Becoming a RPG Writer

[MusedFable]

I’ve lurked long on this site and have finally found a good reason to post. I have dreams (or delusions, whichever way you look at it) of grandeur, and hope to write, publish, and/or draw/paint for Role-playing books. I know for a fact I will do these things. It will take time. I may have to “settle” for a more mundane steady paying job, but I know I will be contributing my vision on a large profit earning (not the capitalistic idea, but more of the acknowledgement of getting paid for my ideas).
I have quite a few questions, but as most things turn out they’ll get answered eventually and time is one thing I don’t lack at my present age. I’m currently going to college for business (looking to opening a gaming story; yeah that’s my idea of stable ).

Well, enough of an intro. I plan to stick around for a while, so you’ll get to know me soon enough. I guess my first question is to all those writers/publishers/artists. What kind of “training” have you gone through in order to give yourself the title of writer/publisher/artist and how comfortable do you feel in that role? I’d like any feedback; even if you’ve only gotten one article published in dungeon/dragon. I’d also like to know how much control you demand when actual production of your work is printed? I think (and almost know) that I’d need complete control over everything including even the advertisement of my work. I have a feeling I’ll be creating a publishing company just to release my own work (probable been done by others so at least I’m not walking an untamed trail). Also (like I haven’t asked enough questions) how long do you think it would take to write a large book (player’s handbook, arcane unearthed sized) all by yourself (that not including anything to increase computer compatibility in pdf form, such as bookmarks or interactives)? That leads to yet another question. How comfortable do you feel about collaborating on a project with someone? I’ve read about various books and how parts where created by different people that didn’t even keep in constant contact. How can a product be well made if 3 different people write different chapters?

Well I’d better stop asking question and post this and wait for replies.

 

[jgbrowning]

Well, enough of an intro. I plan to stick around for a while, so you’ll get to know me soon enough.

Hello, and welcome to EN World!

I guess my first question is to all those writers/publishers/artists. What kind of “training” have you gone through in order to give yourself the title of writer/publisher/artist and how comfortable do you feel in that role? I’d like any feedback; even if you’ve only gotten one article published in dungeon/dragon.

Re-write, re-write, re-write. Organize your thoughts, put them down, and then make them behave!

I’d also like to know how much control you demand when actual production of your work is printed? I think (and almost know) that I’d need complete control over everything including even the advertisement of my work.

I publish myself mostly because I don't think anyone would have bought my first manuscript. I like only having my own deadlines.

I have a feeling I’ll be creating a publishing company just to release my own work (probable been done by others so at least I’m not walking an untamed trail).

Know your goals. If you're really going to turn this into a business, make a business plan. If your doing just because you like it and want to make some money doing something you like, that's a different story.

I could probably grow the hell out of my business, but right now, that's not very appealing. I like being small and I want to start world traveling in a couple of years. Having a "real" publishing house would put a damper on that.

Also (like I haven’t asked enough questions) how long do you think it would take to write a large book (player’s handbook, arcane unearthed sized) all by yourself (that not including anything to increase computer compatibility in pdf form, such as bookmarks or interactives)?

Depends on the subject. If it's a core rulebook, it's going to take you at least a year. You'll have to playtest and playtest it. Getting playtesters isn't the easiest thing. If it's a supplement to an existing system, playtesting's important, but you don't have to test basics.

Right now I'm looking at the posibility of a big campaign world book. I'm going to give myself at least 18 months from first word to finished product. It can be done faster if you work hard. I don't.

My first book was 144 pages with me and suzi writing it. That took 8 months for research to publishing. The one coming out in April has taken a little less (we're writing faster-the more you do it, the better/faster you'll get).

That leads to yet another question. How comfortable do you feel about collaborating on a project with someone? I’ve read about various books and how parts where created by different people that didn’t even keep in constant contact. How can a product be well made if 3 different people write different chapters?

Designer organization. Say what you need what parts must mesh well. State what parts are more free form and open to interpretation. And keep in touch with the authors to nip any troubles at the bud. Have BS sessions via phone/e-mail/lunch where you just idea mine. It's all organization.

Don't forget dealing with artists. Don't forget to pay them on time.

Well I’d better stop asking question and post this and wait for replies.

Hope my limited experience helps and good luck!

Joseph Browning
Expeditious Retreat Press

 

[Beale Knight]

JG covered things pretty well. These days it’s remarkable easy to get going in the RPG field – IF you’re dedicated enough to what you’re doing to keep at it and make it top notch quality as you possibly can. Publishing by way of .pdf file has opened the door wide for anyone who wants to write and distribute an RPG product and maybe make a little bit of money. However, making it big enough in the field to make a living at it is a whole ‘nother thing though.

If you want to form your own publishing company and want to write/draw etc – my strong suggestion is to have a solid and specific idea of what you want to produce first. Then write it. Then re-write it. Then have it play tested. If play tests come out well (and they almost always do – if nothing else they’ll let you know what you’ve done horrible wrong without realizing it) work on re-writing again. As you’re wrapping up the last re-writes start the work on getting the official company business started.

You sound like you want to be much, much larger than my one-man operation, so you’ll probably have a lot more legal hoops to jump through to form the kind of company you want. But since you’re studying business you probably have a head start on that anyway and know to have a business plan and to have a lawyer and accountant at hand. Making your own company is a great way to have the control you want, but the flip side is that you’re going to have a very limited budget for production and promotion.

So far as time to produce – it took me eighteen months to produce Comic Book Super-Heroes, but I wasn’t working on it everyday as I should have been and I was beaten to the punch of presenting the first decent d20 super-hero game by a month (Vigilance) and two days (Deeds Not Words). That hard lesson drove me to more dedicated work on Next Age Heroes, which took exactly a year from first notes to On Sale.

One more thing – if you’re going about the writing and producing solo, make sure to plan for the time it takes to do layout. It took weeks for me to get things the way I wanted them. Granted if you have better software it won’t take as long, but you’ll still need to budget time to do it. It can’t be simply breezed through in a day.

Hope this helps. Good luck and don’t give up.

 

[Christina]

I have dreams (or delusions, whichever way you look at it) of grandeur, and hope to write, publish, and/or draw/paint for Role-playing books.

You can break into the market, certainly. The delusions come from thinking you'll make a lot of money at it. It CAN happen, but it isn't likely to happen, especially if you are a freelancer.

If you just want to break in as a writer, start answering some of the open calls that companies post here. When you've contributed to a few things, you'll have something to point to when you approach publishers for larger jobs.

What kind of “training” have you gone through in order to give yourself the title of writer/publisher/artist and how comfortable do you feel in that role? I

If you are writing, then you can call yourself a writer. If you are published, then you can call yourself a published writer. That's all there is to it.

I’d also like to know how much control you demand when actual production of your work is printed? I think (and almost know) that I’d need complete control over everything including even the advertisement of my work.

Uh...if that's the case, you better self-publish. The publishing company always gets the final say--they are forking out the money on the project, after all. And you'll have to accept the editor's changes, too.

Also (like I haven’t asked enough questions) how long do you think it would take to write a large book (player’s handbook, arcane unearthed sized) all by yourself (that not including anything to increase computer compatibility in pdf form, such as bookmarks or interactives)?

To write the book, depending on size and your writing speed, can take anywhere from a month to a year. Mongoose has writers knocking out 128-page books in a month's time. If you are talking final product, then you have to add on editing time, art requests, and layout--these can add 3-4 months to the production deadline.

That leads to yet another question. How comfortable do you feel about collaborating on a project with someone? I’ve read about various books and how parts where created by different people that didn’t even keep in constant contact. How can a product be well made if 3 different people write different chapters?

I've collaborated on several books, and on a few, I had little contact with the other authors. Pulling it off really requires a good editor/developer. Otherwise, the book comes off as a chaotic mess of varying visions.

Hope that helps.

Christina

 

[MusedFable]

Thanks everyone for the wonderful replies, I couldn’t have asked for more. I think I’ll post in default font from now on, because I think I gave myself a headache from that last one.

Well, everything you guys/gals said is about near to what I’d aimed at. I’m definitely sure I don’t want a full fledged business, just something for me to put my thoughts and heart into. I was aiming at 2 years for my first book, and probable won’t even make that deadline (most likely from just having to learn everything the hard way).

Thanks for the reassurance.

 

[BrooklynKnight]

At a glance it looks as if everyone is giving advice on writing your own complete book. If you want to get your foot in the door of the RPG Industry, check out the Industry Forums where Companies place Open Calls for Writers, and Playtesters and Editors.

Write,Write,Write. Submit Submit Submit.

One open call recently ended, for Realms Of Evil Games. I'm collecting submissions for En Publishings Bride Of Portable Hole (not the most serious of books, but something none the less.), just follow the link in my Sig.

When writing rules it helps to have a good understanding of existing rules and balances, which is where playtesting comes in. Not only should your own work be playtested, but you become a better writer, at least IMO, by playtesting other peoples work. Bastion Press and one other company I think have posts looking for Playtesters in the forum.

Another company is looking for adventure/encounter submissions.

Start slow, work your way up. And you can continuously work on your own book in peices.

Hope this helps.

 

[Felon]

You can break into the market, certainly. The delusions come from thinking you'll make a lot of money at it. It CAN happen, but it isn't likely to happen, especially if you are a freelancer.

I hear this a lot. I'm in the IT field right now and it's growing progressively less rewarding for me (too much hassle to stay on the cutting edge of lots of things that have become, IMO, boring as hell). I'm a technical writer, so I'm more than capable of tackling the crunch side of writing d20 material. I'm also a skilled artist. Here's what I'm wondering: forget getting rich--is it unlikely for a person to just make a living doing this, assuming it takes a minimum of, say, $35,000 a year to constitute "a living"?

I know there are lots of "ifs" and "maybes" here, but I'm just curious if there's really enough demand for product for talented people to make ends meet.

 

[Red Baron]

I know there are lots of "ifs" and "maybes" here, but I'm just curious if there's really enough demand for product for talented people to make ends meet.

Well, I'm doing it full-time right now. (I also teach a writing course [3 hrs/week, plus marking], but aside from that, I'm developing/editing full-time.) Of course, I wouldn't call myself "talented."

My wife is an actor, which doesn't make things any easier, financially, but we get by. I wouldn't advise trying it unless you're single or have a parnter with a decent income...

 

[bubbalin]

ah the delusions of youth.

Just kidding. I hope you succeed, but on the other hand, don't hold your breath...

 

[Ashy]

Well, I'm doing it full-time right now. (I also teach a writing course [3 hrs/week, plus marking], but aside from that, I'm developing/editing full-time.) Of course, I wouldn't call myself "talented."

My wife is an actor, which doesn't make things any easier, financially, but we get by. I wouldn't advise trying it unless you're single or have a parnter with a decent income...

Don't listen to what this guy says... He really resides up in the great white north, in a cave and he makes "floaty boots" for a living....