Dragongirl
First Post
Why would you submit an article to be included in a publication? (such as a monster or PrC book)
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Submitting an article for a publication.
- Thread starter Dragongirl
- Start date
trancejeremy
Adventurer
This probably counts as being paid, but I would do it just for a copy of the publication.
johnsemlak
First Post
I voted "I just want my name in a publication, I will do it for free.", though i agree with Jeremy that I'd like to get a free copy of the publication.
Heck, I'd be so honored of a company published something of mine (and credited me) I'd probably pay them to do it.
Heck, I'd be so honored of a company published something of mine (and credited me) I'd probably pay them to do it.
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BiggusGeekus
That's Latin for "cool"
Paid up front? % of sales?
Dragongirl, I've never been paid for RPG stuff, but I wrote for an entertainment magazine in DC for around 12 - 18 months. I also kicked around the idea of writing a book and have some friends in that arena.
Writers do not get paid up front or get a percentage of sales unless they are already very well known. What is more traditional is to be paid a small flat fee about the time the prouct has sold (in my case a week or two afterwards was typical). And, yes, its easy to get ripped off that way.
Just an FYI.
Dragongirl, I've never been paid for RPG stuff, but I wrote for an entertainment magazine in DC for around 12 - 18 months. I also kicked around the idea of writing a book and have some friends in that arena.
Writers do not get paid up front or get a percentage of sales unless they are already very well known. What is more traditional is to be paid a small flat fee about the time the prouct has sold (in my case a week or two afterwards was typical). And, yes, its easy to get ripped off that way.
Just an FYI.
King_Stannis
Explorer
I'd probably do it for free...at least at first....just to see my name in print. But after that I'd probably want to be fairly compensated as well. And speaking of that....
[blatent plug] My "Critical Threat" will appear in the next issue of "Dungeon" Magazine (#98). I am seriously pumped. [/blatent plug]
[blatent plug] My "Critical Threat" will appear in the next issue of "Dungeon" Magazine (#98). I am seriously pumped. [/blatent plug]
spacecrime.com
First Post
You missed the couple of choices dear to the heart of a working writer:
a) work done "on spec", and
b) work done on a contract.
"On spec" is stuff that you submit -- possibly pitching to the editor first -- but isn't guaranteed to sell. If they like it, they buy it and write you a check. That's fairly common for magazine work.
Contract work is essentially bought in advance -- you and the editor decide what's going to be written for how much when. You turn in the work, the edtior writes the check. (If it's unacceptable for some reason, there's usually a small "kill fee.") Contracts are more for book work than magazines, but magazines do use them.
Anyway, those are the two ways I write. I prefer a contract, I'm willing to write on spec for the right people, and demanding a fee up front is something I tend to do only with people I don't trust and don't really want to work with anyway.
cheers,
a) work done "on spec", and
b) work done on a contract.
"On spec" is stuff that you submit -- possibly pitching to the editor first -- but isn't guaranteed to sell. If they like it, they buy it and write you a check. That's fairly common for magazine work.
Contract work is essentially bought in advance -- you and the editor decide what's going to be written for how much when. You turn in the work, the edtior writes the check. (If it's unacceptable for some reason, there's usually a small "kill fee.") Contracts are more for book work than magazines, but magazines do use them.
Anyway, those are the two ways I write. I prefer a contract, I'm willing to write on spec for the right people, and demanding a fee up front is something I tend to do only with people I don't trust and don't really want to work with anyway.
cheers,
Sixchan
First Post
Well, it depends on the publication and the article. If I was doing an article that was hard work and I had to set aside time that I'd rather use for something else, I'd want paid. But if it was something I wanted to do, and would set aside time to do it whether it was going to get published or not (suh as making a PrC for my own campaign) then I'd do it for free, although a free copy would sure be nice.
Buttercup
Princess of Florin
Since RPing is my hobby rather than my livelihood, I might do it for free if it were for a friend. Like Trancejeremy, I'd like to have a copy of the publication, and might even do it for that reason.
If I were in a field where being published in RPG products would further my career, then I'd certainly do it for free, if I thought the long term pay-off would be worth it. But unless one were a professional writer, I don't think being credited in RPG products would be a good resume pad. In fact, given how some people feel about RPGs it might even backfire. I know that, were I to get something published in an RPG source, I wouldn't include it in my list of publications on my resume. For one thing, I'm not especially interested in chatting about my hobbies with potential employers. It falls into the none-of-their-business category, like the rest of one's personal life.
If I were in a field where being published in RPG products would further my career, then I'd certainly do it for free, if I thought the long term pay-off would be worth it. But unless one were a professional writer, I don't think being credited in RPG products would be a good resume pad. In fact, given how some people feel about RPGs it might even backfire. I know that, were I to get something published in an RPG source, I wouldn't include it in my list of publications on my resume. For one thing, I'm not especially interested in chatting about my hobbies with potential employers. It falls into the none-of-their-business category, like the rest of one's personal life.
DSC-EricPrice
First Post
Congratulations to King Stannis. I myself have resigned to using my rejection letters and marked up manuscripts from Dungeon to start fires in my fireplace. (not really, though I've been tempted) I never give up hope though... I've at least gotten by the place where I actually have to send them a transcript. lol
On the matter at hand though, I think it all depends on circumstance. Getting paid to do something you love is always great, but not necessary in my opinion.
I'd never consider giving away my works to a company that has a firmly-entrenched and profitable position (Dungeon magazine comes to mind). They EXPECT to pay for your work (and probably do just to prevent legal issues in the future). On the other hand, I'm sitting on a couple of fire and frost giant variants right now that have nowhere to live. I'd be happy to give those away to someone making a book. Chances are, they'll end up as a freebie on the DSC website if I don't find someone soon.
On the matter at hand though, I think it all depends on circumstance. Getting paid to do something you love is always great, but not necessary in my opinion.
I'd never consider giving away my works to a company that has a firmly-entrenched and profitable position (Dungeon magazine comes to mind). They EXPECT to pay for your work (and probably do just to prevent legal issues in the future). On the other hand, I'm sitting on a couple of fire and frost giant variants right now that have nowhere to live. I'd be happy to give those away to someone making a book. Chances are, they'll end up as a freebie on the DSC website if I don't find someone soon.
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