This is a venting post.
Twice this week I received disappointing news.
I applied for two writing positions for video game projects… Interviewed for both… And got the dreaded rejection email. Both cited my lack of experience with writing for games—a blunt and honest take that I appreciate. I have no experience in games. For the first time in a long time, I’m flailing in waters I do not understand. The two interviews and requirements were complete opposites of each other. One wanted my writing portfolio, which the interviewer seemed to like as we talked for an hour about writing, teaching, and life in Japan. The other had me write a mock quest, hop on a call to discuss feedback, and that was about it for that one. One felt personal, the other felt disconnected.
I didn’t have big expectations. I was happy I even got interviews for both, but the disappointment still lingers in the back of my mind. And I ask, how do I find experience? How can I convince a dev team to take a chance on me? I don’t know the answer to either question.
Writing for a video game is on my bucket list. Video games have been a part of my life since I was a silly kid dreaming of other worlds. Now, I debate if it’s worth pursuing. I will not give up—despite my questioning and frustrations. I’m too young, or perhaps too old and stubborn, to give up. Maybe I dream too much and too big. I do need to reign in how I handle rejection, though. That is the most important part of these first attempts to enter the video game writing field. Like in all walks of a writer’s life, rejections will happen. It’s inevitable. What we can learn from that rejection is far more important than the rejection itself. I need to take both these experiences from the last two weeks, learn from them, and prepare better for future interviews.
Oh, I dream far too much… Someone has to believe in me, though. Might as well be me.
Jesús M. Rivera 