Wizards of the Coast accepting book proposals.. - Writers Forum

pfunktion · 10-27-2004, 01:15 PM

Saw this on cinescape.com yesterday.. thought it might appeal to some of you. I did a brief search on their home page, but I could not find a reference. Either way, take a look.
Click here

[Moderator: edited so the link fits on the page]

Elemental_Emissary · 12-04-2004, 09:35 PM

Hey pfunk, I delved a little deeper into the recesses of wizards.com, and I found their official announcement:

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x...n/opencall2004

This gives a good deal more information for anyone who is interesting in contributing to this new fiction line that Wizards of the Coast is planning. Everyone, keep in mind that the deadline for ALL submissions is March 1, 2005. Wizards will not accept any submissions postmarked after the 1st, for any reason. Good luck to all of you!

Dexnell · 12-06-2004, 06:45 PM

Never for poetry huh?

I think everyone should give it a try and submit.

mammamaia · 12-07-2004, 09:00 AM

oo-wee!... did anyone take a good look at their submission guidelines?... there's a dandy li'l gem in there that they laughingly call an 'idea submission agreement'...

what it is, is a legal document that says [in clause #2] that they are not responsible for anything that might happen to your work [such as plagiarism!] and that you can't ever sue them if anything does...

this is total bushwah, kids!... i've never heard of a publisher demanding a release/waiver before you even send them a single page of your ms... it's just not done...

sure, it's standard in the movie biz, but that's a horse of a different color, folks... the thing is, this outfit seems to focus on books/ideas that can generate computer/video games and therein lies a lotta loot... so, submit your mss if you dare, but for criminy's sake, don't sign that release!

love and hugs, maia

Dexnell · 12-07-2004, 01:47 PM

If ya don't sign the release you don't get published.

What I have learnt is that people strive just to get published in any way possible and some may jump at this deal.

I have a few books I've written, and stuff I'm working on now, but I am not in a hurry to get published. I'll improve my skills, read books, go to a few workshops etc. Probably submit to a few magazines and get my name somewhat out there, then look to get a agent or something, then get published. Having patience is the key.

mammamaia · 12-08-2004, 11:04 AM

you're on the right track, dex!... patience is the first requisite for the would-be writer...

hugs, maia

Evega · 12-08-2004, 12:16 PM

This is my dream contest. I asolutely love Wizards. Who can't fall in love with Drizzt or MTG after getting into them?

However, "Entrants must be 18 or older to participate."

It's not fair. I'm seventeen (18 next November), but I've been called a better writer than many adults who consider themselves to be good (and I'm not tootin' my own horn, people have told me so).

ARGH.

Elemental_Emissary · 12-09-2004, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mammamaia

oo-wee!... did anyone take a good look at their submission guidelines?... there's a dandy li'l gem in there that they laughingly call an 'idea submission agreement'...

what it is, is a legal document that says [in clause #2] that they are not responsible for anything that might happen to your work [such as plagiarism!] and that you can't ever sue them if anything does...

this is total bushwah, kids!... i've never heard of a publisher demanding a release/waiver before you even send them a single page of your ms... it's just not done...

sure, it's standard in the movie biz, but that's a horse of a different color, folks... the thing is, this outfit seems to focus on books/ideas that can generate computer/video games and therein lies a lotta loot... so, submit your mss if you dare, but for criminy's sake, don't sign that release!

love and hugs, maia

yeah maia, that's always been the catch with Wizards. They're always looking for the next idea that will translate to the next big-selling tabletop RPG. Personally, with the all the work I'm putting into my first novel, I'll be darned if I'm going to give it away so easily.

mammamaia · 12-09-2004, 12:41 PM

i'm withya, el... you work hard to come up with good ideas, so why give 'em away to these guys?

Dexnell · 12-10-2004, 07:17 AM

Precisely, there's someone else that will accept your creativity.

EverCool Dexnell.

Evega · 12-10-2004, 11:44 AM

I'd give Wizards my ideas for free, as long as they put my name on it. Maybe I'm just a loser, but I've love Wizards, MTG and all that, for a long time now. I'd probably pay them to use my ideas for an RPG.

rashadow · 12-10-2004, 12:29 PM

Did they buy TSR? These are the guys that make that card game right? Do they now publish the TSR books like Dragonlande and Forgotten Realms. I used to read those when I was younger, especially Dragonlance. Margaret Weiss and Tracy Hickman used to do the damn thing.

Sorry, the link is right there I should just go see for myself...

rashadow · 12-10-2004, 01:20 PM

Oh I see. Well they would need such a clause. All of their fiction is company owned and writing within the confines of thier world you are subject to thier rules. The way they publish is not like the traditional book publishers rather more like you are being paid to add to their space. I'm not certain but I think that if you were to write for any company that owns all rights to whatever you create you would have to sign such a waiver.

If a movie studio gave ten different people the right to develop a story based on one of their franchises it is more than possible that six to eight out of those ten would come up with very similar ideas.

All in all, I admit that it is a risk. Is it worth taking? That's up to you. If it succeeds, well than you would be the creator and starting author of a completly new franchise. If it fails, well, I suppose you'd have to suck it up and move on.

Talia_Brie · 12-12-2004, 08:20 PM

Look at all the writers who write for Wizards.

Weis and Hickman, and R A Salvatore are the only ones who have made it mainstream (if you can call writing The Phantom Menace from the screenplay mainstream). Salvatore is well regarded, almost purely because of the strength of Drizzt as a character.

This offer is attractive, but it doesn't look like a step toward greatness.

Evega, if you enjoy the idea of writing for Wizards, send them a resume and start applying for work there.

Elemental_Emissary · 12-13-2004, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Talia_Brie

Look at all the writers who write for Wizards.

Weis and Hickman, and R A Salvatore are the only ones who have made it mainstream (if you can call writing The Phantom Menace from the screenplay mainstream). Salvatore is well regarded, almost purely because of the strength of Drizzt as a character.

This offer is attractive, but it doesn't look like a step toward greatness.

Evega, if you enjoy the idea of writing for Wizards, send them a resume and start applying for work there.

That's very true Talia, but keep in mind all three authors have written books outside of Wizards, but still it was the Dragonlance series that made Weiss and Hickman famous (heck, they did create it!), and Salvatore helped to bring a new layer to the Forgotten Realms world. But still, none of Wizards other authors have found any substantial fame or recognition aside from the "Holy Trinity".