You like me, you really really like me...

Wonders never cease to amaze me, really. After recently cutting ties with one of my outlets for writing, (which I'll get into later) I posted an availability ad on a videogame PR site that truly is a savior in this industry. Basically, its an industry only site that provides an avenue for journalists to get in contact with their counterparts, the PR managers of all the known videogame producers in the land. GamesPress is truly a Godsend for up to date news, unadulterated screenshots and even just general help and support from fellow journalists. At any rate, I put a little blurb on their forums stating that I was available and got an overwhelming amount of replies from people who would like me to write for them. I didn't think other opportunities would present themselves so quickly, but alas, look for my words to pop up around the Internet very soon. I'm still working out the details.

Oh, and there's a certain stalker that is reading these blog posts even when I asked her not to, so I'm calling her out. Lynn, you can stop reading right now. Nothing else pertains to you. Go about your merry way and BE GONE.

Now, onto business. My previous position of three years at the major website I wrote for came to a crashing halt because they attempted to force a Non Disclosure Agreement that had a very poorly written and stifling No Compete Clause within. Allow me to cut and paste the section that I didn't like.

10. Non-Competition
During the six (6) months following the termination of the employment
relationship, the employee shall not:
1. commence an employment relationship in a company which operates
in a field of business competing with the employer and it is to be
feared that such company may make use of the trade secrets of the
employer or other companies operating in the same field which have
been disclosed to the employee during his/her employment
relationship, or
2. be an owner of, or otherwise assist and consult such company, or
3. himself/herself or with another found or become engaged in a
business which competes with the employer.
If a competing company is engaged in two or more fields of business, all
fields shall be considered as an obstacle to enter into an employment
relationship while applying paragraph 1. of this section.

If the employee, either intentionally or due to gross negligence, violates
the non-competition provisions, he/she shall be obliged to pay the
amount equaling the employee's gross salary for the last six months for
each breach, in addition to which the employee shall pay the damage
incurred by each breach to the employer in full.

Now, in a previous chapter it stated that each infraction of said agreement that is found in breach, could hold me liable to them for 10,000 Euro. So basically thats saying that if I terminate "employment" with them (mind you, I was freelance from the beginning), that I would be liable for (currently) $15,590 USD per article I wrote for anyone else if it happened within 6 months after rightful termination. Lets just say I wrote 10 news articles for someone. I'm not sure about you, but I don't have that kind of change. What if that were my only skill to earn money as a career? They are saying that I cant work anywhere for a period of 6 months after termination. I'm sorry but I wont be subjected to that type of control over something as vague as "trade secrets".

At any rate, thats water under the bridge now because it appears that I'll be working for a couple of gaming related sites very soon. I'll provide those links later as things get more solidified.