D&D General Win The Title of D&D's Best DM

WotC is running a competition called the Dungeon Master Challenge. Similar to Paizo's old RPG Superstar contest, it features various design rounds which whittle down the contenders until only one remains.

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The winner gets a trophy and some D&D products worth just over $2K.

Note: your entry becomes the property of WotC, which can use it in any way it wishes, even if you don't win. They don't even have to credit you for it. Be sure to consider this when deciding whether to enter.

• The first design challenge for a 1,000-word entry is Thursday June 17th, and contestants have three days to submit their entries. This round is open to everybody who qualifies (18+, in one of a list of countries).
• 10 contestants will then proceed to the next round in July, which is an elimination stage with various weekly 1,000-word design challenges.
• Three of those will go on to the final challenge in September, which involved being a DM on a livestream, judged by a panel.

What's a Freelance RPG Writer Worth?

Freelance writers (as opposed to those on salary) tend to be paid per word. The rate varies from publisher to publisher, and on how experienced the writer is. Ed Greenwood, for example, can command a much higher rate than a new writer can. Obviously only you, the freelancer, can decide...

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[Morrus]

Hrm... seriously, the best GMs are often not the best writers - indeed, very often it is the GMs whoimprovise who are best. On the other hand the good writers often have really big issues with adventure design. The only way to know a good GM is to see them in action. So this contest is really badly named. I'll completely ignore it

I mean, it does both? Design rounds and game running rounds.

 

[Reynard]

Yep. I'd have had a 1500 word version done in half the time.

Indeed. I have 100 words left to trim and love them all.

What actually helps is a format I call the micronovel which is made up of 100 chapters of exactly 100 words, so I have had a lot of practice trimming words while maintaining meaning and impact.

 

[Reynard]

Quick question: did you include your name and contact information in your PDF? The guidelines don't actually say one way or the other, and sometimes such information is NOT supposed to be there for fairness sake.

 

[Disgruntled Hobbit]

Quick question: did you include your name and contact information in your PDF? The guidelines don't actually say one way or the other, and sometimes such information is NOT supposed to be there for fairness sake.

They don't tell you how to label your submission?!

 

[Reynard]

They don't tell you how to label your submission?!

Yeah, I just reread the entire rules and there is no mention of it anywhere. Here's hoping I don't get disqualified on a technicality.

 

[Quickleaf]

Quick question: did you include your name and contact information in your PDF? The guidelines don't actually say one way or the other, and sometimes such information is NOT supposed to be there for fairness sake.

When you submit it asks for your name and email in online fields.

I opted not to put my name or contact info within the document – not sure how their word count system operates for the submitted PDF and didn't want it to accidentally push me over – and I named my PDF "Trap Name_My Name".

I was at 1,000 words exactly. I also included a pen sketch to illustrate it, scanned via Adobe Scan app and placed directly in the PDF.

I know there was mention that good writing =/= good DMing, but the lack of writing/submission guidelines makes it feel like this is much more about the idea and less about the writing (not that both aren't important).

 

[Reynard]

When you submit it asks for your name and email in online fields.

I opted not to put my name or contact info within the document – not sure how their word count system operates for the submitted PDF and didn't want it to accidentally push me over – and I named my PDF "Trap Name_My Name".

I was at 1,000 words exactly. I also included a pen sketch to illustrate it, scanned via Adobe Scan app and placed directly in the PDF.

I know there was mention that good writing =/= good DMing, but the lack of writing/submission guidelines makes it feel like this is much more about the idea and less about the writing (not that both aren't important).

I put my name in the header along with standard submission information. I don't imagine anyone will tell you why you didn't win so we can just believe it was because we're terrible, not stupid.

Mine came in at 977 words after some pruning.

 

[Quickleaf]

I put my name in the header along with standard submission information. I don't imagine anyone will tell you why you didn't win so we can just believe it was because we're terrible, not stupid.

Mine came in at 977 words after some pruning.

Nice! Nicely done. How did you approach the bit about being evaluated for lore?

I chose to set my trap in a place within Sigil referenced in Mordenkainen's Tome, so the lore tie-in is very specific.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Quick question: did you include your name and contact information in your PDF? The guidelines don't actually say one way or the other, and sometimes such information is NOT supposed to be there for fairness sake.

I'm putting them into the header of my document, the same as I do when I'm applying for a job. I also included my name in the PDF file name.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

When you submit it asks for your name and email in online fields.

I opted not to put my name or contact info within the document – not sure how their word count system operates for the submitted PDF and didn't want it to accidentally push me over – and I named my PDF "Trap Name_My Name".

I was at 1,000 words exactly. I also included a pen sketch to illustrate it, scanned via Adobe Scan app and placed directly in the PDF.

I know there was mention that good writing =/= good DMing, but the lack of writing/submission guidelines makes it feel like this is much more about the idea and less about the writing (not that both aren't important).

Their rules say that they can and will rewrite it as necessary. Being a good writer will help -- you can be more precise and clear and better communicate your hopefully brilliant ideas -- but it's not an absolute requirement. In every writing field, there are people whose ideas are stronger than their writing, and vice-versa, and publishers know they need to help the former group out a little more with polish. All part of the process.