How to Freelance for FanPro, The "subtlety" continues... |
How to Freelance for FanPro, The "subtlety" continues... |
Nov 16 2003, 05:44 PM
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#1
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Neophyte Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,458 Joined: 22-March 03 From: I am a figment of my own imagination. Member No.: 4,302 |
So, my question from the Industry Questions thread ( http://invision.dumpshock.com/index.php?showtopic=1843 ) was less an industry question, and more a question of what a guy might do to better his chances of a warm reception at FanPro. As suggested, I spun my line of inquiry into a new thread.
Now, I know that world altering events are a big unsolicited proposal nono, so my grand schemes and dreams are on the backburner :D . That established, I have a few questions, because my interest level is high. I've noticed that there seems to be a trend in 3rd Edition towards more themed sourcebooks, and less adventures. Is this a trend that is going to continue into the foreseeable future of Shadowrun? I ask this because I have a series of adventures in mind, the first of which could serve as a standalone, and I had in mind to draft up a proposal based on this first adventure. Secondly (this ties into the first), how safe would it be to propose the introduction of an unexplored city into the Shadowrun world? I am going to have to research more into it, but I see potential in a city that to my knowledge has no mention in any sourcebook, adventure, or novel. The adventure I had in mind was going to be centered in this location, so I thought it'd be best to get the word on introducing cities. Lastly, is there a better reception to proposals for parts of books, or books in their entirety? I can personally see it going either way, so I thought I'd ask. |
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Nov 16 2003, 07:11 PM
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#2
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,311 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Calgary, Alberta Member No.: 2,062 |
If you have found a city that has no mention in any of the books, congrats. |
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Nov 16 2003, 07:25 PM
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#3
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Manus Celer Dei Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 17,006 Joined: 30-December 02 From: Boston Member No.: 3,802 |
There are lots of them. For instance, Kishasa, Tripoli, Rabat, Douala, Dar es Salaam, Wellington, and Anadyr.
~J |
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Nov 16 2003, 08:17 PM
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#4
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 3,314 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Lisbon, Cidade do Pecado Member No.: 185 |
Since I'm a newb among the FanPro freelancers take my opinions for what they're worth.
There are several reasons behind FanPro's current approach to sourcebooks, the biggest being fan-demand and economics. For as long as there's been Shadowrun people have demanded more knowledge of the Sixth World. This is multi-pronged approach: location books and storybooks and sourcebooks that mingle the two. Though a lot of the original location books weren't the best of sellers, from what I've gathered this began to change in the latter days of FASA and through the current FanPro run. Most fans seem to have appreciated both the latest background books (YotC, Threats2, etc) and the locations books (SoNA, T:WL, etc) which means this is a trend to be followed. Furthermore these books help integrate and develop one of the reasons that SR has the fan following it does: the metaplot (or to be perfectly correct "metaplots"). The other important aspect is economics. Background sourcebooks sell far better than adventures. Adventures by their very nature sell less than sourcebooks, being aimed at one person in the average group rather than the group in general. This is pretty much standard in the industry and something that has become a major trend in recent years (look at the ratio at White Wolf or SJG), it is especially limiting for smaller publishers who can't afford to have a weaker selling title when it could be using that production slot for a title with a better sales potential. That being said adventures do serve a function in SR as they allow players to contribute in their own way to metaplot events and to get involved in stuff that affects the gameworld at large and FanPro will probably continue to do them at the current rate. Note FanPro has basically 3 formats for adventures: the big interlinked adventure campaign books (Harlequin, Brainscan, SotF); the three adventure packs (Wake of the Comet, Predator and Prey, First Run); the track adventure style campaigns (Mob War, Blood in the Boardroom).
A lot depends on the city but an adventure book is not the ideal place to introduce a city (namely because of wordcount limitations).
Generally speaking, especially if you're a newb, a section of a book is a better place to start submission-wise. An entire book is a huge responsability and one that only a few freelancers are allowed. You're better off first trying your teeth out on something that showcases your ability to write to spec and within wordcount, follow guidelines and shows you know SR, that you can integrate other people's input and be flexible regarding your own ideas, and finally shows off your writing skills. |
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Nov 16 2003, 10:21 PM
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#5
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,028 Joined: 9-November 02 From: The Republic of Vermont Member No.: 3,581 |
Didn't Tripoli get nuked? |
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Nov 16 2003, 10:42 PM
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#6
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Manus Celer Dei Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 17,006 Joined: 30-December 02 From: Boston Member No.: 3,802 |
Dunno about that, but yes, it gets mentioned. Scratch that and keep the rest.
~J |
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Nov 16 2003, 11:00 PM
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#7
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King of the Hobos Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 2,117 Joined: 26-February 02 Member No.: 127 |
I think that one of the books also mentions that the New Zealand capital got moved out of Wellington to another city. Can't remember which though. :)
Edit: Ah, it was Sprawl Survival Guide. Basically the country's name got changed to Aotearoa and the capital moved to Auckland. But hey, that still leaves you with Kishasa, Rabat, Douala, Dar es Salaam and Anadyr. ;) |
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Nov 17 2003, 02:08 AM
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#8
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,047 Joined: 12-November 03 From: Perilously close to the Sioux Nation. Member No.: 5,818 |
Now, how do I get onto doing part of a book?
Do I follow normal FanPro application procedures? 'cause it'd seem that you'd have no idea about what options you have. |
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Nov 17 2003, 02:22 AM
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#9
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Prime Runner Group: Retired Admins Posts: 3,929 Joined: 26-February 02 From: .ca Member No.: 51 |
Writing Submission Guidelines are on the FanPro site. The list of SR books that FanPro intends to publish over the next couple of years is pretty well known.
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Nov 17 2003, 10:25 AM
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#10
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 3,314 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Lisbon, Cidade do Pecado Member No.: 185 |
As Adam said, the FanPro writer guidelines apply to both full books and parts thereof. As to the upcoming sourcebooks to be released after Shadows of Europe and Mr. Johnson's Little Black Book, those announced at GenCon (and on the old boards, so do a Search if you want more info) were:
- Loose Alliances (aka. Sixthworld.org) - Shadows of Asia - Running Wild - SOTA 2064 - probably a low-level adventure set. Most of the above are self-explanatory and the contents should be pretty obvious. |
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Nov 17 2003, 01:59 PM
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#11
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Not Cameron Diaz Group: Retired Admins Posts: 472 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Newark, Delaware Member No.: 188 |
This is also the biggest reason why submitting adventures is suggested. 1. They have an established format; if you can't follow the format, it's generally likely you'd have a hard time with something that doesn't have (but will need) any sort of format. 2. That you can come up with a plausible adventure demonstrates your knowledge of the Shadowrun universe. 3. Adventures also average 18,000 words; if you can write that much, then you can write smaller pieces, particularly sections of books. 4. Adventures can also, quite frankly, be a pain in the ass. If you can make it through writing that, remembering to include possibilities and dice rolls for almost every possible contingency you can think of, then you can probably survive writing something with a bit less detail. :) 5. They're also a chance to see if you can take direction. While you're definitely given some latitude in how you'd like to see things go, if the line developer wants to see something different, you need to be able to deliver without kicking up a huge fuss. Certainly if you feel something would work better your way, you could enumerate your reasons why. At the end of the day, though, it's the line developer's call and giving him hassle about it will guarantee that your future with FanPro will be a short one. :) 6. Because adventures aren't expected to do too well, there's more room to try out unknowns and any possible problems that might crop up due to that (good proposal but crappy execution of the final product, grossly missed deadlines for whatever reason, a writing style that gives an editor fits, etc). |
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