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| ephealy |
 Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 7:45 pm Post subject: Freelancer? |
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How many people here are described by these two statements?
(1) I would you to be a freelance author/editor/artist.
(2) I have no published credits, yet.
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Ed Healy |
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| Armoury99 |
| Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 3:03 am Post subject: |
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*raises hand*
That would be me. I'm still in the "just starting out and feeling my way" stage, after years of writing for a limited audience (my old university society magazine, fansite articles). Recently completed a project for Planewalker.com, but its not a "real" (paid) one - it was more a learning excersize and tool for determining if I had the discipline to power on through the hard graft (and boy, did I hate that bit).
Next stage (for me) was getting involved in Open Design and throwing out pitches to all and sundry (can't really think of a better strategy than that off hand, but I'm still in the first few weeks).
Why the question, may I ask? Would you like to offer me a job?
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| ephealy |
| Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 4:11 am Post subject: |
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That's a huge adventure, my friend. How long did it take you to finish it?
So, why do I ask? I figured I'd let aspiring freelancers ask questions about how to get work, handle the work once it comes in, and leverage it for future gigs.
So, if you (or anyone else) has any questions, ask away...
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Ed Healy |
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| varianor |
| Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 5:29 am Post subject: |
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| I am actually a freelancer with a few published pieces (all for niche markets). What do you do when your work is contracted for, but the publisher just sits on it for two years? |
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| ephealy |
| Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 9:26 am Post subject: |
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| varianor wrote: |
| What do you do when your work is contracted for, but the publisher just sits on it for two years? |
The short answer? You may not be able to do anything unless you have a contract that allows you to do so.
Let's pretend you're unprotected - either you only have a verbal contract (bad idea) or you have a terrible one. What can you do? If the publisher hasn't paid you yet, then no 'consideration' has exchanged hands. Technically, until consideration is given - even if only a small portion of your fee - you own the manuscript. In this case, I would ask the publisher to pay you, explaining that you will be forced to sell the manuscript to someone else should they be unwilling to do so in a timely manner.
Q for any lawyers on the board: Is my interpretation of consideration vis-a-vis IP and contract law accurate?
How can you protect yourself for next time?
(1) Ask for a partial pre-payment. Either get an advance before you've started writing or a portion of your fee on submission of the manuscript. You won't get rich writing RPGs - even if you get paid, you still need the published credit for your resume. Even if you only get 10%, it encourages the publisher to get your work out.
(2) Insist that the publisher pay you the rest of your fee at some set date. You can ask for X days after submission. If you go with X days after publication, I would include a date that they have to publish by or pay you anyway.
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Ed Healy |
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| terraleon |
| Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 10:36 pm Post subject: Re: Freelancer? |
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| ephealy wrote: |
How many people here are described by these two statements?
(1) I would you to be a freelance author/editor/artist.
(2) I have no published credits, yet. |
Me, kind of?
I have a monster in _Six Arabian Nights_ and I've written or helped write about 13ish Living Greyhawk Scenarios for the RPGA...but never been paid, sooooo....
One day. Frankly, I'm not looking to do it as the way to buy groceries, but dang it would be fantastic to have the hobby pay for itself.
-Ben.
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| ephealy |
| Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 10:46 pm Post subject: Re: Freelancer? |
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| terraleon wrote: |
| Frankly, I'm not looking to do it as the way to buy groceries, but dang it would be fantastic to have the hobby pay for itself. |
Oddly, this is how I started, Ben. I wanted to justify my gaming purchases to my wife 
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| terraleon |
| Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 11:09 pm Post subject: |
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And maybe justify the time spent in front of a keyboard?
-Ben.
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| Armoury99 |
| Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 9:14 am Post subject: |
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Funnily enough my significant other more than occasionally hints that my vast book collection and excessive keyboard time would be best justified by bringing in a paycheck now and again. Not a lot of money; just say enough for her to buy a nice pair of shoes...
| ephealy wrote: |
| That's a huge adventure, my friend. How long did it take you to finish it? |
From first idea to final publication it took a little over a year. That includes 4-5 significant drafts, back and forth forum discussions, playtesting on table and online, and arranging all the artwork (everything but the final formatting basically). I did have the advantage of doing for a website that said "whenever its ready is fine" though.
Part of the design principle was also that it could serve as a primer for novice both novice Planescapers and novice D&Ders.... which is how I'm justifying it.
BIG project, but satisfying
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| Zherog |
| Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 8:15 am Post subject: Re: Freelancer? |
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| ephealy wrote: |
| terraleon wrote: |
| Frankly, I'm not looking to do it as the way to buy groceries, but dang it would be fantastic to have the hobby pay for itself. |
Oddly, this is how I started, Ben. I wanted to justify my gaming purchases to my wife |
Me too.
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| sgstyrsky |
| Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2008 7:15 am Post subject: |
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| ephealy wrote: |
So, why do I ask? I figured I'd let aspiring freelancers ask questions about how to get work, handle the work once it comes in, and leverage it for future gigs.
So, if you (or anyone else) has any questions, ask away... |
I two several questions:
1) I have an outline for a source book. When pitching to an editor how do I estimate how long, word-wise, it will be? If a typical source book is 120 pages what do I tell a prospective editor? 50,000 words? 60,000 words?
2) How does one approach other companies about writing for them without submitting a pitch? For example, Paizo has very specific ideas about what they need for each issue of Pathfinder. How does one get in the pool of writers they use?
Thanks! |
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| ephealy |
| Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2008 1:40 pm Post subject: |
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| sgstyrsky wrote: |
| 1) I have an outline for a source book. When pitching to an editor how do I estimate how long, word-wise, it will be? If a typical source book is 120 pages what do I tell a prospective editor? 50,000 words? 60,000 words? |
Publishers vary as to how many words they cram into a page. If the final product will be 8.5" x 11", you could see anywhere from 500 to 750 words per page. If your publisher won't tell you their average word count (or doesn't know), you could safely assume 650 words per page - meaning a 120 page book would call for 78,000 edited words.
| sgstyrsky wrote: |
| 2) How does one approach other companies about writing for them without submitting a pitch? For example, Paizo has very specific ideas about what they need for each issue of Pathfinder. How does one get in the pool of writers they use? |
Nothing speaks louder that a resume of published work, and references from those you've worked with.
If your gaming resume isn't large, you can supplement it with stuff you've written outside the industry. I'd written for a religious magazine and a paintball magazine before coming to game writing. Having something to show helps.
Getting that first gig may also mean working for little or no money. When I decided to concentrate on game writing, the first thing I did was write an article for The Oerth Journal, a fan mag on the World of Greyhawk. Why? I wanted to write for Paizo and knew those guys were Greyhawk fans - Mona used to edit OJ, for instance.
I'd also suggest going to conventions where the companies you want to write for will be. Have a small packet of writing samples and a bibliography ready to share. Be prepared with a PDF version so that you can take a business card from someone and send a copy over email after the con. Note: It's good to ask if they mind you send it, before you do. Getting work at conventions is 100% easier than online.
Last? Pay attention to submission guidelines, but also participate in the publisher's community. Known fan experts and community pillars will often be asked to contribute by a publisher. I don't know if Paizo (your example company) has every done this, but I do know of a dozen game designers who were approached by companies and not the other way around -- but only because they were plugged into the publisher's community and on their radar.
While you're at it - submit articles to KQ!
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Ed Healy |
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| sgstyrsky |
| Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 7:06 am Post subject: |
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EP,
Thank you. That was all very helpful. It is much appreciated.
| ephealy wrote: |
| While you're at it - submit articles to KQ! |
Did. It showed up in #5 (Bard Instruments). |
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| Daniel |
| Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 8:45 am Post subject: |
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| fray |
| Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 9:21 pm Post subject: |
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I'm a graphic designer / freelancer.
I've been paid but not in the RPG industry. I've worked on L5R CCG, Highlander CCG, and Firestorm CCG. (Helped design the last 2, the last 2 expansions for Highlander.)
I've been wanting to do a RPG product just because I want to contribute something and keep our industry / hobby going.
Matt |
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