Where To Start

[Mark]

Like many other posters here on the boards I too want to write gaming material in my spare time and hopefully get it published.

Do you already write material this is not yet published but in publishable shape?

 

[Connorsrpg]

Whoah...Plenty of advice there and thank you to everyone.

Just a reminder. I have been published before, but mostly short pieces (DM tools and Player Advice).

Regarding stuff that I have written - I have written several campaign settings, but realise they are not likely to see the light of day on their own. But I am sure that parts of what I wrote could easily be adapted. I am more suited to writing articles for a GM/DM rather than players.

I will check out the links above. Once again, thank you all for the replies.

Mark Do you already write material this is not yet published but in publishable shape?

Most stuff is for my own use, so lacks the explanations, but I do have 'stuff'.

Professor Pain Also, don't count out 3E, there are still plenty of companies putting out material for OGL and Pathfinder. If you have any good 3E material to submit, go ahead (again on teh Marketplace forum I see tons of calls for OGL stuff).

True. Though I have left 3rd edition behind, I do have articles that were once 'accepted' for Dragon, but then heard nothing in the changeover I am not sure these concepts will still fit with the reworked classes of Pathfinder.

C

 

[Jack7]

2) Become as salesman and pitch your *completed* manuscript to publishers whose business match your product.

Don't approach a publisher with a vague idea of "writing something". Whateve rit is, it needs to be specific; either it's "I'll write that specific assignment you're advertising for" or "I have a really cool product to sell to you".

Once you're known and established, you can maybe think about approaching publishers with nothing more than a concept.

For example, when running EN Publishing, I don't respond well to "I'd like to write a sci-fi product for you". I know that (a) they have no idea what my company produces, and (b) I'm one of a hundred companies they've emailed. If they approached me with something very specific to my product line (a War of the Burning Sky sourcebook, for example [or an Art Of book... hint hint to all aspiring artists out there who are inspired enough and interested enough to produce a whole load of gorgeous WotBS related art pieces) then I'd sit up straight and take an interest.

Whatever you do, NEVER approach a publisher with or advertise a secret project you can't tell them about yet. Well, unless you want to join the "prima donna never work with this person" list!

He's absolutely right. Don't waste your potential publisher's time.
Know your market, and if you don't, then that's what research is for.

But if you carefully target your queries and submissions with an interesting approach or project you can at least start to establish a relationship.

And people do business with people they think they can have a good working relationship with. They won't, if you don't.