I haven’t made it a secret that I am gearing up to launch a Kickstarter project soon. It won’t be my first. I created a Kickstarter months ago for Geek Seekers. It was successful, but not wildly so. I  learned a lot from it. I’ve watched others launch to failure and success, and a few to mind-blowing success. Based on that, I have a number of ideas that will hopefully help make my Kickstarter successful (that is to say, attractive, interesting, and valuable to gamers). We’ll see.

In the past I have worked as a freelance writer. I have employed freelance writers to work for me. And now I’ve been a part of other people’s Kickstarters as a freelancer. And I have freelancers involved in mine. In all of these roles, I’ve seen the good and the bad. I’ve seen things work well and I’ve seen mistakes that trip us up.

With crowdfunding becoming more and more common for books, rpgs, and similar products, it brings with it its own issues in this regard. For example, one thing that I have always felt strongly about is that a creator should never ask too much of those interested in his work. You need to be careful how many times you go back to the well, so to speak. This is something that can happen all too easily in a marketplace funded with Kickstarted projects. I wouldn’t want to compete with myself in two different crowdfunding projects written by me. I feel like I’d be asking too much of gamers to contribute to two such projects at the same time. I think some people are already a little weary of contributing to crowdfunding projects, even interesting ones. I’m a supporter of many Kickstarter projects, but my funds–just like everyone else’s–are limited, particularly in any given period of time.

And that’s really the key–the short period of time involved. It’s not the same as a writer who writes two different books that happen to come out in the same month. People who like the writer’s work can buy one now and maybe one next month. Crowdfunding programs like Kickstarter need contributors to fund the project within a short window.

This means that if you are launching a Kickstarter (or whatever crowdfunding method you like), and you’re using freelance work, it behooves you from the get-go to tell them that you are doing so, when the project will be launched, and when it will be completed (hopefully funded). A wise freelancer is only going to want to be a part of a small number of crowdfunded projects, particularly at one time. Further, you need to make the freelancers very aware of how much effort you expect from them to help support the project in the form of promoting the project, providing additional rewards for contributors, and so on. These things are likely very valuable to your project, but they’re additional responsibilities for the freelancer.

Similarly, is the freelancer’s name and past experience going to be used to promote the project? Is the freelancer going to have any say in what the rewards or stretch goals might be?  Is there some kind of extra compensation for the freelancer if the project exceeds its funding? These things need to be discussed ahead of time.

And of course, the most important aspect of all–the freelancer needs to know if the job you’ve contracted with him is dependent upon your crowdfunding project getting its funding.

It’s a whole new world out there, in many ways. I think crowdfunding is fantastic, but we need to adapt to it, as publishers, as freelancers, and as consumers, so that it works for all of us.

1. 

   Xaelvaen · July 30, 2012 at 8:43 am · Reply

   I’ve honestly yet to contribute to any crowdfunding – nothing has really drawn me to the core behind the project. Don’t get me wrong, some of them offer wonderful benefits for low prices, but its not about that all the time. I want to get behind a project that I simply want to know I was a part of; like a brand new core mechanic that isn’t d20-centric.

   I fully intend, should you use Kickstarter, to instantly join with whatever amount I can – this project interests me. If you have freelancers giving nifty stuff, or you yourself are giving nifty stuff, it honestly means less to me than knowing I’m a part – even in a small way – of the next iteration of Monte Cook’s work.

   So long-story-short, while I certainly agree that this freelance work could create competition for different kickstarters (inadvertantly, likely), I (and many others) will be in it just for the project itself – and the more names of interest, the more interest it draws, I suppose.
2. 

   WJ MacGuffin · July 30, 2012 at 10:38 am · Reply

   Although my next Kickstarter project is still in the planning stage, I am planning on using freelancers as well. It will include standard contracts to define responsibilities and deadlines, and the payment will be a straight percentage of the profits. This way, freelancers know exactly what and when things are due but they share in the project’s success or failure, giving them added incentive to spread the word and get backers.
3. 

   Rylon · July 30, 2012 at 11:08 am · Reply

   Thanks for the post. I’ve been thinking of using Kickstarter to fund a comic, but I would need to hire an artist to do so. So, this post if very timely for me.
4. 

   Ernesto I Ramirez · July 30, 2012 at 12:12 pm · Reply

   I understand your point Monte.

   As customer you need to decide among different products in this case not only kickstarter products but also the ones arriving by the normal media and distributors, but when I see a company launching 20 different products in the same MONTH I know perfectly well that most of them are not going to launch. Why? Even if its your favorite company expending $10 per book would quickly become imposible (2k for the whole bunch) much less offer more for the highrer rewards.

   I think that what Monte is telling us: “If you are going to launch a KS, be smart about it and don’t try overtax your customer/fan base”
5. 

   Brian Kelsay · July 30, 2012 at 4:47 pm · Reply

   Sage advice as always.

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