I'd highly recommend contacting them! As a 3PP, I can tell you, I dont get a lot of interest from authors, editors and the like (perhaps with the exception of artists)... but what I do get I always take serious.
In fact, the last guy that contacted me... is now developing an adventure for Headless Hydra Games' Mor Aldenn setting.
Also, its always good to have something to show your talents... especially if you are an author/game designer...
- Axel
Headless Hydra Games
Well, I got my breakthrough by writing three monsters for the late Silverthorne Games back in the mid d20 era... for free! I dont recommend anyone doing anything for free, though. It was sort of a challenge that Ian (the publisher) gave me, and I passed. After that, I just started writing, and I wrote a lot!
These days, if you have the means and time... I recommend starting up your own company. If only I had thought about that before pitching my best idea to a company that took 6 years paying me for it...
- Axel
I'd offer up Kobold Quarterly. If you pitch there, get accepted and published, it's a credit and it pays. There is also the web posts, which, while free, do offer a place to get credit and practice.
Patronage projects (like those at Open Design or Rite Publishing) are another place you can get good feedback and practice. I don't believe Brandon Hodge had written an RPG before his work on Halls of the Mountain King-- but he blew it out of the water and then went to work on Sunken Empires.
Fanzines are also a good place to look. I busted my hump for Sub Rosa and it got me into the Authors' Pool for Atlas. You're going to have to nose around for shops looking for new blood and then sell yourself, which may be tougher without any credits.
-Ben.
Thank you though for the Help, If anyone has any tips for me feel free to share
This sort of depends on were you plan to go with this, but I would suggest staying away from the small presses at first and aim for the top. Literally anyone can produce a decent pdf these days and as Brekkil mentioned the pay schedule and rate ain't so hot on the lower tiers -actually- let's be truthful here, the starting freelance rate for anything gaming related sucks compared to working for any other periodical this side of your high school's newspaper and, AND! The publishing world at large would probably look more kindly on you for the high school gig. This is a labor of love, not money.
I suggest making sure you have the means to indulge in game design (whatever part of the field you are in) before you start. Because for the most part you will be losing money. Remember your basic math: Time = Money, which means the reverse is also true. You have got to invest a lot of time in the trenches for very little if any pay before you even have the chance of making money in the field - and then you won't have time to spend it because you'll always be working - and when you do spend it it'll be on the next game mechanic source book.
How much overtime do you suppose the Paizo editor's pull?
As for college, I would look into some scholarships or grants - because even a year or two of actual university-level English is better than none. If you were taking AP classes you should qualify for something.
G3
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I personally would suggest, writing something for free for Wayfinder. Anything that gets you published will make it easier to get more stuff published. Also I would pitch idea's to the bigger 3pp publishers next. Many might say no thanks or they are maxed out in books they are doing etc. But eventually one will say yes. Once you get a few things published free or otherwise it gets easier. Or so I have heard by people that have been published.
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Kobold Quarterly is an excellent place to start getting some recognition. And Wayfinder is also an excellent place to practice polishing your skills.
But if you have lots of good adventure ideas, write up a nice proposal and send it to one of the publishers. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
And practice writing. A lot. It doesn't matter what you write, just write and have someone else read it and tell you what you did wrong. Classes can't really substitute for the practice of putting words together in a coherent fashion concerning any number of subjects.
And if you want to make money, get a different job first. :)
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Try producing work for:
Try writing for the Pathfinder Society
Then you'll build up some experience to use as a CV and some contacts/references.
And practice writing. A lot. It doesn't matter what you write, just write and have someone else read it and tell you what you did wrong. Classes can't really substitute for the practice of putting words together in a coherent fashion concerning any number of subjects.
Yeah this is really the key. Practice. If you are lucky enough to get thoughtful feedback, take it seriously: work on whatever flaws people identify, try to make your strengths even stronger. Never get defensive (but also accept that sometimes people will just have differences of opinion, or even be flat-out wrong, and do your best to smile and shrug when that happens).
I'm strongly of the opinion that creative writing, of whatever type, is something that cannot be taught in a school-type setting. At best you get structured practice, a push to do that practice, and feedback of varying accuracy and helpfulness. But all of that is stuff you can get for free online (and it's much more likely to be suitable for your specific interests if you're dealing with Wayfinder or a 3PP vs. a general college class that may be more focused on writing literary novellas). Read widely and write often; that's really all you need.