By GM Kimber
Greetings! Welcome to a five-part blog entry on the 4-Ps. This originally started as the answer to an interview question during Episode 2 of the Forge: A Genesys Podcast. This is advice and lessons learned during Studio 404’s first six months of business when we developed the Starcana campaign setting.
Before we dive too deeply into this, let me tell you why you should take my advice. I am a writer. I spend 90% of my day writing. I make my living by writing documentation and software manuals that no one wants to read, but they must read them in order to properly understand how to use the software. In my experience, creative writing is a different muscle to flex, but many of the steps of publishing a manuscript remain the same. This entry goes into the steps of creating a RPG book for amateur publication. If you want more details on who I am, check out my profile. I am GM Kimber.
Art by Brian Miller http://www.polycreator.com
This first entry simply introduces the four steps. Each subsequent entry delves into a single step, citing specific examples, and providing links for further research.
Practice: Writing is an art and a skill. The more you write, the more you improve. Write even if you never let anyone read it. Educate yourself. Go out to the web and take some courses on writing. Check out the Adventure Writing Academy. Read articles or books on writing. Read other RPG books. Talk to editors in the field. Learn and practice all you can about the skills.
Playtest: Test things out. Make sure they work. Make sure you aren’t overbalancing one way or another. This is also a good way to make sure your setting, adventure, or expanded mechanics are interesting enough to sell. Get meaningful feedback from your playtesters by asking pointed and specific questions about your product.
Proofread: One big thing I learned in the industry: it is very difficult to proofread your own work. I know that I can’t. I recommend finding someone to read your work who can provide honest and constructive feedback. When you do this, be sure to check your ego at the door. It can be a very humbling experience. Remember every time someone makes a statement about your work to stop, and really consider what they are saying. This can be especially difficult because these are passion projects.
Prettify: Include art in your work. Make sure you credit that art appropriately and follow all the proper copyright laws around it. But include it. Hire an artist, go to fiverr, pixabay, drivethru, or other stock image sites. Learn Adobe InDesign or some other layout tool, or make friends with someone who knows it. These books are not just pretty words. These books are just as visual as they are the written word. Consider accessibility while you develop your work. Your audience includes people from all walks of life from geniuses who graduated from MIT in three years to people who struggle with reading on a daily basis.
Watch this blog for future entries where we dive more deeply into each of these concepts.