A Brief History of Five Unanswered Emails
Since February 1, 2024, I have worked as a freelance journalist, covering science and videogames, across many different publications. I can tell you that this job makes me very happy. I love it, I believe it's important for society and I do an okay job at it.
A freelance journalist typically pitches stories via email or phone to outlets you know and love/hate. A pitch involves explaining what your story is, why you should tell it and why it matters. A freelancer will do a bunch of preliminary research to make sure there's a story there and the pitch is strong. I love this process, too.
Of course, freelance journalism is also very difficult. For one, this is how I pay my rent, feed myself and keep clothes on my back. It's my choice (though, aided by the lack of quality journalism jobs in Australia) to do this. Also, the pay is not commensurate with the amount of work I put in. For instance, one story this year took more than six months and I was paid less than $1200 for it. Other times, the pay is delayed, banking issues pop up and my retirement fund/superannuation is at the whim of whatever the fund is deciding to invest in—most likely AI, so expect the fund to be wiped out before I am 40.
After you pitch, you might get a tentative yes, or a request for more info/a stronger angle. You're on your way to a commission and you can pay your rent! Then you write the story and you work with some incredible, diverse, excellent editors that end up making your stories way better. This is great. Freelance rules.
Sometimes (a lot!), editors leave pitch emails unanswered—that's totally fine, the pitch wasn't good enough, was lacking something. This is totally cool. Or, they might miss it, their inbox is a nightmare—I get that too. Or, sadly, they maybe just don't have the coin to pay for this anymore—reasonable!
Then... on the other hand... Freelance sucks.
My biggest grief? The ghosts.
When an editor appears to want your piece and then disappears off the face of the Earth. A simple "Got this, will get back to you" or "Hey, still trying to find a space for this story, keep hassling me" or god, anything!!! would be delightful. Instead, you simply never hear from them again. You can't reach them. And then... one day they reappear with an apology, life's been busy and hard.
Yeah. So has mine. I don't have a salaried job. Please have a little decency.
Presented here as evidence are excerpts from a series of emails I have exchanged since January 16, 2026. I've changed the names and removed publication details, plus lightly edited so I am only discussing one topic, even as some emails contained multiple pitches. This is not intended to blow up this publication or this editor in particular. It merely represents the reality of working as a freelancer, one that I have seen play out time and time again over the last 36 months.
And I think it's important for our audience to know this! It's evidence of my process and what it takes to get a story into the world. This example is from the world of videogames, but I see this in science, which typically has a lot more gatekeeping between the scientists and the journalist through the form of university press offices or PR firms. It's not for sympathy or pity! Please do not take it that way. This is the career I've chosen.
It's just a lived reality that we never talk about.
If you want to discuss videogames or science with me, you can do that here.
Hello Thomas!
Happy New Year.
I wanted to check in here with you about The New Game. Is this still a story you want for 2026? I'd be interested in speaking with Famed Developer and trying to establish this early – they've always been super responsive.
Be keen to hear what you're after, and reach out to them next week,
Have a great weekend,
Jack
Thanks for following up.
My boss started a new role on Jan. 1 so I have been swamped this year!
Because of Famed Developer's success with Their Big Game, I'm definitely interested in an article about The New Game. I would want it to be about 800 words rather than an extensive studio profile (which have struggled to find readers).
And yes, broadly speaking, I am looking for compelling features. I don't think I ever shared with you that your Interesting Profile was one of the 10 most-read video game articles we published last year. It really broke through!
Thomas
The Gamer Site
Happy to shoot for an 800 word piece on The New Game, I'm talking to Famed Developer next week so let me gauge where they are at, how far away the game is and try and line it all up. Will get back to you.
J
Great, just keep me updated on The New Game. I know it doesn't have a release date yet.
T
Hey Thomas,
Hope you're well mate.
Wanted to flag that the Famed Developer is very happy to do an interview – and even suggested that we do the interview while playing The New Game prior to release. I think that could make for something quite interesting, but keen to hear what you think would work best for you.
For reference, they have said – no sharing this! – that the game will release sometime in June. I'll interview the team in April and then flick along to you?
Given that soft deadline, let me know if there's a specific way you want to play this.
Best,
Jack
Hey Thomas,
Been a while, I hope you've been doing well.
Just a note to say that Famed Developer and The New Game Team suggest that confidentially the game will release at the end of US summer. They've suggested an interview next month, so I'd love to chat about what you're after.
My best,
Jack
Hey Thomas,
Hope you've been well.
Sending a long a few things for you because the wild Summer Game Fest week is over and there's a couple of interesting stories to chase, I think!
1. The New Game. The release is dropping in a couple of months. Late June is the time I am going to interview the Famed Developer.
[An assortment of other ideas follows...]
That's all! Go well,
Jack
Hey Thomas,
Famed Developer is still keen to do this, but I haven't heard back that it's a definite yes from you. If you've not got the space or time now, no problems – can you just confirm that?
No harm, but I'd like to make sure I'm in the clear to chat with Famed Developer for other projects.
Appreciate it,
Jack
Hey Thomas,
Just wanted to check in one last time about this. It would be good to hear back from you, regardless of the decision.
Appreciate it,
J
Jackson,
I'm really sorry for dropping the ball on The New Game.
Long story short, I have significantly more responsibility at work now, which means I have had to pull back on video game coverage. I have a pileup of starred emails and unfortunately overlooked the game's release on my calendar. (You gave me plenty of warning!)
If you already wrote something elsewhere or are planning to, that is totally understandable. But if you haven't, I would happily publish something this month. Let me know what you think.
Thanks,
Thomas