Part of the problem with trying to make a living as a #TTRPG freelancer is that publishers have come to expect no one makes a living as a freelancer in this industry anymore, so they pay you like you're a hobbyist, even if they make great sales on your words.
— James Introcaso (@JamesIntrocaso) October 16, 2019
This is coupled with the fact that there are lots of hungry freelancers out there. Many are fine with being paid as hobbyists in order for the opportunity to work with a big publisher. You want a higher rate? Fine, we’ll pay someone who doesn’t. It's a dream job, but many need to work another to have it. So how do we fix the issue? As publishers, we need to do right by people, hobbyists or not. It shouldn't matter if you write as a 9 to 5 or in your free time while you work elsewhere. The work's the same. And it's WORK.
— James Introcaso (@JamesIntrocaso) October 16, 2019
If RPGs are bigger than ever, the pay scale should finally increase after decades as well. We’re starting to see a shift in that mentality thanks to people like @mattcolville paying a decent word rate. I hope to see this trend continue. The best part is that I've seen some smaller publishers offer 10 cents a word or more these days. If you can afford that, keep it up and increase the pay rate beyond this strange 10-cent barrier that's been in place forever. You all are making change happen.
— James Introcaso (@JamesIntrocaso) October 16, 2019
Freelancing otherwise is pretty awesome. I get to work on a lot of games and with a lot interesting people. You get a lot of freedom, which you trade stability, security, and routine for. You shouldn't also have to trade your wages (and don't in other industries).
— James Introcaso (@JamesIntrocaso) October 16, 2019
I feel this thread so hard. Especially the line about trading freelancing for security.
— Norse DM 🌩️🔨 (@justice_arman) October 16, 2019
While I unfortunately can’t hire everyone out there doing good things, this ain’t the way we roll. As we continue to expand our D&D Beyond original content, as well as our upcoming Cortex games, I urge freelancers out there to keep an eye out for the opportunities to come. Agreed! You do right by freelancers and then some.
— James Introcaso (@JamesIntrocaso) October 17, 2019
Some of the newer publishers, especially those funding via Kickstarter, seem less wedded to the old pay scales, IME I have definitely started seeing an escalation in the rate of pay the last few years. Not up to where it probably should be, but getting better.
— Greg Marks 🔜 StuffedCOWS Con (@Skerrit7h3green) October 16, 2019
10 cents a word? We’re either really overpaying or the payscale is in a terrible place in the industry. I bet on the latter. We also try to bring writers on in a permanent capacity whenever possible to also grant consistency and allow writing to become the actual day job. I think the word "industry" is imprecise. There are many tiny hobbyist companies, a very small handful of traditional TTRPG companies, and another very small handful of weird companies who make YouTube videos or stream on Twitch and also produce D&D content.
— Matt Colville? (@mattcolville) October 17, 2019
Sure, I can get behind that. And yet, I get the sense that rates are similar across most of those facets, regardless of size and context. Companies with the capability should take the responsibility to change that over time. +1 I've seen over my career that folks do incredible work whenever you remove money from their list of concerns.
— Adam Bradford (@BadEyeAdam) October 17, 2019
You're not overpaying, I swear! 😳
— James 🍗 Haeck (@jamesjhaeck) October 17, 2019