Crush! Frag! Destroy! is always looking for new writers with fresh viewpoints and unique perspectives on the video games industry and the culture that surrounds it.
Writers of all experience levels are accepted – a good writing sample from a first-timer will draw our attention far more than someone who has a lengthy resume or a journalism background, but provides dry, boring clippings in their application. The only real requirements are a passion for the industry and a desire to help grow the site by providing some top-notch material for our readers to enjoy. And let’s be honest, would you really want to write for us if you didn’t already feel that way?
So, do you think you have what it takes to write for us?
Things to keep in mind:
- This is not a paid position - The costs of running the site are all currently being paid, out-of-pocket, by the owner. This means that beyond the occasional free game to review (see below for more on that), this isn’t for pay. We’re all doing this first and foremost out of our love for the industry. Beyond that, we all write for different reasons: creative expression, resume building or just for the fun of it. If the site ever reaches a point of self-sustainability, we will, of course, begin to look into ways to compensate our writers; just don’t enter into this expecting a paycheck.
- All new writers start off on a 45 day probation period – During this period, new writers will be evaluated before being “officially” added to CFD!’s staff. We reserve the right to terminate partnerships with probationary writers without any additional notice. We do occasionally receive review copies of games from publishers, though as a smaller site we obviously don’t get everything that comes out (or even everything we request). Writers will not be considered for review copies until after they have exited their probationary period. Please keep in mind, review copies are a perk rather than something guaranteed. If you think that applying is an easy path to a pile of free games, you’ll just end up disappointed.
- Have a basic command of the English language - If your application and samples are badly written, full of poorly constructed sentences, incorrectly used metaphors and idioms, or otherwise read as if they were originally written in another language before a clumsy translation attempt, your information will very likely move directly to the trash. Obviously some spelling and punctuation errors happen – we’re only human, after all – but there’s a pretty clear line between a few misplaced commas or forgetting to spellcheck and having a couple of misspelled words slip through and just not being able to string together a coherent sentence. Making a good first impression, it should go without saying, counts.
- We’re looking for writers who stand out - Having a voice and style that makes you distinct helps your application jump out from the others. If you stand out in the application pile, you’ll stand out to readers. By the same token, using unnecessarily florid prose or trying way too hard to be witty or edgy is just as bad and being too dry and boring. Yes, it can feel like a hard balance to strike sometimes, but it is achievable.
- Regarding the ownership of your writing - You still retain ownership of your writings for your own personal use – you are perfectly free to repost them on your own site/blog, add them to your portfolio, etc. – with the following exceptions: a) You will not repurpose or republish writings (including, but not limited to news, features, editorials and reviews) as content for other video game related outlets (personal blogs hosted at gaming sites, such as those at 1UP.com are exempt and are covered under clause b), b) That if you decide to repost a piece elsewhere, you must credit that the work originally appeared on CFD! and link back to it, and c) If you decide to stop writing for CFD!, that you allow your previous work to remain on the site. Exceptions to these rules can be discussed on a case-by-case basis.
Still here?
Good. Let’s get on to what we need from you.
Send an email with a brief introduction to submissions@crushfragdestroy.com and we will send out an application containing all the information that we’ll need to collect from you. Please have two or three writing samples ready to return along with your application.
Thanks for your interest in joining the team at Crush! Frag! Destroy! – We hope you’re what we’re looking for and look forward to hearing from you soon!
