submitting your application. Incomplete applications will be printed out and used for paper airplane races -- because if you can't follow instructions now, there's nothing to make us think you'll be able to follow instructions if we contract you to write for us.

First off, what we're looking for:

Bloggers willing to commit to writing at least 50 posts a month. (Not sure how much work 50 posts a month is? Take a look at an average-length post on this site. Now multiply that by 50.)
Columnists willing to write weekly columns between 500 and 1000 words.

Anyone who's interested must have:

A passion for massively multiplayer games. You don't have to play every game that's been made, but you should have a solid base of knowledge about your favorite game.

Solid writing ability. Basic spelling and grammar are required -- and the ability to form words without any numbers in them a major plus. Insider tip: we're going to assume that the writing in your application is an example of the best writing you're capable of. Once we see a spelling mistake, grammatical error, or typo, we usually stop reading.
Prolificacy! We want people who can commit to writing on a regular basis.

But there are a few technical requirements as well. Before you apply, be sure you:

Possess a computer and a reliable Internet connection. If you're reading this, that's an important first step!
Have the software and knowledge to create and manipulate photos and screenshots. (You'll need to be able to resize images, but you're welcome to do fancier stuff if you feel like it.)
Know basic HTML. (Our CMS is all WYSIWYG, but sometimes a bit of additional knowledge helps.)
Are eligible to work wherever you're writing from. We can, and often do, contract bloggers from outside the US. The only caveat is that people outside of the US must have a bank account and be able to accept payments by wire transfer.
Are reachable outside of your game world -- via e-mail, IM, Skype, phone, etc.

Still think you're right for the job? Then send us an application to mmo-apply@joystiq.com before the end of the day Friday (11:59 PM EST) including the following:

Absolutely no attachments -- please include everything in the body of your message.
Your full name and whether you're applying as a blogger or a columnist in the subject line. I.e. "John Doe -- blogger" or "John Doe -- columnist."
Your city and state. (If outside of the US, include country as well.)
Your contact information, including email address and any instant messenger addresses.
Availability information -- when and how often you think you'll be able to post.
An explanation of why you think you'd make a good Joystiq network writer.
Some information about your gaming background, including games you've played in the past and games you're currently playing. For current games, please include current characters, classes, and levels. (We don't need you to list every alt, but we want to know exactly where your gaming experience comes from.)
A list of MMOs you're planning on playing at launch.
A list of your top three MMOs, past, present, or future.

For bloggers, also include:

Three sample posts about your MMO (or MMOs) of choice, in the style of a typical Joystiq post.

For columnists, also include:

A proposed theme for your column.
Ten sample topics you might explore. (if you can't think of ten sample topics, you might want to re-consider your theme.)
A sample first column of around 500 words. (Even if you're hoping to write longer pieces, 500 words represents the minimum length we're looking for columns and is enough to give us a feel for your writing ability. We get many applications -- please do not write a novel.)

Due to the number of applications we usually receive, we're afraid we cannot individually reply to each one. However, we hope to make a final decision before the end of the month.

Tags: joystiq, joystiq-network, mmo, mmorpg

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Kazi @ Oct 3rd 2007 7:08AM

Oh boy oh boy, I'll be sure not to apply for this one. I'm so pessimistic with MMOs anymore since UO went to crapville and every MMO became EQ clones.

sheppy2.0 @ Oct 3rd 2007 8:03AM

I ar rite guud 4 yor ebside! I ar guud riter!

sheppy2.0 @ Oct 3rd 2007 8:04AM

Remember kids, Barrens chat may look fun, my it makes you retarded.

timnc @ Oct 3rd 2007 8:14AM

I'd love to write for joystiq, but MMOs are on the way out IMHO. Or maybe it's just me.

ScreamingSkull @ Oct 3rd 2007 8:56AM

Yeah, this. I want to stay away from the new "quarter crunchers" for as long as possible, since I'm still recovering from WoW.

Rob Accomando @ Oct 3rd 2007 8:26AM

I won't touch another MMO after 4 years wasted with Everquest. Guess I won't be applying either. :D

nizzy1115 @ Oct 3rd 2007 8:47AM

what REAL mmo player would be willing to take time away from the game to write about gaming? sorry, not happening.

David Keating @ Oct 3rd 2007 10:01AM

I am currently a writer for a small website, and would LOVE a chance to write for joystiq, but the thing is... I don't like any MMOs. Here's hoping they need someone for some other position in the future. Sadly MMOs are one of the few genres I avoid... they often destroy relationships.

doomcloud @ Oct 3rd 2007 9:35AM

i amz good writerz

Aurvant @ Oct 3rd 2007 9:43AM

Well it's about time. Finally! I can put my obsession of MMO gaming and blogging to good use...or bad.

Edguy @ Oct 3rd 2007 10:12AM

I used to write for a small-time website on the side just for fun. I'd gladly apply, however my current MMO activities apply only to World of Warcraft due to the fact I'm a jobless college student. I used to play Final Fantasy XI until it's economy died. I played a little bit of Everquest, but skipped Everquest 2. I should I picked up Guild Wars because it's free, but never did.

Zatch @ Oct 3rd 2007 10:37AM

I would apply in a heartbeat were it not for MMO fans only. Bummer!

My week trial in WoW, week trial in LOTR Online, and level 8 Elementalist in Guild Wars would be ridiculed beyond measure...

Erron Kelly @ Oct 3rd 2007 10:56AM

I'm applying right now. This is what I've been waiting for, after all.

upz @ Oct 3rd 2007 11:18AM

What's the pay like?

David Keating @ Oct 3rd 2007 12:09PM

I looked up the average pay for a jornalist these days: $37K. I'd be surprised if that's how much this job pays, though.

Lurker28 @ Oct 3rd 2007 11:53AM

This kind of writing style and subject matter is right up my alley. I have enjoyed MMOs since the days of UO and there are quite a few on the horizon that I am interested in.

blooh (CDF - Ass Ring) @ Oct 3rd 2007 12:05PM

kek

sectionz @ Oct 3rd 2007 12:36PM

i would apply but it would take time away from WOW .. and thats BS.

fawazr @ Oct 3rd 2007 12:38PM

The console writers only have to deal with fanboys who think that tea-bagging in HALO is the pinnacle of competitive gaming. MMO writers will have to deal with ULTRA hardcore fanboys who obsess over minutiae that would make most normal people swear off video games and retreat to a mountain monastery.

SB @ Oct 3rd 2007 1:16PM

I didn't know it was possible to play an MMO and have time for other things. I thought those people who MMO'd were too busy dying of starvation and somehow living in piles of money.

I'd love to write for Joystiq, but hell, if I had to start playing MMO's, screw that. I CHOOSE LIFE!

Neebs @ Oct 3rd 2007 2:56PM

I would be extremely interested in doing a "Joe Consumer" column, about, well, being just a gamer. Kind of a silly idea as that would make me a blogger in the industry, and I doubt you'll hire/pay a 15-year-old.

Tricky Thumb @ Oct 3rd 2007 3:19PM

This would take the rare kind of writer/gamer who can play an MMO for a specific amount of time and then pry themselves away from said MMO to write articles of meaning and worth.

Hm, interesting.

Dio @ Oct 3rd 2007 7:41PM

But I don't have a top three list of MMOs :< I also don't plan on playing MMOs when they launch, so...

Purple Haze @ Oct 3rd 2007 8:09PM

I'm not planning to apply as I've never played an MMO before, but back in Joystiq 1.0 when you had the amount of posts people had written in the last 30 days Chris Grant had barely ever written 50 and most people were under 30.

ThornedVenom @ Oct 4th 2007 2:54AM

Wow, back then, I would have really loved the job. I used to beta-test any MMO I could my hands on for free (I was a very sad being in high school).

I'm in college now, and I'm trying to be very studious this time. I'll try to forward this message to another buddy of mine who's even more MMO hardcore than I am and who's had more beta-testing experience than anyone I know. He lives in the England. ;)

Chad_Sexington @ Oct 17th 2007 1:03PM

Have any decisions been made on this yet? I'm curious.

Elizabeth Harper @ Oct 17th 2007 2:11PM

Well, all I can give you is a yes-and-no answer, which I know isn't very helpful. We've made some decisions, but are still debating on our final choices.

Chris @ Oct 17th 2007 2:26PM

Have those final choices been notified yet? I guess what I'm asking is, should I stop getting my hopes up?

Elizabeth Harper @ Oct 18th 2007 5:16AM

Final decisions have been made -- which means that everyone we want to add to the team should either have already received an e-mail from us or will receive one before the end of business on Thursday (10/18). Thanks everyone for your help and patience!