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- Thread starter Morrus
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Can I lump in with a publisher's opinion?
Won't work
Or, at least, with certain sections of the market. I think it _will_ be used for the very low end, such as PDF publishers just starting out or print publishers looking for someone to work on their first book, be it in a writing, art or editing capacity. If you fancy doing more in your hobby or working on a 'cool' project in your spare time, it will be great. And if it is little enough effort in setting it up, why not? However, if you are serious about writing/editing/artwork in the RPG industry, such a service is not going to give you much of a boost.
The trouble you are going to run into is with the larger and more established publishers. There are already several existing systems/forums/lists designed to hook publishers up with freelancers and staff members, and they are well used. Also, publishers, as they age (!), become very selective in whom they use for any given project. Only in rare cases will they put up a general posting looking for all comers and then usually for projects specifically geared for such a purpose (I cannot speak for other publishers, by Creature Collection and Relics & Rituals springs to mind as a possibility, as does our own Dredd Street Punk Catalogue).
For the rest of the time they will be either using their own 'pool' of existing (and tried and tested) freelancers, or the network that is already in place.
The problem is with the way projects are handled within RPG companies. Almost every company has submissions guidelines and is happy to take 'cold' freelancers coming in with great ideas - or at least entertain them to see if there is any length to their projects. However, consider the company who has a specific project in mind that must include A, B and C, and be complete by deadline X - how do you think said company will handle this? By posting in random forums and lists? No. They will want someone they know and trust, either by reputation or having worked with them in the past.
Tell you what _could_ work though, and there is _nothing_ like this in the RPG industry that I am aware of. There is a publication in the mainstream market called the Book Writer's Handbook. Published every year, it contains details of every publisher in the country, along with address details, what they publish, their general pay rates (when available), how to submit, what they like to see and how they like to see it.
Imagine such a directory covering every RPG publisher. Freelancers can scan down, see who they want to work for and immediatly get all the information they need to produce successful submissions. The Writer's Handbook is only a few quid - pick it up and see the format they use. Very useful.
I would support such an idea. Hell, I might even update our submission guidelines for it
Won't work
Or, at least, with certain sections of the market. I think it _will_ be used for the very low end, such as PDF publishers just starting out or print publishers looking for someone to work on their first book, be it in a writing, art or editing capacity. If you fancy doing more in your hobby or working on a 'cool' project in your spare time, it will be great. And if it is little enough effort in setting it up, why not? However, if you are serious about writing/editing/artwork in the RPG industry, such a service is not going to give you much of a boost.
The trouble you are going to run into is with the larger and more established publishers. There are already several existing systems/forums/lists designed to hook publishers up with freelancers and staff members, and they are well used. Also, publishers, as they age (!), become very selective in whom they use for any given project. Only in rare cases will they put up a general posting looking for all comers and then usually for projects specifically geared for such a purpose (I cannot speak for other publishers, by Creature Collection and Relics & Rituals springs to mind as a possibility, as does our own Dredd Street Punk Catalogue).
For the rest of the time they will be either using their own 'pool' of existing (and tried and tested) freelancers, or the network that is already in place.
The problem is with the way projects are handled within RPG companies. Almost every company has submissions guidelines and is happy to take 'cold' freelancers coming in with great ideas - or at least entertain them to see if there is any length to their projects. However, consider the company who has a specific project in mind that must include A, B and C, and be complete by deadline X - how do you think said company will handle this? By posting in random forums and lists? No. They will want someone they know and trust, either by reputation or having worked with them in the past.
Tell you what _could_ work though, and there is _nothing_ like this in the RPG industry that I am aware of. There is a publication in the mainstream market called the Book Writer's Handbook. Published every year, it contains details of every publisher in the country, along with address details, what they publish, their general pay rates (when available), how to submit, what they like to see and how they like to see it.
Imagine such a directory covering every RPG publisher. Freelancers can scan down, see who they want to work for and immediatly get all the information they need to produce successful submissions. The Writer's Handbook is only a few quid - pick it up and see the format they use. Very useful.
I would support such an idea. Hell, I might even update our submission guidelines for it
Liquide
DEX: 4
Morrus said:Well, even if it'd only be useful to the PDF crowd, it's probably worth doing. Costs me nothing, after all.
As for the book idea - probably a bit more effort than I'd be interested in investing. Lots of new stuff on my plate over the next year or so.
Why not an electronic book in PDF format updated annually then?
Just a random thought.
annadobritt
First Post
Liquide and Mongoose Matt, this is a great idea.
Since I like to keep busy, this is something that I could put together.
However, I need to know from both the freelancers out there and the publishers how popular would this idea be?
I'm willing to do the work in putting it together and doing the layout, etc (if anyone hasn't guessed, I hate having too much spare time on my hands.) and aside from rpg publishers and their submission guidelines, what else should be in it?
I know from looking at such books that list book publishers, there are articles and tips and tricks of the trade, etc.
Yes, I am serious about doing this, but need feedback on the idea.
Since I like to keep busy, this is something that I could put together.
However, I need to know from both the freelancers out there and the publishers how popular would this idea be?
I'm willing to do the work in putting it together and doing the layout, etc (if anyone hasn't guessed, I hate having too much spare time on my hands.) and aside from rpg publishers and their submission guidelines, what else should be in it?
I know from looking at such books that list book publishers, there are articles and tips and tricks of the trade, etc.
Yes, I am serious about doing this, but need feedback on the idea.
I didn't actually mean for it to be a book - it could just as easily serve on a web site. . .
Arcane Runes Press
First Post
annadobritt said:
I like the idea, both as a freelancer and a newly-minted publisher.
A good general reference of who's who in the rpg publishing market would be a good thing, since there are SO many companies out there now.
As to other stuff, I think that a couple generic "how to" articles on putting together an artist's portfolio, or convention approach etiquette would be useful.
Patrick Y.
annadobritt
First Post
Ok, website and pdf would be easy enough to do.
The pdf could be called "A Freelancer's Guide to the RPG Industry".
Just need about a week to get things set up, including a preliminary website.
Any and all suggestions for this from both publishers and freelancers are welcome.
Hmm. Just thought of something, should it be divided into d20 and non-d20 publishers or in alphabetical order?
The pdf could be called "A Freelancer's Guide to the RPG Industry".
Just need about a week to get things set up, including a preliminary website.
Any and all suggestions for this from both publishers and freelancers are welcome.
Hmm. Just thought of something, should it be divided into d20 and non-d20 publishers or in alphabetical order?
Why not call it the RPG Writers and Artists Handbook?
List all publishers alphabetically.
However, I hope you realise what you are letting yourself in for here That said, get it up and running and I'll pass the word around the industry.
List all publishers alphabetically.
However, I hope you realise what you are letting yourself in for here
That said, get it up and running and I'll pass the word around the industry.Similar Threads
