If you've seen the recent industry data showing only 60 visible game writing jobs (!), you're probably feeling discouraged. Who wouldn't? That sounds insane. There are so many games. How is that possible???

I haven't seen the raw data. But I do know that this perspective is only showing part of the picture.

The Data May Be Real...But It's Incomplete

If publicly posted game writing roles are 22 times more competitive than engineering positions, that is genuinely discouraging news.

But this data only captures what's publicly visible. If the data isn't visible, then it isn't reflected in these statistics.

The reality is that many game writing positions get filled through the "hidden job market" - jobs filled by referrals and networks before they're ever posted publicly.

How the Hidden Job Market Actually Works

So what does "hidden job market" mean? Here are some real examples that happened to me in the last two weeks:

• A game director needs someone with a specific profile → asks friends (me), "Do you know anyone?"
• A recruiter has an opening → mentions it in passing during a Zoom call with a colleague (me)
• A studio expansion happens → team members recommend people they know

Those are recent examples I know of personally. But you don't need a fairy godmother or the phone numbers of all game studio CEOs on speed dial. These conversations happen everywhere: among entry-level writers, contractors, and people who left studios but stayed connected. You just need to be in the mix. Here's how.

Your First Step Into the Hidden Market

This is going to sound weird, but if you want to find this hidden job market, start by boosting other people - specifically, the people who make the games that you love.

Don't know them? Maybe you don't know them YET. But you will!

Game developers are extremely online. You can find them on LinkedIn, Blue Sky, Discord - odds are they're in some online group. When you find a dev who worked on a game you loved, tell them one specific thing that you admired about their work. Just a comment! That's all it takes to begin.

Why this works:

• It's generous, not self-serving
• Everyone appreciates genuine recognition for their work
• It builds the relationships that lead to opportunities

Think about it: How would it feel if someone took the time to tell you what they loved about your work? That's exactly the kind of generous behavior that makes a good impression.

What You'll Learn This Sunday

In our 90-minute Industry Insider Session on September 7th, we're diving deep into:

• Systematic strategies for accessing these networks
• Specific tactics for LinkedIn and other platforms
• How to approach networking without anxiety
• Practical next steps you can take immediately

This isn't theory - it's practical advice, and live Q&A with me.

Hard times don't last forever, but you don't have to navigate them alone. There are ways through this - let me help.