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Some frequently
asked questions about freelance poker writing.
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Q: What is
freelance poker writing?
A: Since there is no established
definition for this term, I define it as follows: “freelance writing for
poker and gaming media.”
While I was researching and interviewing
writers for my book, I met two classes of freelance poker writers. One group is
the diehard poker writers who write strictly for poker magazines and poker
websites, and usually that’s all. They also blog extensively about poker
and poker tournaments.The other group is (general) freelance writers who write
for a slew of poker-related magazines and websites, and don’t confine
themselves strictly to poker magazines and websites. They like the ability to
be flexibile and make additional income in other markets that cover poker and
gaming. Secondly, poker writing is more than writing about the games of poker;
it also involves writing about the influences of poker and gaming. (For more
info. on freelance poker writing, read an excerpt at
http://www.freelancepokerwriting.com/bookexcerpt1.php)
Q: What are the going rates to write for poker magazines?
A: The starting pay rate for beginners isn’t so great.
Mainstream poker magazines pay between .10 and .15 cents per word. Sometimes
this can be less if you are just starting out. Established professionals earn
between .25 and .65 cents per word, depending on several factors. Of course,
there’s always the potential to earn more from a poker magazine. Also,
poker trade magazines usually pay more than mainstream poker magazines.
Many freelance writers look outside the realm of poker magazines to
non-poker magazines that cover topics related to poker and gaming; these
include magazines that cover women’s issues, men’s issues, lifestyle,
entertainment, sports, gaming, law, and so on. These magazines tend to pay
more. Professional writers can earn $1 per word and up.
Q: How do
the new laws banning online gambling for money in the U.S. affect freelance
writers?
A: Not sure. It’s too early to tell. I know
some of the U.S.-based mainstream poker magazines have lost advertisers. Some
of their high-paying advertisers and sponsors were offshore poker rooms. Now
U.S. poker magazines are scrambling around to secure new advertisers. This has
resulted in some popular poker magazines and websites using less freelance
writers for now. This hasn’t affected poker trade magazines, as most of
them did not rely on these types of advertisers. It’s common sense the
popular poker magazines will rebound. They were thriving before the boom of
offshore online poker rooms, and they will still thrive. Poker and gaming
continue to grow dramatically in both revenue and public interest in the U.S.
There will be other advertisers. Other writing opportunities, such as SEO
writing, ghostwriting, book writing, freelance copywriting, writing for local
publications, and writing about the influences of poker, continue to provide
good paying writing gigs.
With the recent defeat of Senator Bill
Frist, who had cowardly attached the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act
to the Safe Port Act, H.R. 4954 for political purposes, many feel, as I do,
that online gambling for money in the U.S. is headed for regulation. However,
this may be later than much sooner. You can find some tell-tale signs that
onling gambling in the U.S. is best regulated than outlawed. Online gambling
for money is surviving and thriving everywhere. Plenty of online poker rooms
are still open to U.S. players; and some U.S. gaming businesses are striking
sponsorships and business deals with foreign casinos and online poker rooms.
U.S.-based casino giant Sands of Las Vegas recently signed a deal with
Cantor Gaming to launch an online poker and gaming operation in the U.K. This
deal is significant because this development could possibly serve as an example
of how U.S. land-based casinos could regulate online gambling in the U.S. Let's
see what happens.
Q: How do freelance writers break into this
industry?
A: I answer this question extensively in my book,
so I will be brief. Some writers start their own blogs. Other writers pitch an
article idea to an editor. Yes, that’s it. No real big secret. Of course,
you have to know your stuff. You can’t fake it till you make it in this
industry.
Q: What’s it like covering a major poker tournament?
Is it as chaotic as it seems?
A: Depends on who you ask,
and what your role is at the tournament. If you are at a tournament as a
freelance writer to gather your own material, it can be hectic. There’s a
lot going on and a lot to do. At the big tournaments, you don’t have easy
access to the poker players as you’d like. You need to go with a set of
objectives on what you want to cover, who you want to interview, and so on.
Also fit in time to network and schmooze before, during and after the
tournament. Every tournament has its own set of rules and agenda. If you have
questions about what you can or cannot do as a freelance writer at a
tournament, contact casino management. They will tell you. If you are at the
tournament on assignment from a major magazine or media outlet, or contracted
by the casino to report on the tournament, usually it is more organized and
less chaotic since you are situated better around the viewing area and
management is there to help you out in most cases.
Q: Can you
give me some poker writing advice?
A: Here are a few
tips:
1. As a writer, you should know the biggest names in poker
play their games at the Bellagio on the Strip. Wynn’s Las Vegas tried to
tap into luring players over from the Bellagio; as of this writing, Wynn’s
Las Vegas has been unsuccessful. The best players in the world play at the
Bellagio. Most of the time, you’ll spot these players playing high stakes
poker during the weekdays and occasionally in the early mornings of the
weekend.
2. Even with the recent banning of online poker for
money in the U.S., online poker in general is one of the biggest places to
gamble in the world now. At any time, day or night, online poker players can
log onto the poker room and find over 50,000 players from around the world
ready to play a competitive game of poker. There are more and more poker rooms
stomping onto the online poker scene outside of the U.S. As a writer, you need
to know about the top poker rooms. It is important also to know the software
companies that develop these online casino-style games.
3.
Remember to learn your casino destinations as well as the horse tracks that
offer poker rooms with tournaments. You’ll need to do your research so you
know where the games are, when these games are played, and something about the
areas which host some of the biggest games in the business!
4.
Know something about the affiliate business in gaming. You will probably run
into a lot of different affiliates who will offer you a lot of writing
opportunities. Knowing a little bit about their business will help you cash in.
5. Read my book.
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Learn everything
you need to know to freelance as a poker writer in my book, FREELANCE POKER
WRITING: How to Make Money Writing for the Gaming Industry © 2007
Brian Konradt
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