The greater geek community in Minnesota is a very diverse one, and it is the mission of Twin Cities Geek to represent as many of the voices within it as possible on both the writing side and the editing side. Although previous journalism, writing, or editing experience is a strong plus, we don’t require prospective contributors to be previously published or professional writers—you just need a connection to Minnesota, a category you would like to contribute to, and a writing sample that passes muster.
We strive for diversity and welcome contributors of all genders. We welcome geeks of color and geeks from all cultural backgrounds. We welcome geeky LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual) contributors. We welcome perspectives from geeks with disabilities, Deaf geeks, neurodiverse geeks, and and geeks in mental-health communities. Geeks young and old are welcome, as well as students. If you are a geek and you want to write or edit for us, then we want you involved.
Jump to:
News Needs | Feature Needs | Reviewer Needs | Editing Needs | Internships
How to Apply
News
Twin Cities Geek is always accepting applications for contributors in all categories, but our current areas of greatest need are Business, LGBTQA+, Pop Culture, and Race, Disability & Culture.
Business
There are a wealth of businesses catering to the Minnesota geek community, from gaming publishers to comic stores to new restaurants, local tech startups, and more. Business contributors bring Twin Cities Geek readers the latest on new companies, notable Kickstarters, cool ideas, success stories, and more. This can include news related to promotions or new products, interviews, and anything else in the business community that you think would be of interest to local geeks.
LGBTQA+
LGBTQA+ contributors write coverage of and commentary on anything and everything in the world of geek culture from a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and/or asexual perspective. Tying commentary to current events or announcements is preferable but not always necessary. Coverage in this category also includes letting readers know about things that are of particular interest to the LGBTQA+ communities, such as representation in pop culture, local groups, or LGBTQA+ artists. (Note: If you identify as Intersex and wish to contribute to this, the name will be changed to LGBTQIA+.)
Pop Culture
Coverage of and commentary on current events and announcements in the world of TV, movies, comic books, and literature. Cover a fun trend in YA, write a long-form essay about the cultural impact of your favorite Star Trek episode, recommend your favorite places to buy comic-book merch, or all of the above!
Race, Disability, & Culture
Race, disability, culture, and the geek world intersect in fascinating and often challenging ways. Contributors in this category examine the racial and cultural lenses through which we experience our favorite geeky pastimes, the different perspectives that shape our interpretations, the representation of marginalized groups in geek media, and more.
We also welcome applications for our other news categories:
- Events
- Gaming
- Science & Tech
- Spotlight
Features
Twin Cities Geek is always accepting applications for contributors in all categories, but our current areas of greatest need for features are Cosplay Positive and Parenting Geeky.
Cosplay Positive
Cosplay is more popular than ever in geek culture. Geeks of all colors, shapes, and sizes are embracing and thriving with the hobby. Cosplay Positive explores the world of cosplay with a nod towards the mantra “To love your cosplay is to love yourself.”
Parenting Geeky
ever has there been a more exciting time to grow up in geek culture! Parenting Geeky explores the everyday challenges, opportunities, and uniquely geek moments that come with raising the next generation, helping them grow into who they want to be.
We also welcome applications for our other feature categories:
Reviewers
Twin Cities Geek publishes reviews in the categories below. Although reviewers are welcome to review media created by any artist, we aim to focus on local creators and geeky genres whenever possible.
Advance review copies and press access to shows are often available for Twin Cities Geek reviewers.
Games (TTRPGs and board games)
Editing Needs
Every article on our site goes through editing prior to publication. Twin Cities Geek editors independently edit submitted articles for spelling and grammar, clarity, cohesiveness, and compliance with our in-house style guide. (Editors’ primary responsibility is copyediting, so a sharp eye for mechanics and style is required, but a bit of line editing is sometimes appropriate.) Other responsibilities include ensuring submissions comply with website formatting requirements, writing social media copy for articles, and communicating with contributors and the rest of the editorial team on the status of submissions and ongoing writing projects. Experience with The Chicago Manual of Style is preferred, though not required, and all applicants will be asked to take an editorial screening test.
As a Contributor or Editor, You Get
- A staff page on twincitiesgeek.com to say whatever you’d like about yourself and link to your website(s) and social media
- An about-the-author box that will appear at the bottom of everything you publish on the site
- A [name]@twincitiesgeek.com email address to use for all matters regarding contributing to Twin Cities Geek, including interview and press-pass requests
- Occasional sharing of personal or professional blog posts through the Twin Cities Geek social media profiles
- A professional reference regarding your participation with Twin Cities Geek, including a recommendation on LinkedIn, if requested
- A professional, branded business-card file to print Twin Cities Geek business cards for yourself
Commitment
- Contributors and editors are all volunteers—nobody gets paid for contributing to Twin Cities Geek (including leadership)
- In joining the site, contributors agree to submit a minimum of one article of at least 500 words per calendar month (except Shareminded contributors—see above)
- Editors agree to edit a minimum of four articles per calendar month
- Contributors may submit to more than one category but must have one main “home” category in which they submit at least one article each month
- Articles published on Twin Cities Geek may not be published on other websites or in print without prior approval; this includes both prior and subsequent publication
- Each article must have at least one accompanying image that the contributor has rights to publish, be it with permission or through public domain, creative commons, fair use, or original creation
- Articles must not use generative AI for either images or text
- Contributors must adhere to the Twin Cities Geek workflow process (don’t worry—it’s super easy!)
- It’s preferable (but not required) for all contributors and editors to have a Facebook account
Internships
As noted at the top of this page, becoming a contributor or editor for Twin Cities Geek does not require prior professional experience, and we encourage current students and recent graduates to apply for any and all of those positions. However, we also offer internships for those who need more direct training, mentorship, and/or school credit or who are only interested in being involved with Twin Cities Geek for a limited time. Remote applicants are accepted, but you must either be based in or have a connection to the Minneapolis–St. Paul area or wider Minnesota.
Editorial Intern
Editorial interns will receive hands-on training in copyediting for an online publication, including following a style guide, conducting basic fact-checking, communicating with writers, working within a content management system (WordPress CMS), writing social media copy, and more. Interns will also receive mentoring tailored toward their goals and interests.
Writing Intern
Writing interns will hone their skills by writing articles for publication on Twin Cities Geek on the subject(s) of their choice and learning about the submission and editorial processes. Interns will work with the senior editor to improve their writing through review and feedback and will receive mentoring tailored toward their goals and interests.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis; internships must last a minimum of three months, but exact length, total number of hours, and start and end dates will be determined on a case-by-case basis depending on applicant availability and needs. Like all positions with Twin Cities Geek, internships are unpaid. If you have questions about our internships, email info@twincitiesgeek.com.
How to Apply
If you would like to be a contributor for Twin Cities Geek, please jointly email editor-in-chief Hal Bichel and senior editor Madeleine Vasaly by writing to apply@twincitiesgeek.com and include the following:
- Your name and location
- Any relevant information you would like known, such as age, geeky interests, or background
- Which category you would like to contribute to
- At least one writing sample (an article, blog post, or something similar—no academic essays, please)
If you would like to be an editor for Twin Cities Geek, please email senior editor Madeleine Vasaly at madeleine@twincitiesgeek.com and include the following:
- Your name and location
- Any relevant information you would like known, such as age, geeky interests, or background
- A brief description or résumé of your editing experience (whether professional/paid or not, and including whether you’ve worked with The Chicago Manual of Style or other style guides)
If you would like to be an intern for Twin Cities Geek, please jointly email editor-in-chief Hal Bichel and senior editor Madeleine Vasaly by writing to apply@twincitiesgeek.com with either Writing Intern or Editorial Intern as your subject line to indicate the internship you’re applying for. Include the following:
- A cover letter that includes
- your name, location, and school (if applicable)
- a brief explanation of your interest in Twin Cities Geek, how an internship with us would fit into your overall education and/or career goals, and any past coursework or experience relevant to your application
- whether or not you will be seeking school credit
- A résumé
- For writing interns, a brief writing sample (nonacademic writing is preferred, but academic papers are accepted)
If you don’t hear back immediately, don’t worry! Sometimes we get busy and fall behind on emails. But we will answer you either way, even if it takes some time. Please don’t hesitate to poke us for a status update, either.
Thanks for your interest in joining Twin Cities Geek!