Steve Jackson Games - Site Navigation
Home General Info Follow Us Search Illuminator Store Forums What's New Other Games Ogre GURPS Munchkin Our Games: Home

Go Back   Steve Jackson Games Forums > Roleplaying > GURPS

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 11-04-2013, 08:28 PM   #1
Christopher R. Rice
 
Christopher R. Rice's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Portsmouth, VA, USA
Default Pyramid Mentoring Google Group

Have you ever wanted to write for Pyramid? Are you intimidated by the WYSIWYG? Does putting together an article seem too daunting? Do you think you could do it if you just had some help? If this sounds like you, then I want to hear from you! Steve Jackson Games (and Steven Marsh by extension) can always use a larger, dedicated pool of writers, and I (and some other authors) are willing to help get your work up to par. A few things first:
  • This little project is in no way endorsed by Steve Jackson Games. It's a personal side project that I've put together to help my fellow potential writers.
  • I am looking for serious people who are willing to dedicate their spare time into becoming the best game writers they can be. This means you need to be able to accept constructive criticism, be ready to listen to the advice that you're given, and work hard to achieve your end goal. Writing for Pyramid isn't just about putting words to paper. There is a certain style, a way to say things, do things, that is inherent to the magazine's format.
  • You'd need to agree to a general nondisclosure principle, and obey Wheaton's Rule. We don't want people to start claiming their idea has been stolen and ruin everything.
  • This writer's group is built around improving actual drafts. So to participate, you need to have a draft to be critiqued. Have it ready, and advice will be given on how to format it, article structure, content, and flow, and internal consistency with the body of GURPS rules. It's meant to help those people who are almost good enough to get into Pyramid on their own. It's not meant as a general group for writers or people who don't know how to write, but want to learn. There are hundreds of resources out there for that. Edit: This doesn't need to be something you're actually going to submit; if you want to work on a "practice" draft - that's fine too! The goal is to get you thinking and writing like a Pyramid author.
  • Rejection can happen. But don't send me an email because you are afraid of that. Don't take it personally, go work on your style, improve, submit again. Maybe you'll surprise us (I hope you do!). Alternatively, bypass us completely and submit it right to Pyramid!
  • Being accepted does not mean you're going to get into Pyramid, that's something you have to do on your own. I can help you, but I can't do it for you.
  • Playtesting or reviewing experience is a plus, but not required.

I can promise participants one thing: I will be perfectly honest with you at all times (and so will the others). If we think, your idea is awful, we'll tell you, if we think, it can be salvaged...we'll tell you so. This sort of honesty and openness are essential for something like this to work.

Right now, the mentors in the program consist of myself, Antoni "Kuroshima" Ten Munros, Douglas Cole, Paul Stefko, and Tim Ponce. I'm sure there will be others. If you're an experienced Pyramid or GURPS author that wants to help the next generation, shoot me an email, and I'll happily add you to the list. The more the merrier. :-)

Right now, I'm looking for 2 to 3 participants, first come is first served. Contact me via PM, email, or post here on the boards. Make sure you have your article ready (.DOC format please) to email me.

See our manifesto here.

I really look forward to hearing from you guys, would-be mentors or protégés.

Update: Because OpenOffice and other non-MS Word programs tend to do strange things to formatting after they've been saved and opened by MS Word I'm going to have to require from this point on that you either have a program that doesn't do this (email the .doc and I can find out for you) or that you use some version of Word. I know this will put a dent into people's styles, but the work-around to fix this is difficult and the whole point of this group is to teach you how to format things yourself.

Update: As of this time (8/31/2017), this group is on semi-permanent hiatus due to my busy schedule. We'll get back to it - but it might take a while.

Update: As of this time (4/15/2017), this group is essentially disbanded. I might try again in the future, but for right now we're done.
__________________
My w23 Stuff
My Blog
GURPS Discord
My Discord

Latest GURPS Book: Meta-Tech
Latest TFT: Vile Vines

Become a Patron!

Last edited by Christopher R. Rice; 04-15-2017 at 08:59 PM.
Christopher R. Rice is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2013, 10:01 PM   #2
Refplace
 
Refplace's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Yukon, OK
Default Re: Pyramid Mentoring Google Group

Good post and effort. I hope to particpate and sent in the note.
__________________
My GURPS publications GURPS Powers: Totem and Nature Spirits; GURPS Template Toolkit 4: Spirits; Pyramid articles. Buying them lets us know you want more!
My GURPS fan contribution and blog:
REFPLace GURPS Landing Page
My List of GURPS You Tube videos (plus a few other useful items)
My GURPS Wiki entries
Refplace is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-05-2013, 02:43 PM   #3
Christopher R. Rice
 
Christopher R. Rice's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Portsmouth, VA, USA
Default Re: Pyramid Mentoring Google Group

I now have 4 slots left. Remember folks, come to me with some sort of Pyramid submission. It doesn't have to be something you actually plan to submit (though that would be more helpful in the long run). This group is about learning how to write, properly format, and "speak" in the tone of Pyramid - I can't help you do that unless you have something we can work with. Make sure it's about 1,500 words and we can go from there.
__________________
My w23 Stuff
My Blog
GURPS Discord
My Discord

Latest GURPS Book: Meta-Tech
Latest TFT: Vile Vines

Become a Patron!
Christopher R. Rice is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-05-2013, 04:48 PM   #4
Christopher R. Rice
 
Christopher R. Rice's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Portsmouth, VA, USA
Default Re: Pyramid Mentoring Google Group

Let me reiterate the fact that you need something that can be critiqued and used as a example for how you format your article. If you don't have a would-be submission, and again, it doesn't have to be something you actually submit, then I can't help you. This group is not about starting your article from beginning to finish. This is about polishing your work so it can be submitted. Later, this is probably going to change. However, for right now, I know I don't, and I'm guessing that the other mentors don't, have the time for this. So make sure you have something I can look at before you PM me.
__________________
My w23 Stuff
My Blog
GURPS Discord
My Discord

Latest GURPS Book: Meta-Tech
Latest TFT: Vile Vines

Become a Patron!
Christopher R. Rice is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-19-2013, 12:02 AM   #5
Christopher R. Rice
 
Christopher R. Rice's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Portsmouth, VA, USA
Default Re: Pyramid Mentoring Google Group

As much as I am to bumping, I am going to bump this back up. I still have some slots left open and I can always use more authors, so please, if you are either. Please PM me or leave a post here.
__________________
My w23 Stuff
My Blog
GURPS Discord
My Discord

Latest GURPS Book: Meta-Tech
Latest TFT: Vile Vines

Become a Patron!
Christopher R. Rice is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-19-2013, 09:22 AM   #6
Figleaf23
Banned
 
Figleaf23's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Default Re: Pyramid Mentoring Google Group

Drawing from my long-time interest in economics, it occurs to me that if there's an incentive barrier for people to make submissions to Pyramid, perhaps rather than adding an additional hoop in the form of a training program you should re-examine the complexity of your WALFABETSOUP, or whatever.

{Edit -- oops, wait. I missed that you said you were not part of SJG. Never mind.}

Last edited by Figleaf23; 11-19-2013 at 09:35 AM.
Figleaf23 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-19-2013, 10:37 AM   #7
ClayDowling
 
ClayDowling's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Default Re: Pyramid Mentoring Google Group

I have an idea I've been thinking about for Action for a while, but it's not a manuscript yet. I will see about contacting you once that threshold has been crossed.
__________________
Online Campaign Planning
ClayDowling is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-19-2013, 10:45 AM   #8
Humabout
 
Humabout's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Default Re: Pyramid Mentoring Google Group

I can say for my part, the barrier to PMing you guys is that I don't have anything written. I may go digging through past campaign materials, but I'm not sure I really have anything to submit.
__________________
Buy My Stuff!

Free Stuff:
Dungeon Action!
Totem Spirits

My Blog: Above the Flatline.
Humabout is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-19-2013, 10:55 AM   #9
Jerander
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Rochester, MN
Default Re: Pyramid Mentoring Google Group

Quote:
Originally Posted by Humabout View Post
I can say for my part, the barrier to PMing you guys is that I don't have anything written. I may go digging through past campaign materials, but I'm not sure I really have anything to submit.
Same. I have several ideas, but nothing fleshed out to manuscript...
Jerander is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-19-2013, 05:55 PM   #10
Christopher R. Rice
 
Christopher R. Rice's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Portsmouth, VA, USA
Default Re: Pyramid Mentoring Google Group

Quote:
Originally Posted by Figleaf23 View Post
{Edit -- oops, wait. I missed that you said you were not part of SJG. Never mind.}
Nope. Doing this because I want to help my fellow gamer.

Quote:
Originally Posted by ClayDowling View Post
I have an idea I've been thinking about for Action for a while, but it's not a manuscript yet. I will see about contacting you once that threshold has been crossed.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Humabout View Post
I can say for my part, the barrier to PMing you guys is that I don't have anything written. I may go digging through past campaign materials, but I'm not sure I really have anything to submit.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jerander View Post
Same. I have several ideas, but nothing fleshed out to manuscript...
Please do, fellas. Keep in mind that it doesn't have to be something you're actually going to submit. This could just be something you're practicing on. The idea is to get you used to the formatting methods, style of Pyramid, and so on. :-)
__________________
My w23 Stuff
My Blog
GURPS Discord
My Discord

Latest GURPS Book: Meta-Tech
Latest TFT: Vile Vines

Become a Patron!
Christopher R. Rice is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
e23, mentoring, pyramid, writing

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Fnords are Off
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 06:56 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.