Excitement for the Zelda series and games is at an all-time high. Fans are eagerly awaiting the arrival of two new games in the series, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity and the yet-unnamed sequel to Breath of the Wild. They are also anticipating what excitement might be in store for everyone next year during The Legend of Zelda’s 35th anniversary.
Everyone is discussing the games and sharing their hopes, passions, and memories for the series. That is why now is the perfect time for those who want to share their love of the series with the rest of the world to join Zelda Universe’s Features team!
As a Features Writer, you would have the chance to write in-depth articles about a wide variety of topics about the Zelda series. You would also be allowed to create them in the manner that appeals to you: Whether you want to approach it in a formal or casual style, as long as you research your topic and explain it in a way that teaches your readers something, your feature will be a success.
Also, we now creating our brand-new Lists team! This is a sub-team of the Features team and will be responsible for creating lists. (Usually, these will be top ten lists.)
If you’re interested, read on for our comprehensive FAQ.
General FAQ
Q: How do the writing teams at Zelda Universe operate?
All of the content you see on the Zelda Universe home page is published using WordPress. If you’ve never used WordPress before, it is very easy to learn and we can run you through the whole process. You do not need to set up your own WordPress account; we’ll be setting you up with your own WordPress account specifically for Zelda Universe.
We use an instant messaging application called Slack for the majority of our teams’ communication. If you’ve never used Slack before, it works similarly to Discord or Skype, with various channels for each team.
We also use Trello to coordinate all of our drafts, projects, and ideas. Each team has its own Trello board. Again, we’ll set this up for you and you will receive an invite to our own Trello boards.
Q: What equipment will I need for this position?
A working computer and an internet connection — that’s it!
Q: I love to write but I don’t have much past experience. Will I still be considered?
Yes! While we’re interested in seeing any previously published works or articles applicants may have, there are still many ways you can demonstrate your writing abilities. You can send us any blogs, essays, fictional works, or any pieces you are proud of.
If you’re still short on samples, we are also very interested in seeing any mock articles you can produce for the site. Just take a look at our previously published articles on the home page to get a feel for our format, and give it a shot!
Q: I am interested in writing but I am nervous about taking this step and/or I am very anxious in general. Would this be a problem?
Not at all! The Zelda Universe staff is an incredibly friendly and approachable group of people, with Zelda fans of all ages. We’re all willing to make new friends, and we are all more than happy to answer any questions and help you to make the best articles possible. As long as you love to write and you love Zelda, you have nothing to worry about.
The majority of our communication is through Slack (our instant messaging service of choice), and we don’t require anyone to speak to us through a headset or appear in a video call if they don’t want to.
Q: What are the perks of writing for Zelda Universe?
Zelda Universe has thousands of regular readers and social media followers, and you will gain large exposure for your work as a result. You will have a huge platform to establish a respectable body of work for yourself.
Experience is essential for those seeking work in all writing-centered and creative fields, and our staff is more than happy to help you improve your writing as you go. We have had a number of Zelda Universe staff members go on to gain amazing positions in the industry, including jobs at Nintendo.
We also regularly promote our most committed staff members with editor roles. Those with leading roles on the site are often given the chance to attend E3 with the Zelda Universe team.
Q: I’m interested in applying but I’m just too busy at the moment. Can I apply at another time?
Of course! We accept new volunteers all year round.
Q: I’m not interested in this position, but I would still like to contribute to Zelda Universe in some way. Are there any other positions available?
While we’re primarily looking for Features Writers at the moment, there may be other positions available on our Volunteer page. For example, if you want to find a way to use your extensive and detailed knowledge of Zelda games, you can apply for the Guides team.
There are also many non-writing-related opportunities at Zelda Universe, including design, media, and development positions.
Q: I have another question that hasn’t been addressed here.
If there is anything else you would like us to clarify regarding the position(s) described here, please send us an email to jobs@zeldauniverse.net with the subject line “Application question.”
Q: I applied before but was not accepted. Should I try again?
Definitely! Don’t be discouraged if you didn’t make the cut before. Give it another shot.
Features Writer FAQ
Q: What type of topics can a feature be about?
A Features Writer’s goal is to create long-form articles that examine a particular topic or concept. There are a lot of options for Features: They can be historical retrospectives, analyses of specific elements from the games, comparisons of two or more games, or anything else that creates an interesting discussion point. Features are meant to explore topics thoroughly to help the readers think about them in new ways.
Features Writers are also the people who write all of the reviews published for Zelda Universe. Reviews are not published as frequently as regular features, since we usually only review games that either have the Zelda “feel” or would be titles that Zelda and Nintendo fans might enjoy, but if you want to review a certain game that fits those criteria, feel free to request the opportunity.
Q: What are the lists and the Lists team?
The lists are features with a set number of subjects listed in a specific and desired order. They are usually written in numbers of 10, though this amount can change depending on the subject. The lists cover a wide variety of Zelda-related subjects, so the lists provide an endless source of topics to explore. Suggestions for topics will be provided to you, but you are also allowed to submit ideas for lists, which will be reviewed.
If you would like to write lists, you will be added to the Lists team, which as stated earlier is an offset of the Features team. (You will still be part of the Features team and be considered a Features Writer.) You can write both lists and regular features, or you can apply to write only lists. If you only wish to write lists, please mention so in your application.
Q: Will there be deadlines for the features?
Yes. The Features team adheres to a schedule, with each person submitting their articles as they are due in the writers rotation. Features are not published daily, so you will not need to submit drafts often. You can expect to have a feature due roughly once a month.
The schedule needs to be followed, but we understand that situations can arise that will cause you to miss the deadlines. We know and appreciate that everyone working for Zelda Universe are volunteers offering their personal time to help the site. So if you need to move the due date of an article, please speak with one of the Features editors to make the adjustment.
How to apply
If you are interested in this position, please send us your application to jobs@zeldauniverse.net with the subject header “Features Writer Application.”
Please include:
- Your name
- Your age
- Your resume (or an overview of your qualifications and work experience)
- Any social media accounts you’d like to share
Please also provide at least one of the following:
- Samples (articles, blogs, essays, fictional works, etc.)
- Mock drafts of Zelda-related opinion pieces
It may take us a little while for us to select the most suitable applicants, so please don’t feel discouraged if we don’t respond straight away. It may take up to a week or longer before we select you.
We’re very professional about what we do here, but we also have a ton of fun while doing it! We have a highly talented and very friendly team ready to welcome you.
Thank you for reading, and best of luck to all of our applicants!
