How to Hire an Editor for (Your First) TTRPG Supplement

An editor is more than just someone who proof reads your work. Writing for TTRPGs requires concision and often strict adherence to a style guide for your chosen system.

You may be thinking "do I need an editor for this?"

Yes. The answer is yes.

Editor feedback is invaluable for making you a stronger writer. If you're receiving consistent notes on a particular aspect of your writing, e.g. the phrasing of a particular mechanic, then taking that on board will get you far in the industry.

Can you afford an editor though?

Capitalism sucks but we've all got to eat and the more experience an editor has, the more they will charge. My 2022 prices were £0.05/word for copy editing (grammar, spelling, and style guide feedback) and £0.06/word for developmental editing (mechanical feedback plus copy editing) and I would consider myself at the low end of the scale.

Don't be disheartened though! If this is your first supplement and you don't have the money to hire an editor at a per word rate, some editors will work for a royalty split, especially if you're publishing on DriveThruRPG or the DM's Guild.

When contacting an editor for the first time, let them know:

1) you're looking to pay via royalty split

2) a brief (500 words max) summary of your project, including the content type and system (e.g. a D&D 5e wizard subclass, a system agnostic adventure, a supplement of magic items for Pathfinder, etc.), content warnings you have identified, and where you plan to post the content.

Not every editor is going to say yes, but providing this information up front allows them to make an informed decision and also recommend you an editor who DOES take royalty splits or work in that system, etc.

Should you ask for royalty splits every time?

In my opinion: no. Unless you have strong evidence that your supplement is going to be a success with recurring monthly sales that would earn the editor more than their flat word rate, I would advise against it. Editors have to live too and work hard to make your ideas shine, but for hobbyists or professionals starting out without a budget for these things, it's a viable and well-used option.