This past week, I became a game review contributor for a site called Multiplayer Hub.  I get the opportunity to review video games (yah!), write about them (double yah!), and get paid for it (wooo!).   Yeah, I’m pleased.  Reviews will start showing up on the site Feb 1st.

Admittedly, it’s a (very) small position, but I’m hoping that it will help get me into a steady schedule of writing and give me exposure to grab larger projects.  As for money, it’s Cookie Money*.  Not a lot, but enough to make it worthwhile.

Stepping out and even offering my services for the position was a bit nerve wracking.  Every writer will attest to this – you’re putting yourself out there on a pedestal for others to examine, accept, or reject.  Fortunately, it worked out for me and has given me a bit of confidence.

So this flows into another project I’ve been working on – http://www.matthughes-ink.com, my freelance writing website.  Consider this my official first step into the realm known as Freelance Writing, aka ‘The Art of Writing and Getting Paid For It’.

Freelance writing has been something I’ve been interested in doing for a long time.   I’ve read about it, browsed a lot of forums, and tried to think up ideas (that’s the hardest part for me).  While at Viable Paradise, I talked to a bunch of my classmates who were freelancers and learned from them.  I also had a nice long conversation with John Scalzi that cleared up some concerns.  After working out the kinks and thinking about it for the past couple of months, I decided to take the plunge.  I’m even getting business cards, which I’ll probably give out more often than the ones I have for my full-time job.  Go figure.

No, I don’t expect this to mean I’ll stop working full time (Rule #2 – Don’t Quit Your Day Job), but I do expect it to give me experience, confidence, and general fun.  And if some extra money goes into my pocket, even better.

So …got any writing that needs doing?

* I don’t drink beer, thus, Beer Money becomes Cookie Money.