How do you get involved in freelance rpg writing?
The short version: persistence.
The long version: I went to PaizoCon a couple of times, attended their seminars, and talked with both prolific freelancers and Paizo staff to get a sense of direction.
Wasn’t sure where to fit this in, but it’s basically rule number 1: don’t do this for the money. You can use the same skill set for game writing doing something else and earn like... three times as much, easily. As far as I’m aware, there’s no making a living off of being a freelance RPG writer. That may change in years to come, but right now it’s categorically a hobby.
If that doesn’t deter you:
1. Write, and write often
The first thing that you can do is make homebrew content on your own. Go through the process of actually making, editing, and adhering to the proper writing style guides for your game of choice.This is a link to Pathfinder’s Style Guide
Even if you don’t like writing Pathfinder material, it will give you a solid foundation for what to expect out of adhering to a writing style.
You write your own stuff so you can show a potential employer that you’re able to do the work. That’s how the games industry works in general: they like proof that you can do the job they’re asking you to do.
2. Look to 3rd party publishers
Then it’s a matter of finding someone who’s willing to take a chance on you. Fortunately, Paizo has this great subforum. 3rd party publishers routinely post on this subforums for writing, editing, and art jobs they need done. If you think you can do the job they’re asking you to do, then you should inquire about the specifics- just to make sure you’re not getting in over your head. Your first project should not be to make an adventure path from scratch. Confidence is great; overconfidence will burn you.
3. Nobody starts off working for Paizo or Wizards
Or if they do, they’ve probably been in the broader games industry longer than I’ve legally been an adult. “Working your way up” may sound like a chore, but from the perspective of the publishers: they’re taking a risk on a freelancer every single time they give them a job. Paizo and Wizards are the best of the best of the best, sir, with honors because they only take in people that have consistently proven themselves to be decent writers and, more importantly, supremely low-risk. Writing for 3rd party publishers will not only improve your skills, it’ll get your name around as someone who’s reliable. It’s a small industry and everyone knows each other. On the flip side: it’s a small industry and everyone knows everyone else’s grievances. If your burn someone on a deadline, or on wordcount, or are a dick in general, that’s an excellent way to never get work again. Bolding for emphasis: don’t be a dick.
4. Write to spec. Write to spec. Write to spec.
It was absolutely worth saying three times. If a publisher wants 800 words- you better give them as close to 800 words as humanly possible. Not a lot of people will make a fuss over 803 or 804, but you have to at least be operating within 1% of the listed word count. Conversely, never EVER say “I can’t write any more about this.” That’s shorthand for “I can’t do the job you’re asking me to do” and it’s just as bad as it sounds. It’s not that there’s nothing to say about what you’re writing about, it’s that your idea of what you’re writing about isn’t big enough.But that part comes with practice and learning how to write 5000 words about the edge of a dime. (which you should totally do sometime- it’s a great exercise.)
5. Other opportunities and where to find them
The Wayfinder fanzine routinely has a biannual open call that hundreds of people submit to. It’s not paid work because it’s not-for-profit (and thus can use basically everything in Pathfinder legally) but it’s a great way to get your writing out if they think you’re good enough. Lots of publishing companies look at Wayfinder for new talent.
Paizo also has their RPG Superstar contest that they hold annually (although I think they skipped last year, no idea why) but even when there isn’t an active contest going on, you should look at all of the winners of each round’s entries. That’ll give you a solid idea of the caliber of writing that’s expected of professional writers.
6. Don’t give up, skeleton
Eric Hindley gave me some great advice the first PaizoCon I attended, “getting into the industry isn’t easy, but it’s not hard either.” The process is dirt simple: Write, write some more, look for publishers that will take a risk on you, meet expectations and deadlines, don’t be a dick, wash, rinse, and repeat. Around this time last year, I had no experience and had barely gotten my feet wet. At this point, I’m actually using a copy of the first book I worked on as a mouse pad. That sounds weird, but every time I sit down at my desk it reminds me that I did that and that I can continue to do that if I keep being persistent.
This turned out to be longer than expected, so apologies for not being brief.
Also if anyone wants to correct me on anything, or add something that I missed, feel free to. I’m still pretty new to this compared to other freelancers.
