Love video games, geek culture, and sharing what you know with other players? The Outerhaven is looking for freelance contributors who can bring strong ideas, useful information, and their own voice to our coverage.
We’re an independently operated gaming and entertainment publication covering video games, hardware, anime, entertainment, and geek culture. We’re looking to expand our freelance contributor pool with writers interested in creating game guides, features, editorials, lists, previews, reviews, and other content that fits what we do.
You don’t need years of professional writing experience to pitch us. If you know your games, can communicate clearly, do your research, and have something interesting to say, we’d like to hear from you.
Why Write for The Outerhaven?
We’re not looking for people to simply churn out articles. We want contributors who enjoy what they’re covering and can bring something useful, informative, or entertaining to our readers.
- Paid freelance assignments with compensation agreed upon before work begins.
- Your own byline and author profile on The Outerhaven.
- Editorial feedback and support from our team.
- Opportunities to write about games and subjects you genuinely know and enjoy.
- Potential access to games for previews, reviews, guides, and other assignments when available.
- Opportunities for interviews and other special coverage when appropriate.
What We’re Looking For
Game Guides
We’re interested in useful guides that actually help players. This can include walkthroughs, boss guides, beginner tips, build guides, collectibles, strategy breakdowns, PC optimization guides, troubleshooting articles, and other content that answers questions players are searching for.
Features and Editorials
Have an opinion about something happening in gaming? Want to take a deeper look at a game, developer, genre, mechanic, trend, or part of gaming culture? We’re interested in thoughtful features and editorials with a clear point of view and a reason for readers to care.
Lists
We’re open to rankings, recommendations, best weapons, bosses, characters, builds, games, and other list-based ideas. We just want the list to have a purpose beyond filling space. Give readers something useful, interesting, or entertaining.
Previews and Reviews
We occasionally have opportunities for hands-on previews and reviews. These assignments generally require familiarity with the game or genre, enough time to properly evaluate the title, and the ability to meet an agreed-upon deadline.
If your idea doesn’t fit neatly into one of these categories but you think it belongs on The Outerhaven, pitch it anyway. Some of the best ideas don’t fit neatly into a box.
What We’re Looking For Right Now
Our coverage needs change throughout the year, but we’re currently especially interested in contributors who want to create guides, features, and other coverage for the following games:
- Mortal Shell 2
- The Blood of Dawnwalker
- Grand Theft Auto VI
- Brigandine Abyss
- Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2
We’re also interested in upcoming and recently released games that aren’t listed above. If there’s something you’re knowledgeable or passionate about and think our readers would be interested in, send us your idea.
What Makes a Good Pitch?
You don’t need to write an essay just to pitch us. We mainly want to understand what you want to write, why you think it belongs on The Outerhaven, and why you’re the right person to tackle it.
- Your proposed topic or headline.
- The angle you plan to take.
- Why the article is relevant now or why it works as evergreen content.
- A short explanation of what you plan to cover.
- Your familiarity or experience with the subject.
- Links to previous work, if you have them.
Most importantly, make us want to read it. If we finish your pitch thinking, “Why didn’t we think of that?” you’re probably on the right track.
We Want Informed, Original Work
Above everything else, the work we publish should provide value to the reader. Guides should actually help someone. Reviews should demonstrate meaningful time spent with the game. Features and editorials should have something to say instead of simply repeating what everyone else is already saying.
Research and accuracy matter. If you’re making factual claims, make sure they’re correct. If you’re writing a guide, make sure the steps actually work. If you’re reviewing something, we expect you to have enough hands-on experience to fairly evaluate it.
We’re also looking for original work written in your own voice. We’re interested in what you have to say and how you say it.
Who Can Pitch Us?
Everyone. The Outerhaven welcomes contributors from different backgrounds, experience levels, and perspectives. What matters most to us is that you know your subject, can communicate clearly, meet deadlines, and care about producing good work.
Published writing experience is helpful, but it isn’t required. We’re also interested in people with deep knowledge of particular games, genres, platforms, hardware, communities, or other areas that can strengthen our coverage.
Freelance Contributor Rates
The Outerhaven is an independently operated publication and does not have the freelance budget of a large media company or a publication supported by subscriptions or crowdfunding. At the same time, we believe contributors should be compensated for commissioned work.
The rates below are our current starting rates. The scope, deadline, and compensation for an assignment will always be agreed upon before work begins. Some assignments may pay more depending on the amount of research, gameplay, testing, interviewing, or other work required.
| Assignment | Typical Scope | Starting Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Quick Guide / Tip | 300–500 words | $15 |
| Standard Guide / List | 500–800 words | $20 |
| Long-form Guide / List | 800–1,200+ words | $30 |
| Editorial / Feature | 500–800 words | $65 |
| Long-form Editorial / Feature | 800–1,200+ words | $75 |
| Preview | 500–1,000 words | $40 |
| Review | 800–1,200 words | $65 |
| Long-form Review | 1,200–1,800+ words | $80 |
| Interviews / Special Assignments | Varies | Agreed per assignment |
Word counts are guidelines, not quotas. We don’t want writers adding unnecessary paragraphs just to reach a particular number. Write what the assignment needs and write it well.
If The Outerhaven provides a game, product, event access, or other materials needed to complete an assignment, that access is separate from the contributor fee and is not considered payment for the work.
A Few Things to Know
Because our freelance budget is limited, we can’t accept every pitch or commission every idea that comes our way. A good pitch may still be passed on because we’re already covering the subject, the timing isn’t right, or we simply don’t have room in the current freelance budget.
That shouldn’t stop you from pitching us. If an idea fits our coverage and we think you’re the right person for it, we’ll reach out to discuss the assignment, deadline, and rate before you begin working on it.
Ready to Pitch The Outerhaven?
If you’ve got an idea that sounds like a good fit, send it our way using the form below. Give us enough information to understand what you want to write, but don’t write the entire article before contacting us.
We’re always interested in meeting knowledgeable, enthusiastic writers who can bring something new to The Outerhaven.