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What's a Freelance RPG Writer Worth?
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<blockquote data-quote="Steve Conan Trustrum" data-source="post: 7659187" data-attributes="member: 1620"><p>Go back and re-read some of the things CardinalXimenes has said. He hasn't used the word "guarantee" -- just synonyms and statements to that effect. His guarantee is based on the fact that, hey, self-publishing costs nothing when you start out! You don't even consider your time involved as an expense, so even a single sale equals profit! He's also ignoring the possibility (and fact that it does indeed happen) that it's possible to put out a product and not sell a single copy.</p><p></p><p>So, yes, someone is guaranteeing profit, but they're rooting it in rather loaded, self-fulfilling terms.</p><p></p><p></p><p>That message is in there, to be sure, but that's not all the article (or its writer) is saying. It's certainly not the latter, as verified by anyone who has followed up with Morrus' comments on it elsewhere. On Twitter, for example while tweeting about his article:</p><p></p><p>"Scary number of $0.01 per word rates out there. Don't work for $0.01 per word, guys!"</p><p></p><p>You won't, for example, find anything along the lines of "a good time to obtain experience and build relationships by accepting a low pay rate is when you're looking for the higher paying jobs. After all, if it takes you three times as long to find work that only pays you twice as much, you're losing money holding out for the higher rate, not making it. An important part of making money at freelance writing, no matter your pay rate, is knowing how to manage your time effectively in terms of cost-benefit."</p><p></p><p>There are times where I've made a lot more money working $0.01/word jobs than I would have working on a $0.04/word job because of what I was doing. A pay rate does not exist in a state of absolutes, just as what a writer is worth does not break down to any benchmark pay rate -- certainly not if you're an actual professional freelancer. There's always a context and other factors in play (if you're smart.)</p><p></p><p>Disagree. With freelancing you (theoretically -- this is the RPG industry after all) get paid no matter the product's success because you're working for someone else and you've done the work and have a contract (hah!) You're also just doing the writing job you're hired for. When it comes to self-publishing, I don't know anyone who gets by just doing the writing, and if you are, then you certainly aren't just accepting a payment -- you're also paying other people. You don't still get a payday if your self-published product ends up taking a loss whereas a freelancer should (theoretically) already have their money and be laughing.</p><p></p><p>If you really want, I can go back and pull some of his quotes.</p><p></p><p>Exactly. Kickstarter is something that can go oh-so-very wrong for self-publishers. And when it does go wrong, it's usually because of a lack of research, awareness of what's involved, and being unprepared. Everyone else is doing it, so you figure you can pull it off too, no problem.</p><p></p><p>Which is sort of my point about self-publishing in general. The fact that some are portraying it as a no-risk venture is dishonest. And, to be clear, I'm not saying it's not something freelancers should consider. Some would make a great go of it. But it requires careful thought, and awareness of what you can do, what you'll have to hire people for, what you'll be able to learn, and if all of that adds up to something you want to take on.</p><p></p><p>Exactly. This is my point.</p><p></p><p>I'm not speaking in absolutes, so I don't intend me pointing out one possibility to mean I disregard things can swing the other way as well. Basically, I'm saying that both have their risks, but I was addressing points someone else had raised because they were talking as though the risks only exist with freelancing.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Doing so has gotten me quick answers regarding costing, publishing processes, etc. and even permission to use an entire book's worth of art someone else owns at no cost because I wrote it for them but am going to re-issue it through my company. Also, without networking I never would have had the chance to work on the DC Comics RPG (getting a chance to influence the comics to boot!) or obtained a license to do my Armageddon products for the Unisystem.</p><p></p><p>It's not necessary, but it cuts down on risk, and it also cuts down on costs. You'd be a fool not to network with peers in this industry.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Steve Conan Trustrum, post: 7659187, member: 1620"] Go back and re-read some of the things CardinalXimenes has said. He hasn't used the word "guarantee" -- just synonyms and statements to that effect. His guarantee is based on the fact that, hey, self-publishing costs nothing when you start out! You don't even consider your time involved as an expense, so even a single sale equals profit! He's also ignoring the possibility (and fact that it does indeed happen) that it's possible to put out a product and not sell a single copy. So, yes, someone is guaranteeing profit, but they're rooting it in rather loaded, self-fulfilling terms. That message is in there, to be sure, but that's not all the article (or its writer) is saying. It's certainly not the latter, as verified by anyone who has followed up with Morrus' comments on it elsewhere. On Twitter, for example while tweeting about his article: "Scary number of $0.01 per word rates out there. Don't work for $0.01 per word, guys!" You won't, for example, find anything along the lines of "a good time to obtain experience and build relationships by accepting a low pay rate is when you're looking for the higher paying jobs. After all, if it takes you three times as long to find work that only pays you twice as much, you're losing money holding out for the higher rate, not making it. An important part of making money at freelance writing, no matter your pay rate, is knowing how to manage your time effectively in terms of cost-benefit." There are times where I've made a lot more money working $0.01/word jobs than I would have working on a $0.04/word job because of what I was doing. A pay rate does not exist in a state of absolutes, just as what a writer is worth does not break down to any benchmark pay rate -- certainly not if you're an actual professional freelancer. There's always a context and other factors in play (if you're smart.) Disagree. With freelancing you (theoretically -- this is the RPG industry after all) get paid no matter the product's success because you're working for someone else and you've done the work and have a contract (hah!) You're also just doing the writing job you're hired for. When it comes to self-publishing, I don't know anyone who gets by just doing the writing, and if you are, then you certainly aren't just accepting a payment -- you're also paying other people. You don't still get a payday if your self-published product ends up taking a loss whereas a freelancer should (theoretically) already have their money and be laughing. If you really want, I can go back and pull some of his quotes. Exactly. Kickstarter is something that can go oh-so-very wrong for self-publishers. And when it does go wrong, it's usually because of a lack of research, awareness of what's involved, and being unprepared. Everyone else is doing it, so you figure you can pull it off too, no problem. Which is sort of my point about self-publishing in general. The fact that some are portraying it as a no-risk venture is dishonest. And, to be clear, I'm not saying it's not something freelancers should consider. Some would make a great go of it. But it requires careful thought, and awareness of what you can do, what you'll have to hire people for, what you'll be able to learn, and if all of that adds up to something you want to take on. Exactly. This is my point. I'm not speaking in absolutes, so I don't intend me pointing out one possibility to mean I disregard things can swing the other way as well. Basically, I'm saying that both have their risks, but I was addressing points someone else had raised because they were talking as though the risks only exist with freelancing. Doing so has gotten me quick answers regarding costing, publishing processes, etc. and even permission to use an entire book's worth of art someone else owns at no cost because I wrote it for them but am going to re-issue it through my company. Also, without networking I never would have had the chance to work on the DC Comics RPG (getting a chance to influence the comics to boot!) or obtained a license to do my Armageddon products for the Unisystem. It's not necessary, but it cuts down on risk, and it also cuts down on costs. You'd be a fool not to network with peers in this industry. [/QUOTE]
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