RPG Authors: How Do You Do It?
- Thread starter Southern Oracle
- Start date
Napftor
Explorer
To answer your original post, I find time to write because I actually have the time. I may have a full-time job but I don't have a family to tend to. And since my gaming group only meets a few times every month (which I don't always DM), there isn't much time spent on that. Although, to be fair, when I do DM on a weekend, I like to spend the week before preparing the adventure. Can't say that I watch overly much TV and my extracurricular activities are pretty light. I'm probably most akin to Phil Reed in that I wonder why I'm not writing more!
As for what you should cut back on, well, that's something you have to decide. Perhaps nothing, although 5-6 hours of sleep every night isn't the best length. Give up something if only for that reason. The only suggestion I have is try to make the best use of the time you have. Do you drive to work? Put on some tunes you love, let the music inspire you, and then jot down notes after you arrive. When you get a spare half-hour or more, churn the notes into part of a manuscript.
Using outlines is great when you have limited time. This way, you can jot down more thoughts under the specific headings and then only need to iron them into a cohesive section when you can sit down with them. It's surprising how much writing you can accomplish when the ideas are already on paper. My most recent work (see below in sig) was written like this within 48 hours.
As for what you should cut back on, well, that's something you have to decide. Perhaps nothing, although 5-6 hours of sleep every night isn't the best length. Give up something if only for that reason. The only suggestion I have is try to make the best use of the time you have. Do you drive to work? Put on some tunes you love, let the music inspire you, and then jot down notes after you arrive. When you get a spare half-hour or more, churn the notes into part of a manuscript.
Using outlines is great when you have limited time. This way, you can jot down more thoughts under the specific headings and then only need to iron them into a cohesive section when you can sit down with them. It's surprising how much writing you can accomplish when the ideas are already on paper. My most recent work (see below in sig) was written like this within 48 hours.
I write, and manage a web site, but none of that other stuff. I get published, if infrequently (kudos to anyone who can name ANYTHING that I've ever published, under the name "SteveC")!
One trick I use is to write when I can, work on it, and only shop it around once I have it completed, or very near it! Once an editor for a periodical has seen your work (and more importantly, LIKED it!), you will "develop a relationship", and they will probably use you, again. Sounds like you're already there, with Dragon. Maybe do an adventure for Dungeon, next?
I have a couple of articles in a few places (two defunct), and one in the old ENWorld Players' Journal (no more than that for the same reason that I won't write for Dragon, they (now) require you to give up Copyright - I don't do that!) Someday, I'll get Adobe Acrobat, and do some .PDFs, and see about Print-On-Demand. Until then, I'll stick with the smaller mags that don't demand copyright... YMMV.
One trick I use is to write when I can, work on it, and only shop it around once I have it completed, or very near it! Once an editor for a periodical has seen your work (and more importantly, LIKED it!), you will "develop a relationship", and they will probably use you, again. Sounds like you're already there, with Dragon. Maybe do an adventure for Dungeon, next?
I have a couple of articles in a few places (two defunct), and one in the old ENWorld Players' Journal (no more than that for the same reason that I won't write for Dragon, they (now) require you to give up Copyright - I don't do that!) Someday, I'll get Adobe Acrobat, and do some .PDFs, and see about Print-On-Demand. Until then, I'll stick with the smaller mags that don't demand copyright... YMMV.
Red Spire Press
First Post
It's extraordinarily difficult. I have a full time career in addition to running a publishing company and doing the bulk of the writing and all of the concept work for said company. It can easily become a fast track to depression, poor health, and worsened relations with loved ones -- all very serious stuff. Support from the people who matter (spouses, family, good friends) is incredibly important and, of course, you must love what you're doing. Regardless, burn out is inevitable. You just have to take your breaks when you can -- get really drunk 
or go on mini vacations -- then get back on the horse.
or go on mini vacations -- then get back on the horse.
BiggusGeekus
That's Latin for "cool"
Writing is easy, it's publishing that's hard.
Gareth-Michael Skarka had a great quote about that somewhere. Actually, he was quoting someone else, but whatever. Basically, if you're a small publisher, you're doing about five jobs. For me, this burns me out on writing, but I keep getting the ideas in my head. I've got a huge backlog of stuff. Every now and then I give up on ever writing something up and I toss it out on ENWorld hoping that someone else will pick it up.
Another problem is playtesting. I'm big on it. I suspect there are others who are more willing to release without playtesting. This is fine if you're just releasing a couple of spells or even a monster or PrC, but for adventures this is unforgiveable.
But ultimately, writing has to be your way to relax. If you relax by watching TV or playing video games or whatever, you're in for a hard time.
Gareth-Michael Skarka had a great quote about that somewhere. Actually, he was quoting someone else, but whatever. Basically, if you're a small publisher, you're doing about five jobs. For me, this burns me out on writing, but I keep getting the ideas in my head. I've got a huge backlog of stuff. Every now and then I give up on ever writing something up and I toss it out on ENWorld hoping that someone else will pick it up.
Another problem is playtesting. I'm big on it. I suspect there are others who are more willing to release without playtesting. This is fine if you're just releasing a couple of spells or even a monster or PrC, but for adventures this is unforgiveable.
But ultimately, writing has to be your way to relax. If you relax by watching TV or playing video games or whatever, you're in for a hard time.
On Thursday night I cancelled my weekly Age of Worms game because art director Sean Glenn and I are putting the finishing touches on the 416-page Shackled City Adventure Path book. I worked until 2:00 AM, went home, ate some dinner, and fell asleep editing at 4:00 AM. The next day, I got to work about 11:00 after sleeping in, and worked until about 7:00, at which point Mike McArtor and Mike Merals helped me liberate a free grill from a friend's porch. I took the Mikes out to dinner in lovely Ballard, marking the first social event longer than an hour in which I'd engaged in over a week.
On Saturday, I woke up and did some editing, then went into work to enter changes and do some more editing on the Shackled City book. I stayed at work until 2:30, and went home to do some more editing before falling asleep in bed.
On Sunday, I proofread three chapters of the Shackled City book before I left the house, played "Jade Empire" for about two hours, and then went out to a coffee shop where I proofed the final galleys for Dragon #334 until I got kicked out of one coffee shop (which closed at 9:00) and then another (which closed at 10:00). I contemplated going into the office to enter more changes on the Shackled City book, but instead just stayed at home and finished editing Dragon, finally going to sleep at about 3:30 in the morning.
This morning, I woke up at 7:00 to come in early (we usually start around 10:00) to enter changes for Dragon and to do more work on the Shackled City book before anyone got here.
I'd say that's a pretty accurate picture of my work and social life over the last three months or so, and more generally since I got involved in the industry, although it's fair to call this period a "heavy" work period.
I also think one guy juggling 200 pages of magazines a month (albeit with a great staff) as well as a handful of freelance projects and a couple new product lines is unusual, so my example is probably atypical.
There are times when I get to leave work at 6:00 and engage in social activities, but they are rare. I play in two weekly games. Monte Cook's game, on Monday, is sacrosanct. If I miss that game (which I probably do more than any other player), it's because of a serious work emergency.
I'd say that the average number of "serious work emergencies" has decreased to fewer than one a month, but that hasn't always been the case.
At my current work rate, I don't think I could sustain a serious relationship or raise a kid. I certainly wouldn't be able to raise a child on my salary, and I'm probably in the top 10% of salary earners in the non-management, non-company owner segment of the industry.
I spend much more time in the office than I do at home. I can't have a pet, because it would surely die of neglect.
Basically, my advice to would-be authors is that unless you are a workaholic with a stable relationship that can help to support you financially, the "industry" isn't really worthwhile as a full-time operation. It's a tiny little thing, and very few people are making any respectable money off it.
That said, I still like my job, and wouldn't trade it for anything.
Go figure. I think that's what's called "addiction."
--Erik Mona
Editor-in-Chief
Dragon & Dungeon
On Saturday, I woke up and did some editing, then went into work to enter changes and do some more editing on the Shackled City book. I stayed at work until 2:30, and went home to do some more editing before falling asleep in bed.
On Sunday, I proofread three chapters of the Shackled City book before I left the house, played "Jade Empire" for about two hours, and then went out to a coffee shop where I proofed the final galleys for Dragon #334 until I got kicked out of one coffee shop (which closed at 9:00) and then another (which closed at 10:00). I contemplated going into the office to enter more changes on the Shackled City book, but instead just stayed at home and finished editing Dragon, finally going to sleep at about 3:30 in the morning.
This morning, I woke up at 7:00 to come in early (we usually start around 10:00) to enter changes for Dragon and to do more work on the Shackled City book before anyone got here.
I'd say that's a pretty accurate picture of my work and social life over the last three months or so, and more generally since I got involved in the industry, although it's fair to call this period a "heavy" work period.
I also think one guy juggling 200 pages of magazines a month (albeit with a great staff) as well as a handful of freelance projects and a couple new product lines is unusual, so my example is probably atypical.
There are times when I get to leave work at 6:00 and engage in social activities, but they are rare. I play in two weekly games. Monte Cook's game, on Monday, is sacrosanct. If I miss that game (which I probably do more than any other player), it's because of a serious work emergency.
I'd say that the average number of "serious work emergencies" has decreased to fewer than one a month, but that hasn't always been the case.
At my current work rate, I don't think I could sustain a serious relationship or raise a kid. I certainly wouldn't be able to raise a child on my salary, and I'm probably in the top 10% of salary earners in the non-management, non-company owner segment of the industry.
I spend much more time in the office than I do at home. I can't have a pet, because it would surely die of neglect.
Basically, my advice to would-be authors is that unless you are a workaholic with a stable relationship that can help to support you financially, the "industry" isn't really worthwhile as a full-time operation. It's a tiny little thing, and very few people are making any respectable money off it.
That said, I still like my job, and wouldn't trade it for anything.
Go figure. I think that's what's called "addiction."
--Erik Mona
Editor-in-Chief
Dragon & Dungeon
Last edited:
Southern Oracle
Explorer
Steverooo said:
That's something I'll definitely have to try. I had developed a rapport of sorts with Jesse Decker and Matthew Sernett, as they were the editors under which my articles were published (and for one of them, Jesse came to me instead of me submitting a proposal), but when Matt left, all the proposals he'd approved got cancelled. I just haven't had the time to sit down and hammer anything out to submit to Erik yet.
Southern Oracle
Explorer
Thanks for weighing in, Erik. I envy your job, but I don't envy your workload. 
I can certainly agree that such a schedule is not conducive to a family or relationship, unless the person is very, very, very understanding. Working 16-hour days, having no holidays off, and not having any free time is one of the reasons I've not considered advancing into management at work.
Writing as a career is a dream, but I'm realistic -- I have a family of six to support, all the kids are in school, and I have my wife's career to take into consideration. As long as I can continue to get the occasional article published, I'll be happy, although I'd also like to break into the pdf market. When I have some stuff completed, I'll start shopping them around. Now that I've had the time to discern the direction you're taking Dragon I'll also be firing some proposals your way.
I can certainly agree that such a schedule is not conducive to a family or relationship, unless the person is very, very, very understanding. Working 16-hour days, having no holidays off, and not having any free time is one of the reasons I've not considered advancing into management at work.Writing as a career is a dream, but I'm realistic -- I have a family of six to support, all the kids are in school, and I have my wife's career to take into consideration. As long as I can continue to get the occasional article published, I'll be happy, although I'd also like to break into the pdf market. When I have some stuff completed, I'll start shopping them around. Now that I've had the time to discern the direction you're taking Dragon I'll also be firing some proposals your way.
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