Yali Perez, Writer, Content Curator and Social Media Manager for Fandom Spotlite
Yali Perez, photo courtesy of the subject
In Career Spotlight, we profile women, femme-identifying professionals, and non-binary professionals comfortable in spaces that center women who work in the gaming industry. It is our goal to show the vastness and variety of jobs within the world of gaming and to share professional advice and perspective with our readers.
This week we interview Yali Perez, Content Curator and Social Media Manager for Fandom Spotlite. Yali is a longtime writer within the gaming and anime worlds whose goal is to represent the untraditional wildflowers of the world, while also creating a path for them to be seen in the writing and entertainment industries.
Can you tell us a bit of the origin story of how you got into writing and content creation within the gaming space?
I always knew I wanted to write, and I never went anywhere without a pencil and paper.
I started out as a calendar girl, like most women in the writing industry. My editor one day gave me a shot to prove myself. I had to write a review of a game called “Use your words.” Instead of getting the free review copy, I bought a copy. After turning in my review, my editor loved it! I was then given more opportunities to review games, films, comics, books, and more. It was like I proved that I was a “real” nerd.
How did the professional or personal background you had previously prepare you for the roles you hold now?
Personally, if it wasn’t for my god dad, I wouldn’t be doing what I do now. I was the only girl cousin in my family full of boy cousins. He would let me watch anime with him and play video games while the boys pretend to be wrestlers. He made these fantasy worlds seem like something just for me. I was hooked!
Professionally, starting from the bottom and slowly working my way up helped me learn the ins and outs of writing in the entertainment industry. Each step prepared me for the next, but it also taught me how to treat my peers. Every job is important, even the calendar girl. And those at the top need people at the bottom to continue their success.
What skills do you think you use the most in your work?
Oddly, my mom skills. There have been plenty of times when my coworkers need an ear to listen to, or they need help focusing their ideas. My maternal instincts kick in and I just know what they need and how to help. Also, as a parent, I’m able to think of the greater good of the team to get things done and make sure everyone is fulfilled. My team at Fandom Spotlite see me as unofficial HR.
You often bring yourself as a parent into your work as a writer. What does representation of parents within the gaming space mean to you?
I feel like in the gaming spaces and anime, they forget that parents are still people! It’s not like one day you become a parent and then you stop enjoying the things you enjoyed when you weren’t. Instead, we get marketed to for things for our children. Yeah, that’s nice and all but what about me? I have a Switch; I don’t want my only options to be Paw Patrol or Cocomelon. I like Zelda, can I get some Zelda shirts? It’s better now, but 11 years ago, it was like a ghost town.
As readers and fans of content within gaming and fandom spaces, what can we do to better support those with careers in these industries?
In gaming, instead of asking “what do you play,” ask, “would you like to play with me?” In fandom, don’t go quizzing other nerds. Instead, ask them to describe their fandom. We get so focused on the What and the How, that we forget the Why. If we focused on why we love gaming and our fandoms we would be able to better understand each other and create more opportunities. Yes, in a professional industry you need skill, but sometimes love and appreciation for the medium are more valuable. Gaming is often three-dimensional and the people in the industry need to be too. Combine the professional and the personal to create authentic content that people can connect to.
What advice do you have for women who may want to start a career in gaming or professionals who want to pivot their careers into the gaming industry?
Opportunity doesn’t always come with a paycheck. I worked – or as my editors would say – “volunteered” for 3 years without ever being paid. In that time, I learned everything I could. I had no money to show for my hard work, but my resume was filled with skills and achievements that made another place want to pay me more than they initially offered. If this is something you truly love, you must be prepared to do it at 100% even if there is no financial incentive. That doesn’t mean get taken advantage of! Just because you’re “free help” - remember they need you more than you need them.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
There is a scene in Alice in Wonderland where Alice falls in a field of beautiful flowers. They ask if she’s a wildflower and the thought of her being a wildflower completely disgusts them. They cast her out before ever knowing her.
If you ever feel like a wildflower in gaming, just know that there are so many beautiful fields of wildflowers who will accept you. They will appreciate you and your work. Your ideas, your words, your skills, will be valued and important. The company of your dream may not see your value yet, but in the end the wildflower, Alice, did save the day. Your day will be waiting for you too.
Follow Yali on social media and read Yali’s writing:
Instagram: @beautifully_yali
Twitter: @beautifullynerd
Check out this blog Yali wrote for the*gameHERs:
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