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What's a Freelance RPG Writer Worth?
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<blockquote data-quote="CardinalXimenes" data-source="post: 7659068" data-attributes="member: 58259"><p>Well, no. Suffice that I am very well aware of the difference between sales and profits and the definition of an opportunity cost. And yes, I reiterate that, strictly speaking, you can and will make a profit producing self-published RPG material, provided that you A) do so with a mind for economy and the use of free resources and B) are resolved to write RPG material instead of taking a more remunerative fry shift at McDonalds.</p><p></p><p>The analysis starts with the assumption that you want to write RPG material, and I don't think it's relevant or pertinent to bring in alternative means of earning money. The point is that you want to write RPGs and are weighing the alternatives between seeking paying freelance work and going into self-publishing, so those are the two alternatives to weigh. It is also assumed that you are capable of writing good RPG material, as if you lack this qualification it doesn't matter which choice you make, you're not going to earn anything consequential on it, though you will make a few bucks on DTRPG before people realize you're hopeless.</p><p></p><p>Conversely, trying to freelance... well, how many freelancers here can get all the work they have time and energy to do? At <em>any </em>price? Assuming that an aspiring and competent RPG writer can simply decide to work all they like at two cents a word is to assume facts not in evidence.</p><p></p><p>Given these assumptions- that you are going to write RPG materials instead of Mechanical Turking, that you are capable of writing halfway-decently, that you are using free tools and resources- then yes, categorically, you will make a profit in self-publishing. It will be a tiny profit at first, but through years of determined effort and unflagging labor, it can become something much more consequential.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="CardinalXimenes, post: 7659068, member: 58259"] Well, no. Suffice that I am very well aware of the difference between sales and profits and the definition of an opportunity cost. And yes, I reiterate that, strictly speaking, you can and will make a profit producing self-published RPG material, provided that you A) do so with a mind for economy and the use of free resources and B) are resolved to write RPG material instead of taking a more remunerative fry shift at McDonalds. The analysis starts with the assumption that you want to write RPG material, and I don't think it's relevant or pertinent to bring in alternative means of earning money. The point is that you want to write RPGs and are weighing the alternatives between seeking paying freelance work and going into self-publishing, so those are the two alternatives to weigh. It is also assumed that you are capable of writing good RPG material, as if you lack this qualification it doesn't matter which choice you make, you're not going to earn anything consequential on it, though you will make a few bucks on DTRPG before people realize you're hopeless. Conversely, trying to freelance... well, how many freelancers here can get all the work they have time and energy to do? At [I]any [/I]price? Assuming that an aspiring and competent RPG writer can simply decide to work all they like at two cents a word is to assume facts not in evidence. Given these assumptions- that you are going to write RPG materials instead of Mechanical Turking, that you are capable of writing halfway-decently, that you are using free tools and resources- then yes, categorically, you will make a profit in self-publishing. It will be a tiny profit at first, but through years of determined effort and unflagging labor, it can become something much more consequential. [/QUOTE]
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