And here it is....the WotC contest Delay.

[Chromnos]

Sounds like a plan.

Are you familiar with Robert Aspirin's books as well as the Old Elf-Quest Graphic novels?

I am good friends with both of the publisher's sons. They both still read manuscripts for him (these include submissions from all genres). One of them discovered Conversations With God. The other guy designed the cover. Both have a keen interest in fantasy.

I spoke with the pusblisher last year and he said he was interested in new fantasy/magical realism/sci-fi.

A number of authors, publishers and agents will be at the convention.

This weekend I'm going to be hanging out with one of the publisher's sons. I'll get the details on the convention and send them to you this monday.

Looks like you and I are in similar boats. I'm writing and editing nonfiction that is outside of the field I want to write in and you are writing and editing for game products which are inside the genre but it's still not books.

I'm the lead editor for Jane's World Insurgency and Terrorism, Jane's Chem-bio Handbook, Jane's Chem-bio Web, and Jane's CopCase. All of which I write for and am published in. I've had articles I've written quoted in Wired magazine among others and despite the prestige I'd kill to have even a third of your freelancing experience.

-C

-C

 

[arcseed]

I hear there's a better way to do it: http://www.thuntek.net/hardmag/v3.htm#fires. Write the crappy x-files or star wars or forgotten realms book, so you can convince the marketing geeks to promote your real book, and can even put some 'bestselling author' blurb on the front.

But what do I know. Me, I'm just getting off my ass in the summer off of college to write that atrocious first novel. In my flying islands setting.

 

[Chromnos]

BG-

Gotta jet.

Here is my email address.

Please send only short emails.

Mouse, you can use it too.

Anyone else I will delete. You'll have to find me on the boards.

rob.fanney@janes.com

 

[Mouseferatu]

Chromnos, I have, indeed, responded by e-mail. Thanks.

 

[Irysangel]

Hey!

I wasn't aware Wendy & Richard Pini bred.

You sure you meant the original Elfquest publishers?

 

[Saracen]

Chromnos,

You've got a deal on that beer.

From you're post it appears that you live in the DC\C-ville area.

I used to live in Charlottesville, where I worked as an editor for a non-fiction publishing company for about three years.

I still have family down there an travel to central Virginia three or four times a year so I'd be interested in the convention as well.

Later.

 

[Scribe Ineti]

(not to totally hijack this thread, but...)

Cool, more up-and-coming writers! I too, am just getting my writing career underway. I'm writing screenplays, stage plays, comic book scripts, short stories, etc. etc.

If you're struggling novelists, you might want to try your hand at some short stories to get into the groove and get some editorial feedback on your work.

In fact, if any of you are Trek fans, there is an annual short story Star Trek contest called "Strange New Worlds." The judges select a winner, a 2nd place, a 3rd place, and about 20 runners-up, and all those stories are printed in an anthology that you can buy in any ol' bookstore. There are also cash prizes for those top 3.

If you're interested, say so, and I'll post more details in the non-RPG sci-fi section.

 

[Irysangel]

Actually...

I'd be willing to bet a lot of folks got inspired by this contest and began to write the Great Fantasy Novel.

I've been a closet writer for several years (squat published, squat finished, I jump around alot) and my game idea actually came from my old novel that I haven't dusted off in a good year.

I'm currently shaping it up right now and having a blast with it. So the contest was a good thing for me either way. I now see my characters in a new light as well

 

[Jnassise]

Writers

Couldn't resist joining this thread. I am a published novelist just breaking into rpg writing. My first two books were put out in the small press last year. RIVERWATCH, my debut, was optioned to become a feature film and has since been acquired by Pocket Books for mass market publication in 2003.

Pocket also just bought my new dark fantasy series, the Templar Chronicles. Book one, HERETIC, comes out in 2004, with two others to follow.

I've got a couple of freelance contracts with d20 publishers at the moment, so you should see some of my stuff late this year or early next.

For those of you who desire to make it as novelists, just keep sending stuff out. I'd be happy to answer any questions about the road I took if you are interested.

Shameless plug here, but I am also the co-editor of a magazine called Planet Pulp - Genre Fiction from the Inside Out. each month we interview writers, agents, editors, etc in the genre market and give an inside view of the tips, tricks, and trends. You can get a free issue at www.planetpulpmagazine.com.

Best,
Joe Nassise
www.josephnassise.com

 

[mirzabah]

Re: More than 10?

I'm surprised no one has entertained the idea yet that there could be more than 10 going into the next round. The submission agreement stated " approximately ten (10) settings Wizards would like to see developed" will be selected. Obviously they got more submissions than they originally thought they would get, don't you think it makes sense that they may take their loophole and ask for more than just 10 10 page treatments? With the word approximately thrown in it is open to interpretation.

Elsewhere they say "up to 10", so "approximately" must be interpreted in that context - I suspect that they wanted to leave themselves an "out" just in case they didn't get 10 entries worth considering for commercial development. Let's say they receive 7 absolutely brilliant entries and then there's a big gap in quality to the next 3 best. Why should they bother soliciting 10-pagers for those next best entries if they know that the winner is going to come from the top 7?

I doubt very much that they will increase the number of 10-pagers they will consider - 10 for the second round is about right regardless of the number of first round entries they receive.