Nathan Meunier's Blog, page 22

WTF Reviews: Kettle Maple Bacon Chips

File this under “OMFG WHAT?!!!” I was walking through the local “health food” store today, and I spot this on the shelves. My immediate gut reaction: I NEED THIS IN MY BODY RIGHTNOW! My wife spots them about the same time as I do, and just as she starts to gauge my reaction, something to the effect of “uh oh” escapes her lips. YES. Uh oh, INDEED. I am a lover ofboth bacon and maple syrup. But in CHIP FORM? What?! My mind is blown. This is a new thing altogether. Read on for my review.

So my wi...

Shop Talk: Quick Tips To Simplify Your Writing

It’s possible to write elegantly without weaving an overabundance of flowery words throughout your prose. Just because a big word looks and sounds cool in the thesaurus doesn’t mean it belongs in your game review or feature article. Instead of writing to make yourself sound intellectually stimulating, try writing in a conversational tone that’s more digestible and easier to read. Your readers shouldn’t have to pull out a dictionary to decode what you’re trying to say.

The average attention spa...

Freelance Game Journalism Video Chat w/ Nathan Meunier and Dan Amrich at GameZone

Yesterday, I joinedformer game journo editor and Critical Path author Dan Amrich for a video interview on Google Hangout with the rad folks at GameZone. We had a fun time chatting about how we got our start as freelancers in the game industry and tackled a range of questions related to writing, freelancing, and game journalism. It was a great time and a fun way to promote our books. If you’re interested in writing about games at all, check outmy new book Up Up Down Down Left WRITE: The Freela...

UUDDLW: “And Twitter Says:”

For those of you who might have missed it, my new book Up Up Down Down Left WRITE: The Freelance Guide to Video Game Journalism has been out for almost two full weeks now! A lot of folks have picked up a copy and already dug into it, and I’ve been getting excellent feedback from readers! One of the most exciting things I’ve been hearing is that somepeopleare putting the book to practical use immediately and are already finding success with the advice on pitching editors, taming obstacles, and...

Shop Talk: Hunting Down Good Sources to Interview

Finding the right people to talk to for your articles can be a challenge at times, butgetting the right sources can make a world of difference in how your final piece comes together. Thankfully,it’s a hurdle that’s easily overcome with some detective work and a little creative thinking. The process begins with the type of article you’re writing, the topic, and your specific angle. Nailing down those three elements makes figuring out the rest a lot easier. Then it’s time to rally the troops an...

Game Journo Guide Friday Book Giveaway Contest!

Hey, today is my birthday! Woo! In celebration of leveling-up to age 33 AND the launch of my new book earlier this week, I’m going to be giving away three ebookcopies of Up Up Down Down Left WRITE: The Freelance Guide to Video Game Journalismtoday! There are THREE ways to enter this little promo contest, and doing all three entry method tasks will triple your chances of winning a copy (only one copy per winner). I’ll be selecting onewinner at random from thefolks who enter ineach category. It...

Rymdkapsel Review (@MacLife)

“Rymdkapsel is what we imagine playing an isometric, real-time strategy space game on the Atari might have been like back in the day – if the genre had existed then – and it’s fabulous. The complexities that come from gathering resources, expanding your space station, generating new minions, and defending your galactic turf from waves of invading aliens contrast wildly against the simple 8-bit style aesthetic and tightly focused scope. There’s a certain charm to its simplicity, but enough dep...

Shop Talk: 9 Twitter Tips for Freelance Game Journos

Networking is one of the most valuable skillsyoucandevelop as part of your freelance tool kit. Well-connected writers have a much easier time scoring gigs and drumming steady up work, and when it comes to socializing, making connections, and gathering the latest video game industry scuttlebutt, Twitter is where the action is at. Tons of editors, writers, and freelancers in the game journo world use Twitter daily, which is why it should be one of your top social networks of choice if you’re in...

Shop Talk: BOOM! The Bookpocalypse Is HERE!

This is it. Zero hour. My first book Up Up Down Down Left WRITE: The Freelance Guide to Video Game Journalism is finally out in the wilds,available in print and on the Kindle (and assorted e-devices via the free Kindle Reader app)! It’s been a crazy launch day, and I’ve been really encouraged by the response so far. Creating a book from the ground up has been an amazing and intense experience, and it’s awesome to have it finally out! Rather than ramble on and on about it, I figure I’ll cap of...

Ask The Freelance Dude #22 – A Balancing Act

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Dear Freelance Dude,

I struggle with the idea of pitching before I’ve written anything, especially when I don’t know how much time I’ll have to write the commission. Sometimes I’ll come up with an idea, will begin writing it, and realize there aren’t any legs under it or it’s pretty unoriginal. But I also understand that if I don’t send pitches and spend my time developing my ideas, I’ll be losing a ton of time writing content that may be rejected anyway.

Ho...