So I've finally managed to pull two ideas together that I think might make for fun adventures to be published within the magazine. So, naturally, I re-read the submission guidelines again. And as I sit here, I find myself unsure just what a good query should look like.
I would absolutely love to see a good sample query - preferably one that is for an adventure that was recently published, but even a fake one would be helpful. Seeing the level of detail and the information included would be immensely helpful - at least to me.
If it can't be posted, I would be willing to swear a vow of eternal secrecy if one could be mailed to me. ;)
Thanks in advance!
I would also like to see an example of a query. Perhaps one of the authors who visit the boards and have gotten published can show us one of theirs?
I don't have any of my old proposals that were actually purchased (I've got plenty of ones that got a "Thanks, but no thanks!"), so here's a generic version of what I usually do ...
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Hello,
I would like to submit the following adventure propsal for publication consideration.
The adventure, called "Generic Adventure," is set in Greyhawk and is suitable for a 10th-level adventuring party.
I have previously written for Dungeon, including "Racing the Snake" (105), "The Buzz in the Bridge" (110) and "Throne of Iuz" (118).
"Generic Adventure" opens in the small town of Generica, a city located in the Keoland plains. The adventurers are presented with an opportunity to seek out ... blah ... blah ... etc. (Be sure to list specific monsters, character ideas and a fully fleshed out plot here. Stress what makes your idea unique!)
Selling points for this adventure include:
* This adventure is set in Greyhawk.
* Bards will be of particular use in this adventure because of their ability to counter sonic effects.
* Adventurers with Swim and Climb skills will be especially useful in the waterfall sequence.
* The waterfall fortress can be billed as a reusable location.
* Adventurers with a small-sized animal companion or familliars will get the spotlight when they can use their "friends" to retrieve the key that has been hidden in the plumbing pipe.
* Characters who know the Giant language can help their party avoid the confrontation with the Storm Giants.
"Generic Adventure" will require three maps and be about 10,000 words long.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Best,
Your Name
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I've also found that when I have a really cool NPC/enemy, it's best to type up his stats and send them as a separate attachment. That's what I did with Maliss of "Racing the Snake" and King Bog One-Eye of "Throne of Iuz." This is definitely not advised on a regular basis though! Make sure you've got someone really unique. (And I hardly consider Maliss unique, but when I submitted the proposal, D&D3E was two weeks old, so they hadn't seen many leveled villians at that point.)
As for listing published credits, if you don't have any Paizo or WotC work, don't hesitate to put any other work (RPG or not). It's important to show that you have some writing experience.
Good luck!
P.S. James, Jeremy & Erik: Don't forget who started this format! Keep an eye out for "da Original!" ;-)
Perhaps one of the authors who visit the boards and have gotten published can show us one of theirs?
That's what I was hoping for. :)
If the editors don't like that idea (for whatever reason), I'd love to see a "fake" query that gets the point across while not being a real adventure.
I must've started writing mine before Zherog started, but Zherog finished before I finished.
Yeah, I've noticed that your post order is determined by when you hit the "post reply" link, rather than when you hit the "submit post" button like most other forums.
Thanks for the generic format you use, John. It most definitely helps.
If anybody else is willing to share query formats, it'd be appreciated - especially if somebody was willing to share an actual query for an adventure that's appeared in Dungeon.
And here's another question for John and the others who have submitted successful queries. Did you submit your query as a Word document, or did you just type it right into the body of the e-mail? If you typed it right into the body of the e-mail, how did you handle the requirement that it must be double spaced?
Thanks!
Thank you for that example, John. It may seem generic to you, but it is really helpful for those of us that have never submitted a query before.
I put my query in the body of the e-mail, so it wasn't double spaced. Any attachments were formatted for double spaces.
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I never could figure out the best way to submit a disclosure form, so I printed one out, filled in the blanks, scanned it and attached it as a jpg. I'm not sure if that's the best way to do it or not.
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Ultimately I would prefer that the editors answer these questions, rather than you relying on my say. James? Erik? Jeremy?
I put my query in the body of the e-mail, so it wasn't double spaced. Any attachments were formatted for double spaces.
We would prefer the queries to be double spaced, but we're not Nazis (apologies to any Nazis that read this board). If your submission is readable, we will read it. You should remember, however, that your query is a sample of your writing, so if it is hard for us to understand, it is less likely to be accepted.
I never could figure out the best way to submit a disclosure form, so I printed one out, filled in the blanks, scanned it and attached it as a jpg. I'm not sure if that's the best way to do it or not.
That is the preferred method (although a .pdf also works).
Ultimately I would prefer that the editors answer these questions, rather than you relying on my say. James? Erik? Jeremy?
But you're doing such a good job! :)
John, great work on 'Throne of Iuz'. My only complaint was the adventure hooks. They were... weak. But other than that, I loved it.
That is the preferred method (although a .pdf also works).
This is the worst part about the current submission process. I mean, how many people actually have a damned scanner? It's ridiculous.
This is the worst part about the current submission process. I mean, how many people actually have a damned scanner? It's ridiculous.
I actually had to go out and buy a cheap(ish) scanner so I could send in my first (and so far only) query. Looking back, I really wish this thread had been around because I have had some great ideas for my adventure proposal that didn't make it in, and what WAS in there is nowhere near as organized or coherent as I would have liked. However, it has been a month and I haven't been rejected yet.
On that note, does anyone have a sample follow-up letter? I'm afraid of coming off as pushy or overbearing.
I will try to do better next time Mr. Walker, I promise!
Hunter
John, great work on 'Throne of Iuz'. My only complaint was the adventure hooks. They were... weak. But other than that, I loved it.
That is the preferred method (although a .pdf also works).This is the worst part about the current submission process. I mean, how many people actually have a damned scanner? It's ridiculous.
You local Kinko's/Print shop should have a scanner to use. In Indy, the computer costs about 40 cents a minute, and I can scan, save, and e-mail myself 5 disclosure agreements in about 4-5 minutes, with a net cost of about $2.
(The first time I did it, it was about $7 to scan 3 of them, since I didn't know what I was doing.)
Also, in my latest submissions/queries, I actually recreated their discolsure agreemnt in Word. All I have to do is type in the details in the cells, and copy it as the last page in the word document. My signature is pasted in as well, and I haven't heard back yet whether of not that will be a problem. So far, it seems to be okay.
I don't have a place for anyone to download it, but I can E-mail to anyone who's interested.
Also, in my latest submissions/queries, I actually recreated their discolsure agreemnt in Word. All I have to do is type in the details in the cells, and copy it as the last page in the word document. My signature is pasted in as well, and I haven't heard back yet whether of not that will be a problem. So far, it seems to be okay.
I do this with my stuff over on the Dragon side, and so far it hasn't seemed to be a problem there.
I don't have a place for anyone to download it, but I can E-mail to anyone who's interested.
Are you talking about the disclosure form specifically, or are you offering to send a full query as a sample?
That's just for the disclosure agreement right now.
The five-point-palm exploding heart technique that I use for submissions is difficult to teach, and reserved for my special cadre of trained Platypi warriors.
Seriosuly, I don't have a method that's any better than anyone else's. I just take Greg Vaugn's advice and try to tell the story as best I can in two pages. I don't know if it's more effective or not, but I feel satisfied that I've imparted what I wanted to when I send them out.
This is the worst part about the current submission process. I mean, how many people actually have a damned scanner? It's ridiculous.
How about using a digital camera? Print out the form, sign it, and take a picture of it. If you're careful about taking the picture from the proper angle, it should be nigh-indistinguishable from a scan.
How about using a digital camera? Print out the form, sign it, and take a picture of it. If you're careful about taking the picture from the proper angle, it should be nigh-indistinguishable from a scan.
You'd think so, but I've found it doesn't really work well. I tend to have my husband scan them and email them to me. At any rate, the disclosure form isn't what gives me trouble, so I'm happy to see some more ideas on how to present a query.
- Ashavan
Just to add to the discussion, in the guidelines it says, "Your 1 or 2 page double spaced proposal should include the following elements: a working title, an original and compelling plot, the major foes faced in the adventure, a summary of the rewards to be gained and the foes to be overcome, and an estimate of the completed adventure's length in words and # of maps." So, I make each of these a new paragraph. The foes and rewards are just a sentence or two and mostly just a list of the couple of magic items that could be found that are not in the bad guys' possession and the half-fiendish nymph 4th cleric/4th wizard and its abyssal rat swarm and all of the other grunts that populate the first half of the the caves or whatever. The 'working title' entry is a couple of sentences where I combine the length and map count with the title and sometimes a short sentence telling where the inspriation came from for the proposal. Then there's the 'Plot', this is where I do what the others have said...try to tell a good story. Sometimes though, it is difficult. In my head, I have to know all the relationships between all the NPCs (I'm weird that way)...but it looks like I am telling too much background that the PCs will never know. I've been busted for this more than anything in the feedback. Now, take all of this with a heaping helping of salt...I am pretty much in the same boat as all the rest of you. Oh yeah, I write it all out in Word and send it as an attachment too. I did the 'copy and paste' thing for the Release form too...so it doesn't have my official signature, but when you make the sale, the ed's send you an official contract in triplicate to sign. And don't make the same mistake I did, sign 2 of them and send 2 back to them, not just one...whoops! AND, just recently, on another thread, someone mentioned that they use the email itself to get a little more info to the ed's. So, since then, I have put my 'inspiration' sentence in the email body along with the greetings and salutations, and then used that little bit of extra space to tell a little more of the story.
I usually start with a short paragraph that is the same teaser that would appear in the actual adventure and the same one that Dungeon prints at the beginning of all of their modules. Just to set the mood for what is to follow in the next page or two. Otherwise, mine cover all of the elements described in the writers' guidelines.
The SDF was a problem for me for a while, too. If you have a copy of one of the later versions of Adobe Acrobat, the folks at Paizo will accept a digital signature on the SDF and then you can e-mail it as a PDF. You just have to register online with Adobe and follow the instructions in the actual software. It's pretty easy, though I don't know if this is a preferred method or the most hated one. They told me it was fine and have accepted all of the ones I've sent in that way so far.
Like previously mentioned, copy the SDF to a Word Doc and save it as a blank template. Each time you want to send one in, fill in the blanks, convert it to PDF and digitally sign, and you're set.
Like previously mentioned, copy the SDF to a Word Doc and save it as a blank template. Each time you want to send one in, fill in the blanks, convert it to PDF and digitally sign, and you're set.
Right, so all I need is $500 for Acrobat, or $10 and a trip to Kinkos... wow, how convenient.
I wonder if they'd accept PGP signatures?
For all of you who have taken the time to share some of your methods for querying Dungeon - thanks bunches! It's been really helpful for me, and I'm sure for others too.
Right, so all I need is $500 for Acrobat, or $10 and a trip to Kinkos... wow, how convenient.Like previously mentioned, copy the SDF to a Word Doc and save it as a blank template. Each time you want to send one in, fill in the blanks, convert it to PDF and digitally sign, and you're set.
As a former Kinko's Assistant Production Manager I can let you in on this. If you have access to a scanner you can scan your own signature, save it as a .jpg file and import it to your Word document. Once there resize it (click on it to select it, grab on to one of the corners while holding the shift key and then move the corner until its the right size. Holding the shift when you resize things manually prevents them from looking stretched or disproportioned.) Then place it under the text and move it into the right position. I keep a mostly blank disclosure form with a signature already electronically and then just type in the title, plot and date information.
No need for a .pdf on this one, even though I do like the software and it made my life a lot easier as a printer.
GGG
PS (Helpful Advice) Try to reframe from taking Publisher Files to your on demand printer. Publisher is meant to be a home printing design suite hence it takes most of its print, margin, font and layout info from the your computer and primary printer. Since almost no one in the professional printing world has your printer, with your font set and your printing defaults everything gets scrambled when it gets openned on a different computer causing headaches on both sides of the counter. So be kind, don't use Publisher if you can help it. If you can't help it realize you might be in for some labor fees and you might have to spend extra time proofing your creation before it goes to print.
PDF is the way to go.
If you have access to a scanner you can scan your own signature, save it as a .jpg file and import it to your Word document.
Do you have trouble with reading and comprehension?
If I had access to a freakin' scanner, I'd just scan the damn sheet with a signature. Sheesh.
If you have access to a scanner you can scan your own signature, save it as a .jpg file and import it to your Word document.Do you have trouble with reading and comprehension?
If I had access to a freakin' scanner, I'd just scan the damn sheet with a signature. Sheesh.
I don't think Triple-G was just talking to you alone.
However,
My E-mail address is weaslfish@yahoo.com. E-mail me today, and I'll send you a copy of a word document that will take you 3 minutes to fill out. After your proposal is written using Mr. Simcoe's generously posted format, the document I will send you becomes your last page.
You get to send the Discolsure Agreement, along with your E-mailed proposal, at no cost whatsoever. . . not even a stamp.
Be polite in your E-mail, and make sure to thank the editors for taking the time to consider your proposal.
- Chris
If you have access to a scanner you can scan your own signature, save it as a .jpg file and import it to your Word document.Do you have trouble with reading and comprehension?
If I had access to a freakin' scanner, I'd just scan the damn sheet with a signature. Sheesh.
Wow! Are you always like this when someone is offering you FREE advice/tips/help? Sheesh, is right.
BTW, a lot of people have access to Adobe through work, friends, and other resources. Apparently, you have none of these.
Wait. That came out sounding kind of rude... Excellent.
If you have access to a scanner you can scan your own signature, save it as a .jpg file and import it to your Word document.Do you have trouble with reading and comprehension?
If I had access to a freakin' scanner, I'd just scan the damn sheet with a signature. Sheesh.
What GGG has suggested for you - and you rudely tossed back in his face, I might add - was to offer you a way to go to Kinko's once and only pay a scanning fee once. Now that you've only paid that fee once and have a jpg of your signature, you can do all your work with the SDF right in MS Word, costing you nothing other than the couple bucks you paid the one time you had to scan your signature at Kinko's. You can either thank GGG for the suggestion that'll save you money in the long run, or you can be a jerk. That's your choice, I suppose.
I'm tired of people not even bothering to read what they're replying to on messageboards. It's like they just want to hear themselves talk, except it's text...
Oh yeah, I write it all out in Word and send it as an attachment too. I did the 'copy and paste' thing for the Release form too...so it doesn't have my official signature, but when you make the sale, the ed's send you an official contract in triplicate to sign.
Clear enough?
Delglath your last post was out of line and has been suppressed. Just because a poster did not answer the question the way you wanted, or posted an answer that was not useful to you, that is no excuse for being rude. Or trading insults.
Furthermore, I believe this tread has the potential to be highly useful to people who are genuinely interested in writing for the magazine, and I will not let it degenerate in to a flame war.
Several posters on this thread have given examples of possible ways to submit a signed standard disclosure form. If none of them work for you, you will simply have to mail it to us the old fashioned way. If that is too inconvenient for you, than I apologize, but the plethora of people who send us disclosure forms each month have managed to successfully overcome this inconvenience, so I am sure you will find a way.
So, Jeremy... I don't suppose you'd share a successful query with us, as an example, would ya? ;)
Clear enough?
Copy and paste the jpeg of your signature into the word document... right.
So in other words, you need a scanner. And if you had a scanner... why do you need the MS word document?
But, whatever. Obviously this is just going to go around in circles. At the end of the day, you need a scanner, or you send by snail mail.
Clear enough?Copy and paste the jpeg of your signature into the word document... right.
So in other words, you need a scanner. And if you had a scanner... why do you need the MS word document?
But, whatever. Obviously this is just going to go around in circles. At the end of the day, you need a scanner, or you send by snail mail.
The offer still stands. . . you can E-mail me for the sheet if you want to. It's no trouble for me to sent it. Trust me, you won't need a scanner.
I can say no more about the dark secrets of the Wereplatypi. . .
:)
Enjoy.
I did. . . and thanks for posting. It was a great adventure.
- Chris
Wow, Greg! That was an awesome read! I actually want to go buy a back issue now.
Thanks so much for sharing your format with us! I appreciate it, and I'm certain a bunch of other folks do, too.
If you have any sort of drawing program (even the most basic kind), you can sign your name by just switching into the "freeform" option (in Photoshop for example, it's the Pencil tool) and manipulating your mouse into a facisimile of your signature.
It takes a little practice
I used a "paste in" signature made like this several times until I switched to a new computer (paid for in part by my Dungeon work!).
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That is a nice query letter, Greg. You know a heck of a lot more about Greyhawk than I do!
I used a "paste in" signature made like this several times until I switched to a new computer (paid for in part by my Dungeon work!).
Now THAT is a BRILLIANT idea.
So good, in fact, that I'm surprised *I* didn't think of it :D
GGG,
I said I wasn't going to let this thread dissolve into a flame war. I already rebuked Delglath for what he posted earlier in the thread, and now I must suppress your post as well. Please lay off the personal attacks against other posters and let it go at that.
Wow! Are you always like this when someone is offering you FREE advice/tips/help? Sheesh, is right.
that's Del for you... ;)
that's Del for you... ;)
Wow! Are you always like this when someone is offering you FREE advice/tips/help? Sheesh, is right.
The original red-robed maniac...
WOW!
Stumbled upon this helpful thread by accident, but I'm very glad I did!
Thanks to John and Craig for the great samples!
Just note that my sample isn't exactly right according to the "Tips for Contributors" thread. They want the actual proposal attached as a separate document.
In my proposal, I'd just end my cover letter after my credits listing and put all the rest on my proposal.