(Looking for) Tips for starting a new PDF publishing company.

[Starwind]

Ahoy there!
I think the topic really speaks for itself but let me explain why I am asking. Me and a friend (both hardened RPG players) are trying to start our own semi-professional publishing company for our campaign setting Everwalk. We hope to publish it as a PDF (should be completed Q1 2003) and later to be picked up by a print publisher. Any tips or advice of any kind would really be appreceated. Hey, maybe one of you e-book Publishers out there wants to adopt us .

 

[2WS-Steve]

Besides the writing what you'll want to start on early is getting familiar with the open gaming license and the d20 system trademark license. ENWorld has a wealth of information on this page:

ENWorld d20 Intro

It's also worthwhile to join the Open Gaming Foundation mailing lists (I believe you can find links to them on the above page). Other than that you just need to put the thing together, output to PDF, and talk to a digital retailer such as RPGNow so you can get your writing out there.

 

[Morrus]

I don't think starting with the intention of being picked up by a print publisher is a particularly realistic way to look at it. The strong likelhood is that you'll be disappointed.

My suggestion would be to start with only the thought of runing a PDF company. If you should get a print deal through it, that's icing on the cake; but you'll be just one of 300+ PDF publishers out there.

 

[annadobritt]

Also make sure you and your friend have one other person to edit your product, both for grammar and for d20 rules, etc.

 

[MEG Hal]

Also make sure you and your friend have one other person to edit your product, both for grammar and for d20 rules, etc.

She is a genious, content editing is so important and Morrus is right like in "Field of Dreams" if you build it, they will come. Make the best stuff you can and if a print publisher is looking your stuff may scream pick us up, so do the best you can in pdf and let the rest happen (or not). But only a handful of pdf publishers have been picked up as imprints, so do not hold your breathe.

Good luck and take your time, you only get one first impression.

Man I sound like a Life Saver commercial

 

[Starwind]

Thanks all, nice to see really important people replying to my little post .
But as for the print publisher thing, as I did say, it is merely a little hope of mine to see my work in print.
Annnyway, yeah it's sad to think that there are so many PDF publishers out there. That's why I hoping we could partner up with another publisher that's more established to help us out. Well, not looking for anything right now anyway, gotta have a product done if you're trying to push it .

Again thanks for these replies (And keep them coming if you would, I do enjoy them)

 

[Khaalis]

Few comments

Just 2 quick additions...

Editing, Editing, Editing!
Nothing is as important as good editing.

Also, when providing a PDF, keep in mind that people will wish to print it. Try to keep the print to a standard Font type. Don't go crazy with wild Fonts that not everyone may have access to.

 

[Starwind]

Don't PDFs imbed the fonts that you use so they are viewed the same by everyone? If not, guess I have to change my title fonts or make them into graphics.

 

[Khaalis]

PDF Fonts

From what I understand of PDF's, yes they should embed. However, see my thread for Malladin's Gate Press. They used a rare font only avaialble from MS Publisher. It shows up fine as an on-screen PDF file, but it is unprintable if you do not have access to the Font through Publisher.

 

[Starwind]

I learned a little bit more about PDFs here if anyone is interested, good read if you want to know about embedding fonts.

http://www.bepress.com/pdffaq.html