I have some pretty fantastic news to share. After more than four years as a professional freelance writer, I’ve accepted an editing gig at Mac|Life magazine. It’s on a freelance basis, and I’ll still be writing for my normal slate of publications at the same time, but I’ll be serving a four-month contract editing position through January to help fill in while my editor Susie Ochs is on maternity leave.

But while I’m an external contractor still based out of Chicago, I’m very much serving the role of an editor, as I’m in charge of the AppLife (iOS reviews and other coverage) and Mac game review sections. That means planning the coverage for each issue and the website during each cycle, working with freelancers to assign out and edit coverage, interacting with PR and editors, and also writing up some of the pieces. My first issue is the January 2012 issue, and I’ll be working in this role through the April issue. I can be contacted at andrew@maclife.com for Mac|Life-related queries.

It’s been really fantastic so far; I’ve only been in the role for about a week now, but I’ve assigned out an issue’s worth of work, edited and submitted several online pieces from freelancers, and learned a bit more insight about the editorial process from the other side of the equation. It’s not my first time editing, as I edited the games section of a local Chicago website in 2006, then edited and posted news stories from other freelancers while on the 1UP.com news team back in 2008, but this is my first major, professional editing opportunity. And it’s for print! I’m a real magazine editor; at least for the next few months.

Additionally, I’m filling Susie’s role as the writer of @GAMER magazine’s monthly tablet games coverage during that same span of time. Work has been really intensely amazing over the past few months, and all of this is just the cherry on top. I’m writing constantly for a variety of print and online publications, and in recent weeks have reviewed (or been assigned upcoming reviews for) some of the biggest games of the year, and have also produced large, time-intensive features that will be popping up soon. I’m really proud of my work on those, and can’t wait to share them.

Doing the panel at PAX Prime was a really excellent experience, plus I was able to cover Fantastic Arcade in Austin last month; and then next week, I’ll be traveling again for another great opportunity. It’s amazing how much more confident I’ve become as a writer and freelancer over the last year, whether it’s doing the actual work or interacting with editors and industry folks. I’ve been writing regularly about games for nearly six years now — for professional publications for four and a half of those — and every time it feels like I’ve hit an apex, things just improve further. I know my work ethic and skills have a lot to do with it, but I’ve also been lucky enough to work with some fantastic editors over my career, who have looked out for me and offered me awesome chances.

And while this Mac|Life gig isn’t entirely games-focused, I think it’s the largest and most important opportunity I’ve had thus far in my career. I’m really excited to see it through and find out what’s waiting around the next corner.