Okay, so I have been a little quiet over the past couple of months. Why? Because I have proved once and for all why I am the world’s most ultimate blonde. I deleted my manuscript for the latest book I am writing. Yes. I wiped it. The whole thing. Gone. Lost. So I am left wondering…how the hell do I manage to get out of bed in the morning?

Thank god for friends though; my best friend, Gene, managed to successfully restore most of said manuscript, and although I am now over a month behind in work, I am catching up.

Still, it raises an interesting point…why write?

Some people take up careers for money. Some for fame. But a true writer doesn’t seem to become a writer, you just are. It’s hard to explain; yet it seems to be true. Most writers I have met are people who have a need to communicate something, or simply like to play with words. From an early age they have found the written word to be an almost therapeutic form of expression. A way to release your inner-soul without needing to primal scream all the time. (Although I have wanted to do more than a little primal screaming over the last month!)

So why am I writing for role-playing? And more importantly, how can you get into writing for role-playing?

The first thing I need to say is, if you want to write - you are a writer. It’s that simple. Much like the current theories of human development, writing is one part nature and one part skill. While there are those of us to which the written word is a toy to be played with, others must constantly wrestle for every word. (I, myself, have been experiencing this recently as the manuscript I am working on has been a WCW battle from the get go.) Yet like any skill, it improves with practice.

So, now that we’ve established that you are indeed a writer, why role-playing? Well for one thing, it is relatively easier to get a writing job with a role-playing company than getting your own work published. Most role-playing companies are supportive of new talent, often to the point of taking some very big risks. This is not a literary profession. (I need only point at Tunnels and Trolls as an example) Of course such games as the World of Darkness series, Tribe 8, Call of Cthulhu and such like are working to change this perception.

My personal reason for writing for a role-playing company lies in the fact that I am getting an opportunity to test my skills, and develop my own personal confidence. There is no greater feeling than to see a book published with your name, to see the words you wrote printed onto a page and know that there are people all over the world who are reading your work - maybe even getting a glimpse into your personal mindscape. (Having said that anyone who has read either “Salvation and Hope” or “Vimary Burns” may be seriously wondering about the state of my psyche. My only response is this - Pfffft)

Sure, you take some knocks; my last book was both revered and reviled in pretty equal portions. I initially felt I had to stand up for the decisions I had personally made in regards to plot over game material, but in the end I realised that I should be listening rather than defending. I read the book now and think “It’s a good story. It works. But I could have done more…” even though at the time I was already over quota with it. Yet I did not let it get me down. Never look at your work and say “this sucks.” Always wait until you write the final page of the manuscript. Then you will find it easy to go back and fix those parts that didn’t work without sacrificing the entire project, I have my editor Hilary Doda to thank for that lesson.

Which brings me to the “how” of writing. My recommendation is to write three one to two page samples, try to show the scope of your ability with these. When you submit to a company, make certain one of these pieces has a connection to the game setting you wish to write for. Some editors won’t accept these, but others will. The advantage is that you are showing them how well you can perceive the existing setting. Do not send in a new game setting or rules system unless they ask for it. Trust me, you will not make any friends that way.

Also include a letter giving a little information about yourself, this has the benefit of making the editor think of you as a person rather than another e-mail/piece of paper to read. You may not believe it, but they usually do read these. Most importantly, don’t give up. While writing to them every day will only piss them off, make certain to send in a submission at least once a month. The more an editor sees your name, the more likely they will start to consider your work. Just remember not to constantly harangue them, they have jobs that need to be done and simply don’t have time to be reading daily/weekly updates of how you really want to write for them.

Who will accept your work? Check out the websites. Most companies are regularly looking for freelancers. Sure, the pay stinks in comparison to that lawyer’s job, but there are benefits. The best being that you get to make a name for yourself. True, you wont become famous - I hardly would consider myself a celebrity - however other companies will start to take you seriously. You never know, you may end up writing the next D&D or Vampire: the Masquerade…

I would definitely suggest checking out the following companies…

Make certain to check all their criteria for sending submissions. It will make your life and their editors’ lives a lot easier.

1. Dream Pod 9: My home away from home. The team at DP9 are always willing to look at your proposals. The Writers Guidelines and details can be accessed from the frontpage of their site, just scroll down. Check: http://www.dp9.com
2. Deep 7: Sure, these guys are currently a small operation, but come on. “Santa’s Soldiers”? How can you lose? The best thing about Deep 7 is that they are very supportive of new talent. Even if they won’t commercially publish your work, they will often publish it for free on their website. This may sound a bit weak, but most gaming company editors check out other gaming sites, which means if you have a good product on Deep 7’s site there is a damn good chance that someone from the bigger companies will want to see what else you can do. Check out: http://www.deep7.com
3. White Wolf Publishers: Okay, these guys are tough to submit work to. They have so many people currently working for them that you basically need to be a stellar writer to get work published. Add to this the bane of hundreds of fanboys and girls sending their “Weresloth: the aching” supplements in on a daily basis it is easy to understand their reticence to accept new work. Also be prepared to do a lot of research. White Wolf products are very wordy, in-depth publications. My advice is that if you aren’t prepared to produce a quality manuscript that has been meticulously researched…go somewhere else. White Wolf had a real problem not long after the release of Vampire Revised where several poorly executed books were published. Things have changed now, especially with the new line developers who have recently shown a renewed commitment to the original vision of White Wolf - quality role-playing based on character and story more than mechanics. Check out: http://white-wolf.com

The most important thing to know is that you should never lose faith in your own ability as a writer. The simple fact that you have read this article shows that you have at least a passing interest in writing. If so, you are a writer. Now stop reading and start writing, hope to see you in print soon.