Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Stormborn" data-source="post: 3480769" data-attributes="member: 14041">Watch for open calls on these boards or look around at publisher's websites and see what guidelines they have about submissions.  Most will want a query that describes the type of product you want to do for them and how it fits into their current product line (if you are not responding to a specific request). You then wait, and wait, and sometimes you wait somemore; or you hear back in a matter of hours - it varys both from publisher to publisher and from circumstance to circumstance.   If the publisher likes your query they will usually at that point give you a go ahead to start work and will discuss terms of payment.  Typically about 1/3 to 1/2 of the profit is reasonable, to be paid on the 15th of each month or shortly thereafter (since thats when RPGNow pays the publishers), usually via PayPal, after the work is published.  Some publishers may pay quarterly, which is also reasonable. Other publsihers may have word rates, and for a first time work that is likely going to be a fraction of a cent per word.  If they do that you may recieve it either upon publication or one month later. Ask the publisher for a specific time you will be paid (if you do not have a clear contract that spells it out, and often you may not) and if you do not recieve payment from them or here otherwise contact them after about a week and politely ask about it.  If you have not gotten writer's guidelines yet do so before you begin work.  If the company doesnt have any I suggest using Paizo's as it is an industry standard.  Work from the SRD or MSRD ONLY.  I cannot stress that enough.  The publisher will deal with legal stuff, but you will be more marketable in the future and see your product in print sooner if you do your part. If you need to use something that is not in the SRD but is OGL ask your publisher first, that includes open content from books like Unearthed Arcana and even the publisher's own pdfs. Especially when starting out you should not make assumptions about what you can and cannot use. Once you have submitted your work the waiting starts again as pdf publishers are small operations and some have a lot going on, and thats if they dont ask for changes.  Editing, art commisions, and layout all take time.  The larger the piece the more time.  Some things I do come out within a few weeks of me submiting them to the publisher, other things have been waiting a considerable length of time (many months) and are held up by art or schedule conflicts.   Once the work comes out your part is done, except receiving payment.  If it does well the publisher may come to you first before he or she puts things out for open calls.  Once you have established a working relationship with someone mention the Swashbuckling project you want to do and see if they are interested and talk to them about what needs to happen to get it out.  Alternatively look around at people who do puiblish material like what you want to do and see if they are interested.</blockquote>

Verification