Invasion of the 5-10 page PDFs . . .

[jmucchiello]

The average length for one of our small PDFs is 2,000 words.

Man, most of my two pagers are that length.

 

[Flynn]

A Budding Freelancer...

As a budding freelancer, I'm particularly interested in the short PDF as a means to develop my writing and presentation skills, as well as get samples of my work out there for others to see (and hopefully land me a few larger jobs over time.)

My problem comes in doing my own layout work. Where can I learn to do that without spending a lot of money I don't really have right now? Are there online resources? Do you recommend books that I might be able to check out of the library? Suggestions are definitely welcome.

Thank you in advance for your time,
Flynn

 

[jmucchiello]

As a budding freelancer, I'm particularly interested in the short PDF as a means to develop my writing and presentation skills, as well as get samples of my work out there for others to see (and hopefully land me a few larger jobs over time.)

My problem comes in doing my own layout work. Where can I learn to do that without spending a lot of money I don't really have right now? Are there online resources? Do you recommend books that I might be able to check out of the library? Suggestions are definitely welcome.

Me, I just go with what has worked. And before that I just took what I thought looked good. Look at other layouts and see what is good or bad about them and then choose a theme and go with it.

Or, hire someone to come up with your look for your initial product and then continue to use the look after you've paid him for it.

Or, just work for someone else and not get bogged down with it. Companies have submission guidelines. Send stuff in (according to the guidelines). Just don't solicit the same idea to multiple people at once.

 

[Flynn]

jmucchiello,

I guess I'm just a little overwhelmed by the concept of learning a layout app without some sort of guidance. Oh, well, one step at a time, right?

Thanks,
Flynn

 

[d20Dwarf]

jmucchiello,

I guess I'm just a little overwhelmed by the concept of learning a layout app without some sort of guidance. Oh, well, one step at a time, right?

Thanks,
Flynn

*descends from the mountaintop*

Working on your layout won't help you work on your writing.

*reascends into the foggy peaks*

 

[DaveStebbins]

My problem comes in doing my own layout work. Where can I learn to do that without spending a lot of money I don't really have right now? Are there online resources? Do you recommend books that I might be able to check out of the library? Suggestions are definitely welcome.

You could try using a reasonably priced professional service:
http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=2949&

Or you could purchase premade results from a reasonably priced professional service:
http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=1686&

I haven't used either one (or even heard feedback on them), but they are suggestions, and Phil and Ronin Arts have a great rep.

 

[Flynn]

Sadly, all I have access to is Adobe's InDesign, but the professional services sounds like a great possibility.

Thanks, All,
Flynn

 

[The Sigil]

Thought I'd never say this, but...

I am going to be releasing a "short PDF" some time real soon. I've noticed that my "free time" to work on PDFs has been asymptotically approaching zero, and I just don't think I have the time to cobble together "full length" works as often as I like. Rather than having stuff sit on my hard drive, in bits and pieces, for months (or in some cases, years), I think I'm going to try putting out some short pieces and see how they do. Better a few short pieces than nothing at all.

I'd still rather do "full books" but my schedule just prohibits that from happening, so I'm going with the next best thing. More info in the next day or two.

--The Sigil

 

[Edward Kann@StoryART]

As a total newcomer the marketing approach is a bit mind boggling, particularly when the desire is to put out great story and adventure / setting material. It looks like I will need to expand our production schedule to include a whole range of short .pdf's that spin off of our core product lines. Maps of starship sectors, ship stats and deck plans, villain bases, city histories and that sort of thing.

That is all great stuff but makes me worried that the really developed story material with the investment in quality will get buried under a giant pile of "a dozen magic pipe cleaners" and "ten nose widgets made for one legged dwarves"...not that I couldn't use that sort of stuff myself in my one legged dwarf campaign.

 

[cleavthorn]

"I've noticed a vast increase in the number of 5-10 page PDFs lately. Would anyone be willing to let us know what drew them to publish short PDFs?"

-Philip J. Reed


Er... Oddly, Phillip, this post inspired me to go ahead with a smaller presentation for Animal Archives 1: North American Prehistoric Animals.

I was originally thinking a MUCH larger format, in the 96 page range.

I am, in fact, happy I went with a smaller PDF release, as I would still be toiling over the whole book, much less the multitude of decisions.