Writers who can Work on Spec

[Michael Hopcroft]

I've got a problem. I have a lot of ideas for books for my company to publish -- more that I have access to writers to write them and more than I have time or energy to write myself. I have ideas for M&M Superlink books, HeartQuest supplements, Fuzz supplements, and entirely new RPGs based on anime or SF/fantasy concepts.

What I would like to do is establish some partnerships with talented but little-known writers of RPG material who are looking for their first break or publication on their resume. I can mainly offer royalties on book sales (e-book, POD or both) whpo are willing to work under supervision -- basically take a basic idea, explore it wherever it goes, and make it fit whatever rules system we choose to adopt. I'm alsow willing to look at peopl with original ideas that can be adapted to the basic concepts of my line of games 9which i would like to expand and take in some new directions now that I have slightly more personal cash coming in to pay typesetters).

Would anyone who visits the Forge be interest in forming such partnerships?

[Adam]

I really think you're better off coming up with specific guidelines for a project, then posting in the usual places: "Looking for a freelancer to do X number of words on Y subject for Z game line." This will help you get someone that's interested in the subject matter, and if they work out well, you can add them to your 'stable' of writers and send them upcoming project notices before posting them publically, to potentially continue feeding work their way.

You will likely find few people who are actually interested in working and working well for all your game lines; the type of writers who will work for any company on any game line will likely not want to work for royalties. This is not to denigrate writers who will work for any company no matter their interest in the product, nor companies that pay royalties; they're just two things that don't go well together.

[Andrew Martin]

...explore it wherever it goes, and make it fit whatever rules system we choose to adopt.

These two goals seem incompatible and illogical to me.

[Emily_Dresner]

I'm neither talented nor unknown, but I have copious free time and agree with Adam.  Your best approach is to say:

"I need 5,000 words on this particular bit of material for this particular game line.  Please drop me an e-mail saying blah and please include a writing sample."

Frex, I might say, "I need 5,000 words on Life in a Scurvy Pirate Crew in two months.  Pure flavor, no rules, no fiction.  Can be an unknown writer.  Please send a writing sample and why you want to write about pirates to zenith@evilkitten.org."

This will get me:

A. People who think they can write 5000 readable words in two months.
B. A writing sample that will tell me if said person can put nouns and verbs together.  
C. People who are interested in pirates.
D. People who are not going to send me 5000 words of fiction.

This is more of an advertising thing than anything.  Be concise, be forward, be clear.

[Michael Hopcroft]

I have tqo new projects looking for writers who arew familair with FUDGE, willing to make their work compatible with HeartQuest, and can do dual-system with the Open Gaming License's most popular system (and can adapt it to the project's sepcifc needs) Forring a 15% royalty, ooking for 30,000-60,000 word manuscripts.

1. Working title Spell-Slingers and Sword-Saints. A game of anime-style over-the-top fantasy inspired by series like Slayers, Record of Lodoss Wars and Scrapped Princess. extremely powerfl magic, swordmen 9and women) who can cut down dozens with one attack, spectacular action, intruge, romance and adventure on an epic scale.

2. working title: Arena Gods. An RPG set int he genre of console fighting games such as Street Fighter, Tekken, Dead or Alive, Soud Calibur and Bloody Roar. Spectacyklar onbe-on-ine duels, incredibly durable fighters, and plenty of potential for action and intrigue outside the arena.

I am also willing to enterttain other projects in this vein (like a game in the style of the Final Fantasy series).