An Interview with BRIAN KONRADT,
writer of Freelance Poker Writing:
Find out how to Make Money Writing for the Gaming Trade
Q: Inform us about your ebook.
BRIAN: Freelance Poker Writing is the primary ebook displaying freelance writers the way to earn cash writing for the gaming trade.
Q: So it’s not simply writing about poker?
BRIAN: No, it’s writing for the gaming trade normally. This consists of all kinds of casino-style video games. I focus extra on poker in my ebook as a result of it’s the most well-liked recreation and writers earn more money masking poker and the influences of poker.
Q: Inform us about your writing profession.
BRIAN: I’ve been an expert freelance author since 1992. I’ve written for a lot of publications and firms in a number of industries. I’m primarily expert as a copywriter, since most of my purchasers had been companies and advert businesses who employed me to jot down their advertising and marketing supplies. I’ve been reporting on new developments in freelance writing since 1998. I don’t do a lot freelance writing for purchasers anymore as a result of within the final ten years I’ve branched out into different areas. You’ll be able to examine my writing profession at my web site, www.BusyEntrepreneur.com.
Q: How did you give you the thought in your ebook?
BRIAN: I grew to become hooked on Texas Maintain’em when The Journey Channel started airing poker tournaments on TV. I then began taking part in poker for enjoyable and have become much more addicted. My poker habit led me to analysis extra about poker and the gaming trade. Throughout my analysis I met freelance writers who had been earning money on this development trade. I used to be curious about how they broke in and what it was like freelancing on this trade. I wished to inform their story. That is what gave me the thought for my ebook.
Q: What was the writing course of like?
BRIAN: It took me near seven months to finish my ebook. I spent lots of time researching the trade and interviewing writers and poker gamers. As a result of I run my very own enterprise throughout the day, I wrote this ebook in my free time.
Q: What obstacles did you face when writing your ebook?
BRIAN: Getting a few of the data and details right was tough, particularly writing concerning the gaming legal guidelines. Interpretations of a few of the gaming legal guidelines battle with each other and don’t make sense fully, relying on who’s deciphering the legislation.
Q: Who designed your ebook cowl and web site at FreelancePokerWriting.com?
BRIAN: I did. I really like graphic design as a lot as I really like writing. The 2 abilities go hand-in-hand with me. I realized a very long time in the past if you happen to supply each providers to company purchasers – writing and graphic design – you may make much more cash. The talents I had developed from my freelance profession made writing and designing my ebook lots simpler. I even have two unfavorable traits that work in my favor: I’m a management freak and I’ve a (lower than) zero consideration span. I take pleasure in controlling all features of a mission (writing, enhancing, designing, publishing, and advertising and marketing) in addition to juggling a number of different initiatives all through the day. I get bored very simply, so staying busy creatively is my treatment.
Q: Are you able to make a residing writing for poker magazines?
BRIAN: You may make some cash, however don’t stop your day job simply but. Poker magazines (those on the newsstand) don’t pay excessive charges. Common charges are between .10 and .15 cents per phrase. Established freelance poker writers earn between .35 and .65 cents per phrase. Until you’re a author with many clips and many expertise, it is extremely aggressive writing strictly for poker magazines. Poker commerce magazines, however, do pay extra and are much less aggressive, however this requires you to know the enterprise sides of gaming.
Many writers look exterior the scope of poker magazines to different magazines that cowl matters associated to poker and gaming; these embody magazines on ladies’s points, males’s points, life-style, sports activities, betting, gaming, know-how, journey, leisure, legislation and so forth. Many writers do make a residing writing for these magazines. Pay charges are a lot larger, as much as $1 per phrase and typically extra.
Q: What different writing gigs exist for poker and gaming writers?
BRIAN: Match protection, reminiscent of WSOP and WPT; website positioning writing (writing search engine marketing copy) for companies and associates; copywriting (writing for casinos, advert businesses, and gaming corporations); ghostwriting books and ebooks; and, in fact, journal writing (which incorporates writing for newspapers, particular publications, web sites, and blogs).
Q: Which pays probably the most?
BRIAN: That relies upon. Protecting an enormous match could make you loads of cash as a result of you’ll be able to generate many articles and information items with unique content material and interviews. Plus, networking at tournaments is priceless. You’ll be able to nearly assure your self you’ll stroll away with extra writing gigs. Nevertheless, masking a big match requires lots of time – or, ought to I say, lots of non-billable time.
Many writers discover that website positioning writing pays effectively. A shopper will ask a author to jot down 20 articles at 300 phrases every on a subject (utilizing sure key phrases) for $10 per article. A talented website positioning author can whip out these articles in lower than three hours. That’s $66 an hour. Many website positioning writing gigs are usually not for me as a result of I write slowly and I desire writing articles that entertain and educate readers.
Freelance copywriting within the gaming trade pays effectively. The common hourly price is between $25 and $45 per hour with three or extra years of associated expertise. Many freelance copywriters safe copywriting gigs from advert businesses on this trade.
The most well-liked writing gig, I must say, is freelance writing for poker-related publications, each offline and on-line. Poker and gaming cowl so many matters, and lots of writers promote their articles to quite a lot of media shops.
Q: How do writers break into this trade?
BRIAN: I reply this query extensively in my ebook, so I shall be temporary. Some writers begin their very own blogs. Different writers pitch an article concept to an editor. Sure, that’s it. No actual large secret. In fact, you need to know your stuff. You’ll be able to’t faux it until you make it on this trade.
Q: What’s the handiest advertising and marketing technique to publicize your writing providers?
BRIAN: On-line and offline social networking is the least expensive and produces the most effective outcomes to construct a loyal readership and to construct relationships with potential purchasers. On-line and offline social networking consists of running a blog; networking and schmoozing at poker occasions and tournaments; collaborating in dialogue boards at poker web sites and writing-related web sites; becoming a member of a author’s affiliation to community with different members; making a character profile at MySpace.com; posting informative articles at AssociatedContent.com to generate free publicity in your providers; and so forth. There are such a lot of variations of social networking as of late, I can’t listing all the pieces.
Q: What makes your ebook distinctive or what provides worth?
BRIAN: That’s straightforward – all the premise of the ebook is exclusive. I really feel what provides worth is the interviews with freelance writers and poker gamers. A lot of them are on the peak of their careers. They exemplify success in each conceivable method. I used to be very lucky to choose their minds. The entire writers and poker gamers I interviewed had been wanting to share their experiences so they might assist different writers to succeed.
Q: What’s subsequent for you?
BRIAN: I’m presently underneath contract to ghostwrite two books, one on small enterprise funding, and the opposite on Web advertising and marketing methods. This could preserve me further busy for some time.
Thanks in your time.
