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What's a Freelance RPG Writer Worth?
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<blockquote data-quote="Steve Conan Trustrum" data-source="post: 7659144" data-attributes="member: 1620"><p>Sure, it's an option. But keep in mind that I'm specifically responding to someone who is putting it out as an option that is guaranteed to be more profitable than freelancing even at terrible rates. My point has always been "um, no."</p><p></p><p>Anyone can take their Word document as is and try selling it because, really, the entrance bar for self-publication really is that low. They can try their hand at it that easily. It doesn't mean they'll make money doing it. Indeed, it's quite possible they'll come out at a loss once their time is considered. A loss is < $0.01 in total profit, let alone $0.01 as a per word rate of payment. It's just basic math.</p><p></p><p>But the same could be said of you if you were working for a low pay rate.</p><p></p><p>Or giving it away for free.</p><p></p><p>Quite literally telling people that time and discipline is all you need to turn a profit as a self-publisher if you're a talented writer is indeed naive and dangerous. Someone foolish enough to take it to heart, coupled with some of the "just use Kickstarter!" advice floating around here could see themselves winding up in some serious debt. It's already happened -- it's even happened to people who had a successful Kickstarter!</p><p></p><p>If ANYONE is giving out ANY advice that can be summed up as "X will make profit in the RPG industry a given" under ANY terms and conditions, you know their advice is to be avoided. Because, really ... advice that tries saying "RPG industry + X = guaranteed profit"???? Come on now ...</p><p></p><p>Who in their right mind believes ANYTHING can guarantee profit in this industry?</p><p></p><p>Why? Because publishers are always right about which product ideas and output will be profitable?</p><p></p><p>Or if you go in thinking "time in" alone will see you through to profit.</p><p>Oddly enough, just about every publisher I would care to talk to on the subject would disagree and say this is what freelancing is for.</p><p></p><p>Jumping up one's position in a market several tiers without already having a grasp on the requisite skills is not a wise move when it's your money on the table. That's why freelancing is helpful beyond the money it offers -- it creates networks and relationships that help you learn this stuff without taking on the risk of producing product that might fail.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Steve Conan Trustrum, post: 7659144, member: 1620"] Sure, it's an option. But keep in mind that I'm specifically responding to someone who is putting it out as an option that is guaranteed to be more profitable than freelancing even at terrible rates. My point has always been "um, no." Anyone can take their Word document as is and try selling it because, really, the entrance bar for self-publication really is that low. They can try their hand at it that easily. It doesn't mean they'll make money doing it. Indeed, it's quite possible they'll come out at a loss once their time is considered. A loss is < $0.01 in total profit, let alone $0.01 as a per word rate of payment. It's just basic math. But the same could be said of you if you were working for a low pay rate. Or giving it away for free. Quite literally telling people that time and discipline is all you need to turn a profit as a self-publisher if you're a talented writer is indeed naive and dangerous. Someone foolish enough to take it to heart, coupled with some of the "just use Kickstarter!" advice floating around here could see themselves winding up in some serious debt. It's already happened -- it's even happened to people who had a successful Kickstarter! If ANYONE is giving out ANY advice that can be summed up as "X will make profit in the RPG industry a given" under ANY terms and conditions, you know their advice is to be avoided. Because, really ... advice that tries saying "RPG industry + X = guaranteed profit"???? Come on now ... Who in their right mind believes ANYTHING can guarantee profit in this industry? Why? Because publishers are always right about which product ideas and output will be profitable? Or if you go in thinking "time in" alone will see you through to profit. Oddly enough, just about every publisher I would care to talk to on the subject would disagree and say this is what freelancing is for. Jumping up one's position in a market several tiers without already having a grasp on the requisite skills is not a wise move when it's your money on the table. That's why freelancing is helpful beyond the money it offers -- it creates networks and relationships that help you learn this stuff without taking on the risk of producing product that might fail. [/QUOTE]
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