| Rebuttal from a PDF publisher |
Author: The Le Games (---.83.183)
Date: 07-07-2005 08:36
Sorry, but that is total crap.
In the PDF industry, I would go broke if I paid .05 per word. It is simply not financially feasable.
If you think I am wrong, then try to start up a pdf business yourself, and give me your numbers to prove me wrong.
Let's throw out some numbers to prove my point.
My upcoming book, 17 Magic Gloves clocks in at 4,263 words. At even $.02 per word we are looking at $85.00 in writer costs alone.
Assume art clocks in at a cheap $50.00. We are therefore looking at $135.00 to produce a 15-page book, which will sell as a PDF on rpgnow for $2.00
I will probably sell 50-100 copies of this book. For the sake of arguement, assume I sell 100 (whihc will take about ayear).
100 x $2.00 = $200.00 in gross sales.
Sounds good, right?
Wrong. If you're selling on Rpgnow.com, which you NEED to since they are the biggest d20 pdf retailer, you are looking at a 30% royalty off the top, which covers their bandwidth, transaction, and all that (which is well worth it).
$60.00 royalty to Rpgnow.com
$85.00 writers fee
$50.00 art + misc
----------
195.00 total
Leaving me with a nice $5.00 profit.
Want to prove me wrong? Start selling a pdf. I will even refer you to one of my freelance writers to make you a 15-page / $2.00 pdf book for you, charging you the rock bottom rate of .02 per word. In 6 months you can tell he how much profit you have made.
I am not talking about the print industry here, where you sell 100 books at $20.00 a pop. I am talking about the PDF industry, where you can charge about $2.00 for a 15 page book. And don't forget the price of artists, which are far far higher than what I just quoted. And don't forget the costs for a layout designer and editor. Oops, and the cost of the software if plan on doing any of this yourself.
I do believe that writers should be paid, but don't be so ignorant to think that small PDF publishers can afford to pay you $.05 per word, because they can't. Sure, there are Green Ronin's and EN Publishing's out there, but I said *small* PDF publishers. You can get $.02-$.05 per word at the big boys, but last time I checked there weren't a whole hell of alot of freelance openings there.
Take what you can get. Keep your integrity. If the price is too low, then don't take the job. Write because you enjoy it. And don't write for free.
But don't be so ignorant to think that you are the next Monty Cook and should be paid $.05 per word, especially not in the PDF industry.
Some jackass once said to me, "If you can't afford to pay writers at least $.02 per word and artists $20.00 per 1/4 page art, then you should not be in this business." I called him a beef witted apple jon and told him to bite me.
My products get good reviews, and I try to treat my aritists and writers with respect. I am upfront about my pay rates, and try to give my freelancers as much exposure as possible. I am making a tidy profit, but nothing to write home about. Every person I have talked to that says "minimum of $.02 per word and $20.00 per 1/4 page art" has been people who has never even tried to publish a PDF book in this industry. So I despise ignorance from people who preach about how pdf publishers should pay, but have never tried to be a pdf publisher.
As The Le Games has become more successful, I have increased my pay rate to freelancers, but make no mistake about it -- I am a small PDF publisher that will NEVER Pay $.05 per word. If you want that amount, go ahead and work for WOTC. I am sure they are more than willing to give you a job right off the bat at those rates. And later I will tell you about the flying reindeer that comes every December.
Go ahead and try to prove me wrong -- start a pdf business and start paying freelances. If your numbers can prove me wrong, I will happy to admit it, and I'll even come work for you at the rates that the author of the above article says you should pay me.
~Le
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| Topics |
Author |
Date |
  |
Rebuttal from a PDF publisher |
|
The Le Games |
07-07-2005 08:36 |
|
Aranwyth |
07-07-2005 09:39 |
|
Aranwyth |
07-07-2005 09:42 |
|
Ash |
07-07-2005 11:55 |
|
Jeb |
07-07-2005 11:58 |
|
Ash |
07-07-2005 12:24 |
|
Lloyd Brown |
07-07-2005 13:26 |
|
Ash |
07-07-2005 15:49 |
|
Darrin |
07-07-2005 16:06 |
|
Jeb |
07-07-2005 22:45 |
|
Ash |
07-08-2005 04:42 |
|
Steve Trustrum |
07-08-2005 09:06 |
|
Steve Trustrum |
07-08-2005 09:08 |
|
Ash |
08-10-2005 09:25 |
|
L.J. Steele |
07-08-2005 05:38 |
|
Josh Raynack |
07-08-2005 17:30 |
|
Lloyd Brown |
07-09-2005 15:01 |
|
Lloyd Brown |
07-07-2005 13:24 |
|
Achijusan |
07-07-2005 14:26 |
|
Strange Visitor |
07-07-2005 14:56 |
|
Lloyd Brown |
07-07-2005 15:07 |
|
Ace |
07-07-2005 15:55 |
|
Rob Knop |
07-07-2005 19:06 |
|
Chris Farrell |
07-07-2005 21:28 |
|
DougS |
07-07-2005 22:02 |
|
Rob Knop |
07-08-2005 07:06 |
|
Dana Jorgensen |
07-08-2005 11:44 |
|
Steve Trustrum |
07-08-2005 07:08 |
|
Rob Knop |
07-08-2005 06:58 |
|
Steve Trustrum |
07-08-2005 06:55 |
|
Lloyd Brown |
07-08-2005 09:14 |
|
Steve Trustrum |
07-08-2005 10:14 |
|
Lloyd Brown |
07-08-2005 13:12 |
|
Steven Trustrum |
07-08-2005 18:22 |
|
Dana Jorgensen |
07-09-2005 10:49 |
|
Lloyd Brown |
07-09-2005 14:39 |
|
Dana Jorgensen |
07-09-2005 17:36 |
|
Lloyd Brown |
07-10-2005 09:36 |
|
Allan S |
07-12-2005 11:43 |
|
Lloyd Brown |
07-13-2005 07:58 |
|
Allan S |
07-13-2005 08:21 |
|
Lloyd Brown |
07-09-2005 14:12 |
|
Steven Trustrum |
07-09-2005 17:09 |
|
Lloyd Brown |
07-10-2005 09:57 |
|
Ash |
07-07-2005 15:53 |
|
... |
07-07-2005 18:53 |
|
Ash |
07-08-2005 04:47 |
|
Dana Jorgensen |
07-08-2005 05:33 |
|
RJ Grady |
07-08-2005 15:59 |
|
Dana Jorgensen |
07-07-2005 22:26 |
|
Peter C. Spahn |
07-07-2005 23:18 |
|
Dana Jorgensen |
07-07-2005 23:42 |
|
Ash |
07-08-2005 05:03 |
|
Dana Jorgensen |
07-08-2005 05:29 |
|
Lloyd Brown |
07-08-2005 09:37 |
|
Cid |
07-08-2005 10:15 |
|
The Le Games |
07-08-2005 06:46 |
|
Cid |
07-08-2005 07:13 |
|
The Le Games |
07-08-2005 07:48 |
|
Cid |
07-08-2005 08:26 |
|
Peter C. Spahn |
07-08-2005 13:02 |
|
Paul King |
07-08-2005 05:51 |
|
Steve Trustrum |
07-08-2005 07:55 |
|
Paul King |
07-08-2005 09:15 |
|
Steve Trustrum |
07-08-2005 10:07 |
|
The Le Games |
07-08-2005 10:12 |
|
Lloyd Brown |
07-08-2005 13:21 |
|
Paul King |
07-08-2005 11:26 |
|
Steve Trustrum |
07-08-2005 13:01 |
|
Paul King |
07-08-2005 13:49 |
|
Steven Trustrum |
07-08-2005 17:26 |
|
Paul King |
07-09-2005 02:09 |
|
Steven Trustrum |
07-09-2005 05:51 |
|
Paul King |
07-09-2005 08:35 |
|
Steven Trustrum |
07-09-2005 08:50 |
|
Paul King |
07-09-2005 09:35 |
|
Dana Jorgensen |
07-09-2005 11:27 |
|
Lloyd Brown |
07-09-2005 14:05 |
|
Steven Trustrum |
07-09-2005 13:13 |
|
Paul King |
07-09-2005 13:30 |
|
Steven Trustrum |
07-09-2005 13:45 |
|
Dana Jorgensen |
07-09-2005 11:19 |
|
Paul King |
07-09-2005 13:36 |
|
Steven Trustrum |
07-09-2005 13:50 |
|
Paul King |
07-10-2005 04:40 |
|
Lloyd Brown |
07-08-2005 09:44 |
|
The Le Games |
07-08-2005 10:08 |
|
Lloyd Brown |
07-08-2005 14:11 |
|
Dana Jorgensen |
07-09-2005 11:28 |
|
Lloyd Brown |
07-09-2005 14:21 |
|
Dana Jorgensen |
07-09-2005 17:49 |
|
committed hero |
07-09-2005 17:28 |
|
Rawhide |
08-11-2005 17:42 |
