A good story may not change the world, but it can change you
A good story is not just about something, but about someone.
A good story doesn't have to be about you for it to have meaning for you. It doesn't have to be about what interests you for it to be interesting to you.
A good story educates and entertains. You feel smarter after reading it. It will remind you of something you knew before, but forgot. Or it will teach you a little about something you never considered. It will make you laugh a little, or cry a little, or simply feel as if the little time you spent reading it was a worthwhile investment.
A good story isn't necessarily a written article. Audio, video and images can be used or combined to tell a story as effectively (sometimes more effectively) than the printed word.
A good story will open a door to something new, or a new way of looking at something you thought was familiar. It will, in the best of cases, change the way you see yourself, or see your place in the world.
A good story doesn't do this by force. It doesn't do this by rote repetition. It doesn't do this by telling you what to think. A good story doesn't work because it's tricked you into believing something you otherwise wouldn't believe. It works because it has encouraged you to open your mind to a new idea, or thought or point of view. A good story works because it encourages you to care about something you might not have realized had meaning.
A good story may not change the world, but it can change you.
Polygon is looking for original work, new ideas and new ways of telling stories
Queries
In order for your feature story to be considered for publication by Polygon, please send a query letter to the Features Editor at queries@polygon.com. Your query should be between 50 and 200 words and should perfectly describe your story idea, as well as give the editor an impression of your writing ability and tone.
If we have not worked with you before, links to further writing samples are required.
Unsolicited, completed stories sent to the above address will be discarded. Queries sent to any address but the above, or via any form of communication other than email (to the above address) will be ignored.
In some cases, sourcing original images, artwork, video footage or other assets may be a key part of what makes your story stand out. You may need to take photos, ask developers to provide you with specific art, etc. In those cases, be sure to mention your plans for these assets briefly in your pitch.
What to pitch
Polygon is looking for original work, new ideas and new ways of telling stories. We are looking for features that will enhance the reader's understanding of and appreciation for video games, the people who make them and the business of selling them. We are looking for the great stories of our generation and the people who will write them.
Your successful pitch will be for an un-published work of non-fiction about or of interest to people in the video game business or a part of gaming culture. It will be a concise and self-contained idea for a story to be told using words, sounds and/or images. It will ideally be something we haven't seen, and something only you can create.
Style
At Polygon, we use AP style for all written content. This includes features. Many or all of the questions you may have will be contained within the AP Stylebook. This is required reading.
Please send a query letter to the Features Editor at queries@polygon.com
Process
Please be patient. We only buy a few stories each month, and we receive a lot of queries. Responding to each applicant may take weeks.
Upon acceptance of your feature story pitch, you will be assigned a word or time target and a deadline by your editor.
On or before your deadline, you will submit your work to your editor. If you are unable to meet your deadline, please notify your editor at least four business days before your article is due.
Draft written articles will be delivered, via email, as RTF, Word or Pages documents only.
Other media will be submitted per instructions assigned by your editor at the time of story approval.
Written articles will be single-spaced and will contain only one font. Accepted fonts are: Helvetica, Courier, Times New Roman or Calibri.
Rates
Polygon pays for written feature articles at a base rate of 25¢ US per edited word. Rates for other or mixed media are established on a case-by-case basis.
Image credits
Shutterstock
