[AAP] Thoughts of a Fool: What’s the point to RPG publishing? (for me...)

[FoolishFrost]

[AAP] Thoughts of a Fool: What’s the point to RPG publishing? (for me...)

[AAP] Thoughts of a Fool: What’s the point to RPG publishing? (for me...)

Well, once again I’m back talking about things you probably disagree with or don’t care about. That’s ok, because if everyone agreed with me, it would be a very scary world.

Very.

Scary.


Ok. I’ve been at the business of publishing gaming material for about a year. Let’s see what I’ve done so far.

• I’ve put in thousands of hours of personal labor into website design, product development, public relations, and ‘general management’.
  
• I’ve paid $400 for custom and stock art, for my current (and possibly future) products. I’ve also probably paid an additional $100 for the website, plus $100 for some special computer software/hardware upgrades I needed for work. That would be a total of about $600 out of pocket.
  
• I’ve gotten the Valley of Frozen Tears into print and up for sale in select places. It’s only sold two copies, but that’s life… They’re ready for anyone who decides they want one.

Now, what did I get out of it?

• I get to say that I’ve actually written two RPG books, and published a total of five products. It’s a little ego booster, but nice…
  
• I get to say one of my products got a five star review, and another a 4.5 star review. That’s an even better boost.
  
• I’ve pulled in about $350 in income, of which I got to keep 25-30%. (The rest goes to paying off artists. Bless you.) You guessed it! I’m still in the hole (financially) by about $500.
  
• I’ve learned a lot (oh GOD yes) about marketing, managing, and money. It was fun, even when it hurt. Dealing with others in business is also something I learned too. Note: On average, the more free reign you give an artist on a project, the happier he is and the better the art.
  
• I also improved my writing in special ways while writing these books. Not in the sense of writing better prose, mind you. I learned where to better use different kinds of writing, the voice style, in differing situations. I learned that sometimes, a first person story is better, while in others a narration can give the perfect feel for a scene.
  
• I learned never trust MS Word not to #@*&-UP a manuscript by replacing the CORRECT word with the WRONG word, even when you never told it to correct anything! Nothing like fixing something in an edit and having the system revert it BACK to the flawed version. <sigh> I’m ranting. Sorry.
  
• I’ve enjoyed the company of some really great people: Publishers, artists, writers, and (potential) customers.
  
• Finally, I went from being the little beggar boy, holding out a bowl and asking “more please”, to becoming a noted small publisher. I’m not in the big leagues, and will probably never be, but I kinda like the nitch I’m in. It’s comfortable, with room to grow.

So, as the title said, what’s the point?

I’m in this business because I want to be, not because I can get rich off of it. I can see my profit margin here. No matter how much I tell myself this is a business, I can’t get past the truth:

For me, it’s a personal labor of love. I guess that makes it a hobby.

I spend too much time re-editing my manuscripts to make sure they’re perfect. I want my artists to have fun with their projects for my upcoming books. *I* want to have fun writing my books. I want to know people are happy that they bought a product from me, and that something I made entertained them for just a little while in this dreary little reality we call life.

I guess I just want to enjoy myself and make friends.

The final point is, the money I put into this could have when into buying gaming material, and the time spent gaming. Is what I’m doing as fun as gaming? Get back to me on that, I’m not sure yet.

<sigh>

Anyway, how long will AAP keep going? As long as I’m enjoying myself, I guess. If it ever comes to the point I just can’t feel enthusiastic about it anymore, I guess I’ll do something else. Perhaps I’ll go into music…

Well, thanks for listening to another set of ramblings from a Fool

Later,

 

[HalWhitewyrm]

Just to keep it short and sweet: AMEN to all John said.

 

[Great Mastiff Games]

I read you, good sir ... have had the same experience myself, with the addition of doing a lot of the art too ... I agree that it's kind of neat to make the products, but also must echo the sentiments of your title....


(P.S. maybe not rich, but can't we at least break even ?)

 

[FoolishFrost]

(P.S. maybe not rich, but can't we at least break even ?)

Nope.

I heard there was a Rule about it somewhere.