Since someone asked me for a DGP Writer's Guideline. I figured the list might
want to have a copy.
Disclaimer : I have no connection with DGP whatsoever. Other than that I know
a few people in it.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
It is important for us to emphasize that you must be serious
about wanting to write or draw for MegaTraveller. That means you
are willing to commit to deadlines, and that you are willing to
be adaptable to our needs.
Here's your first tip to going places as a contributor:
"Save us doing your work for you."
For example, if we get your written piece, and it contains misspelled
words, then WE have to fix them. What that says to us is "this guy's
sloppy. He doesn't even care enough to take a few minutes and
look up words in a dictionary. He'd rather make US do it." That's a
good way to get on our black list.
Here's another example: if you send us a piece, and you make some
reference to a prior bit of history and you get the dates wrong (because
you just put the dates in from memory), then we get real nervous. We
think: "this guy is careless -- here's a reference that is wrong. How
do we know any of his other references are right?" Now WE have to go
and check all your references.
See my point? You should have enough professional courtesy to do your
job carefully. To many people think they can be sloppy and get away
with it.
So if you really want you submission to stand out from the pack, put
just that extra bit of effort into it to make sure you got things right.
Do that, and your work will move to the top of the stack every time.
--Joe D. Fugate Sr., Editor, DGP
- ---------------------------------------------
R.CASWELL at 20:30 EST
As many of you may have read in issue #16 of The Travellers' Digest, we
are currently looking to expand our base of illustrators for our product line -
primarily in the area of interior (B&W) illustrations. Unfortunately, GEnie is
not as convenient a submission vehicle for art, as it is for writing - thus
all interested are still limited to mailing in work to our offices (Digest
[address removed]
We are looking primarily for pen & ink work, but we're open to pencil
work if the technique and contrast are good. Our Artists' Guidelines go into
detail about our needs. They may soon be posted here, but till that time, you
can request a copy via GEnie and we can send a copy your way.
Once again, with the ambitious release schedule we're anticipating, we'll
need a greater baseline of illustrators. If you feel your work is good, you
can produce under a deadline, and you have a good feel for the "look" of
MegaTraveller; we'd like to hear from you.
Please send all inquiries to my attention:
Rob Caswell (R.CASWELL - GEnie address)
DGP Art Director, Associate Editor
------------
J.FUGATE at 05:03 MST
WRITING GUIDELINES
The easiest way to "break into" writing for us is through our magazine,
The Travellers' Digest. (Once we know your quality, we can consider you
for other products.) We will not take anything too "far out". Remember
that everything we publish must be officially approved by Game
Designers' Workshop.
MATERIAL USED
Query letters: Send a query letter first, not a complete manuscript.
Tell us what subject you would like to write about, the "slant" you
would take, and a proposed length. If we like your idea, we will invite
you to submit a finished article for consideration.
If we don't like your idea, we'll let you know before you've invested
hours on something we can't use. What usually happens is that we like
some of your suggestions, but not others. Remember first impressions
count, so make those query letters sizzle!
"MegaTraveller Adventure": These adventures take place after Strephon's
assassination; length runs from 2,000 to 8,000 words. Opportunities are
rife here. Adventures for other products like campaign sourcebooks --
heavy on adventure and background -- can run as long as 100,000 words,
but we publish fewer of these.
"Gaming Digest": A regular column dealing with aspects of roleplaying
in general and MegaTraveller in particular, running from 1,500 to 6,000
words.
"Traveller Tech Briefs": A regular column dealing with new and exciting
technology for players and referees to include in their games. Length
runs from 1,000 to 4,000 words typically, but longer articles are
sometimes used for special topics. These are written from the point of
view of the Third Imperium, not present-day Earth.
"Medical Digest": A regular column, like "Tech Briefs" but dealing with
issues relating to high- tech medicine. Length runs from 2,000 to 6,000
words.
"Sector Maps, Library Data for the Sector": This is usually written
in-house, but exceptions (especially with library data) can occur.
Query first.
"Travellers' Cache (formerly Traveller Arsenal)": A regular feature,
giving equipment stats, a description, a task library, and an
illustration for various weapons and equipment available to characters
in the game.
Ship Plans: "Innovative" is the key word here. Always query first.
Other Traveller material: Query first.
2300AD material: Adventures, colony descriptions, rule enhancements,
character encounters, technology, starships, and whatever...
MANUSCRIPT STYLE
Your entire manuscript should be typed, double- spaced, on 8-1/2 x 11-
inch paper with ample margins on either side. Please include your name,
address, and phone number (very important) and the approximate number of
words. Remember to number the pages.
You may also submit articles on a Macintosh disk, in MacWrite format
(12-point Geneva, ordinary margins), or on an IBM-PC disk in ASCII text
format. We also accept ASCII text sent to us via e-mail on GEnie or
Compuserve.
PAYMENT RATES
We pay one cent per word (a word is 5 characters, including spaces) for
all rights at time of publication. This rate is negotiable if you are
previously published and well-known. We will also send you two
complementary copies of whatever product your work appears in.
We are willing and eager to help non-published writers break into print,
but they must be serious.
If you have questions, feel free to contact Joe Fugate, Editor, Digest
[address removed]
3094. E- mail address on GEnie is J.Fugate.
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Category 11, Topic 34
Message 7 Mon Dec 04, 1989
R.CASWELL at 18:50 EST
DGP ART GUIDELINES
MegaTraveller has established its own unique "look"; in many ways as defined
as that of Star Trek or Star Wars. The best way to establish the proper
feel for the look of the game is to study the illustrations of several of the
artists who have worked on it: William H. Keith Jr., David Deitrick, and Tom
Peters are all fine examples to follow. We prefer for MegaTraveller art to
have a "plausible" or "realistic" look to it, rather than a caricature or
cartoon-like appearance. In some cases, we may deliberately order cartoons,
but these are the exceptions and we will plainly state when this is what we
are asking for.
The best sources to page through for samples of art include GDW's Traveller
Book, Traveller Adventure, Library Data supplements, and back issues of The
Journal of the Traveller's Aid Society, as well as our own works: The
Travellers' Digest, Referees' Gaming Kit,and Worldbuilders' Handbook.
The Shattered Imperium is a very large place, taking years to traverse in even
the fastest starship. This vastness, by its very nature, makes for a wide
variation in mechanical design, clothing, customs, and so on although there
should be a standard of consistency when dealing with any of the standard
starship designs.
MegaTraveller has an established technological progression, so take care not
to create out of place technology . . The safest approach when drawing
technology that is part of any faction's service is to send us a sketch first
or ask, during the assignment process, where references can be found. As you
can see, having access to a library of the game's previously published
material is beneficial to both you and us.
With the advent of the Rebellion, it is not out of place for some
MegaTraveller technology to have a hasty or makeshift look, especially when
dealing with military technology. The battles have raged on for over 4 years
(gametime), and many of the technological support networks have been disrupted
- - thus, the services have been doing all they could to keep their existing
equipment operational.
STANDARDS AND RATES We are always looking for new artists to support our
products. If you have not yet sent us a small portfolio of your work, please
do so (send only non-returnable xeroxes) and let us know what you like to
illustrate: spacecraft, aliens, people, spacescapes, etc. Please include a
SASE with all submissions.
We are looking mostly for clean, crisp pen and ink line art or high
contrast/well-toned pencil pieces. If you wish to produce a work in another
type of medium, please contact the art director before doing so. We prefer
that the work be produced at twice the published size (i.e., a quarter page
piece done to fit in a 90mm x 110mm space should be drawn at 180mm x 220mm)
and that it be done on durable material, such as bristol board. If you wish
to use shading film on your work, do not use more than 42.5 line, since it
will not reproduce properly. Please be sure to package your work with a sturdy
backer (like corrugated cardborad) so it does not get damaged in transit. If
sending by US Mail, AT LEAST send your package with insurance.
Unless an alternate arrangement is agreed upon before hand, payment is made
upon publication (allow a couple of weeks for processing). Our starting rates
are as follows: $12 for quarter page (85mm wide by 110mm, finished size),
$22.50 for half page (175mm wide by 110mm), and $45 for full page (175mm wide
by 240mm). Higher prices are paid for works by name artists or superior
quality. Rates for color cover art are negotiable (starting at $250); contact
the art director for further information. In addition to monetary payment,
complimentary copies of the product will be sent to all contributors.
Digest Group Publications buys first North American reproduction rights.
Additionally, we buy all "gaming rights". This means that the work is not
authorized to be resold/reprinted for use in any other game system. We pay for
all additional uses of illustrations (not including advertising usage) at a
rate of 30% the original price - thus, if we reuse a piece of your work, you
will receive a payment and complimentary copies. The single exception we have
to our second use policy is with our Travellers' Digest covers. When we
purchase those, it includes purchasing the right to reproduce a smaller B&W
version in the opening of that issue's feature adventure. All originals are
returned to the artist.
There are a number of reasons that work may be returned for re-execution, but
the primary reasons are that the work is not reproduceable or does not conform
to the conventions established for MegaTraveller. If you are unsure of your
work's "accuracy" to the MegaTraveller universe, we encourage you to send in
xeroxes of your preliminary pencils for approval. Please do not send
unsolicited art. We usually have specific art needs and prefer to give you a
specific assignment.
All portfolios and art-related inquiries should be sent to: Rob Caswell- Art
[address removed]
------------
J.FUGATE at 01:50 MST
DGP STYLE GUIDE
If you are going to write manuscripts for us, you can get a leg up on your
competition (other writers) if you follow our style. Here, spelled out in
black and white, are some of our preferences. If you follow these guidelines,
you immediately eliminate a lot of editing work we have to do to get your
manuscript in shape -- and, of course, if you save us work, we love you for
it.
BAD PHRASES AND WORDS
Phrases and words we prefer to avoid using...
Phrase/word Replace with Comments
-------------- ---------------- ---------------------------------------
due to because of "due to" means you owe somebody money
etc. and so on etc. ugly, "and so on" more readable
utilize use avoid all "ize" words, "use" much better
very (just pull it) "very" too general, be more specific
PUNCTUATION GUIDE
Using an "em dash" (--) in place of a semicolon (;) is more modern style.
Use a semicolon only sparingly. Ocassionally, a colon (:) is appropriate for
variety.
Examples:
When generating a gas giant, roll 3D for density; at times this will yield...
Preferred...
When generating a gas giant, roll 3D for density -- at times this will
yield...
Okay once in a while for variety...
When generating a gas giant, roll 3D for density: at times this will yield...
Note: DO NOT capitalize the first word of the phrase following the colon (:).
I wouldn't say *don't ever* use a semicolon; just limit its use to rare
ocassions.
Use "bangs" (!) sparingly! Overuse of the exclamation point weakens the
emphasis and makes the text look cheap!! So watch out for this!!!
OTHER GUIDELINES
We use one space between sentences, not two. Word processing folks use
two spaces between sentences, typesetters use only one. You can guess which
camp we view ourselves as being in.
Use tabs to align text columns, not spaces. Tabs are easier for us to work
with since we can move directly to typesetting the table. Otherwise, we
have to manually go in and change all your spaces to tabs the hard way.
At the beginning of a paragraph, put in one tab for the paragraph indent.
Any place where you want us to put in a bullet, type a small "o". For
example:
o Option 1: This option lets you ...
o Option 2: With option two...
and so on.
Note we do our section headings with all CAPS.
------------
Mac
Wilson "Mac" Liaw | If you put your mind to it, you can
Internet:[email removed] | acomplish anything.
=====================================| - Marty McFly, Back To The Future
Disclaimer:All opinions are mine only|-----------------------------------------
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