So, I am seriously considering making a move from writer/designer to publisher ... in as much as I want to see some of my ideas evolved and developed beyond what I have proven capable of managing for myself. To that end I am looking at what it will cost me to hire a writer to write my game and an artist to illustrate my game.
I have always been an "idea man" kind of designer ... I think of something "neat" mechanically and I write it down ... then ... well, then I generally run out of steam and am onto the next "idea." ... now my ideas are mired in old school sensibilities combined with rules-lite personal tastes. My favorite RPG design is probably Mike Pondsmith's "Dream Park."
Five by Five is the game I wish to evolve. I'd like to find someone who can take my idea and shape what I want into a proper context. Give it some "legs" as it were. I have some ideas on the shape this should take, and if you took a look at the wonderful kid friendly character sheets that I plugged in my previous post you will know the direction that I want to go.
I have done some research and I believe that I can pay competitively so, the next question I have is ... how do I find the right writer for the job??
Jeff
Is it possible for you to do less a straight up finding a writer and paying them thing and more a fan submission of supplemental material that you'd then share the cuts of sales with?
ReplyDeleteOr, use one to lead to the other.
Hold a submissions contest for supplemental material, give a grand prize to the winner or top three, but here you have all these submissions to now use as a screening process for finding someone who might be willing to help you out more long term.
Good luck with it, tho.
Seems like an interesting idea ... holding a contest for writing a "kid friendly" version of "Five by Five." What sort of prize should I offer? Money? Merchandise? An iPad? What do people want?
ReplyDeleteMaybe a flat cash prize and a "share" in the publishing arm and profits of whatever we end up doing?
Do you think people would go for that??
Jeff
I would say flat cash and cut would be a heck of an incentive. Cash can buy iPads if folks want 'em. Far too often people promise potential income for submitting or freelancing things, but if you promised an outright lump for the good stuff you'd probably get a pretty good response.
ReplyDeleteEspecially with how big of a Free RPG community there seems to be out there. I'd think that there are a good number of people currently giving away great ideas who'd be willing to help for cash monies.