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15 Minutes of Fame: Life as a WoW Insider writer
From Hollywood celebrities to the guy next door, millions of people have made World of Warcraft a part of their lives. How do you play WoW? We're giving each approach its own 15 Minutes of Fame. What's it like when World of Warcraft becomes your job? This week, 15 Minutes of Fame zooms in for the second half of a behind-the-scenes interview with a handful of WoW Insider staffers. We'll muse over what it's like to write about WoW for work, what it's like to play WoW for work, the rewards and frustrations of writing for a living -- and the No. 1 question we get asked by readers: How can someone get started writing professionally about gaming? Zach Yonzon pens The Art of War(craft) every week and creates many of the graphic images you see on our home page, guides and posts. Matthew Rossi, one of the most seasoned hands on the WoW Insider crew, is our resident warrior expert who also writes about game lore and general news. Michael Sacco, a senior editor, started writing at WoW Insider after working at Blizzard itself. Alex Ziebart started out as a weekend blogger and is now a senior editor. Fox Van Allen joined WoW Insider early this year and writes the shadow priest portion of our priest column. Lisa Poisso (that's me) started out writing the professions column three years ago and now works behind the scenes as an editor and turning out several weekly columns.
Call for Submissions: About that big idea you had for an article ...
That inspired idea you have tucked away on your hard drive or in a dusty drawer someplace? Yeah, that one -- now's the time to write it up and send it in to WoW.com. We're taking submissions for one-off feature articles on any WoW-related topic. Current game mechanics, advanced strategies, arts and crafts projects, how-to articles, you name it ... If your article is entertaining and informative, you could see it right here on WoW.com. Your article should run between 750 and 1,000 words. Multiple submissions are welcome; only the very best articles will be accepted for publication. We will not accept proposals submitted under player names or pen names; please use your full, real name and email. Please include your email address again at the bottom of your synopsis in the body of your submission. Links should be included as full URLs in the body of the copy; no active links, please. Artwork is not mandatory, but any you choose to include must be your own work or from Creative Commons. Images should be exactly 580 pixels wide and no more than 350 pixels tall. Please include a description of the content and attribution details at the bottom of your article (along with your email address).
15 Minutes of Fame: Behind the scenes at WoW Insider
From Hollywood celebrities to the guy next door, millions of people have made World of Warcraft a part of their lives. How do you play WoW? We're giving each approach its own 15 Minutes of Fame. Who are the people who write all this stuff, and how did they come to start writing about World of Warcraft every day? Being a WoW Insider writer is admittedly a pretty cool gig. Readers ask us what it's like on a regular basis. Giving a single, accurate answer, however, would be a mighty difficult proposition. Some of us are full-timers, while others pen a single column each week; some of us spend most of our time behind the scenes, and some remain constantly before readers' eyes. Despite being scattered all across the world, we come together every day (well, it's more like a waxing and waning, 24-hour cycle) in the WoW Insider chat room (war room? newsroom? Pandora's box of geekery and chaos?) when we're working. Being on the WoW Insider team is a little like being part of an incredibly tight guild, whose members manage to share not only World of Warcraft and many other interests in common but also their workdays, as well. Although we do have an old, outdated series knocking around somewhere that looks at members of the blogging team, we thought it was about time to give you a fresh look behind the scenes at WoW Insider. Without further ado, let's meet a tiny sampling of the people who work at WoW Insider: Zach Yonzon pens The Art of War(craft) every week and creates many of the graphic images you see on our home page, guides and posts. Matthew Rossi, one of the most seasoned hands on the WoW.com crew, is our resident warrior expert who also writes about game lore and general news. Michael Sacco, a senior editor, started writing at WoW.com after working at Blizzard itself. Alex Ziebart started out as a weekend blogger and is now a senior editor. Fox Van Allen joined WoW.com early this year and writes the shadow priest portion of our priest column. Lisa Poisso (that's me) started out writing the professions column three years ago and now works behind the scenes as an editor and turning out several weekly columns.
Call for Submissions: Confessions of a noob
We're having a great time sharing the voices of our readers on the site -- and readers seem to be thoroughly enjoying both writing and reading our regular guest posts, from articles such as Long exposure WoWtography and Northrend truckers: A tale of WoW OTR to the countless Breakfast Topics that help us blink our way through bleary mornings over a cup of steaming coffee. This week, we're continuing the tradition with a new call for submissions about alts. Have you recently rerolled on a new-to-you class? Show us the other side of life as part of our "Confessions of a Noob: Class X" series, written especially by experienced players who are leveling a new class for the first time. Show us what you're learning about your new class. What has surprised you? Is there something about your class that you're having one dickens of a time remembering? How is your role in groups different? Have you gained a new appreciation for your new class -- or others? We're not looking for narratives telling the story of what your character did while leveling. Instead, we're looking for opinions, comparisons and observations about the process of playing a class that may be very different from the one you're most used to. What are the facets of your new class that make playing this new character a compelling, enjoyable experience? Your title should clearly reflect the class of your new alt (for example, "Confessions of a Noob: Paladin"). Don't forget to provide perspective by explaining what class and spec you're most used to playing.
Call for Submissions: Fill our cup with Breakfast Topics
Help fill the WoW.com Breakfast Topic cup with hot, fresh topics! What's on your mind (and what do you think is on other players' minds) when it comes to the World of Warcraft? Write it up as Breakfast Topic and submit your article for a chance to be published right here on WoW.com. We're looking for Breakfast Topics in our usual conversational style, asking the community for their thoughts on a WoW-related topic. Submissions should be between 200 and 400 words. (Watch that top end!) We're looking for strong writing in combination with topics that will spark an interesting conversation. Only the best submissions will be accepted. WoW.com does not accept articles submitted under player names or pen names; please use your full, real name and an actual email address. Please include your email address again at the bottom of your submission. Artwork is not mandatory, but any you choose to include must be your own work or via creative commons.
Call for Submissions: Pitch us your big idea
And you thought we'd never ask! If you've been dying to propose what you think would be the perfect article for WoW.com, your golden opportunity has arrived. We're taking proposals for one-off feature articles on any WoW-related topic. Current game mechanics, what's ahead in Cataclysm, how-to articles, you name it -- if you can sell us on the idea, we just might give you the green light to write it up. Your proposal synopsis should clearly outline the topic of your article and its major highlights. The synopsis should consist of three to four paragraphs about your idea -- enough to give us a taste of the tone and content you plan to bring to your article. Tell us what your article will be about, give us a basic run-down of the points you will discuss, and let your writing show us the general tone and approach we expect your piece to take. Should we accept your proposal, we'll open an assignment for the article, which will be evaluated separately and may or may not be accepted. Final articles should run between 750 and 1,000 words. We are likely to accept more proposals and make more assignments than we will accept and publish finished articles; only the very best articles will make it through to publication.
Call for Submissions: All about WoW TCG
We're more than a little surprised that there's so little talk around these parts about the World of Warcraft Trading Card Game. After all, players who've been around the gaming scene for very many years tend to have dabbled in card games like Magic: The Gathering. WoW itself would be a very different creation without the influence of games like MTG and the games that inspired it -- so let's talk about WoW's own collectible card game! WoW.com is accepting article submissions from experienced WoW TCG players. What does it take to get started? What's the gameplay like? How do the loot cards tie in, and what's been available so far? Is the game part of the tournament scene? Your article will give readers who've never played WoW TCG a peek into the game and the world of card games.
Call for Submissions: What do you want from your next MMO?
The world of MMOs would be a very different place without the monumental presence of World of Warcraft. At this point, WoW has shaped an entire world full of gamers, setting expectations, conventions and precedents that other games will be struggling to meet (or dodge, or surpass) for years to come. What is WoW's legacy to you? Once you've logged out for the last time and are eagerly preparing to dive into the next big thing, what will you be looking for? WoW.com is accepting article submissions on what you crave from your next big MMO experience. From playstyle to game features, community and social features to casual/hardcore balance, what do you want out of the next MMO you'll play? What has WoW whetted your appetite for that you'd like more of? What would you like to explore in areas WoW never ventured? Your article will clearly relate how Blizzard and World of Warcraft's legacy has shaped your ideas on what you'd like to play in the years to come.
Call for Submissions: Going on a scavenger hunt
So your guild members are sighing with pre-expansion ennui. You've squished the Lich King like a bug. Raid groups are no longer filling. Members are drifting off to other games -- "Back in a few for Cata, guys ..." What you need right now is some good, old-fashioned guild fun: a scavenger hunt! WoW.com is accepting article submissions on in-game scavenger hunts for all types of guilds, groups and players. We're looking for lists (and details) of fresh ideas with events designed for lowbies, mixed levels, endgame raiders, crafters, PvPers, roleplayers, old-world instance runners ... Give us your most creative, engaging ideas. Be specific with instructions and goals, and include plenty of Wowhead links on items, quests, zones and NPCs.
Call for Submissions: Hot, fresh Breakfast Topics
Sweet -- WoW.com's open for Breakfast Topic submissions again! What's on your mind (and what do you think is on other players' minds) when it comes to the World of Warcraft? Write it up as Breakfast Topic and submit your article for a chance to be published right here on WoW.com. We're looking for Breakfast Topics in our usual conversational style, asking the community for their thoughts on a WoW-related topic. Submissions should be between 200 and 400 words. (Watch that top end!) We're looking for strong writing in combination with topics that will spark an interesting conversation. Only the best submissions will be accepted. WoW.com does not accept articles submitted under player names or pen names; please use your full, real name and an actual email address. Please include your email address again at the bottom of your submission. Artwork is not mandatory, but any you choose to include must be your own work or from creative commons.
Call for Submissions: Declarations of war
Does your guild have a declared mortal enemy? Many PvP-oriented guilds (especially those on PvP or RP-PvP realms) keep world PvP and storylines popping with formal guild wars. How do you find a like-minded guild to battle? Do you set rules of engagement? Do you mix in scheduled events, or are things best kept fresh by keeping them loose? How do you prevent incidents from becoming rancorous or personal? WoW.com is accepting article submissions on managing guild wars in World of Warcraft. Submissions should be between 750 and 1,000 words. We will not accept articles submitted under player names or pen names; please use your full, real name and email. Artwork is not mandatory, but any you choose to include must be your own work or from creative commons.
Call for Submissions: Pour us some fresh Breakfast Topics
Psst -- wake up! The WoW.com Breakfast Topic coffee cup is back, ready to be filled up with your submissions. What's on your mind (and what do you think is on other players' minds) when it comes to the World of Warcraft? Write it up as Breakfast Topic and submit your article for a chance to be published right here on WoW.com. We're looking for Breakfast Topics in our usual conversational style, asking the community for their thoughts on a WoW-related topic. Submissions should be between 200 and 500 words; watch that top end! We're looking for strong writing in combination with topics that will spark an interesting conversation. Only the best submissions will be accepted. WoW.com does not accept articles submitted under player names or pen names; please use your real name and actual email address. Unfortunately, the Seed program currently only allows us to accept submissions from individuals living in the United States, as Seed.com accounts currently are not supported by non-US IP addresses. We hope the platform will be closer to readiness for international access later this year. Check seed.com or the Seed blog for updates.
Call for Submissions: Arts and crafts how-tos
Do you enjoy creating World of Warcraft-themed arts and crafts? WoW.com is looking for how-to posts similar to those we profiled in our do-it-yourself gallery a few weeks ago. We're looking for photo-based guides including step-by-step directions. Your article proposal should include one quality photograph of your finished craft, plus an outline of the required materials and one paragraph outlining the basic instructions for the item's creation. Should we accept your proposal, we'll open an assignment for the article, which will be evaluated separately and may or may not be accepted. Do not include more than one photograph with your proposal. Should we accept your proposal, we'll ask you to submit your additional photos directly to us for consideration.
Call for Submissions: Open call for article proposals
And you thought we'd never ask! If you've ever been dying to propose what you think would be the perfect article for WoW.com, your golden opportunity has arrived. We're taking proposals for one-off feature articles on any WoW-related topic. Current game mechanics, what's ahead in Cataclysm, how-to's, you name it -- if you can sell us on the idea, we just might give you the green light to write it up. Your feature article proposal should clearly outline the topic of your article and its major highlights. It should be lengthy enough (one to three paragraphs) to give us a taste of the tone you plan to bring to your writing. Should we accept your proposal, we'll open an assignment for the article, which will be evaluated separately and may or may not be accepted. Final feature submissions should run between 500 and 1,000 words. Artwork is not mandatory, but any you choose to include must be your own work or from creative commons. We will not accept articles submitted under player names or pen names; please use your real name and email. We are likely to accept more proposals and make more assignments than we are final articles; only the very best articles will make it through to publication. Ready to submit? Read up about our guest post program, then sign up for Seed and submit your proposal here. (You can't see the proposal page unless you have a Seed account.) Unfortunately, the Seed program currently only allows us to accept submissions from individuals living in the United States; we hope to be able to accept international submissions in the future. We'll accept submissions for this assignment until 11:59 p.m. EST on Thurs., July 8. Good luck and good writing!
Call for submissions: Fill our cup with new Breakfast Topics
Calling all writers -- the Breakfast Topic coffee cup is back, ready to be filled up with your submissions. What's on your mind (and what do you think is on other players' minds) when it comes to WoW? Write it up as Breakfast Topic and submit your article for consideration through Seed, Aol's guest writer program. We're looking for Breakfast Topics in our usual conversational style, asking the community for their thoughts on your WoW-related topic. Submissions should be between 200 and 500 words. (Watch that top end!) We're looking for both strong writing and topics that will spark an interesting conversation. Only the best submissions will be accepted. Here's what to do: read up about the Seed program, sign up and then submit your article (you can't see the article page unless you have a Seed account). Unfortunately, we are currently only able to take submissions from individuals living in the United States; we hope to be able to accept international submissions in the future. We'll accept Breakfast Topic submissions for this call-out until 11:59 p.m. EST on Wednesday, June 23. In the meantime, we'll be deciding what type of donuts we want to go along with that steaming cup of joe. Me, I'm taking hot green tea, with an English muffin and Nutella. What's your Breakfast Topic accompaniment of choice?
Call for submissions: Qualities of an outstanding raid leader
What motivates you to follow your raid leader into the heat of battle? How does your trusty leader manage to keep your group focused, motivated and on target? And on top of all that, how does he keep the entire process fun? We're looking for an article that outlines the qualities of an outstanding raid leader. Effective raid leaders obviously wield in-depth knowledge of the encounters ... But how else do they make the raid a success while encouraging everyone to want to come back for more? Your article should clearly explain why successful raid leading means more than yelling at Group X to move to Point Y when Event Z occurs. Submissions should be between 500 and 1,000 words. Artwork is not mandatory, but any you choose to include must be your own work or from creative commons. We will not accept articles submitted under player names or pen names; please use your real name and email. We'll only be accepting the very best article. Ready to submit? Read up about our guest post program, then sign up for Seed and submit your article here. (You can't see the article page unless you have a Seed account.) Unfortunately, we are currently only able to take submissions from individuals living in the United States; we hope to be able to accept international submissions in the future. We'll accept submissions for this assignment until 11:59 p.m. EST on Thurs., June 24. Good luck and good writing!
Call for submissions: Top tips for healers
Early this year, we ran a guest post on top tips for DPSers. Just last week, we asked for your articles on top tips for tanks. (We're evaluating those submissions as we speak; the article should be published this weekend.) This week, we're going to complete the triad with a call for articles on top tips for healers. We've all heard the basics a million times ... Tell us the secrets of the very best healers! Maybe you have a list of little-known tricks used by the most experienced healers, or you'd like to share some tips to calm the nervous first-time instance or raid healer. What about the savviest moves for healers in ICC hard modes? Whatever your angle is, it should stand out and provide a top 10 list worthy of bookmarking; we'll only be accepting the very best article. Submissions should be between 500 and 1,000 words. Artwork is not mandatory, but should you choose to include a screenshot, please make sure that it is your own work or from creative commons; images should be 580 pixels wide and between 175 and 350 pixels high. Update: We will not accept articles submitted under player names or pen names; please use your real name and email. Ready to submit? Read up about our guest post program, then sign up for Seed and submit your article here. (You can't see the article page unless you have a Seed account.) Unfortunately, we are currently only able to take submissions from individuals living in the United States; we hope to be able to accept international submissions in the future. We'll accept submissions for this assignment until 11:59 p.m. EST on Thurs., June 3. Good luck and good writing!
Call for submissions: Top tips for tanks
That's right, hopeful writers -- we're back again for what's becoming a weekly call for article submissions. We're enjoying your articles so much that we're opening up a slot each week for an outstanding submission via Seed, Aol's guest writer program that brings your words to WoW.com. This week, we're looking for your top 10 tips for tanks. What's your spin on this topic -- can you tell us the most important things to that tanks should know, or perhaps the handiest little-known tricks used by experienced tanks? Maybe you have tricks and tips to calm the nervous first-time tank, or perhaps you've collected some obscure strategies applicable only to the hardest of the hardcore. Whatever your angle is, it should provide a top 10 list worthy of bookmarking; we'll only be accepting the very best article. Submissions should be between 500 and 1,000 words. Art work is not mandatory, but should you choose to include a screenshot, please make sure that it is your own work or from creative commons; images should be 580 pixels wide and between 175 and 350 pixels high. Ready to submit? Read up about the Seed program, sign up and then submit your article here (you can't see the article page unless you have a Seed account). Unfortunately, we are currently only able to take submissions from individuals living in the United States; we hope to be able to accept international submissions in the future. We'll accept submissions for this assignment until 11:59 p.m. EST on Thursday, May 27.
