For Knights of the Dinner Table magazine, see our KODT Submission
Guidelines.
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Introduction
These guidelines are intended to assist potential
role-playing writers and/or artists through the Kenzer and Company
submission process. Following these guidelines is no guarantee that the work
will be accepted, but failure to follow them will virtually guarantee rejection.
If you have any questions regarding these guidelines we will try to answer them
as quickly as possible. (Note that if you're submitting via the US Postal Service rather than by email, including return postage helps to accelerate the
process).
Roleplaying Games
We are primarily interested in:
- adventures, sourcebook, and worldbook material using the current edition of the HackMaster rules, set in the Kingdoms of Kalamar campaign setting
- adventures and sourcebook material for Wild West roleplaying using the Aces
& Eights: Shattered Frontier role-playing game rules Serious authors should have some
experience as a GameMaster or have played and read enough commercial adventures
to know basic industry expectations. Avoid ideas which are in bad taste, or may
infringe upon the work of others.
Adventures should be at least 5,000 words (for PDF products) or 16,000 words (for print). Adventures with the proper blend of combat and plot
intrigue are ideal.
Written work of greater length, detailing a specific area, country, city,
town or castle (world supplements) is also of interest. Supplements should provide a rich and highly detailed
background. While describing some of the mundane features of common life are
necessary in such work, it should also include politics, rivalries, or other
conflicts which could be turned into an adventure by the gamemaster. Supplements should provide the figurative soil and seed for many adventures, while published adventures provides the fully-grown tree to a GameMaster.
Other Games
Sometimes we look at other types of products. This
includes board games, card games, roleplaying game systems or game accessories.
While this is not our primary focus right now, we are usually willing to a take
a look at your idea. Our main interest in these areas is in quick-to-play
"pick-up" games that are easy to learn and can be expanded with future
supplements.
Proposals
We encourage freelancers to propose their own ideas. When it comes to adventures, we prefer to receive a finished draft. For larger supplements, you should first write a brief proposal describing the region and ideas you wish to write about. This proposal should be
a 2 to 3 page, typed document describing the setting, hooks, majjor characters, and so on. A basic outline is required. Be specific and provide as much detail as
space allows. Any work that we publish becomes the sole
property of Kenzer and Company.
You can submit your proposal electronically to our
new submission email  . (Our old email finally died
under a flood of spam...). Alternatively, you can send a hardcopy of the
proposal to:
Kenzer & Company
Attn: New Submissions
511 W. Greenwood
Ave
Waukegan, IL 60087
After your proposal has been accepted, you submit a complete written
work. At that point, you will receive comments from our editors. Several
rewrites may be needed, at the discretion of our editors. Be sure to ask for the
HackMaster Style Guide or the Kingdoms of Kalamar Design Guide
for use in self-editing your accepted proposal. Kenzer and Company is under no
obligation to publish any work.
Artwork
Artwork, if any, may be submitted with written adventures or world
supplements and is usually essential in the form of maps, sketches and player's
aids. The purpose of most of this artwork is to help explain the story. However,
our artists will most likely revise or replace any "story telling" artwork
included with submissions. It is usually clearer to describe something with a
picture, as well as words, but we do not pay extra for this type of artwork.
High-quality artwork will be considered for purchase separately from text. If
you think your artwork should be considered for professional publication, you
should request consideration in your proposal. We will evaluate each piece on a
case-by-case basis. Serious artists should send us samples of other work as
well.
We also consider inquiries on contracting full-color cover art. Sending
us a set of color samples is essential and rates are negotiated based on quality
and our needs. While we might purchase black and white interior art as it
exists, purchasing cover art is different. Cover art is usually made to our
specifications so do not send originals for consideration.
Rates
Our pay rates for shorter works (typically those found in
KODT) can be found in our KODT Submission
Guidelines. For longer, full-length adventures or supplements, payments or royalties depend on the quality and length of the work and the
experience of the author. Typical rates for high quality black and white
interior art also vary depending on the size and acceptability.
Prior to our pursuing submitted work for publication, the author or artist must
sign our Assignment of Rights form giving Kenzer and Company the sole rights to the
work.
The form below is the initial submission form, essentially declaring your intention of having us publish your work. We do not have the rights for your work until you have been contracted, and sign the official Assignment of Rights form that we will send to you.
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Kenzer
& Company Release Form
I, ____________________________ , am submitting this work to Kenzer and
Company with the understanding that it will be considered in whole or in part
for publication as an adventure, fantasy world supplement or fantasy
role-playing game aid. I certify that it is my own original work and is not
published or submitted for publication elsewhere by any individual or
organization.
I agree to exclusively grant all rights to Kenzer and Company for all work
which they agree to pursue for publication. I further understand that my work
may be edited at the discretion of Kenzer and Company.
Signature: __________________________________________________
Date: _____________________________________________________
Address: ___________________________________________________
Phone: ( ___ ) _____________________ |
