How do I go about submitting?

[Virginia Wilde]

I feel really stupid asking this, but I feel as though I've realy got something here. So, as a challenge from some friends, I'm going to start submitting to publishers.

The question is, who's good to submit too? How exactly do you write a query letter for a roleplaying game book? What do companies look for in a new setting idea? How do I market it?

 

[Crothian]

The best thing it to go to publishers web sites and see what their submission guidelines are.

 

[DarkShiv]

Go to the D20 resource guide on this very site and hit every publisher that has a web page. Go to that publishers "contact" or "submissions" page and read what guidelines they have. Some are vauge giving you alot of freedom in your ideas, some are very direct and tell you exactly what they are looking for.

On the topic of setting. Most companies are dedicated to thier own setting or putting out material for any setting. You could pitch it to some companies and see what they say, but it is better to try and give them what they want.

 

[tabrumj]

Getting Published

In general you don't want to try and sell a setting or major book idea to a company. They aren't going to take a risk on someone who's writing talent hasn't been proven to them. Instead you want to start by finding an open call or getting in a magazine as most companies use these to find new talent.

Once you have gotten a few small parts of books or articles published most companies will be willing to take a closer look at you for the big projects.

 

[Nightfall]

Jeff would know. He's a freelancer.

If you'd like, you could try your hand at the S&SS Open Call for Creature Collection 3. Here's the link: Creature Collection 3 Open Call

Enjoy.

 

[Old Fezziwig]

Here's a few links you might want to check out from Monte Cook's website —
http://www.montecook.com/workshops.html
http://www.montecook.com/arch_lineos70.html

Best,
tKL

 

[Jürgen Hubert]

Don't send out setting proposals at first. Write some articles for some magazines instead - Dragon, Dungeon, d20 Weekly, you name it.

The idea here is to (a) get experience as a writer, and (b) name recognition. Both will help you immensely when you push your own setting.

I'd suggest writing for d20 Weekly. If it is anything like Pyramid (and this seems to be the case), you have a far higher chance of getting your articles accepted (less competition), and the people on the messageboards will tell you what they liked or didnt like afterwards...