Flying
Pen Press is currently seeking staff to fill the following positions:
Flying
Pen Press is also seeking Acquisition Editors for its Acquisition Editor
program. Contact the publisher at Publisher@FlyingPenPress.com for more information.
To
apply for any of these positions, please read the descriptions below, and send
the requested information to the following email, address or fax:
Email
your application information to:
jobs@flyingpenpress.
Or
mail your application information to:
Staff Applications
Flying Pen Press LLC
Suite 112 No. 4
18601 Green Valley Ranch Blvd.
Denver, CO 80249 USA
Or
fax your application information to:
(303) 375-0499 (Follow instructions on machine to start
fax machine)
NOTE:
Flying
Pen Press is a virtual company; everyone telecommutes via the Internet and
works out of their own office or home. All staff of Flying Pen Press are
independent contractors.
Flying
Pen Press is a shoestring company. Almost all contractors are paid a share of
the gross profits from the projects they are working on. Contracts tend to be
project-based, and some staff sign a contract for each individual book or
project they are working on.
Freelancers
are contracted in the same manner. Flying Pen Press usually does not pay flat
fees to freelancers, but instead offers a share of gross profits on the
projects on which they work, or a sales commission if the work is sales
related.
This
means that all work throughout the company is speculative in nature, as gross
profits for any specific project cannot be forecast. Potential contractors
should understand that accounting periods are quarterly. This means that there
is a period between the time when work is done and when payment is made. Not
all contractors are in a position to take advantage of this type of
profit-sharing payment, because of this delay, while others are quick to note
that profit shares can be quite valuable if a project is highly profitable.
Because
large files are routinely sent by e-mail, all staff should have high-speed
Internet connections. Microsoft Word and Excel are the primary office software
platforms, and applicants should be familiar with these and have these
applications on their computer. Graphic software is the Adopbe Creative Suite
(Adobe InDesign, Acrobat Pro, PhotoShop, Illustrator, etc.), although
individual contractors may use different software to obtain the same results.
For
all positions, staff must be self-starters and able to work in a virtual
environment with little supervision.
Staff
are expected to maintain the confidence of Flying Pen Press and the authors and
artists who trust Flying Pen Press with their intellectual property.
POSITIONS:
BOOK EDITOR: Flying Pen Press book
editors are the managers of each book project. A book editor is usually
assigned to a specific genre.
Responsibilities: Manage the
book-production process, including consultation with authors and the publisher;
Assist authors with final revisions; Organize book design and production;
Manage a marketing program for the title; Liaison between Author and Publisher.
Qualifications: Extensive editing
experience with magazines, books, or freelance book editing; Strong command of
the English language; Organizational skills; Ability to receive and send large
email attachments in a timely fashion (high-speed Internet connection
required); A working knowledge of the book-publishing industry.
Contract: Book editors have a contract
for each book they work on. The book editor also has a letter of intent from
Flying Pen Press indicating the basic terms of each contract, including how
shares of gross profit are allocated to the book editor.
To Apply: Send resume to the Publisher
by mail or email. In your cover letter, be certain to indicate the genre or
subject of books that you prefer.
SENIOR EDITOR: Flying Pen Press senior
editors are the managers of each imprint, or a particular one of books within
an imprint. A senior editor is usually assigned to a specific imprint.
Responsibilities: Manage Book Editors,
including consultation with authors and the publisher; Assist Book Editors with
final revisions; Monitor progress of book-production, to ensure that Book
Editors are on top of deadlines; Prepare and carry out imprint marketing
strategies; Liaison between Book editors and Publisher; Review and analyze
sales of books.
Qualifications: Extensive editing
experience with magazines, books, or freelance book editing; Strong command of
the English language; Managerial skills; Ability to receive and send large
email attachments in a timely fashion (high-speed Internet connection
required); A working knowledge of the book-publishing industry; Ability to
communicate and inspire several Book Editors.
Contract: Senior Editors receive a
sales commission based on the net receipts of completed sales for all books
within their oversight duties.
To Apply: Send resume to the Publisher
by mail or email. In your cover letter, be certain to indicate the genre or
subject of books that you prefer. Plesae include professional contacts.
ROLE-PLAYING-GAME INDEXER: Flying Pen
Press seeks indexers for its Standard
Rules and Definitions for Fantasy Role Playing books. These books are
reprints of the SRD from Wizards of
the Coast™.
Responsibilities: Insert index tags in
the text of the rulebook, using Pagemaker or InDesign software.
Qualifications: Extensive experience in
playing fantasy role-playing games, specifically Dungeons & Dragons™;
Extensive knowledge of the SRD,
Dungeons and Dragons™, and d20System™ products on the market; Skilled in use of
InDesign or PageMaker software, with ownership of that same software on the
indexer’s work computer; Ability to meet deadlines; Ability to organize
game-related information; Ability to receive and send large email attachments
in a timely fashion (high-speed Internet connection required).
Contract: Indexers receive shares of
gross profit of books they index, based on the number of pages they index
(several indexers may be working on a single volume). These royalties also
cover combined editions of the rules for which the indexing work is used.
Contracts are generally made by the chapter. Because these books are based on
open-system content, indexers are the primary contributors to the book and
compensation is similar to that of a staff writer. Indexing work will not be
considered “open game content,” but the contract is a “work-for-hire” contract.
To Apply: Send resume to the SRD Book Editor,
by mail or email. Be certain to list your experience in role-playing games.
(Wizards
of the Coast, Dungeons & Dragons, and d20 System are trademarks of Wizards
of the Coast, Inc.)
ROLE-PLAYING-GAME WRITER: Flying Pen
Press seeks writers for its Standard
Rules and Definitions for Fantasy Role Playing books. These books are reprints
of the SRD from Wizards of the Coast.
Responsibilities: Write original
material to fill gaps in the original SRD,
according to the style set forth by the publisher.
Qualifications: Extensive experience in
playing fantasy role-playing games, specifically Dungeons & Dragons™;
Extensive knowledge of the SRD,
Dungeons and Dragons™, and d20System™ products on the market; Ability to meet
deadlines; Ability to organize game-related information and present it in a
clear and concise manner; A writing style that is acceptable to the publisher.
Contract: These project writers receive
shares of gross profit of books, based on the number of pages they contribute
(several writers may be working on a single volume, and most material in the
books is from open-source material). The contract also covers combined editions
of the rules which make use of the work. Contracts are generally made by the
chapter. Because these books are based on open-system content, and will be
released as “open game content,” the contract is work for hire and the material
will be opened to publication by an “open game license,” which will likely
result in the material being copied by other publishers without payment or
notice.
To Apply: Send resume to the SRD Book
Editor, by mail or email. Be certain to list your experience in role-playing
games. You may be asked for samples of your work.
(Wizards
of the Coast, Dungeons & Dragons, and d20 System are trademarks of Wizards
of the Coast, Inc.)
SRD BOOK EDITOR: Flying Pen Press seeks
a Book Editor for its Standard Rules and
Definitions for Fantasy Role Playing books. These books are reprints of the
SRD from Wizards of the Coast.
Responsibilities: Oversee book
production of the Standard Rules and
Definitions for Fantasy Role Playing; Manage writers and indexers on this
project; Maintain production schedule and ensure that books meet production
deadlines; Write some original material to fill gaps in the original SRD, according to the style set forth by
the publisher.
Qualifications: Extensive experience in
playing fantasy role-playing games, specifically Dungeons & Dragons™;
Extensive knowledge of the SRD,
Dungeons and Dragons™, and d20System™ products on the market; Ability to meet
deadlines; Ability to organize game-related information and present it in a
clear and concise manner; A writing style that is acceptable to the publisher;
Ability to manage writers and indexers; Ability to manage multiple projects at
once.
Contract: The SRD Book Editor receives
shares of gross profit of books, including combined editions. Contract covers
the entire series of books. Because these books are based on open-system
content, and will be released as “open game content,” the contract is work for
hire and the material will be opened to publication by an “open game license,”
which will likely result in the material being copied by other publishers
without payment or notice.
To Apply: Send resume to the Publisher,
by mail or email. Be certain to list your experience in role-playing games. You
may be asked for samples of your work. Please include professional contacts.
(Wizards
of the Coast, Dungeons & Dragons, and d20 System are trademarks of Wizards
of the Coast, Inc.)
ROLE PLAYING GAME SENIOR EDITOR: Flying
Pen Press seeks a Senior Editor for its lines of role-playing-game books.
Responsibilities: Oversee book
production of role-playing game books; review role-playing-game proposals
submitted to Game Day; Manage book editors, writer, illustrators, and indexers
on this project; Manage playtesting programs; Maintain production schedules and
ensure that books meet production deadlines; Write some original material to
fill gaps, according to the style set
forth by the publisher. Senor Editor may be required to act as Book Editor on
specific, shorter term projects. Prepare and execute a marketing plan, in
consultation with the publisher, of the Game Day line of Role-Playing Games;
Analysis of book sales; Assist publisher and book editors with creating
international plans for exhibition games and tournament leagues (perhaps
oversee Game Exhibition Managers and Tournament Directors).
Qualifications: Extensive experience in
playing fantasy role-playing games, specifically Dungeons & Dragons™;
Extensive knowledge of the SRD,
Dungeons and Dragons™, d20System™ and most role-playing-game products on the
market; Experience with writing or editing for role-playing games; Ability to
meet deadlines; Ability to organize game-related information and present it in
a clear and concise manner; A writing style that is acceptable to the
publisher; Ability to manage editors, writers, illustrators and indexers;
Ability to manage multiple projects at once; Ability to travel to game
conventions and trade shows; Ability to run games for exhibition and league
play, on occasion.
Contract: The Role Playing Game Senior
Editor receives a sales commission based on the net receipts of completed sales
for all of Game Day’s role-playing-game books.
To Apply: Send resume to the Publisher,
by mail or email. Be certain to list your experience in role-playing games. You
may be asked for samples of your work. Please include professional contacts.
(Wizards
of the Coast, Dungeons & Dragons, and d20 System are trademarks of Wizards
of the Coast, Inc.)
POKER WRITER: Flying Pen Press is
seeking writers for poker books, which will be published under its Game Day
imprint.
Responsibilities: Gather, organize and
write information for poker strategy books, poker rule books, and The Game Day Poker Almanac, as directed
by the Game Day Editor for Poker Books. This may include collection of survey
information from poker rooms.
Qualifications: Experience in playing
poker in poker-room settings; An understanding of the poker-playing world; A
thorough understanding of the rules and nuances of the game of poker; Ability
to meet deadlines; Ability to organize game-related information and present it
in a clear and concise manner; A writing style that is acceptable to the
publisher; The ability to work in an unsupervised environment; Demonstrated
skills at Internet and book research.
Contract: These project writers receive
shares of gross profit of books, based on the number of pages they contribute
(several writers may be working on a single volume). The contract also covers
combined editions which make use of the work. Contracts are generally made by
the chapter. Some extensive projects may contract several writers as a
collaborative team. In some cases, the writer owns copyright, in other cases,
the contract will be work for hire.
To Apply: Send resume to the Poker Book
Editor, by mail or email. Be certain to list your experience in playing poker.
You may be asked for samples of your work.
POKER LEGAL-GUIDE WRITER: Flying Pen
Press is seeking writers for a legal guide on poker in various states and
nations, which will be published under its Game Day imprint in the Poker
Almanac series, and will be updated annually.
Responsibilities: Gather, organize and
write information for poker legal guides,
as directed by the Game Day Editor for Poker Books and the series style manual;
Research laws that govern gambling in general, and poker in particular, in
various states and nations; Update the legal guide with new information
annually; Maintain research notes for use by other researchers who may update
the legal guide in future editions.
Qualifications: Experience with poker;
experience in legal or journalistic research; An understanding of the
poker-playing world; A thorough understanding of the rules and nuances of the
game of poker; Ability to meet deadlines; Ability to organize laws and legal
information and present it in a clear and concise manner; A writing style that
is acceptable to the publisher; The ability to work in an unsupervised
environment; Legal practice in gambling law is preferred, but not required.
Contract: Poker legal-guide writers
receive shares of gross profit of books, based on the number of pages they
contribute (several writers may be working on a single volume). The contract
also covers combined editions which make use of the work. Contracts are
generally made by the state or nation to be researched. This is a work-for-hire
contract, and Flying Pen Press will retain all rights to the work and the
research.
To Apply: Send resume to the Poker Book
Editor, by mail or email. Be certain to list your experience in playing poker.
You may be asked for samples of your work.
COPY EDITOR: Flying Pen Press is
seeking copy editors to review manuscripts, page proofs and galleys for
typographic errors, spelling, grammar, syntax and style
Responsibilities: Review manuscripts,
page proofs and galleys. Suggest corrections to the author for changes to
correct typographic errors, spelling, grammar, syntax and style.
Qualifications: Experience in
professional copy editing; Attention to details; Successful completion of copy-editing
test; Ability to receive and send large email attachments in a timely fashion
(high-speed Internet connection required); Ability to work in Word or Adobe
Acrobat Pro; Ownership of one of these software applications; Absolute command
of the English language, including skills at spelling, grammar, syntax, and the
ability to follow a style manual.
Contract: Contracts are made
individually for each title, with a kill-fee provision. Copy Editors receive
shares of gross profit of books, based on the number of pages they edit or on a
per project basis.
To Apply: Send resume to the Publisher by
mail or email. In your cover letter, be certain to indicate your preferred
genre or subject. Please include professional contacts.
BOOK DESIGNER: Flying Pen Press is
seeking book designers to typeset and organize pages for books.
Responsibilities: Set type on pages
using InDesign software; Organize pages into PDF files to send to printer;
Assign, gather and set illustrations, images, photographs and other graphical
elements required by the author or publisher; Create page proofs for authors,
editors and publisher; Submit PDF files to printer with cover-art files, as
directed by the publisher; Order and track approval galleys; Confirm that all
contributors to a book are satisfied with approval galleys; Consult with
author, editor and publisher.
Qualifications: Experience in book
design, using InDesign software, with ownership of same software. Ability to
send and receive large email attachments (high-speed Internet connection
required). Attention to detail. Skilled in graphic design and page design.
Understanding of the book-publishing industry.
Contract: Contracts are made
individually for each title, with a kill-fee provision. Book Designers receive
shares of gross profit of books, based on the number of pages they design or on
a per-project basis.
To Apply: Send resume to the Publisher by
mail or email. In your cover letter, be certain to indicate availability of
your portfolio and the software you are skilled with.
BOOK ILLUSTRATOR: Flying Pen Press is
seeking book illustrators to provide interior artwork and graphics for fiction
and non-fiction books.
Responsibilities: Create black and
white page illustrations, as required by the editor or publisher, in TIFF or
JPG format, or other formats as arranged.
Qualifications: Experience in graphic
design, including the use and ownership of graphic-design software. Ability to
send and receive large email attachments (high-speed Internet connection
required). Skilled in graphic design. Understanding of the book-publishing
industry. Artistic skill.
Contract: Flying Pen Press contracts
rights to illustrations, although in some rare cases a contract may require
work-for-hire terms. Illustrators receive shares of gross profit, based on the
number and size of illustrations. In some rare cases, a per-project contract
may be offered. Rights are negotiated as each project requires, but it is the
publisher’s policy to contract only those rights it needs. Non-exclusive rights
contracts are common. Illustrator credit is given.
To Apply: Send resume to the Publisher by
mail or email. In your cover letter, be certain to indicate availability of
your portfolio and the software you are skilled with. Please include two or
three recent samples of your work in black-and-white page illustration.
COVER DESIGNER: Flying Pen Press is
seeking cover designers to direct and design covers for Flying Pen Press books.
Responsibilities: Design covers of the
publisher’s titles, with an eye to marketability and genre standards, in
consultation with the author, book editor and publisher; Maintain a stable of
cover artists; Assign covers to artists and work with those artists to assure
artwork is appropriate and of high quality; Write blurbs and marketing
information on book covers; Arrange graphical elements, artwork, titles and
blurbs on the cover, in PDF or TIFF format.
Qualifications: Experience in
book-cover design, with ownership of and experience in publication-quality
graphics software. Ability to send and receive large email attachments
(high-speed Internet connection required). Attention to detail. Skilled in
graphic design. Understanding of the book-publishing industry; Ability to meet
deadlines.
Contract: Contracts are made
individually for each title, with a kill-fee provision. Cover Designers receive
shares of gross profit of books, based on a per-project basis.
To Apply: Send resume to the Publisher by
mail or email. In your cover letter, be certain to indicate availability of
your portfolio and the software you are skilled with.
BOOK COVER ARTIST: Flying Pen Press is
seeking artists to provide full-color artwork and graphics for covers of
fiction and non-fiction books.
Responsibilities: Create color artwork,
as required by the cover designer, the editor or the publisher, in TIFF or JPG
format, or other formats as arranged, or in original format that can be scanned
or digitally rendered; Provide sketches for review prior to work on art.
Qualifications: Demonstrated artistic
ability. Ability to send and receive large email attachments (high-speed
Internet connection required). Skilled in graphic design. Ability to follow art
direction. Ability to meet deadlines.
Contract: Flying Pen Press contracts
rights to artwork. Artists receive shares of gross profit, based on per-project
basis. Rights are negotiated as each project requires. The publisher generally
requires non-competing rights, but usually leaves other resale and reprint
rights to the artist. In some rare cases, the publisher may commission artwork
for the use of all rights. Artist credit is given.
To Apply: Send resume to the Publisher by
mail or email. In your cover letter, be certain to indicate availability of
your portfolio and the software and media you are skilled with. Please include
two or three recent samples of your work in color files. Include samples of
book-cover art, including the title and publisher name, if available.
BOOK MARKETING PROFESSIONAL: Flying Pen
Press seeks marketing professionals to assist the company with marketing its
titles.
Responsibilities: Manage marketing
calendars for a number of titles; Oversee public relations campaigns, in
association with publicists; Help design and distribute the Flying Pen Press
catalog of titles; Purchase and clip advertising space; Create marketing and PR
plans for titles, in consultation with the publisher, book editors, publicists
and authors; Maintain relations and resolve problems with distributors, sales
reps and order-fulfillment agents.
Qualifications: Extensive public
relations and marketing experience with magazines, books, or related products;
A working knowledge of the book-publishing and bookselling industries; Ability
to meet rigorous deadlines; Ability to work unsupervised from a home office;
Ability to receive and send large email attachments in a timely fashion
(high-speed Internet connection required); Ability to multi-task and to manage
several marketing and public relations campaigns at the same time; Ability to
provide high-quality customer service to wholesalers and retailers.
Contract: Book marketing professionals
are contracted in one of two ways, generally. Book marketers may be contracted
to work on specific titles, with one contract per title; these contracts offer
the book marketer a share of gross profits from the sale of the title. Or, a
book marketer may be contracted to market all titles in one or more imprints
(or the entire catalog) as a group; this type of contract offers the book
marketer a sales commission based on completed net sales. The type of contract
offered depends on the book marketer’s experience, abilities, and
responsibilities.
To Apply: Send resume to the Publisher by
mail or email.
PUBLICIST: Flying Pen Press seeks
publicists to assist the company with publicity of its titles and their
authors.
Responsibilities: Assist book marketers
and authors with public-relations campaigns; Manage publicity calendars for a
number of titles; Send review copies of new books to reviewers and purchasers;
Maintain a list of reviewers and purchasers; Write and manage publicity
material and press releases; Arrange author appearances, book signings, and
other publicity events; Maintain contact with the media; Create PR plans for
titles, in consultation with the publisher, book editors, book marketers and
authors; Article placement in magazines; Arrange author appearances on TV and
radio talk shows.
Qualifications: Extensive public
relations and marketing experience with magazines, books, or related products;
A working knowledge of the book-publishing and bookselling industries; Ability
to meet rigorous deadlines; Ability to work unsupervised from a home office; Ability
to receive and send large email attachments in a timely fashion (high-speed
Internet connection required); Ability to multi-task and to manage several publicity
campaigns at the same time; A working collection of media contacts related to
publishing, book selling and book reviews.
Contract: Publicists are contracted in
one of two ways, generally. Publicists may be contracted to work on specific
titles, with one contract per title; these contracts offer the publicist a
share of gross profits from the sale of the title. Or, a publicist may be
contracted to publicize all titles in one or more imprints (or the entire
catalog) as a group; this type of contract offers the publicist a sales
commission based on completed net sales. The type of contract offered depends
on the publicist’s experience, abilities, and responsibilities.
To Apply: Send resume to the Publisher by
mail or email. Include professional references.
BOOK SALESPERSON: Flying Pen Press
seeks sales representatives to call on bookstores, distributors and
wholesalers, to take orders for the company’s titles.
Responsibilities: Call on bookstores,
distributors and wholesalers and sell them Flying Pen Press titles from the
title catalog; Complete order forms for book titles; Assist book marketers with
local marketing and public-relations efforts; Assist publisher with collecting
overdue accounts in their territory; Might also assist with booth sales at
various events.
Qualifications: Demonstrated book-sales
abilities; Ability to service territory by automobile (or, in the case of
aviation titles, to possibly service the territory’s airports by light
aircraft); Ability to complete order forms and submit them to publisher in a
timely manner; Strong customer-service skills; Comfortable and skilled in collections
of overdue accounts; Demonstrated enthusiasm for the product.
Contract: Book salespeople are offered
commissions on their net sales.
To Apply: Send resume to the Publisher by
mail or email. Include professional references.
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT: Flying Pen
Press occasionally needs an administrative assistant to assist with filing and
bookkeeping, especially for quarterly royalty sales reports (after each
calendar quarter)
Responsibilities: Filing; Bookkeeping,
using Quickbooks Pro and Access; Maintain mailing list through Internet
research, library research and phone calls; packing and shipping of books on
large orders; general administrative work in the publisher’s home office.
Responsibilities can vary as needs arise.
Qualifications: Ability to work with
required software; Ability to maintain publisher’s confidence; Good
customer-service skills; Attention to detail; Must live in the Denver area and be able to commute to
publisher’s home office.
Contract: Administrative assistants are
either contracted from temporary labor agencies, or from freelance
administrative assistants and bookkeeping services. This is a contractor
position, and is offered intermittently as a short-term contract.
To Apply: Send resume to the Publisher by
mail or email. Include professional references.
|
