In the latest issue's Class Acts, I must say I liked the article based on Rogers' Rangers quite a bit. It's a great idea for a Class Acts piece.
Why do I think it's such a great idea? It's the *exact* same article idea I submitted about ten months ago.
Now I know this is bound to happen from time to time. But it's such an exact copy of the idea I submitted, I can't help but be bothered by it. I'm not even saying someone stole the idea - it could be coincidence after all, or perhaps someone saw my submission, forgot about it, then months later the idea bubbled up through their subconscious. "Wilderness combat and survival tips, based on Rogers' Rules of Ranging, creating an NPC ranger to take the place of Rogers himself for added flavor." It does sound kind of familiar, yes?
I apologize if this seems snarky or petty, but I just had to vent about this. It's really a pretty crummy feeling, coincidence or not.
Otherwise, I think the magazine is amazing lately. Lords of Dust was incredible - I think I might incorporate the rajahs into my non-Eberron campaign.
Creative Director
|
While I can't comment on the details surrounding this Class Act, I can say that the phenomonon of parallel design is no stranger to the magazines, or to the RPG industry, in fact.
For something like Class Acts, the problem's even worse. For the ranger alone, you have 12 articles a year that have to share several things in common: it must be a certain number of words long, it must be something modular, it must be something that expands on the class, and it must be useful to players. With such a narrow scope, it's only natural that multiple submissions for similar or even identical articles get submitted. In these cases, the editor's job is to figure out which one to print (if he likes the idea), at which point other factors come into play (who sent the proposal in first? who's the better writer? who knows the rules better?).
It sucks to be the person whose version of an article got rejected, but that's a part of what it is to be a writer. My best advice is to write up some more submissions for Class Acts (or for other articles) and send them in as well.
In the latest issue's Class Acts, I must say I liked the article based on Rogers' Rangers quite a bit. It's a great idea for a Class Acts piece.Why do I think it's such a great idea? It's the *exact* same article idea I submitted about ten months ago.
Now I know this is bound to happen from time to time. But it's such an exact copy of the idea I submitted, I can't help but be bothered by it. I'm not even saying someone stole the idea - it could be coincidence after all, or perhaps someone saw my submission, forgot about it, then months later the idea bubbled up through their subconscious. "Wilderness combat and survival tips, based on Rogers' Rules of Ranging, creating an NPC ranger to take the place of Rogers himself for added flavor." It does sound kind of familiar, yes?
I apologize if this seems snarky or petty, but I just had to vent about this. It's really a pretty crummy feeling, coincidence or not.
Otherwise, I think the magazine is amazing lately. Lords of Dust was incredible - I think I might incorporate the rajahs into my non-Eberron campaign.
Zeppelined-
I know the feeling... sometimes an idea seems so close to the one you proposed that it just HAS to be stolen....
Except that it's not.
As countless inventors, songwriters, and authors have discovered, the problem with great ideas is that if they're good enough, sooner or later somebody else is going to have them as well... and usually sooner rather than later. I can assure you, however, that our magazines don't steal ideas from the submissions pile because:
a) What's the point? We're always looking for new/more writers, and a good idea from someone outside the usual suspects makes us dance with joy.
b) Stealing an idea and writing it ourselves (or reassinging it) would take more work.
I hope that helps to put your mind at ease, and even if it doesn't, remember: if you proposed an article almost exactly like one that got accepted, it means that you're on the right track. Keep the proposals coming!
-James
This is just something that is bound to happen with the amount of submissions they receive. I've been down that road before. 98% of the time its just a coincidence.
Blast! Other James beat me to the punch by ONE MINUTE, rendering my entire post moot! Grr.....
Why do I think it's such a great idea? It's the *exact* same article idea I submitted about ten months ago.
When you submitted the idea, did it get rejected? If so, it's possible it was rejected because Mike already had this article lying around waiting for a slot in which he could publish it. Just speculating...
edit: Forgot to add this part.
If Mike accepted your query, it's possible he *still* had the article from somebody else. I've been there personally - I queried Mike with an idea, I wrote the article, and a few months later a real similar article written by Mike Mearls appeared. Unlike your case, our articles tackled the same idea in a completely different way (and I think my way was better ;) ). But because they were so different, I didn't feel quite the same sting you are. I just shrugged and took at as an excercise in writing. Even though the article will never get printed, it still gave me useful practice at writing an article within the boundaries of class acts.
When you submitted the idea, did it get rejected? If so, it's possible it was rejected because Mike already had this article lying around waiting for a slot in which he could publish it. Just speculating...
Why do I think it's such a great idea? It's the *exact* same article idea I submitted about ten months ago.
Actually, I never received any kind of reply, nor did I get a response to the other query I sent a few months later. Which I also know is to be expected, no big deal there.
Well, like I said, intellectually I know it's just coincidence or an accident, but it's still a bit of a kick in the shins, you know? :-) I do feel better for venting though, and thanks for the responses everyone.
Contributor
|
Actually, I never received any kind of reply, nor did I get a response to the other query I sent a few months later. Which I also know is to be expected, no big deal there.
If you never received any kind of reply at all, from me, ever, it's because I never received it. Ten months ago would have put it at around January, when I was absolutely desperate for Class Acts articles (especially for rangers). Had I seen it, I would have undoubtedly accepted it (obviously).
Well, like I said, intellectually I know it's just coincidence or an accident, but it's still a bit of a kick in the shins, you know? :-) I do feel better for venting though, and thanks for the responses everyone.
Vent away. :) For future reference, if you send a Class Acts or Bazaar of the Bizarre article to me and you don't hear from me within a few days ping me again. Aside from the past month I always let people know I receive their emails (queries or submissions) within a few days.
We just won't talk about the past month. ;D
In the latest issue's Class Acts, I must say I liked the article based on Rogers' Rangers quite a bit. It's a great idea for a Class Acts piece.Why do I think it's such a great idea? It's the *exact* same article idea I submitted about ten months ago.
Now I know this is bound to happen from time to time. But it's such an exact copy of the idea I submitted, I can't help but be bothered by it. I'm not even saying someone stole the idea - it could be coincidence after all, or perhaps someone saw my submission, forgot about it, then months later the idea bubbled up through their subconscious. "Wilderness combat and survival tips, based on Rogers' Rules of Ranging, creating an NPC ranger to take the place of Rogers himself for added flavor." It does sound kind of familiar, yes?
I apologize if this seems snarky or petty, but I just had to vent about this. It's really a pretty crummy feeling, coincidence or not.
Otherwise, I think the magazine is amazing lately. Lords of Dust was incredible - I think I might incorporate the rajahs into my non-Eberron campaign.
Zeppelined -
Submit often enough, and you are bound to have this happen. I know it sucks, take that energy and submit three more ideas to Mike, right now. Trust me, you'll feel better, and you'll have a better chance at getting into the magazine than by just being frustrated.
I also submit ecology queries to Wes - there are only so many creatures, I have to wonder how he decides whose rendition of a particular creature will see print - and of course which creatures he will feature. Someone else is bound to have an idea for an ecology of the thorn, and maybe they'll write it better than me - but the query is likely to be somewhat similar.
Again, take that energy and write more queries.
On that note, has anyone else been waiting a long time to hear on ecology queries? I'm still waiting to hear on my last set of queries...
- Ashavan
Ten months ago would have put it at around January, when I was absolutely desperate for Class Acts articles (especially for rangers). Had I seen it, I would have undoubtedly accepted it (obviously).
Oh, like *that* makes me feel any better. :-) Actually, I think I submitted in late November of last year (I think my month counting is a little off), and I chalked up the lack of response to staff changeover.
Ok, I am going to end my little rant here on a positive note, and speak of this no more:
I can't wait to get Dragon in the mail each month. I have been reading for over ten years now, and I honestly think this is the best the magazine has ever been. To the writers, editors, and artistic folks - awesome job! Did I mention how much I liked Lords of Dust?
That's happened to me once or twice (or thrice...). You think it's bad for CAs? Try opening an issue and seeing a feature that's really similar to something you've been working on, or worse, just sent in. If tossing a 700 word article out the window sucks imagine waving goodbye to a 4000 worder that ate up all your free time for a week or two :)
Much wailing and gnashing of teeth...
ye verily and lamantations too :)
Aside from the past month I always let people know I receive their emails (queries or submissions) within a few days.
We just won't talk about the past month. ;D
Personally, I thought those "Dear contributor, due to pressing workload and the volume of corresponence..." auto replies you were sending out were a cyber cry for help. :)
Not sure if it required an intervention leading to some sort of twelve step program or perhaps a commando style rescue from whatever dark force had seized control of your computer...
(remember Lisa Simpson's pen pal... :))