Loss of Control

[RPGnet Columns]

Post originally by Gordon Landis at 2002-07-05 12:55:02
Converted from Phorums BB System

There's another factor involved in using other people, though - you no longer have control over what you've produced. If those other people can decide where/when/how to publish your work, where to ship it, when to reprint it, and etc., in some very significant ways, it's not yours anymore - it's theirs.

So, if you consider your work "done" once the writing is over, by all means let others do the rest of the work. But realize you've just handed your creation over to someone else, who does NOT have to listen to you about where it goes from here.

Others can probably adress this point in more depth than I can, but I've heard enough stories, in many different arenas, to consider this an important issue not covered in Sandy's article.

Gordon

[RPGnet Columns]

Post originally by Sandy Antunes at 2002-07-07 15:59:18
Converted from Phorums BB System

Hi,

Well, what is your work? I mean, you lose some control over your money when you bank it, but few people advocate not having a checking account.

Oh, wait, a checking account actually gives you _more_ control over your money, because you suddenly gain access to abilities and services (credit cards, POS debit, etc) that you didn't have before, and you make interest as well? Maybe this tight-fisted control matter needs some reexamination.

Remember, all the services listed in my column work _for_ you. You are not their employee, rather, you are the decision-maker. Saying you lose control by outsourcing sets up a false dichotomy.

Only a control freak would think that using, say, Wizard's Attic for product fulfilment is 'removing their choice in where and when to sell'. It's making the product available to the distributors and retailers.

The control you _want_ for a product is "what is the content, how is it presented, which markets is it aimed at, how is it marketed". Anything past that isn't "control", it's needless micromanagement.

Focus on what you're good at (creation) and what you want to say (the product and its marketing) and let others do the grunt work. That's all my message was this time.

Cheers,
Sandy
sandy@rpg.net

[RPGnet Columns]

Post originally by Gordon Landis at 2002-07-08 12:05:21
Converted from Phorums BB System

If "Use Other People" really means "Use the RIGHT Other People" . . . issue withdrawn. Wizard's Attic and the like - you're right, even the most paranoid folks I've heard from wouldn't have a problem with that. I guess the only concern is that in your list of things a creator wants to control, sometimes Other People "butt in" on the "how it's marketed" part. If/when that happens . . . don't work with those people anymore.

[RPGnet Columns]

Post originally by Sandy Antunes at 2002-07-09 09:56:57
Converted from Phorums BB System

Hello,

You raise a good point-- the 'right other people' is key, but that raises a bootstrapping/startup quandry. Until you've published, it's hard to know who the right people are. And, relevant to your earlier point, knowing which areas you can control or say 'no' in, and which to accept their advise blindly, is also an issue.

Something I should probably address in a future column.

Cheers,
Sandy
sandy@rpg.net