Otaku Links: Kickstarter-rama
My friend Bill (who I have never actually met) has rapped about Magic: The Gathering and video games, and now he’s making unique electronic albums for every individual who backs…
How I make money as a freelancer
In May, I parted ways with my biggest journalism client at the time, the one that was responsible for 75% of my income by itself. Since then, I’ve been a…
Otaku Links: I’m going to Japan!
To the new culture cops, everything is appropriation. If you’ve ever been told that you shouldn’t watch anime because you’re not Japanese, this is a must-read. If you follow me…
10 steps to becoming a niche writer
Make a list of your favorite topics to read, write, and learn about. Include everything you habitually find yourself interested in, even if at first thought it sounds unprofessional or…
Otaku Links: Gunpla, Lolita fashion, and how Anitwitter can all just get along
I spent my weekend shopping for, building, and photographing Gundam models. My latest post on my other blog, Gunpla 101, is just the first of many to come out of it.…
The Biggest Mistake Geek Writers Make
If you’re a geek writing about geeky things, I’m already inclined to love your writing. I don’t think anyone makes a better guide into a community than somebody who is…
Otaku Links: From quality reporting to clickbait
How to Interview Japanese Manga Artists: Tips for Western Journalists. Deb Aoki is one of the best working journalists in the manga sphere, and she’s just posted some advice that…
The skill every niche writer needs to master now
Last week I skyped with Zac Bertschy, one of my editors at Anime News Network. As the executive editor of ANN, he pays quite a few people to write about…
Otaku Links: Vacation snaps, fandom history, and Steven Universe
Blame my lack of blog posts on my weekend San Francisco Japantown vacation. One of my best friends just took the bar exam, so a bunch of us celebrated by going…
At a crossroads in your niche reporting career? Help is here.
Are you interested in taking your niche writing career to the next level, but find that you struggle with confidence? Maybe you’re unsure if your interview questions are engaging enough, or…