Are you a BIPOC, femme, or LGBTQIA+ writer who loves the gaming industry? Want to help make video game coverage more diverse, equitable, and inclusive? Join our team!
The Punished Backlog is seeking new staff writers. We’ve grown exponentially over the years, and currently welcome 8,000+ readers a month.
Please note: This is a volunteer position.
Who We’re Looking For
- Curious individuals who are passionate about writing, self-editing, and connecting with others about shared interests.
- Bonus points if you’re savvy with SEO and WordPress, but not necessary—our editorial team is happy to format your pieces for you!
- All people are welcome to apply, but we especially encourage femme, PoC, queer, and neurodiverse writers.
Why Write for Us?
Here’s the list of perks:
- Free games! Get access to video game review codes ahead of release.
- Flexibility. No weekly quotas; you choose what to write, and when to write it.
- Visibility. Write a post, and get a new byline for your personal blog, portfolio, or resume.
- Credibility. Any reviews you write will be featured on OpenCritic.
- Community. Contributing writers are invited to join our Discord channel where we share gaming hot takes, partake in team-wide backlog challenges, and, of course, cover the latest releases. At our heart, The Punished Backlog is an inclusive team of writers who enjoy talking about games.
Examples of Past Punished Backlog Essays
Need inspiration about what to pitch us? Get weird. Take your most creative idea, add some seasoning, bake at 400 degrees, and serve it to us scathing hot.
In past submissions, our writers ranked all the NPCs in Breath of the Wild and made a guide to get your mom into video games. They explored the crossover between Booktok and Baldur’s Gate 3, lamented the lack of gender diversity in modern games, and drew comparisons between Attack on Titan and Islamophobia.
Anything is on the table when you pitch us. We want your best ideas; nothing more, nothing less. Our editorial team will work closely with you to turn those ideas into copy that awes and inspires.
What Is It Like To Write for Us?
I was so frustrated about Cyberpunk 2077 that I had to write about it. On a whim, I asked my IRL friend Sam if he thought it could have a home on the gaming site he contributed to. For the past few years, writing for The Punished Backlog has given me the opportunity to hone my writing skills, review games both large and small, and make new friends with kind, funny, and passionate gamers. Even though I still haven’t given Cyberpunk a second chance, I’ll always be grateful it brought me here! – Amanda Tien
How Do I Apply or Pitch a Guest Post?
If interested, please complete this Google Form. A member of our staff will reach out within 1-2 weeks if we think you’d be a good fit. For any and all questions, feel free to shoot an email over to david.silbert[at]punishedbacklog.com.
Best of luck, and we look forward to hearing from you!