Soapbox: About the Industry

A Better Job

by Sandy Antunes
Apr 01,2005

A Better Job

So, there I was, in Atlantic City. As an RPG writer, I can easily earn $12 an hour writing. Well, if you don't count time spent on pitching and hustling up work.

My friends playing Texas Hold'Em won typically a hundred or two over the course of the night. Good pay, maybe $25/hour or so, but a bit risky. It was a lot like self-publishing-- plunk down several hundred and hope you're better than the rest and profit. In fact, if you think RPG publishing is a zero-sum game, it's a dandy analogy. But still risky.

But the best per-hour had to be the guy who pushes a modified wheelbarrow with 2 seats and a plastic cover. My friend was cold walking the boardwalk so we decided to try a ride. The guy made $20 for fifteen minute's work.

So my lesson for today: if you're willing to risk it, self-publishing is the Texas Hold'Em of earning money. But otherwise, if your choice is being an RPG writer or pushing people in a wheelbarrow along a boardwalk, choose the later.

Until next week,
Sandy
sandy@rpg.net
freelance