This is something I stared in Facebook page and LPJ Design blog that I thought should be brought here: I am thinking about doing a Pathfinder project and paying out 4 cents a word for writers. That is A LOT more than I normally pay (Remember small PDF publisher here). Am I crazy to think like this? I am looking to hear from the Pathfinder and Paizo fans on this.
I guess the question this brings to mind is, why do you think the raise in pay is neccessitated? Are you wanting to attract more/ more well-known freelancers? Do you feel that PFRPG products can sell enough to allow you to pay, quote: 'A lot more than I usually pay.'?
If there is a solid legitimate reason for bumping the payscale, then by all means I'd approve. You get what you pay for, after all.
If you are taking a risk by increasing the payment without guarantee of making a high-enough profit margin, then you leave yourself open to a big loss. Something I'd hate to see. I know small houses like LPJ can't afford to many of those.
I guess this is one of those conundrums only the business owner can really answer. I don't know enough about your business model to be able to say whether this makes sense for you or not.
As a 3PP Freelancer, I certainly wouldn't mind that rate.
This is something I stared in Facebook page and LPJ Design blog that I thought should be brought here: I am thinking about doing a Pathfinder project and paying out 4 cents a word for writers. That is A LOT more than I normally pay (Remember small PDF publisher here). Am I crazy to think like this? I am looking to hear from the Pathfinder and Paizo fans on this.
As a fellow small-press publisher, I certainly understand the desire to pay writers more. If money were no object, we'd be paying all our contributors far more than we currently do.
Unfortunately, money is always an object. Obviously there are far more financial outlays to the business than just paying contributors - especially once you start talking print products. You have to spend money to make money, but you also can't afford to bleed yourself dry.
So ultimately, the question isn't whether you should or shouldn't increase the pay rate for your writers. No one in their right mind would say writers should be paid less for quality work. The question should really be, can your company afford to pay the writers more without sacrificing in other areas - artwork, editing, layout, etc? (I don't know how much of those things you do yourself, in-house, and how much you have done via work-for-hire.)
If you spend the bulk of a product's budget on the writing, and are then left without enough money to get art for the product, or hire a good editor, or do proper layout, did the product really benefit?
It's a delicate balancing act we all strive to maintain. If you've figured out a way to make it work, go for it, man.
Connie
4 Winds Fantasy Gaming
Well, obviously the writers would be happier to be paid more =) I've been looking to get into freelance writing for the hobby and I'd do 4 cents a word.
Just to let you know, the standard rate is 2 cents per word.
At the moment, I can only pay my freelance writers 2 cents per word, however, to make up for this low pay... I've started paying them as they deliver their work, and not just when the product is published or even months after.
I mean, this is how I pay my artists, so why not pay my writers this way?
It would be great to raise the pay to 4 cents per word, one day, not to attract better writers, but to show my appreciation for the ones I have!
- Axel | Headless Hydra Games
Well I will put it out there bluntly, LPJ Design pays 1 cent a word or you split a percentage of sales. Both of these are very profitable as a company but at the same time I release it does limit me with the writers that I can approach. The reason I think I get a lot of people who do like working for me is I offer a A LOT of freedom when it comes to the work itself and general I think people just LIKE working for me. I hire lots of first time writers, who after working for me start their own companies or become well known freelancers. LPJ Design is a great place to start in the RPG industry as a writer.
With this rate increase, I am looking to expand the amount of writers I use and start looking at those bigger names. It is a better long term strategy for LPJ Design.
Just a thought, Louie, but maybe increase to the standard rate first and seeing if that makes a difference, instead of doubling the going rate. That way, you won't crunch your own profit margin too badly, and most freelancers will take the standard rate.