I just wanted to be number 700 :-P
oh man, I got a rock....my proposal from the 9th got shot down too.
I just wanted to be number 700 :-P
It's mine, all mine muhahahaha! You are weak McCloud...there can be only one 700...
Oh dear...
One more month to go and he'll be to my January proposals ... <crosses his fingers and hopes they make it to the submissions meeting>
- Ashavan
I just wanted to be number 700 :-P
Congrats Steve, looks like this little thread of yours has found, um, 'traction'!
Hunter
I just wanted to be number 700 :-P
Well done sir! :-)
Ok...hope I dont get yelled at for this, but here it goes...
I am new to this site and a new subscriber to both Dungeon and Dragon magazines. Last time I had a Dragon subscription, it started with original issue #87! Ahh, I miss Wormy...anyway, was wondering HOW one goes about submitting proposals for Dunegeon.
I assume this question has been asked/answered 1000 times and I apologize for not taking the time to search out the answer...but please, someone answer! :)
Ok...hope I dont get yelled at for this, but here it goes...
I am new to this site and a new subscriber to both Dungeon and Dragon magazines. Last time I had a Dragon subscription, it started with original issue #87! Ahh, I miss Wormy...anyway, was wondering HOW one goes about submitting proposals for Dunegeon.
I assume this question has been asked/answered 1000 times and I apologize for not taking the time to search out the answer...but please, someone answer! :)
Look here under Contribute to Dungeon
Also, read this thread for tips... you'll find some (like the current ban on borg proposals) that you won't find in the guidelines.
-Ashavan
Ok...hope I dont get yelled at for this, but here it goes...
I am new to this site and a new subscriber to both Dungeon and Dragon magazines. Last time I had a Dragon subscription, it started with original issue #87! Ahh, I miss Wormy...anyway, was wondering HOW one goes about submitting proposals for Dunegeon.
I assume this question has been asked/answered 1000 times and I apologize for not taking the time to search out the answer...but please, someone answer! :)
Look here under Contribute to Dungeon
Also, read this thread for tips... you'll find some (like the current ban on borg proposals) that you won't find in the guidelines.
-Ashavan
Many thanks
Many thanks
No problem - this thread is essentially a support group for nerve wracked contributors who have been waiting what seems like an eternity for responses. Which are getting quicker, thanks to the addition of James (thanks James!).
It helps, of course, that the editors post here too, giving us hints as to what we need to be doing, avoiding, and the like.
Good luck!
- Ashavan
PS - don't wait for a response before submitting a second, third or nineteenth query. And consider submitting for Campaign Workbooks, Critical Threats, or to Dragon as well. Trust me, having other material still under consideration when the rejections start coming is critical to not giving up.
Hey folks!
Saw all the activity on this thread and thought I'd take a moment to give ya'll an update. The official submissions meeting is currently scheduled for next Tuesday, so I'm going to try and get as many proposals as possible reviewed and prepped by then. (The process for Campaign Workbooks is different than the standard adventure/backdrop meetings, so it may take significantly longer to hear back on those). If you're the proud recipient of a "received" notice, then you should hopefully get the final decision late next week.
Let's hear it for bold and decisive action! Go team!
-James
(The process for Campaign Workbooks is different than the standard adventure/backdrop meetings, so it may take significantly longer to hear back on those).
I have one that's been on your desks for almost a year. Do you accept/reject those in the order you receive them, or just keep them around perpetually in case you need them?
Hey folks!
Saw all the activity on this thread and thought I'd take a moment to give ya'll an update. The official submissions meeting is currently scheduled for next Tuesday, so I'm going to try and get as many proposals as possible reviewed and prepped by then. (The process for Campaign Workbooks is different than the standard adventure/backdrop meetings, so it may take significantly longer to hear back on those). If you're the proud recipient of a "received" notice, then you should hopefully get the final decision late next week.
Let's hear it for bold and decisive action! Go team!-James
OH...MY...GODS!
::Nick polymorphs into a giddy schoolgirl and prances excitedly around the room::
OH...MY...GODS!::Nick polymorphs into a giddy schoolgirl and prances excitedly around the room::
Now THAT'S something you don't see every day!
James: So should I assume that my submissions from January (like, last week) won't be making it into this meeting, then? I don't want to raise my fret level for nothing.
Hunter
Well, I got a resubmit request on my final query, which is much better than a flat-out rejection. I was wondering, since I've never had to do a resubmit request, if anybody had any tips on how to go about it?
Well, I got a resubmit request on my final query, which is much better than a flat-out rejection. I was wondering, since I've never had to do a resubmit request, if anybody had any tips on how to go about it?
There are probably some hints in the reply letter. Reread it and use that as your foundation for the resubmit. If there are no hints drop a note to the editor in question and ask them what they didn't like about it the first time around.
Hope that helps,
GGG
I have one that's been on your desks for almost a year. Do you accept/reject those in the order you receive them, or just keep them around perpetually in case you need them?
I just got an acceptance for a CW I wrote back in the summer and a rejection last week for one I wrote around the same time. I suspect handling CWs are one of those "it's on our list" kind of things, as in people wade through the pile whenever they have a few spare moments grabbing a handful here and a handful there.
I just got an acceptance for a CW I wrote back in the summer and a rejection last week for one I wrote around the same time. I suspect handling CWs are one of those "it's on our list" kind of things, as in people wade through the pile whenever they have a few spare moments grabbing a handful here and a handful there.
I have one that's been on your desks for almost a year. Do you accept/reject those in the order you receive them, or just keep them around perpetually in case you need them?
Adventures are the way to go.
GGG
I just got an acceptance for a CW I wrote back in the summer and a rejection last week for one I wrote around the same time. I suspect handling CWs are one of those "it's on our list" kind of things, as in people wade through the pile whenever they have a few spare moments grabbing a handful here and a handful there.
I have one that's been on your desks for almost a year. Do you accept/reject those in the order you receive them, or just keep them around perpetually in case you need them?Adventures are the way to go.
GGG
G-cubed -
I actually quite like Campaign Workbooks and Critical Threats... though of course I am as anxious as everyone else about the adventure submissions. I sent three in January that I'm hoping willmake the cutoff date for this meeting.
- Ashavan
I just got an acceptance for a CW I wrote back in the summer and a rejection last week for one I wrote around the same time. I suspect handling CWs are one of those "it's on our list" kind of things, as in people wade through the pile whenever they have a few spare moments grabbing a handful here and a handful there.
I have one that's been on your desks for almost a year. Do you accept/reject those in the order you receive them, or just keep them around perpetually in case you need them?
Hal -
Yeah, James is clearly going through Campaign Workbooks... I just got an acceptance on a CW and CT from last summer.
Still waiting to hear anything on two Critical Threats from very early last year (one late January, one early Feb). But clearly James is working on it.
That's great news.
I'm actually looking forward to CW rejections of all the old stuff I submitted, if only because I get a chance to rework them. Congrats to those that got accepted!
Just got a resubmit notice for something I sent on Dec29th.
Looks like the black hole is rapidly catching up to the present.
Just got a resubmit notice for something I sent on Dec29th.
Looks like the black hole is rapidly catching up to the present.
That James Sutter is a speed demon! I love it!
Sorry guys, but due to a Top Secret Project, the submissions meeting has been moved to Wednesday. (I can't say anything about it, obviously, except that you DEFINITELY won't want to miss the special anniversary issue of Dragon.)
So at the moment the slush pile is up to January, and I'm hoping to get all the adventures and backdrops handled by the sub meeting (imagine that!). Many of you should also be getting Campaign Workbook responses as well, though lines are much fuzzier there and decisions don't get made as quickly. (From here on out, if you find yourself waiting a long time to hear back on a CW, take it as a positive sign.)
-James
Sorry guys, but due to a Top Secret Project, the submissions meeting has been moved to Wednesday. (I can't say anything about it, obviously, except that you DEFINITELY won't want to miss the special anniversary issue of Dragon.)
So at the moment the slush pile is up to January, and I'm hoping to get all the adventures and backdrops handled by the sub meeting (imagine that!). Many of you should also be getting Campaign Workbook responses as well, though lines are much fuzzier there and decisions don't get made as quickly. (From here on out, if you find yourself waiting a long time to hear back on a CW, take it as a positive sign.)
-James
Shoot! Should have cast extended polymorph. ;-)
No really James, one day, who cares! We are used to hearing: "not this week actually," or "maybe next month." :-)
Shoot! Should have cast extended polymorph. ;-)No really James, one day, who cares! We are used to hearing: "not this week actually," or "maybe next month." :-)
You forgot the, "but probably not until April, as we're backed up on the AP right now."
Seriously James, we're thrilled to hear that it's going to happen soon. In the meantime, I'm content with hearing about CWs and Critical Threats that I'd almost forgotten about.
- Ashavan
Hey all you writers out there at work with nothing better to do....go check yer email. The mighty Sutter (tm) is swinging the axe again.
Three more up, three more down in my lineup. They still have two to go to catch me though. The last one was from the 12th of Jan.
Have a good weekend. Keep one foot in the gutter one fist in the gold.
Toodle-loo, go with god, and don't take any wooden nickels.
Huh. I have a Jan 3rd I haven't heard about yet. Since it's a CW, though, I'll happily go along with the "no news is good news" mantra for now, though.
I got two emails recently, a CW article got a "we recieved it and are looking it over" email... and an Adventure Query got a "This is too stinky to even make it to the meeting" email... (okay maybe not exactly, but it amounts to the same thing) :0P
I got a CW accepted. I did the query all wrong, but I guess my timing was right. I can't believe it--I'm just stunned because it was the very first thing I ever sent in to Dungeon, even before the cooperative project with GGG, Steve Greer, Koldoon and Dryder.
***And now it's time for the latest episode of "Straight Talk from the Editors"!***
Just wanted to remind everyone that just because your query was rejected before the meeting does NOT necessarily mean that there was something horribly wrong with it. While that's certainly true for some, it could also be that it was simply too close to something we're running, we're sick to death of a given monster/plotline, etc. That said, here are a few things that immediately raise a warning flag (or click back the hammer) on a particular query:
Poor Grammar and Typos - I can't help it, folks. I'm an editor. While it's not an insta-kill, queries that obviously haven't been proofed make me cringe and wonder what the end manuscript would look like. If you can, get a friend to read through your query before you send it in.
One-trick adventures - I need to be hooked. Adventures with a straight "here's this thing - go kill it" or "they need help - go kill it" plotline had better have amazing NPCs and strange new premises to get me interested. Not everything needs to be quadruple-crossing spy stories where the villain's actually the PCs' father, but you need to show me what makes your submission new and different. (Hint: picking an underused monster, while a good idea, does not a winning submission make. Good adventures tell new stories, and I've read Beowulf several times already.) At the same time, however....
Too Much Backstory - Here's a good way to test if you have too much backstory. Scroll down to the bottom of the first page. Have you mentioned the PCs yet? If not, you ought to revise. Remember, we judge submissions based on the *adventure* - if you only bring in the players in the last paragraph ("And then the PCs have to come fix things somehow"), then the best you're going to get is a letter saying "We don't have enough information to make a decision yet - please rewrite and resubmit, focusing on the game itself (challenges and how they can be overcome, hooks, etc.)."
Vague generalities - we've said it before and we'll say it again: no teasers, please. If the PCs find clues to the whodunit, I want to know what they are. If they learn a horrible secret, tell me what it is. If there's only one way to slay the wicked beast, let us in on the truth. It's not that we don't love being teased, just that until you tell us exactly how something works, we have no proof that YOU know how it works.
Last, but not least:
Not reading the submission guidelines - If you're reading this post, then you're obviously the sort of take-charge contributor who doesn't have this problem, but it's worth noting anyway. All of our submission guidelines are at www.paizo.com/dungeon, and they are what they are for a reason. Two pages, for instance, is almost exactly how much room it takes to explain the average adventure. If you're going way over or way under, something's not right.
Thanks for letting me get some of this off my chest folks, and double thanks for all the great submissions. We just hit Jan 16th in the slush pile, and I'm not done yet. Onward and upward!
***JLS out***
I got a CW accepted. I did the query all wrong, but I guess my timing was right. I can't believe it--I'm just stunned because it was the very first thing I ever sent in to Dungeon, even before the cooperative project with GGG, Steve Greer, Koldoon and Dryder.
Good going!
I'm still waiting to hear on my queries in the slush pile. They were from the middle of the month though, so James probably just hasn't gotten to them yet.
- Ashavan
***And now it's time for the latest episode of "Straight Talk from the Editors"!***
Just wanted to remind everyone that just because your query was rejected before the meeting does NOT necessarily mean that there was something horribly wrong with it. While that's certainly true for some, it could also be that it was simply too close to something we're running, we're sick to death of a given monster/plotline, etc.
Jan 16th eh?
*hrm*
*waits patiently for James to reach Jan 21*
I'm assuming that portions of the guidelines invalidated by posts from the editors (double spacing, for instance) are safe to ignore. I'd hate to get rejected on a technicality.
Not a push, since you've been doing a great job helping get everything caught up, but I'd love to see an updated set of guidelines at some point - once you've gotten through the slush pile and the submission meeting is over.
- Ashavan
I'd love to see an updated set of guidelines at some point
You and me both. And yeah, anything stated on these messageboards trumps the posted guidelines - I just really wanted to remind people of some basic details, such as how one paragraph in the body of an email is NOT an adventure pitch, or that Campaign Workbooks require the full manuscript before they'll be considered.
-James
We just hit Jan 16th in the slush pile
So, er... does that mean I should resubmit the CW I sent in on Jan 3rd?
Jan 16th eh?*hrm*
*waits patiently for James to reach Jan 21*
- Ashavan
January 22 for me. Hope mine make it through, though I doubt even Paizo would force poor James to work all weekend. On submissions anyway. =|
Hunter
January 22 for me. Hope mine make it through, though I doubt even Paizo would force poor James to work all weekend. On submissions anyway. =|Hunter
It sounds like James is intent on getting all the way through the slush pile. Anyway, no word yet, though I haven't checked in the last half-hour or so.
- Ashavan
***And now it's time for the latest episode of "Straight Talk from the Editors"!***
Just wanted to remind everyone that just because your query was rejected before the meeting does NOT necessarily mean that there was something horribly wrong with it. While that's certainly true for some, it could also be that it was simply too close to something we're running, we're sick to death of a given monster/plotline, etc.
James -
Any word on which monsters/plotlines you're sick of this go-round? I figured I'd ask before submitting another evil cultist half-dragon wererat borg adventure query.
Hunter
James -Any word on which monsters/plotlines you're sick of this go-round? I figured I'd ask before submitting another evil cultist half-dragon wererat borg adventure query.
Hunter
Mine was an angry druid evil cultist half-dragon wererat borg adventure query, but it was set in Eberron so it should make it through.
GGG
Mine was an angry druid evil cultist half-dragon wererat borg adventure query, but it was set in Eberron so it should make it through.GGG
See, that's my problem, I need to learn to take an idea to the Next Level (tm).
Hunter - wishing all of you to have an above average day =|
Got a number of responses over the last couple of weeks. Many been rejections though one adventure is being "considered". I suppose this is a GOOD thing :P
Is there anything I can do to "sweeten the deal"?
Oh and if you're reading Nicolas Logue, is there any chance you can post your initial query for The Library of the Last Resort? I've been checking over my oldest queries and it cracks me up how bad they are compared to some of my newer ones. But what I'd really love is to see a successful query.
Regards
From Jan 16 I've actually got 2/3 proposals "under consideration": my first! That's... that's... aww I'm gonna cry. I'd like to thank my mom without whom none of this could have happened. I'd like to thank that guy on the corner for the pointers on making my foil hat even *better* at keeping out the voices. And thank you all.
::Psst, James! The payment's in the usual place.::
Heh, I just read the actual query. I'd give my right arm to be able to rework it now. I'm half a mind to beg James to allow me to resubmit it.
Oh and if you're reading Nicolas Logue, is there any chance you can post your initial query for The Library of the Last Resort? I've been checking over my oldest queries and it cracks me up how bad they are compared to some of my newer ones. But what I'd really love is to see a successful query.Regards
I'm not Nick, but my assassins know what hemisphere he lives in. I think it was more the other way around in this case as the Dungeon folks went to their most solid writers (and Nick) with a script already in hand. Perhaps you should ask him about "Winding Way" or "Cry Wolf," it would probably be more true to the standard process than "Library" was.
Triple G
Creative Director
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I'm not Nick, but my assassins know what hemisphere he lives in. I think it was more the other way around in this case as the Dungeon folks went to their most solid writers (and Nick) with a script already in hand. Perhaps you should ask him about "Winding Way" or "Cry Wolf," it would probably be more true to the standard process than "Library" was.
Correct. We solicit each and every one of the Adventure Path adventures from authors we think are up to the task of writing an enormous adventure in a relatively short amount of time. There never was a query for "Library" since we more or less gave Nick an outline that told him the key points to hit and to fill in the rest with (in this case) giant monsters and crazy fey and evil cultists and maybe a kenku or two.
Got a number of responses over the last couple of weeks. Many been rejections though one adventure is being "considered". I suppose this is a GOOD thing :P
Is there anything I can do to "sweeten the deal"?
Oh and if you're reading Nicolas Logue, is there any chance you can post your initial query for The Library of the Last Resort? I've been checking over my oldest queries and it cracks me up how bad they are compared to some of my newer ones. But what I'd really love is to see a successful query.
Regards
Hey Neeklus! Great name...I likes it. ;-)
If James has no compunctions about it, I'll post a successful query in a month or so when the issue #133 comes out (for "Chimes at Midnight"). Wouldn't want to post it too early and give away any of the goods.
There was no query for Cry Wolf cause it was originally a Side Trek (that grew too long).
I might have the query for "Winding Way" somewhere, but that was the first thing I ever sent Dungeon waaaay back when I had just finished reading an issue with a Tito Leati adventure in it, that also had the guidelines in the back of the mag. If I can track the query down, and again if James doesn't mind, I'll post it. I yield to James in all things, as he is both an editorial and game design god in my mind. (and yes Neeklus...kissing up is definately worth your time...and don't forget bribes). ;-)
The funny thing is, these things change quite a bit, and I'm willing to bet the final manuscripts of most of my adventures bear less resemblance to my query than one might think. In my xp, you gotta have a couple of great plot ideas, interesting encounter ideas, and be lucky enough to hit a level range/enemy set our sexy editors are looking for. And show em your a good writer, make the query fun to read, like a sample of your style. That's my advice. James will no doubt tune in with more and better thoughts than my ramblings here. Take it away Mr. Jacobs...
I'm not Nick, but my assassins know what hemisphere he lives in. I think it was more the other way around in this case as the Dungeon folks went to their most solid writers (and Nick) with a script already in hand. Perhaps you should ask him about "Winding Way" or "Cry Wolf," it would probably be more true to the standard process than "Library" was.
Triple G
Assassins hunh? You think they know what hemisphere I live in?
::Nick casts his daily false vision and sips his hot cider as snow falls outside his frosted window::
I do love the sunshine out here in Hawai'i.
Ah ha! my scrying went off first!
Anyhow I've talked to to Nick about this, and he didn't do it, so I was wondering which Master of the Desert Nomands fan put the bhuts in the the monastary in "Winding Way"?
And yes, showing your a good writer is probably important, but apprantly not critical. ;) Just keep the mistakes down to a dull roar. One of the reasons I fire and forget most of my queries is to avoid smacking myself in the head and saying "Doh!" a lot.
It saves on asprin,
GGG
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Creative Director
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James will no doubt tune in with more and better thoughts than my ramblings here. Take it away Mr. Jacobs...
Go ahead and post away, Nick!
Of course... there is no "secret handshake" that automaticaly gets a query accepted. We prefer queries that are less than 1000 words long, less than 2 pages long, get right to the point of the adventure, don't hide things from us, use interesting monsters, don't use cheesy NPC names, use good writing (both mechanically and stylisticly), and so on and so on. Yet we've certainly accepted proposals before that get some or most of these wrong. There's a certain amount of luck involved in getting an adventure proposal accepted.
Well the one query I do get considered has alot of that stuff missing. Lemme re-write it, pretty please *flutters eye*