Aspiring material writer, need advice [Archive] - Wizards Community

Aspiring material writer, need advice [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
R.M.G.C.L.F.
08-31-05, 07:34 PM I'm not sure if this is in the right forum, but this is the best place I could think of for it.

I spend a lot of time designing monsters, and sometimes spells. I'd like to make steps towards getting my work published, and maybe even cranking out a few sourcebooks and splatbooks, but I don't know how to go about it. How can I submit stuff for dragon? What is a good way to get my name out? Are there any books/magazines looking for just monsters?

I'm currently under 18, so that might limit my current options to developing a writing career.
Zherog
08-31-05, 08:15 PM Hey, RMGCLF.

Dragon and Dungeon magazine are by far your best bet for getting stuff published as a new writer. You can download the submission guidelines for each magazine from their webiste:

General link to the site (http://paizo.com)
this page has a link to Dragon's submission guidelines on it (http://paizo.com/dragon/about)
This page has a link to Dungeon's submission guidelines on it (http://paizo.com/dungeon)

They will print material from writers who are under 18; however, one of your parents will need to sign the standard disclosure form and your contracts.

Good luck. :)
R.M.G.C.L.F.
09-02-05, 09:34 AM Thanks. I was looking for those links for a while.
Thorak
09-02-05, 03:36 PM A general warning, though, which applies to book-writing rather than article-writing for Dragon;

You will not get unsolicited manuscripts published. Ever. It doesn't matter if it's a sourcebook or a novel. This isn't because they're mean or picky, it is entirely for copyright purposes. The problem is, if you submit something that has, say, a class that looks very much like the Warlock, and then WotC published the Complete Arcane, with said Warlock in it without paying you royalties, you could arguably sue for copyright infringement. Even if someone in their department came up with the idea all on their own before they ever saw your manuscript.

So, to avoid lawsuits, all publishers with an existing trademark who farm it out to writers do it under one of two methods. One, which WotC is using, is the Open Gaming License style of thing; you're free to publish d20 material, just not to call it D&D, even if it's completely compatible. They're also not publishing it; they're allowing you to do so. So you'd have to find a publisher, and they'd have the same rules as below;

The other is to pick known authors and approach them to do a work on request. This is how the Star Wars and Star Trek novel series' work.

In either case, publishers of existing trademarks don't even open usolicited manuscripts. They throw them out. It doesn't matter if your Star Wars novel is the best thing to hit the series since the original movie. To protect their own butts, they won't even look at it.

I'm not saying all this to rain on anyone's parade. Just to establish realistic expectations. Unsolicited material is never looked at, because if they look at the manuscript and refuse it, if they ever publish anything remotely close to any of the content, you could sue for breach of copyright. If you want to publish for a trademark, the only way to do so is to make a name for yourself in the field as a successful author in your own right, and then approach them with your services as a writer, rather than a manuscript. If they like your other work, they may hire you. But that's about the only chance you've got.

And yes, getting articles published in Dragon and Dungeon is making a name for yourself. Get a few good articles published, and they might pick you up for a bigger project.
R.M.G.C.L.F.
09-02-05, 04:46 PM I don't want to sound ignorant, but what exactly does "unsolicited" mean in this context? ^^;
Bardicstorm
09-02-05, 05:05 PM un-asked for... as in, if you send a manuscript to a WOTC without them asking for one. Or, without having an agent working to get a manuscript solicited.
R.M.G.C.L.F.
09-02-05, 05:28 PM I'm really unfamiliar with the publishing industry. Do these agents basically suggest things to the company in question so they can ask it from you, or is it impossible to get something published unless in existing buisness asks for it?
Bardicstorm
09-02-05, 06:00 PM I'm really unfamiliar with the publishing industry. Do these agents basically suggest things to the company in question so they can ask it from you, or is it impossible to get something published unless in existing buisness asks for it?

Writing for a living is very hard. Getting published is not the least of the problems associated with it. My advice to you would be to send material to anyone who might publish it. If you want to write a novel, send short stories to every literary magazine you can find. If you want to write game material, send material to magazines like Dragon and Dungeon.

In the mean time take every writing class you can find, talk to every author you meet, and read as many author interviews as possible.

You'll come to understand that even the most popular authors in the world generally wrote short stories for years with little or no results. That said, I know several repeat submitters to Dungeon, and Dragon magazines have gone on to work for game companies, even if only on a freelance basis.

You're not at the level to even remotely worry about an agent at the moment, and in reality an agent is more useful if you're writing a novel rather than trying to get into the games industry. Just submit as much as possible to anyone that will publish it (ie, anyone who doesn't say "no unsolicited works").

And don't take the rejections personally. Just keep writing and submitting.

Disclaimer: I never had the guts to do this, and thus am not a working writer.

Note: A great book to read is Piers Anthony's Anthology because each short story is preceded by a few paragraphs of what was happening as he was just starting trying to write for a living.
GreyLord
09-02-05, 06:59 PM Hmm, I could help you in the writing career field maybe, and give some helpful advice.

For gaming however, I don't know what to tell you except good luck.
Thorak
09-03-05, 12:15 PM What bardicstorm said.

I'm one of the many hobbyist authors who have a book they really want to write. I've also researched the industry to find out what the business side is like, in case I ever finish said book. And it's not promising, if you want a career. The average salary for a working author, in the US, is something like $5,000 a year. Sure, if you become a hit author, you can make scads, but for every J.K. Rowling, there are thousands of those who don't make it.

Heck, list off how many millionaire authors you've heard of. Now, list off how many millionaire Hollywood stars you've heard of. Now, realize that to be a wildly successful author, you actually need talent to boot. Even most of the well-known authors probably don't make millions, I recall from reading Piers Anthony's About the Authors that he was living comfortably, but not extravagantly, off his income, and that was with a successful series (Xanth).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
R.M.G.C.L.F. 08-31-05, 07:34 PM	I'm not sure if this is in the right forum, but this is the best place I could think of for it. I spend a lot of time designing monsters, and sometimes spells. I'd like to make steps towards getting my work published, and maybe even cranking out a few sourcebooks and splatbooks, but I don't know how to go about it. How can I submit stuff for dragon? What is a good way to get my name out? Are there any books/magazines looking for just monsters? I'm currently under 18, so that might limit my current options to developing a writing career.
Zherog 08-31-05, 08:15 PM	Hey, RMGCLF. Dragon and Dungeon magazine are by far your best bet for getting stuff published as a new writer. You can download the submission guidelines for each magazine from their webiste: General link to the site (http://paizo.com) this page has a link to Dragon's submission guidelines on it (http://paizo.com/dragon/about) This page has a link to Dungeon's submission guidelines on it (http://paizo.com/dungeon) They will print material from writers who are under 18; however, one of your parents will need to sign the standard disclosure form and your contracts. Good luck. :)
R.M.G.C.L.F. 09-02-05, 09:34 AM	Thanks. I was looking for those links for a while.
Thorak 09-02-05, 03:36 PM	A general warning, though, which applies to book-writing rather than article-writing for Dragon; You will not get unsolicited manuscripts published. Ever. It doesn't matter if it's a sourcebook or a novel. This isn't because they're mean or picky, it is entirely for copyright purposes. The problem is, if you submit something that has, say, a class that looks very much like the Warlock, and then WotC published the Complete Arcane, with said Warlock in it without paying you royalties, you could arguably sue for copyright infringement. Even if someone in their department came up with the idea all on their own before they ever saw your manuscript. So, to avoid lawsuits, all publishers with an existing trademark who farm it out to writers do it under one of two methods. One, which WotC is using, is the Open Gaming License style of thing; you're free to publish d20 material, just not to call it D&D, even if it's completely compatible. They're also not publishing it; they're allowing you to do so. So you'd have to find a publisher, and they'd have the same rules as below; The other is to pick known authors and approach them to do a work on request. This is how the Star Wars and Star Trek novel series' work. In either case, publishers of existing trademarks don't even open usolicited manuscripts. They throw them out. It doesn't matter if your Star Wars novel is the best thing to hit the series since the original movie. To protect their own butts, they won't even look at it. I'm not saying all this to rain on anyone's parade. Just to establish realistic expectations. Unsolicited material is never looked at, because if they look at the manuscript and refuse it, if they ever publish anything remotely close to any of the content, you could sue for breach of copyright. If you want to publish for a trademark, the only way to do so is to make a name for yourself in the field as a successful author in your own right, and then approach them with your services as a writer, rather than a manuscript. If they like your other work, they may hire you. But that's about the only chance you've got. And yes, getting articles published in Dragon and Dungeon is making a name for yourself. Get a few good articles published, and they might pick you up for a bigger project.
R.M.G.C.L.F. 09-02-05, 04:46 PM	I don't want to sound ignorant, but what exactly does "unsolicited" mean in this context? ^^;
Bardicstorm 09-02-05, 05:05 PM	un-asked for... as in, if you send a manuscript to a WOTC without them asking for one. Or, without having an agent working to get a manuscript solicited.
R.M.G.C.L.F. 09-02-05, 05:28 PM	I'm really unfamiliar with the publishing industry. Do these agents basically suggest things to the company in question so they can ask it from you, or is it impossible to get something published unless in existing buisness asks for it?
Bardicstorm 09-02-05, 06:00 PM	I'm really unfamiliar with the publishing industry. Do these agents basically suggest things to the company in question so they can ask it from you, or is it impossible to get something published unless in existing buisness asks for it? Writing for a living is very hard. Getting published is not the least of the problems associated with it. My advice to you would be to send material to anyone who might publish it. If you want to write a novel, send short stories to every literary magazine you can find. If you want to write game material, send material to magazines like Dragon and Dungeon. In the mean time take every writing class you can find, talk to every author you meet, and read as many author interviews as possible. You'll come to understand that even the most popular authors in the world generally wrote short stories for years with little or no results. That said, I know several repeat submitters to Dungeon, and Dragon magazines have gone on to work for game companies, even if only on a freelance basis. You're not at the level to even remotely worry about an agent at the moment, and in reality an agent is more useful if you're writing a novel rather than trying to get into the games industry. Just submit as much as possible to anyone that will publish it (ie, anyone who doesn't say "no unsolicited works"). And don't take the rejections personally. Just keep writing and submitting. Disclaimer: I never had the guts to do this, and thus am not a working writer. Note: A great book to read is Piers Anthony's Anthology because each short story is preceded by a few paragraphs of what was happening as he was just starting trying to write for a living.
GreyLord 09-02-05, 06:59 PM	Hmm, I could help you in the writing career field maybe, and give some helpful advice. For gaming however, I don't know what to tell you except good luck.
Thorak 09-03-05, 12:15 PM	What bardicstorm said. I'm one of the many hobbyist authors who have a book they really want to write. I've also researched the industry to find out what the business side is like, in case I ever finish said book. And it's not promising, if you want a career. The average salary for a working author, in the US, is something like $5,000 a year. Sure, if you become a hit author, you can make scads, but for every J.K. Rowling, there are thousands of those who don't make it. Heck, list off how many millionaire authors you've heard of. Now, list off how many millionaire Hollywood stars you've heard of. Now, realize that to be a wildly successful author, you actually need talent to boot. Even most of the well-known authors probably don't make millions, I recall from reading Piers Anthony's About the Authors that he was living comfortably, but not extravagantly, off his income, and that was with a successful series (Xanth).