The new WoW.com Guest Writer program
by Dan O'Halloran 
Feb 3rd 2010 at 11:00AM
We're going to be using Seed in a couple of different ways:
- We'll be tapping WoW writers around the internet to write specific posts for us. In fact, you will see two this week: one from Chris Dinwiddie (aka Graylo of Gray Matter) and another from Richard Powell (founder of the LoreCrafted blog).
- We'll occasionally call out for anyone to contribute on specific topics and pick the best for publication. You may have noticed us doing one of these already! Our recent call out for tips on running random heroics received dozens of submissions and we're going through them now.
To be crystal clear: we now have two ways of hiring writers. We still have the old way where we can contract writers regardless of the where they live for regular, long term writing on the site and we have this new way which we use when we only want to use a writer once or irregularly. This new way, unfortunately, is limited to writers in the U.S. The geographical restrictions for Seed submissions are unfortunate, but out of our control. If it changes, we will let you know.
Filed under: WoW Insider Business, Guest Posts
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
markwilla Feb 3rd 2010 11:11AM
Might be worth mentioning that only residents of the USA can sign-up for a Seed account.
Shame. I had a nice article on the pros and cons of using damage meters.
Tomatketchup Feb 3rd 2010 11:19AM
Well, that's bullcrap, everyone knows that everything is better at writing than ameri- I mean uh... That sucks.
Sir7 Feb 4th 2010 4:51AM
That was practically a sentence you wrote there.
Dan O'Halloran Feb 3rd 2010 11:28AM
I updated the article to reflect that Seed only accepts submissions from USA based writers. I wish we could open up submissions to everyone regardless of where they live, but Seed isn't under my control.
Dan O'Halloran
Managing Editor
WoW.com
jealouspirate Feb 3rd 2010 11:31AM
That does suck. I'm a Canadian and had some ideas for articles I thought would be really interesting.
Come on USA, aren't we supposed to be neighbourly?
Tethra Feb 3rd 2010 1:33PM
Balls. I was going to sign up till I read the part about it being US-only. I'm American but a resident of Canada :(
Qot Feb 3rd 2010 11:10AM
Are real names required? While I'm potentially interested, I would prefer anonymity.
I work in the sciences and, if people are doing a Google search for my name, I want my actual publications or lab links to be top of the list rather than some fun work for WoW.com.
Dan O'Halloran Feb 3rd 2010 11:29AM
Yes, real names are required.
Dan O'Halloran
Managing Editor
WoW.com
wow Feb 4th 2010 3:45AM
It looks like you actually can, and in some cases, use a pen name. From Seed.com's FAQ:
"[...] If you still feel strongly about using a pen name, please contact us at contact@seed.com. We want to ensure that your working relationship with Seed ultimately works for both of us, so we're available to discuss it and help create workable solutions."
http://academy.seed.com/faq/#penname
Ozzard Feb 3rd 2010 11:21AM
*sigh*. USA-centric AOL doesn't allow other writers even to sign up for a Seed account. Unfortunately, that merely reinforces the standard expansion of AOL in England.
wow.com certainly has stated that they're willing to hire non-US writers in the past. Dan, is this a temporary blip or a shift in policy?
Dan O'Halloran Feb 3rd 2010 11:31AM
If we are contracting regular writers like we just did for the new Druid, Lore, AddOn, Shaman and Lawyer columns, we are able to hire them if they live outside of the U.S. But Seed is an entirely different mechanism for hiring Guest Bloggers and it is currently limited to U.S. based writers only. I wish it weren't so, but as mentioned above, the limitations of Seed are not something I have a say in.
Dan O'Halloran
Managing Editor
WoW.com
Ozzard Feb 3rd 2010 12:00PM
Thanks, Dan. I'll reserve my wrath (of the zilch king) for AOL then :-).
JBluntz Feb 3rd 2010 11:42AM
Speaking of columnists, did you announce the new Resto/Enhancement Shaman columnist, and I missed it? I shouldn't have complained about Rossi turning out a Totem Talk every few weeks; it was better than never...
Dan O'Halloran Feb 3rd 2010 12:55PM
We have hired an Enhancement Shaman columnist, Rich Maloy aka Stoneybaby of Big Hit Box. We are going over Restoration Shaman columnist applications this week.
George Feb 3rd 2010 11:50AM
Your tone is a bit pretentious. Of couse it is totally your thing if you just read the content and don't notice the writers, and that is fine, I'm not knocking it. But they way you said it seems pretty denegrarory towards the people, real people with real jobs and using their real time, who bring this wonderful content to us.
wow Feb 4th 2010 3:27AM
It's a valid concern. I'd be willing to bet there are even quite a few WoW.com staff writers who don't particularly like the fact that when someone runs a Google search for their name, many of their WoW.com blog entries appear at the top of the search results. It really just depends on what industry the person works in, among other things...Many journalists and copy writers take on freelance/independent contract gigs like WoW.com, but Warcraft and/or video games isn't that person's "dedicated" industry.
A news writer, for example, usually wouldn't want his freelance work from WoW.com to flood the top results when someone Googles his name. The same is true for technical writers (like the original poster) who work in science or medicine; from their standpoint, it just isn't professional when most of their published work (industry journals, essays, etc.) is buried beneath "fantasy stuff with dragons and elves," which is what non-gamers would see it as. Generally, this kind of thing wouldn't be a huge obstacle to professional writers...but because of Warcraft's popularity, WoW.com's Web traffic and its SEO prominence, most of WoW.com's blog posts will always register higher up in Google's rank than a writer's dedicated industry work. But hey, at least there's a compliment in this; it's a testament to WoW.com's success.
Kar On E Feb 3rd 2010 11:50AM
Good luck to everyone that entered! As for my entry, I'm pretty sure it's toast given that I messed up converting a sentence from Warriors to Paladins (accidentally gave a Paladin a warrior ability).
Next time, Gadget! Next time!!
MMMMMMMMMMMRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWW!!
George Feb 3rd 2010 11:52AM
Err...forgive the typos. Still getting the hang of typing on an iPhone.
doug Feb 3rd 2010 12:03PM
So WoW.com is endorsing the practice of "speculative work." Glad to know.
AdamD021 Feb 3rd 2010 12:05PM
Does this mean we will get paid for our guest column?