I got a rejection for my only submission. Now I've got to get my next submission ready. Prepare for the bombardment, Mr. Walker!
That's the spirit, John! Good luck to us all.
Ok, I have finally finished getting back to everyone from the last submissions meeting. Sadly, getting back to everyone was more important that commenting on every proposal, so my comments got sparser as the pile shrank (and time wore on).
I am going to try and get the staff together for the next submissions meeting sometime next week or the week after, but these meetings have a way of getting pushed back, so we shall see.
What was the cutoff date for this batch of submissions? I seriously doubt mine was in there (its been less than a month since my first submission) but it would give me an idea of where the pile curently stands. Be prepared to be deluged from me as well!
Hunter
My submission was originally dated Feb. 11, 2005.
And good luck to all the other submitters.
The last cutoff date was somewhere between 3/4 and 3/31 as my proposal from 3/4 got rejected and I recieved an email this week from Mr Sutter that my one from 3/31 was being considered. Is Medesha still on here? What happened to the one that you had that got picked up last round?
"Why bother? Mainly because I really liked the idea behind "L'Trel." The adventure was just too ambitious for a totally inexperienced writer to pull off. Secondly, I never quite got a full rejection. Barbara never sent me a letter saying, "I never want to see this again."Ah, L'trel. I've kicked off three campaigns with that adventure. It so rocks.
Let me see if I can add the footnotes from memory.
1. At first, we thought Ted was two people. Later, we learned he was three people.
2. Actually, that *was* a full rejection.
3. What could we do? By then, he was like family.Not that I remember that particular guest editorial or anything.
It certianly was a brilliant adventure. Burning down a major city in the campaign world is a good way to start a campaign with lots of adventuring opportunities.
The last cutoff date was somewhere between 3/4 and 3/31 as my proposal from 3/4 got rejected and I recieved an email this week from Mr Sutter that my one from 3/31 was being considered. Is Medesha still on here? What happened to the one that you had that got picked up last round?
I have been in Canada for the last 2 weeks, but I am still lurking around. :-) Last time I proposed four and one was tentatively greenlighted pending a talk with WotC. WotC approved and so I wrote the article and submitted it. No word on acceptance yet, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed. :-)
-Amber S.
What was the cutoff date for this batch of submissions? I seriously doubt mine was in there (its been less than a month since my first submission) but it would give me an idea of where the pile curently stands.
I am not 100% sure, but it was right around the 11 of March. The next meeting will cover all the proposals we received between then and now.
I am not 100% sure, but it was right around the 11 of March. The next meeting will cover all the proposals we received between then and now.
I'm guessing more like March 8th: I haven't had a rejection from my March 9th submission yet! :)
I sent in an adventure query a month ago, and followed up on it a few days ago but I haven't heard anything back from anyone. Could it have been missed? Or possible my emails bounced off to computer limbo (its been known to happen to me)? I have a couple more ready to go but I don't want to send anything if my emails aren't getting through for some reason. I dont want to sound like I'm nagging, but the suspense is tearing me up inside!
Hunter
I sent in an adventure query a month ago, and followed up on it a few days ago but I haven't heard anything back from anyone. Could it have been missed? Or possible my emails bounced off to computer limbo (its been known to happen to me)? I have a couple more ready to go but I don't want to send anything if my emails aren't getting through for some reason. I dont want to sound like I'm nagging, but the suspense is tearing me up inside!
Hunter
Hunter -
I got my rejection from November of last year earlier this month. I know the anxiety sucks - don't let it get to you. Along with that rejection came two from February. I cannot express how much those rejections suck, but I'm okay.
The advice from these boards is good. Note that it has been a month. Then set that note aside. Write another query, or Campaign Workbook, or Critical Threat. When you submit your new piece, also note that you haven't heard from your last submission and just want to make sure it was received. You probably won't receive an answer right away, but don't panic. Set that note aside also, and submit something else.
Keep submitting. When you get your rejection, it helps to know you have other pieces, both queries and CW submissions, still under consideration.
It may take a long time to get accepted. Gregg Vaughn posts often to these boards and noted he had been submitting for 15 years before getting accepted. Some are lucky and get accepted on the first submission. Most of us aren't at either of those extremes.
Eventually, we hope, they will see something we write that they like. All I can do is say this: the wait is worth it, but don't spend your time waiting, spend your time writing. It is really hard to keep writing when those rejections come, but if you've been writing you'll still have something on the table, something that might be a yes, or a greenlight to show them more. Eventually, with the many rejections will be a brief note, like an afterthought, that something was also accepted.
Live for that afterthought, and continue writing.
- Ashavan
Koldoon said:
Keep submitting. When you get your rejection, it helps to know you have other pieces, both queries and CW submissions, still under consideration.
Hey Ashavan,
I agree with your points, also I remember Greg saying he'd had Tammeraut's Fate rejected and had to resubmit, the same also went for the Devil Box. I recently submitted what I thought was a great idea which was rejected, when I re-read it it was easy to see why - the whole adventure was far too linear (despite the comedic value of displaced ropers stalking actors on board a boat on a stormy ocean). Trying to analyse your own work is tricky but vital, and keeping up with new ideas is a great way of developing your writing. I also think you're absolutely right about having stuff developing - it would be interesting to see how other writers handle this - I'm sure our esteemed friends messrs Greer and Vaughan amongst others will offer up some opinions as they stroll these haloed halls.
Rich
Okay, this is a weird request for the Paizo staff.
Regarding the next writer's meeting, I'm not itching for it to be tomorrow or anything, and I'm not prodding you for a date. Prefferably, I'd like you guys to take your time, relax after some tough deadlines, and return to regular sleep patterns and workloads before making those decisions. :)
What I WOULD like to know is the final cutoff date for submissions. I have some things that I've been holding off on submitting, because I DON'T want them to be included in your next meeting.
Thanks.
(Oh, by the way, Richard Pett. . . it never occured to me to submit or share anything with the wide world until my DM ran the Devil Box about six months ago - I had no idea submitting/writing would be so much fun. Thanks for a hilarious adventure. . . I'm glad you submitted it twice).
Creative Director
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What I WOULD like to know is the final cutoff date for submissions. I have some things that I've been holding off on submitting, because I DON'T want them to be included in your next meeting.
I'm not sure why you'd want to hold off submitting, but if one of us editors remembers we'll try to post here when the next one happens. They don't happen on any regular schedules. For the Dungeon side at least, they pretty much happen when Jeremy says "We need to do a submission meeting," and if that question happens to line up with extra time, I usually say, "How about this afternoon?" and then something comes up and we have the meeting 2-3 days later.
Koldoon said:
Keep submitting. When you get your rejection, it helps to know you have other pieces, both queries and CW submissions, still under consideration.
Hey Ashavan,
I agree with your points, also I remember Greg saying he'd had Tammeraut's Fate rejected and had to resubmit, the same also went for the Devil Box. I recently submitted what I thought was a great idea which was rejected, when I re-read it it was easy to see why - the whole adventure was far too linear (despite the comedic value of displaced ropers stalking actors on board a boat on a stormy ocean). Trying to analyse your own work is tricky but vital, and keeping up with new ideas is a great way of developing your writing. I also think you're absolutely right about having stuff developing - it would be interesting to see how other writers handle this - I'm sure our esteemed friends messrs Greer and Vaughan amongst others will offer up some opinions as they stroll these haloed halls.
Rich
I recall giving Ashavan similar advice months ago that she has now passed on to Hunter. So, apparently it worked for her as well as it works for me ;) BTW, don't you just love her name? So exotic sounding :)
What I WOULD like to know is the final cutoff date for submissions. I have some things that I've been holding off on submitting, because I DON'T want them to be included in your next meeting.I'm not sure why you'd want to hold off submitting. . .
I had a really good reason this morning, but now I can't remember what it was. :)
I DO have 6 of them in the hopper right now. . . maybe I was just optimistic that I'd get multiple greenlights, including the ones I'm about to send off soon. . .
I'll go ahead and send the new ones Monday then. Thanks!
I think my misfortune worked to my anxiety-lessening benefit. See, I went to the post office back in April, and told myself, "Why not? Send in your ideas. Rejection letters are good for the soul." I went to the fellow at the post office desk, and asked for two US stamps. He took my money once I dug my wallet out, and when I looked at the counter, I blinked in confusion.
"My letters?" I asked.
"Oh, I stamped them and passed them on. The carrier guy was just leaving," he said, all helpful-like.
Except, of course, I hadn't sealed them yet.
So, I e-mailed the Dungeon folk, and they were super-kind and e-mailed me to let me know they'd arrived.
Rejection I can wait for, but at least I know they made it to the right place.
The next one I sent was sealed. With tape. *grin*
I recall giving Ashavan similar advice months ago that she has now passed on to Hunter. So, apparently it worked for her as well as it works for me ;) BTW, don't you just love her name? So exotic sounding :)
Ashavan's a guy.
Ashavan's a guy.I recall giving Ashavan similar advice months ago that she has now passed on to Hunter. So, apparently it worked for her as well as it works for me ;) BTW, don't you just love her name? So exotic sounding :)
Hmmmm... Uh... I know that most of us use titles here that are tough to pin a gender to, but this is what gives me the assumption that we're talking about a female...
"Steve -
You're not alone. And yes, it's frustrating... to be honest my husband is half ready to strangle me for my daily angst attack over my submissions. On the other hand, waiting means they haven't yet said no. A number of the published writers on these boards have assured me that this is normal, and I'm going to take them at their word. Seeing your post makes me quite nervous though, since, unless I'm mistaken, you belong to that group (Fiend's Embrace, right?).
I recently received my first rejection (from Dragon), and it set me back. But I have some new ideas and as soon as I'm comfortable doing so I'm going to write them up and send them.
I have a hard time plugging away not having heard anything too, but at least they haven't said 'no' to everything. Three queries and 4 campaign workbook articles still to hear something on, here's to hoping at least one gets a 'yes' or 'we'd like to see more'
- Ashavan
PS - If you've figured out a way to deal with the anxiety, please pass it along, as my husband would be indebted to you."
Ashavan, if I've got your gender wrong please let me know. And my apoligies if so.
James Jacobs wrote:
For the Dungeon side at least, they pretty much happen when Jeremy says "We need to do a submission meeting," and if that question happens to line up with extra time, I usually say, "How about this afternoon?" and then something comes up and we have the meeting 2-3 days later.
I guess one point from this messageboard is just how much interest there is in getting stuff published, and that's an indicator of how much work the Dungeon staff have to do, on top of editing submissions and arranging advertisers and liasing with printers and designers and distribution etc etc. Dungeon is also pretty unique in that fans are actively invited to help fill the pages of a globally successful magazine, and that's a great position for us to be in - who knows where a successful publication will take you? As Ashavan said a little while ago just keep having stuff and learning from rejection by checking out what is getting published. As with all writing it's hard but well worth it, but the time spent whilst waiting for submissions to return will be well used that way. I have a few ideas mulling around at the moment and I can't wait to get them into a strong enough position to submit. I also know that Jeremy and James and Erik have three adventure ideas and any day I could get a response and be writing them - which is very exciting, but in the meantime I'm keeping busy on perking up those ideas that I'll send in soon and playtesting other ideas that I may use.
And Chris, thanks my friend - that's great. Devil Box was the second submission I made and I was pretty fed up when it was rejected (and it took a little while I remember, but I filled that time by working on, amongst other adventures, one called The Styes) but looking at it now it's easy to see why. If anyone wants a copy of the original submission - 'Bottled Emotions' (or 'how not to do it') let me know and I'll forward it to you so you can see the difference.
Rich
And keep writing, just bear in mind how much work goes on into making Dungeon so great - which is something I'm sure we all agree with.
Ashavan, if I've got your gender wrong please let me know. And my apoligies if so.
Steve -
I can see how that quote might seem misleading. I live in Massachusetts in a very open and welcoming environment, and so when I talk about my husband I forget sometimes that people who can't see me won't realize that I am also male.
Yeah, it's okay steve, but I'm a guy. Don't feel bad... the usual diminutive of my name, "Asha," is a very popular name for women in much of the world. I blame my parents for choosing a gender ambiguous name in the first place.
Don't get me wrong, I love my name, it is very exotic sounding, and it has actual meaning to it. But it gets me mistaken for a woman an awful lot. I refuse, however, to use the "partner" and "spouse" code words that would tend to immediately tag me as gay and generally not give the respect to my marriage that it deserves. Ron is my husband, and that's the word I use. I know, it confuses folks. Don't feel bad, you're in good company.
- Ashavan
Well, thanks for clearing that up, Ashavan. I guess I shouldn't make such quick assesments ;)
So, I recently had one of those obsessive bouts of inspiration for an adventure. You know the kind... It gets in your head and no matter what you do - work or free time - you just can't stop thinking about it.
Thing is... This sucker is terrifying in its subject matter. As I sat here at my computer the last few days working on it, it got creepier and creepier. Last night I rented some movies to give me some further inspiration. Man, I couldn't sleep last night, I was so freaked out.
But I wonder, is there a demand for truly terrifying adventures at Dungeon? The Cthulu stuff is creepy, for sure. And Ravenloft was a bit chilling, as well. But, am I wasting my time? I mean, are they interested in stuff that can freak players out enough to give them nightmares?
Well, I guess time will tell. I'll submit the idea in a few days.
Hey Ashavan,
sorry to seem as thick as a whale omlette here, but I seem to have missed a very important point - are you saying you've had something accepted?
Rich
I don't know about Dungeon, but I sure want to see what you've got, Steve!
-Amber S.
Hey Ashavan,
sorry to seem as thick as a whale omlette here, but I seem to have missed a very important point - are you saying you've had something accepted?
Rich
Rich -
Jeremy tells me they're going to use one of my campaign workbook submissions in an upcoming issue. I rather suspect I'm meant to be sworn to secrecy on which one.
On a positive note, that means I'll have an article in the magazine far sooner than if one of my adventure queries had been accepted. The negative - all of the adventure queries got shot down.
Live, learn, write even more things for them to shoot down until more stuff gets accepted. I think I'm going to shift things around for one of the adventure queries and pitch it to Phil at Ronin Arts as a small pdf supplement - otherwise I'll scrap it and save the map, which was really cool, to use with something else.
- Ashavan
Hey Ashavan,
sorry to seem as thick as a whale omlette here, but I seem to have missed a very important point - are you saying you've had something accepted?
Rich
Rich -
Jeremy tells me they're going to use one of my campaign workbook submissions in an upcoming issue. I rather suspect I'm meant to be sworn to secrecy on which one.
On a positive note, that means I'll have an article in the magazine far sooner than if one of my adventure queries had been accepted. The negative - all of the adventure queries got shot down.
Live, learn, write even more things for them to shoot down until more stuff gets accepted. I think I'm going to shift things around for one of the adventure queries and pitch it to Phil at Ronin Arts as a small pdf supplement - otherwise I'll scrap it and save the map, which was really cool, to use with something else.
- Ashavan
That's great news! - I'll keep an eye out for it. As to adventures, if Jeremy et all think you have something then it's worth persevering with.
Rich
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Creative Director
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Thing is... This sucker is terrifying in its subject matter. As I sat here at my computer the last few days working on it, it got creepier and creepier. Last night I rented some movies to give me some further inspiration. Man, I couldn't sleep last night, I was so freaked out.
But I wonder, is there a demand for truly terrifying adventures at Dungeon? The Cthulu stuff is creepy, for sure. And Ravenloft was a bit chilling, as well. But, am I wasting my time? I mean, are they interested in stuff that can freak players out enough to give them nightmares?
First of all... keep in mind that horror is a tough genre to do well, if only because what scares person A only makes person B laugh. Blair Witch Project is a perfect example; that movie scared the heck out of me (still does) but a lot of people whom I have similar movie tastes to find it boring and laughable.
As for if there's a place for horror in Dungeon... absolutely! My favorite authors (H. P. Lovecraft, Clive Barker, Tim Lebbon, Stephen King, Ramsey Campbell, Clark Ashton Smith, among others) are all deep into the horror scene. Most of my favorite movies are horror movies. So it follows that I'll be into horror adventrues for Dungeon as well.
Now... that said... we won't be publishing much of anything in the magazine that'd get a hard R-rating or NC-17 rating if it were a movie. What that constitutes can get hazy in certain areas. My advice? Submit the idea just like you would normally, and see where it goes.
Now... that said... we won't be publishing much of anything in the magazine that'd get a hard R-rating or NC-17 rating if it were a movie. What that constitutes can get hazy in certain areas. My advice? Submit the idea just like you would normally, and see where it goes.
Sent it earlier today... Don't worry, I keep the R and NC-17 stuff for my home campaign ;) But I think this is just the type of adventure than will strike a nervous chord with the majority of readers. And you're right, it is hard to write a good horror adventure. We'll see what you guys think...
Per a post yesterday in another thread, the submissions meeting has happened. I just want to say good luck to all my colleagues who submitted!
- Ashavan
Per a post yesterday in another thread, the submissions meeting has happened. I just want to say good luck to all my colleagues who submitted!
- Ashavan
What he said! I've got like 8 that I'm afraid are going to all be shot down. Hopefully, "Faerie Tale" makes it through. If not, I'm probably going to offer a copy of the manuscript to any private party that is interested (especially a few of you like Ashavan and Richard Pett, that expressed an interest in it when I first mentioned it). It's just too good to keep to myself.
What he said! I've got like 8 that I'm afraid are going to all be shot down. Hopefully, "Faerie Tale" makes it through. If not, I'm probably going to offer a copy of the manuscript to any private party that is interested (especially a few of you like Ashavan and Richard Pett, that expressed an interest in it when I first mentioned it). It's just too good to keep to myself.
I'll hold you to that Steve.
I get a sigh of relief here, as the cut off date, combined with my workload and vacation, have resulted in me having no submissions in the adventure query pile they reviewed. I suppose I should go polish up the four on my desk for next time.
It's the Critical Threats and Campaign Workbooks that keep me in anticipation, as the review of those seems to be endlessly ongoing. But since it's ongoing, I think I'll take the evil villian from one of my recent adventures that was shot down and write her up as a Critical Threat.... The practice with the new stat block will be worth it even if it's not accepted.
- Ashavan
Here's hoping you get to share it with everyone steve mate!
Rich
I agree with Richard - I hope you get to share it with everyone! If the editors make a mistake, though, and reject you I'd love to see it. :)
Well, I'm happy a few of you are interested in it. Alas, "Faerie Tale" has been shot down by the folks at Paizo. I suppose I can now pitch it to a couple other publishers, but it still makes me very sad :(. Perhaps my proposal didn't capture what was in my manuscript. I'll share my proposal letter with you all, if anyone is interested in a copy of the manuscript, e-mail me at steve_greer@lvcoxmail.com. It was a labor of love that I hate to see gather dust on my desk, so if you want it, you've got it.
“Faerie Tale” is a planar adventure for four 8th-level characters. It shamelessly draws upon numerous easily recognizable children’s tales and plot devices, twisting them into something charming, humorous, and savage all at once.
Once upon a time… Err, I mean… Many years ago a wizard named Doleful compiled a collection of fairy tales called ‘Tome of Tales.’ He fanatically worshipped Ralishaz, god of chance, ill luck, misfortune, and insanity. And was, himself, quite eccentric. Inspired by Ralishaz, he infused the book with sentience and acted as a conduit by which the mad god created numerous small demiplanes budding from a single nexus: the Tome of Tales. Each demiplane rapidly matured into horrible, twisted progenies of the collective imagination of Ralishaz and his wizard disciple. Doleful was the first to fall victim to the caprice and power of his creation, meeting an untimely end in one of its demiplanes.
As it was wont to do over the years, the Tome of Tales appeared here and there throughout the known worlds leaving freak accidents, twists of fate, and other weird, unexplainable and mostly unfortunate events in its wake.
As the PCs are finishing their latest adventure, they find the Tome of Tales, which has nestled itself in with the rest of the treasure they’ve acquired. As they journey home with their newfound wealth, the Tome begins speaking to them. The dweomer of its magic is overwhelming! However, studying the book reveals that it is simply a collection of children’s stories and fairy tales as attested by the book itself.
During their trip, the tome reads one of its stories to the adventurers; one called ‘The Warty Witch and the Forest of Lanterns.’ Little do the PCs know that their interest in the story (or lack of) prompts the Tome of Tales to open a wispy portal to a demiplane called The Forest of Lanterns where the events of this tale spring to life, twisted and perverted though they may be.
Awakened in the night by strange sounds and a world-tilting lurch, the PCs suddenly find themselves in this small demiplane. As if this surprise wasn’t enough, the biggest one of all is discovering that they each have been reduced to 6-year-old children!
Their exploration of the Forest of Lanterns embroils them in a twisted version of a fairy tale gone horribly wrong. The forest itself is dense and primordial. Strange spheres holding fireflies dangle from the mammoth trees, which serve to light the woods in flickering, gloomy illumination. Among the numerous things lurking in the woods is a crazed gnome that thinks he’s a leprechaun. His only weapon is a rod of wonder he activates with great frequency. A cunning julajimus wanders the forest in the guise of a cute little kitten named Cuddly–Wuddly. And at the heart of the forest lives the Warty Witch in her Candy Cottage. Her passion is the culinary arts. Her favorite ingredients? Children, of course.
Exploring this fantastical place, the PCs must find a way to regain their adulthood and escape this demiplane. This leads them to the Candy Cottage where they must confront the Warty Witch and her munchkin troll minions. Contrary to her name, the witch is quite toothsome, though her appetites and practices are morally repugnant. She is the key for the PCs to gain their adulthood back and return to their home plane.
The adventure is approximately 10,000 words and includes an overland map of The Forest of Lanterns and detailed maps of the 6 levels of the Candy Cottage. The rewards are commensurate, bordering on generous for this level of play.
Hola all, my list of disappointment grew by six today with the rejection of “The Mark of Madness”, "Escape from Iron Storm", "The Game", "Mechanus Unwound", "Nest of the Black Bug" and my sublime borg story "Perfection". That still leaves a few I have yet to hear back about including one that seemingly was lost in the "black hole" and I resubmitted on June first. On the plus side, I see print for the first time in the magazine in issue #126.
Hope you like it.
GGG
Hola all, my list of disappointment grew by six today with the rejection of “The Mark of Madness”, "Escape from Iron Storm", "The Game", "Mechanus Unwound", "Nest of the Black Bug" and my sublime borg story "Perfection". That still leaves a few I have yet to hear back about including one that seemingly was lost in the "black hole" and I resubmitted on June first. On the plus side, I see print for the first time in the magazine in issue #126.
Hunter = 0 for 1. I guess Paizo has reached its cosmic horror quota for the time being. Got the Standard Rejection Letter, though James the Intern was kind enough to offer some words of encouragement. I'm still waiting on another, but in another thread someone mentioned the next submissions meeting probably won't happen until after Gen Con (Indy, I hope).
Congrats on getting published! Adventure or article? Or are you sworn to secrecy?
Hunter
Rejection for me also. Alas the woe. Oh well, any idea when the next batch is going to be looked at so I can get more stuff written up and sent to confound and amaze you editorial types?
Congrats, G-Cubed! YAY!
I just recieved a rejection today for a proposal sent in 6/12, the last of four sent in during this round...give or take. So, there is still hope for the other 3, as well as 1 sent in on the 30th. Anyone else get any bites? Medesha?
It looks like it is a meeting every three months. So, don't wait until the last minute.
And Steve Greer, that Faerie Tale script sounds waaaaay too big for the mag (unless they did a 'Maure Castle' treatment). Sounds like a whole full-length module in the same spirit as 'Beyond the Magic Mirror' or 'Adventureland'...but creepier! munchkin trolls, hmf. maybe you need some mag-min/max too.
I got a short description of GGG's adventure and it sounds very fun. Can't wait to see it in print.
Hunter = 0 for 1. I guess Paizo has reached its cosmic horror quota for the time being. Got the Standard Rejection Letter, though James the Intern was kind enough to offer some words of encouragement. I'm still waiting on another, but in another thread someone mentioned the next submissions meeting probably won't happen until after Gen Con (Indy, I hope).
Congrats on getting published! Adventure or article? Or are you sworn to secrecy?
Hunter
G cubed won the Dungeon/Origins side-trek contest, I believe, so that would be adventure. I'm excited to see it too, the brief description I heard of it sounded interesting.
Hunter - keep writing... try never to only have one adventure in front of the editors, and try to make them all good proposals. I try to submit a mix of adventures and campaign workbooks... I figure that the adventure queries only tell them so much, if I get campaign workbooks accepted, then they will know that I have a grasp of the game mechanics as well. The Campaign Workbook articles also help show, I hope, that I can produce consistant quality with a minimum of editor spent time reviewing my work.
- Ashavan
Rejection for me also. Alas the woe. Oh well, any idea when the next batch is going to be looked at so I can get more stuff written up and sent to confound and amaze you editorial types?
The good editors at paizo try for every 2-3 months, and usually achieve every 3-4 months. The gist - You've got three months... make some good proposals.
I find it helps to be pitching various articles to both magazines, and of different types -- that way the rejections come piecemeal and I always have SOMETHING in front of at least one of the editors that is still under consideration.
- Ashavan
And Steve Greer, that Faerie Tale script sounds waaaaay too big for the mag (unless they did a 'Maure Castle' treatment). Sounds like a whole full-length module in the same spirit as 'Beyond the Magic Mirror' or 'Adventureland'...but creepier! munchkin trolls, hmf. maybe you need some mag-min/max too.
Drunken_Nomad -
Our Steve here is a little crazy... he knows it's not too long because he's written it... he writes almost all of his queries up with full manuscripts, whether they get accepted or not.
He also draws just beautiful maps, that I must confess I envy. I have good map ideas, but my execution is not quite so beautiful - to make it worse, both my parents are cartographers, so I have no excuse!
- Ashavan
Hola all, my list of disappointment grew by six today with the rejection of “The Mark of Madness”, "Escape from Iron Storm", "The Game", "Mechanus Unwound", "Nest of the Black Bug" and my sublime borg story "Perfection".
GGG
Congrats on the publication, Matt. I'll look forward to seeing it.
I also noticed that you shared alot of your rejected titles. Many of these sounds intresting, and those couple of words alone have "fired up" my imagination.
It could be an interesting experiement for us to post our titles, and then try to come up with new submissions, with the title serving as the seed. For instance, "Escape from Iron Storm" will most likely spark an idea for a submission from me. . . maybe it's about an Iron Clad war galley listing in the ocean, or maybe an unnatural raining of creatures from Mechanus, or perhaps a impenetrable iron fortress perched on a mountain top, known for it's brutal storms. . .
I really like the title, and immediately invokes strong images, kind of like "Strike on the Rabid Dawn," or "Cry Wolf."
Anyway, I have not heard back on everything yet, but my rejected submission titles so far are. . . "Face the Music," "The Benefactor," "Mind of the Mushroom," "The Clutch," and "The Price of Honor."
He also draws just beautiful maps, that I must confess I envy.
- Ashavan
Steve Greer's published adventure in Dungeon #121, "Fiend's Embrace," has a great dungeon map in it.
It could be an interesting experiement for us to post our titles, and then try to come up with new submissions, with the title serving as the seed. For instance, "Escape from Iron Storm" will most likely spark an idea for a submission from me. . . maybe it's about an Iron Clad war galley listing in the ocean, or maybe an unnatural raining of creatures from Mechanus, or perhaps a impenetrable iron fortress perched on a mountain top, known for it's brutal storms. . .I really like the title, and immediately invokes strong images, kind of like "Strike on the Rabid Dawn," or "Cry Wolf."
Anyway, I have not heard back on everything yet, but my rejected submission titles so far are. . . "Face the Music," "The Benefactor," "Mind of the Mushroom," "The Clutch," and "The Price of Honor."
I found out last night that my very first submission, "...A Woman Scorned" was rejected - I now feel part of the collective pain of all the full-time authors who submit to Dungeon. But, at a relatively short four month wait, I have little to cry about.
It's back to the drawing board for me...
Maybe we can start a new thread to list rejected submission titles and the reactions...
M
And Steve Greer, that Faerie Tale script sounds waaaaay too big for the mag (unless they did a 'Maure Castle' treatment). Sounds like a whole full-length module in the same spirit as 'Beyond the Magic Mirror' or 'Adventureland'...but creepier! munchkin trolls, hmf. maybe you need some mag-min/max too.
It actually came to about 11,700 words when I finished it. And you caught the spirit I tried to capture perfectly. The way it is written leaves a good deal of room for DMs to expand upon it if they wish or run as written if not. So the sprawling nature of it that you got from the proposal is kind of there/not there. How's that for a magic trick?
It looks like I missed the cut off by 4 days; I submitted my two adventure proposals on the 16th of June. I guess I'm waiting to after GenCon for my rejections, though I will likely have a third or fourth query in by then (like Mr. Greer, I also write out manuscripts beforehand and am currently in the middle of writing one).
The good editors at paizo try for every 2-3 months, and usually achieve every 3-4 months. The gist - You've got three months... make some good proposals.
I find it helps to be pitching various articles to both magazines, and of different types -- that way the rejections come piecemeal and I always have SOMETHING in front of at least one of the editors that is still under consideration.
- Ashavan
Already getting to work on this. I've learned that doing this for financial gains is very unwise, so I'm just gonna do this for the fun of it. I'm gonna get some Workshop's written up then get to work on a few actual adventure proposals. I figure I can do three or four before the deadline.
Already getting to work on this. I've learned that doing this for financial gains is very unwise, so I'm just gonna do this for the fun of it.
I agree, every established author says: "don't quit your dayjob" and it took some of them years to get published. I am actually starting to enjoy the entire writing process and even though it is very likely that my creations will never be printed ... at least my players will enjoy them. (they better...LOL)
On another note: I get the distinct impression that adventure queries are evaluated more often (every 3-4 months) than the campaign workbook articles, is this true?