As many of you are well aware, writing is something that has been on my mind for years, and though I have been told I have a proficiency at it (when I put my mind to it), I had not spent much time actually pursuing any writing opportunities – until now. First, as I wrote about earlier this year, I had an opportunity to write a little blurb for Kotaku and try to win a chance to help them cover E3 this year. While I did win that contest (though I can’t sneeze at placing third), it ignited my desire to write again, and I have put a little more effort into it recently. Predominantly, I have just put a little more thought and proofing into my blog posts, since that is really the only place I could send prospective editors for published work, but this seems to have started generating a little interest.

A couple weeks ago, I was contacted by on of the Managing Editors over at Bright Hub requesting me to submit an application to write for him. Sure the approval process would be tedious, I acquiesced and soon found myself – a mere two hours later – with approval to write for both the PC Gaming and Console Gaming channels there on the site. My blood was flowing. Perhaps my writing style is of some merit after all.

I have spent the last week working on an article for a very interesting topic dealing with simulation gaming, and I am hoping to have my first article for them published within the next day or so. While waiting on article approval – and still riding the high from being contacted by someone else about writing – I decided to follow up on a recommendation I received from a couple other acquaintances. Having lived in the web development realm for several years, Smashing Magazine has practically become a staple read for me. After commenting on a few articles written by associates of mine, they recommended I submit an application to be a writer there as well: an idea I promptly rejected out of hand.

However, my new found confidence from my opportunity with Bright Hub found me sending in an initial email to the editors over at Smashing Magazine with a simple link to my blog, since I really have no other published works to date. To be perfectly honest, I was expecting to receive a prompt letter of rejection. Imagine my surprise when I receive a response asking for topic ideas and more explanation regarding thoughts I would like to pursue. Again, I sent of an email, this time with a handful of article ideas I thought may be appropriate to that readership, and for the first time in my life, I was told that my topics were too specific. I took that as a compliment.

Now, while I still don’t hold my breath about becoming a writer at Smashing Magazine (though I would thoroughly enjoy that opportunity), I’m encouraged that my communique and few writings to which I could refer were not dismissed out of hand by their editorial staff. Guys, if you are reading this, be aware of the encouragement you can be by simply giving a personal response to someone such as myself. Thanks for that!

Where does this put me? Well, nowhere different yet, really. I’m still awaiting approval on my first Bright Hub article, and I’m trying to find time in my busy schedule to write a couple more articles for them during the month of December. Life is busy, but it is so gratifying to see my own thoughts and writing style being recognized and appreciated by some. What a joy it would be to see this new found writing excitement continue.