Submissions and D20 publishers

[damieus]

This is the best board I can think of to ask this question, but how does one go about getting into the gaming business? I have a lot of work rip-roaring and ready to be published (probably needs editing, but its all proofread) and I just wanted to know if there is any publisher out there that accepts submissions.

If you are smiling and shaking your head sadly at my naivety, yes I am a writing student in college still hoping that the world will not crush my dreams at being an author. I haven't advanced to the bitter-thirty-year-old-in-a-job-he-hates-cause-he-can't-get-a-job-writing stage yet.

-Damieus

 

[2WS-Steve]

If you have complete manuscripts for products you're probably in pretty good shape. Simply go around to the websites of companies that are publishing a fair amount, take a look at their guidelines, and submit according to their suggestions. It'd probably be worth while to put together a fairly meaty chapter by chapter synopsis and submit that as your query.

Most companies have their own product lines they want to develop so writing something that can fill out their product line would likely be received much better. For instance, Mongoose has a line of short books planned that focus on the planes and my suspicion is that writing one of those would be a good way to get a sole authorship credit.

 

[damieus]

Thank you, Steve! Unfortunately, almost all of my book-length stuff is still in-progress, and campaign-specific. But, adventure modules are a whole different ballgame. Those are my journeyman-pieces. (can't really say masterpiece when I've never been published)

Again, thanks for the tip. Now, anyone know where I can find a directory of d20 publishers?

 

[Giant_Monster]

Now, anyone know where I can find a directory of d20 publishers?

Right here on ENworld. Just go to the home page and on the left hand side of your screen, a little ways down, is a link to the d20 system guide.

 

[The Antra]

There's the d20 Guide on the ENWORLD homepage. When I was sending submissions (I'm an artist though...), I used that list as a reference of the publishers websites. I am now working for over ten different companies. It worked for me!

However, by talking to many of these publishers, I've noticed that many of them are looking for setting-specific (THEIR setting) material. It's always good to follow the submission guidelines in the respective websites.

Good luck on your dream, damieus! I hope it comes true.

Best,
Marcio Fiorito

 

[DungeonKeeperUK]

This is the best board I can think of to ask this question, but how does one go about getting into the gaming business? I have a lot of work rip-roaring and ready to be published (probably needs editing, but its all proofread) and I just wanted to know if there is any publisher out there that accepts submissions.

As has been said already it may be difficult to break in with just your own work, it may even be wroth while getting ti PDF'd and up on sycj as RPGNow for sale so people can see your work, a lot of companies ask for examples adn more often than not now published examples...
I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time with Thunderhead.. adn though I'm just really starting out in teh Frelance writing arean I hope to be here a while..

Wish you luck fella, and keep us posted...

bitter-thirty-year-old-in-a-job-he-hates-cause-he-can't-get-a-job-writing stage yet.
-Damieus [/B]

Hey that was mew till last year now I'm bitter-thirty-year-old-in-a-job-he-hates-cause-he-can-get-a-job-writing-but-is-flogging-his-guts-out-at-a-job-he-hates-but-has-no-spare-time-now-cos-he-writes-all-the-time...

 

[Napftor]

Thank you, Steve! Unfortunately, almost all of my book-length stuff is still in-progress, and campaign-specific. But, adventure modules are a whole different ballgame. Those are my journeyman-pieces. (can't really say masterpiece when I've never been published)

I'm afraid that unless you're REALLY REALLY good, you won't be pushing much personal campaign-specific stuff as an unpublished author. Before that's even a consideration, I would suggest browsing as many publisher websites as you can and noting their submission guidelines. The truth is that you will probably have to write what other people want for awhile before hawking your own wares, so to speak.

As for modules, many publishers are shying away from them, but there are a few companies that you should take note of including Necromancer Games and Fiery Dragon. Clark at Necromancer has stated publicly that you can query him with module ideas at "clark@necromancergames.com"

Hope this helps and good luck!

Bret Boyd

 

[Mouseferatu]

I'm afraid that unless you're REALLY REALLY good, you won't be pushing much personal campaign-specific stuff as an unpublished author. Before that's even a consideration, I would suggest browsing as many publisher websites as you can and noting their submission guidelines. The truth is that you will probably have to write what other people want for awhile before hawking your own wares, so to speak.

Napftor's got the way of it. You're going to have to spend at least a while writing what others want before you can start even thinking about your own setting.

I'll also, as someone who's been there, strongly second what several others have said. If you're going to submit to a company, read their submission guidelines and follow them. To the letter. Do not figure "Well, it's close enough." Do not figure, "My stuff is go so good, they'll be so impressed when they read it that they won't care what format it's in." It's not close enough, and they won't be impressed anyway. Since most of the freelance work you'll be doing will be assigned, they need people who can follow directions.

If you can, best of luck to you. It's hard, but the feeling of actually getting there is like nothing else I've ever experienced.

 

[Mouseferatu]

Oh, and by the way...

If you have any ideas for sourcebooks (as opposed to adventures or campaign books), you may want to give Monkey God Enterprises Enterprises a shot. I've worked with them before, and am doing so now on a fairly major project. They're really easy to work with. Very nice people, and always willing to work with their authors around any problems.

Hit them with a proposal first, though. Very few companies like receiving unsollicited manuscripts out of the blue, unless their guidelines say otherwise.

 

[Corinth]

By the way, double-check with the publishers to see if their posted guidelines are current. Sometimes they change their policies and forget--most likely due to being very busy folks--to post the revised policy on their website.