Advice for a wannabe publisher?

[grinning_loony]

Hi! I've recently been tossing around the idea of publishing my own stuff on RPGnow. I suppose that means I'll have to have a little company. So, what does a new e-publisher need? What would be useful? I'm talking software programs (Quark? Photoshop? Adobe Acrobat?) as well as resources (did ROGnow once have an e-publisher wannabe product?), legal stuff (do I have to get a business lisence? should I talk to a lawyer?), and any other advice you'd care to throw out (what's a good length for pdf products? Price?).

Also, I'm wondering about art, which looks like it might be the biggest expense. I like the clipart idea, but I haven't been able to find any modern and supers-style clipart. (If there's an artist out there who would like to join forces on this idea, drop me a line and perhaps we can work something out.)

My current idea is to publish adventures for d20 Modern and perhaps the M&M Superlink, and probably some fantasy ones now and then. I like writing adventures and there's little adventure support for d20 Modern and Mutants & Masterminds.

I doubt I'll make a lot of money, but I'll probably make a little. It'll be something to do in between freelancing projects.

Thanks a lot!

-Luke Johnson
Freelancer

 

[The Sigil]

Hi! I've recently been tossing around the idea of publishing my own stuff on RPGnow. I suppose that means I'll have to have a little company. So, what does a new e-publisher need? What would be useful? I'm talking software programs (Quark? Photoshop? Adobe Acrobat?) as well as resources (did ROGnow once have an e-publisher wannabe product?), legal stuff (do I have to get a business lisence? should I talk to a lawyer?), and any other advice you'd care to throw out (what's a good length for pdf products? Price?).

For the business end of things, definitely pick up a copy of the epublisher's guide http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=1668& - it gives you some good overview of the ins and outs of e-publishing, including things like "do I need to incorporate" and other similar legal questions. It also gives you a nice selection of templated legal forms (things like writer's and artist's contracts) which you can use or modify for your own purposes. Definitely pick that up if you plan on doing e-publishing, because it will give you enough of an education in the "legal" aspect of things to let you make decisions (it's not legal advice, but it at least tells you what to ask and what to consider).

Of course, you'll need some sort of word processor to write in and then publish your stuff - and you'll need to make it in a format that is compatible across multiple machines (and preferably can be read with free software). PDF is the most common format, though you'll see HTML products out there as well.

For the Word Processor, Quark and InDesign are the "professional" solutions, though a good number of people probably get use out of MS Word as well (once you get familiar with all of its capabilities, it's not bad - not great, but it can certainly do the job - to this point, it's what I have used).

Adobe Acrobat is the most common choice for creating PDF documents, though it is expensive. You can convert documents to PDF on the adobe website for free, though I think there is a 3-use limit (it's a "try it out" thing, I think). There is also a free utility called "pdf995" that you might want to look into (www.pdf995.com IIRC), though PDF995 does have a few limitations in it (frex, I can't get a "full page bleed" on the PDF - I always have about a 1/2 inch white space margin - though this may just be my unfamiliarity ith PDF995).

Alternatively, you could try to use OpenOffice.org (see if you can guess their website), which has the ability to save directly to PDF also. That takes care of both Word Processor and PDF Conversion functions in one blow, and it's free (an attractive cost to any start-up publisher). I'm considering making a go of it soon and seeing how it functions; if it works well, I'll let you know.

Also, I'm wondering about art, which looks like it might be the biggest expense. I like the clipart idea, but I haven't been able to find any modern and supers-style clipart. (If there's an artist out there who would like to join forces on this idea, drop me a line and perhaps we can work something out.)

That's a bit harder to find, but there is some stuff out there...
http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=308&products_id=1890&
and
http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=308&products_id=1747&

come immediately to mind.

My current idea is to publish adventures for d20 Modern and perhaps the M&M Superlink, and probably some fantasy ones now and then. I like writing adventures and there's little adventure support for d20 Modern and Mutants & Masterminds.

I doubt I'll make a lot of money, but I'll probably make a little. It'll be something to do in between freelancing projects.

Thanks a lot!

-Luke Johnson
Freelancer

Sounds like fun! My advice is to try a couple of products to see how you do and see it as a hobby - nothing more. If it takes off on you, then you can worry about making it more of a business.

I've produced some stuff that I'm happy with, and even a couple of pretty-well-received hot sellers, but it's still a hobby. And I want to keep it that way - no frenzied release schedule, nobody making decisions "over my head" - it's nice.

--The Sigil

 

[Funksaw]

Hi! I've recently been tossing around the idea of publishing my own stuff on RPGnow. I suppose that means I'll have to have a little company. So, what does a new e-publisher need? What would be useful? I'm talking software programs (Quark? Photoshop? Adobe Acrobat?) as well as resources (did ROGnow once have an e-publisher wannabe product?), legal stuff (do I have to get a business lisence? should I talk to a lawyer?), and any other advice you'd care to throw out (what's a good length for pdf products? Price?).

Also, I'm wondering about art, which looks like it might be the biggest expense. I like the clipart idea, but I haven't been able to find any modern and supers-style clipart. (If there's an artist out there who would like to join forces on this idea, drop me a line and perhaps we can work something out.)

My current idea is to publish adventures for d20 Modern and perhaps the M&M Superlink, and probably some fantasy ones now and then. I like writing adventures and there's little adventure support for d20 Modern and Mutants & Masterminds.

I doubt I'll make a lot of money, but I'll probably make a little. It'll be something to do in between freelancing projects.

Thanks a lot!

-Luke Johnson
Freelancer

Well, I can tell you that, if you don't mind your product looking remarkably similar to the Devil's Workshop stuff, Devils Workshop puts out collections of Supers and Fantasy art, where you can buy 20 pieces of art for $3 each. Not bad.

Another "trick" is to find the Dover Coloring Books - they allow you to use up to 4 pieces of art from the book in "personal projects" - although I'd try to contact them to see if what you're doing constitutes a "personal project."

Remember, a skilled Photoshopper can't replace an artist, but he can get you extra mileage out of the art you *do* end up buying.

 

[PJ-Mason]

Adobe Acrobat is the most common choice for creating PDF documents, though it is expensive. You can convert documents to PDF on the adobe website for free, though I think there is a 3-use limit (it's a "try it out" thing, I think). There is also a free utility called "pdf995" that you might want to look into (www.pdf995.com IIRC), though PDF995 does have a few limitations in it (frex, I can't get a "full page bleed" on the PDF - I always have about a 1/2 inch white space margin - though this may just be my unfamiliarity ith PDF995).

I answered your post over at RPGNOW, but i can do a quick copy/paste here:

And now for the Cheap-0-cratic response.

Adobe has a online service where you can convert files to pdf on their site. If you sign up "now" you get your first 5 doc converts for free the site says. It costs something like $10 a month or $100/year. Thats cheaper than shelling out $300 for the Adobe 6 software, but it uses Adobe 5 for this. Don't know as thats really a problem but be forewarned. Here is that site:

https://createpdf.adobe.com/index.p...206.92362?BP=IE

If you REALLY want to go the cheap route, they have a 30 free trial for Adobe Pro 6 that you can download. Just wait until your file is ready and then download and presto! Great cheapness. Or you can wait until you have several files to convert then download the free trial. heh.

I also looked into buying a copy of the Adobe 5 and then buying the 6.0 update. But it only saves you from $10-40 off the $300 that just buying Adobe 6 straight would cost. Given the hassle to do it, its probably not worth it.


...uh...not that i've been looking into the subject the last couple days or anything....

I haven't completed my investigation just, yet. But then i don't need to until my product is finished up.

Alternatively, you could try to use OpenOffice.org (see if you can guess their website), which has the ability to save directly to PDF also. That takes care of both Word Processor and PDF Conversion functions in one blow, and it's free (an attractive cost to any start-up publisher). I'm considering making a go of it soon and seeing how it functions; if it works well, I'll let you know.

Hmmm, thanks for the tip, Sigil. I love options.

 

[PlotDevice]

Dirt Cheap Option?

First timer here, please be gentle.

Interesting and useful thread.

OK, I have some ideas I want to put out there in PDF, and have no money. Is it acceptable to put out a "no frills" product, with little or no art, borders, hyperlinks? Using free programs like Open Office?

My issue here is the software cost seems punitive for something that you would expect to sell for less than $5.

Having trolled though drivethrough and rpgnow for a while, I have gotten an assessment of the "quality vs price" issue in an intuitive way, but would anyone care to put a value on content vs appearance?

What I mean is, take a product as a new release, selling at $10 US with art, 3 versions of the PDF (print version, screen version with links, full publisher version with cover) and remove all the bells and whistles, ending with just the content in an easily printable format. How much would you sell it / buy it for?

Evan
www.plotdevice.com.au

 

[Dimwhit]

If you want the right software tools, your best bet is the Adobe Design Suite. It's $1000, but with it you get Photoshop, InDesign (IMO better than Quark) and Acrobat. (You also get Illustrator and GoLive, but you might not use those as much.)

 

[Prest0]

My issue here is the software cost seems punitive for something that you would expect to sell for less than $5.

Having trolled though drivethrough and rpgnow for a while, I have gotten an assessment of the "quality vs price" issue in an intuitive way, but would anyone care to put a value on content vs appearance?
[/url]

Personally, anything that I put my name on had better read AND look as good as possible. Anything less is unacceptable. It so happens that I have more than 10 years experience in desktop publishing, so I feel confident I can deliver on both scores. (Uh oh. Am I sounding like Dana here?) If you think you have a great adventure/GM guide/whatever but don't have the software or the experience in using it, the answer seems pretty clear to me-- don't self-publish. Shop it around. If it's as good as you think it is, an existing publisher with the infrastructure already in place will pick it up.

 

[Marius Delphus]

What I mean is, take a product as a new release, selling at $10 US with art, 3 versions of the PDF (print version, screen version with links, full publisher version with cover) and remove all the bells and whistles, ending with just the content in an easily printable format. How much would you sell it / buy it for?

Personally? $5. I have no extrinsic justification for this, only a "gut feeling." (Is there a "big grain of salt" smilie?)

I agree with Prest0's "as good as possible" comment wholeheartedly: I can't even permit my *own* stuff (personal consumption only type of thing) to look as though I hadn't put at least a *modicum* of effort into it. (It's a compulsion I've learned to live with; I have *almost* 10 years of DTP experience. ) With that in mind, imagine my dismay when I purchased a product I've had my eye on for a while (I won't say which) and discovered I thought the layout was vastly poorer than I've turned out in my *spare* time.

Of course, not every consumer is a longtime fastidious professional desktop publisher, to be sure. But if you go to the library and check out a couple books on page design (I especially recommend "The Non-Designer's Design Book" by Robin Williams -- no, not the actor) you might be surprised how many "simple rules" you need to keep in mind for a *professional looking* layout... and how many times you can see those rules violated once you've learned them. (cough, AD&D2E BLACK BOOKS, cough)

On the original topic, the best software costs money for a reason. I hate trying to cope without my Adobe Suite anymore... the options it gives me are just *that* superior to any less-expensive solutions I've tried. Though you can get a long way with Microsoft Publisher if you cancel/turn off/slay all the silly wizards and stuff. (Shhhhhh!)

It's the same with art. Good art you have to pay well for. I've never taken an RPG publication from "gestation" to "coming out party" myself, so on this one I am just repeating what I've heard. But it's basically this: decide what you're comfortable paying and then have a look around to find the quality/price tradeoff you're willing to make. Consider there's a significant chance you'll sell less than 100 units.

It seems to me that one of the beautiful things about PDF publishing is that there is no page count limit! Though to start, I'd suggest (again, based on nothing other than my "gut feeling" and what I read while lurking extensively 'round these here parts) shooting for something 96 pages or less that you're comfortable selling for $10 or less. Less than $10 is an impulse buy; more than that has to be worked into the ol' gaming budget. It's all about perception, you know. Anyway, give your customers a chance to *find out* how succinct yet evocative your writing is and how unique yet useful your rules material is, and they'll come back for more, right? Once you build "name cred" you might be able to sell some of your longer missives at higher prices.

And if you get better advice from someone who knows what they're talking about, take that instead!