SUBMISSION GUIDELINES for

VISIONARY ENTERTAINMENT STUDIO, INC.

3705 New Macland Road
Suite 200-314, Powder Springs, Ga.

World with the Secret World. The eldritch that participants

Submission Guidelines for Authors roleplay must balance their real world lives with their
involvement in the supernatural.
Hey, we’re glad you’re interested!
The Secret World features modern day dungeons, astral
Visionary Entertainment Studio is always looking for new
realms, dreamworlds, new Camelot, the netherworlds, the
writers and we are willing to review your submissions even if
seven heavens, castles hidden in the fringes of reality in big
you are unpublished. Just keep in mind that our production
cities, wizards towers in downtown areas, the underworld,
schedule for the foreseeable future (the next year or so) has
another earth-like world that is ruled by mages, catacomb
already been fully planned out. If we like your writing style, but
labyrinths ruled by ghouls, a lost city of the djinn, and much
we can’t use your submission, we may contact you do some
much more. It is up to you to build upon what is already
other work for us. If we like some of the ideas you have, but
established.
we can’t use any work from you, we may be interested in
working your ideas into what we are already doing. If so, we
Instructions:
will contact you and offer you payment and/or give you credit
Please read and follow the following instructions and
for your work in the submission.
guidelines for submissions. If you do not follow our submission
We thank you for your interest in writing for VESI and hope
guidelines, we will assume that you will not be able to meet the
that you are successful; there is certainly a need for good
demands we place upon our writers and your submission will
writers in games today. If you are new at submitting material,
be rejected by being thrown away without any review
keep in mind that while we appreciate your efforts, we will not
whatsoever.
teach you how to write. We expect you to demonstrate
professional quality in your submissions, so we will not provide
You need to send us . . . .
critiques of your work. We are definitely seeking new talent
1. Signed Submission Release Agreement (We will not look
with innovative, exciting ideas, but you must meet our writing
at your submission without this signed form.)
standards. Just remember that if your submission is rejected,
2. Cover Letter (Provide all relevant information on how to
you can still resubmit new work to us in the future. Work on
contact you, including e-mail address, phone, fax,
your writing skills, come up with new ideas, and try and try
address, and so on.)
again. Most all would-be writers suffer plenty of rejections
3. Complete Synopsis (A one page or less overview of the
before any of their work gets accepted.
material presented. Do not send us a full length
manuscript.)
The Secret World Setting for The Everlasting
4. A submission that is no longer than seven pages, typed.
You should be somewhat familiar with The Everlasting in
Usually 2-3 pages are plenty.
order to work for us. You do not have to be an expert, since
5. Self-Addressed, Stamped Envelope
you can always use the published material as reference books,
but you should know enough to make your submission fit with
The Submission Process is as follows . . .
what we publish.
1. Mail in your Submission along with a S.A.S.E.
The Secret World setting is one of modern fantasy. There
2. Send in enough return postage or money to cover it, if you
are many race of eldritch (supernatural beings), including:
want your submission returned
angels, mythic gods, grail knights, demons, werewolves,
3. Allow plenty of time for Review
ghouls, revenants, vampires, Frankenstein monster types,
4. Receive a Letter of Acceptance or Rejection
golems, undead cyborgs, gargoyles, totem spirits that possess
humans, nightmare lords that possess humans, djinn, alien
Here’s a list of things you should not do:
horrors, astral spirits, dream spirits, dragons that maintain
1. Do not send us a lengthy manuscript. It is a waste of your
human forms most of the time, elves, faerie, dwarves, orcs,
time. Send us only a short synopsis of what you are
halflings, azhi dehaka (evil eaters of dragon souls), osirians
interested in doing. (It could be that the subject you have
(reincarnating mages that remember their past lives fully), and
in mind has already been taken by someone else.)
human adventurers. We are also working on a few others we
2. Do not e-mail VESI to hurry up or to check on the status
have not mentioned yet or have mentioned only briefly in print,
of the review.
such as the worldsingers, the silicates, the living cities, and
3. Do not call VESI to hurry up or check on the status of the
some more.
review.
The world is one in which everything supernatural is
4. Do not fax in your submission.
seldom noticed or else rationalized away by mundane humans,
5. Do not waste your time writing up a whole manuscript
yet the eldritch and fantasts (imaginative mortals) can see to
without first sending in a brief overview for review; we
varying degrees and with certain features in mind (such as
don’t have time to read entire manuscripts as
gloom & doom for the un-dead or natural & unnatural for
submissions.
manitou). The eldritch now work together, regardless of race,
6. Do not bother sending in a separate writing sample. Your
primarily to stop the demons and to accomplish their own
submission is your writing sample.
agendas. The world is ruled and has been shaped not by the
7. Do not send in your submission by disk or by e-mail.
eldritch, but by the humans. The eldritch live on the fringes of
8. Do not make yourself an exception to any of the things we
reality.
require in submissions because you think your stuff is
There are horror, splatter, gothic, science-fiction, mystery,
exceptionally great.
action, adventure, romance, and other features within the
Secret World setting, but primarily it is a blending of the Real
What We Are Looking For in You and Your Submission:
1. Good writing skills: Always do a spelling check on text can write well to help you with the submission (and they
and use proper grammar. Remember, we expect good should be credited in the submission too.)
writing first and foremost and if your submission is badly 2. Your Characters: Do not send us copies of your
written, it may not get read beyond the first page. characters or material from your own Odysseys
2. Creativity and Originality: Use your imagination. Don’t (campaigns).
send us more of the same stuff that we see in games 3. Generic material: Do not send us generic game material
every day. that you have submitted everywhere else. We want
3. Professionalism: Be capable of handling criticism, take material that is directly related to the Secret World setting
the work seriously, and stay in touch with developers as to and The Everlasting as a whole.
the current status of the project. 4. Crossovers with other Games: Do not send us ideas for
4. Responsibility: You must be capable of meeting books or other products that are crossovers with other
deadlines, completing work, and making changes in a companies’ properties. We are not interested at this time
timely manner. in doing crossover material, and even if we were, we
5. Familiarity with product line: If you are writing for The would need the permission of all right-holders involved.
Everlasting, you must use the vocabulary appropriate for 5. Only Short Stories and Poetry: Do not send us short
the system and for the setting. For example, never use stories and poetry in and of themselves (especially if they
the word “players” or “game”, instead use the word are not related to The Everlasting), since we are currently
“participants” and “mythic experience.” You must know planning on only releasing game material at the present
about the setting, the supernatural races, and the system time. We might be interested in short stories if they are
mechanics. very good and if you are also willing to work on game
6. Familiarity with Mythology, History, and Folklore: You material.
don’t have to be an expert. We just want our writers to 6. Eldritch Responsibility for Everything: The Secret
know enough to include references to mythology, history, World setting emphasizes that humans have always
and folklore in their work. controlled their own destiny and that they are not the
7. Business/Market Awareness: We want to publish pawns of supernatural beings as a race.
material that will sell well, so we need our writers to know 7. Derivative Material: We do not want cliches in
the game market well enough to judge whether or not adventures and stereotypes for characters. We do not
what they wish to write about will be of any interest to want to make The Everlasting just like everything else.
other “roleplaying consumers.” Also, we want material that Help us by developing new ideas. Don’t send us more of
will be useful to both the guides (gamemasters) and all the the same old thing.
other participants. 8. Pornographic (or Otherwise Offensive) Material:
8. Expansions on Existing Material: We are always on the Visionary Entertainment does not want to promote an
look out for other peoples’ takes on the Secret World and “adults only” image for its products, so keep your
we welcome you to develop anything that already exists in submissions PG or PG-13 at worst. We do not allow
print within your submission, but keep in mind that we may profanity and descriptions of sexual acts to appear in our
already have someone working on something you are material. This does not mean you cannot provide
interested in. controversial, intelligent, satirical, and irreverent (to a
9. New Material: We are also always on the look out for new point) themes and elements within your work. In fact, we
races of eldritch, new villains, new forms of magick, new welcome such things. We simply do not wish to alienate
setting locations, and other details. Just remember that anyone interested in The Everlasting.
whatever it is you are submitting should dovetail nicely 9. Talking Down in Your Audience: We do not want
with the existing material for The Everlasting. overwhelming humor or sarcasm. We also do not want a
10. Drama, Complexity and Depth: We want all of our dumbing down of the material for the audience, but we do
material to have real depth, epic drama, central themes, not want you to talk above the reader’s head. You can
complex characters, strong visual descriptions of things, have complex material, but it must be explained well.
and exciting, innovative challenges. We are not looking for
linear adventures or villains who love being E-vil just for Manuscript Form:
the sake of being nasty. 1. Any Logical Format: We are not sticklers on formatting
11. Mythological, Historical, and Folkloric Ties: We want of submissions, so as long as they are coherent. Present
all our material for the Secret World, including races of the material in a logical order that allows us to read it
supernatural beings, setting locations, and events of epic easily. However, if you are assigned a project, you we will
importance, to all have roots in any of the world’s mythic send you formatting instructions.
or folkloric traditions. This is not meant to limit your 2. Hard Copy, Not Disk Copy: We do expect you to send
creativity, but rather to give your work more depth and us your submission on paper. If assigned a project, you
realism. For example, we do not want a race of 10’ tall, will be given instructions as to the format your computer
armor wearing, predatory aliens in the Secret World files must take. All our writers must have a computer to
unless you can justify them by linking them to historical work on, we do not accept finished manuscripts in only a
events, urban legends, folk tales, or ancient myths. hardcopy form.
3. Typed Submissions Only: You may fill out the
What We Are Not Looking For in You and Your Submissions Form by hand, but send your cover letter
Submission: and other submission materials to us typed, not hand
1. Poor Writing Skills: Do not send in poorly written written. Do not use flowery fonts or fancy layout design.
material that does not even use good grammar, correct We expect the material to “sing” without any of these
spelling, and proper punctuation. Also, do not send in things. You are free to include diagrams, maps, charts,
something typed in all capital letters or something pictures or whatever else is necessary for making your
handwritten. Remember, even if your ideas are good, if point, but these things are neither required nor desired.
your writing sucks, then you should get someone else who
Basic Style Guidelines:
 responsibility in meeting deadlines. If we like your style, we
We cannot make you a good writer, we have a hard may commission you as a freelancer; we are just as willing to
enough time working on making ourselves good writers. So use new artists as we are to use established professionals. We
please, look over the following style guidelines and apply them wish you the best of luck and hope you make it as an artist,
to your work. We will provide a more detailed set of guidelines but remember that we cannot critique your work for you or
at a later date (when we recognize the most common mistakes teach you the skills you need. We expect you to demonstrate a
made, after collecting enough submissions.) professional quality within your submissions.

Correct Spelling Instructions:

Make sure you spellcheck your document. This is a top Please read and follow the following instructions and
priority. guidelines for submissions. If you do not follow our submission
guidelines, we will assume that you will not be able to meet the
Proofreading demands we place upon our artists and your submission will
You can proofread your own material, but it is more helpful be rejected by being thrown away without any review
if you get someone else with a fair sense of grammar and a whatsoever.
little knowledge of what you are writing about to proofread your
material for you. You need to send us . . . .
1. Signed Submission Release Agreement (We will not look
Passive Sentences at your submission without this signed form.)
Use active, direct sentences and avoid passive sentences. 2. Cover Letter (Provide all relevant information on how to
This mistake occurs way too often. contact you, including e-mail address, phone, fax,
Passive: John’s mind was shattered when the monster address, and so on. E-mail and fax capablility are very
appeared. important.)
Active: The appearance of the monster shattered John’s 3. Non-returnable Artwork Samples (Send us anywhere from
mind. 4 to 10 sample pieces of artwork. Make sure you put your
name, address, phone number, and other points of
Use of “That” contact on back of each sample.)
Avoid using the word “that” in sentences unless absolutely 4. Self-Addressed, Stamped Envelope
necessary.
Wrong: John recuperated in the mental hospital that the The Submission Process is as follows . . .
other adventurers had stayed in weeks earlier. 1. Mail in your Submission along with a S.A.S.E.
Right: John recuperated in the mental hospital the other 2. Allow plenty of time for Review
adventurers had stayed in weeks earlier. 3. Receive a Letter of Acceptance or Rejection

Use the Present Tense Here’s a list of things you should not do:
Use the present tense instead of the future or past tense 1. Do not e-mail VESI to hurry up or to check on the status
whenever appropriate. of the review.
Wrong: John’s adventuring buddies will visit John as soon 2. Do not call VESI to hurry up or to check on the status of
as they find out he is in the hospital. the review.
Right: John’s adventuring buddies visit John as soon as 3. Do not fax in your submission.
they find out he is in the hospital. 4. Do not send in your submission by disk or by e-mail.
5. Do not make yourself an exception to any of the things we
Use the correct Terminology require in submissions because you think your stuff is
The Everlasting uses lots of jargon and terminology both in exceptionally great.
the setting and in the guidelines. Use the correct words, do not
use terms that are not used within The Everlasting. For What We Are Looking For in You and Your Submission:
instance, “player”, “game”, “gamemaster”, “rules”, “story” and 1. Artistic skills: First and foremost, we want great artwork.
“player characters” are not used. The Everlasting uses You must have the technical skills involved. You should
“participant”, “mythic experience”, “guide”, “guidelines”, also be capable of illustrating people, animals, and setting
“adventure” and “protagonists” instead. locations. You should be capable of conveying different
Wrong: This story is part of a long campaign set within The moods and genres (modern fantasy primarily, though
Everlasting’s setting. horror and science-fiction are welcomed.)
Right: This adventure is part of a long odyssey set within 2. Variety of Illustrations: Send us maybe one or two
the Secret World. portrait-type shots and one or two action shots. Send us
illustrations of humans, animals, cityscapes, landscapes,
Use the correct formatting for Terminology and so on. Provide examples of your talent with both
Capitalize those words which should be capitalized and do realistic and fantasy elements. Mix things up with long
not capitalize those which should not be capitalized. A list of range, medium range, short range, and close up
formatting for terms is provided, but look in the published illustrations. Also, send illustrations featuring points of
books themselves if you are not sure about the formatting. view from more interesting angles than that of flat and
Wrong: The wer has a strength of 7 and an intellect of 5. straight ahead. We’re not asking for all of these different
Right: The wer has Strength 7 and Intellect 5. things, but we definitely do want to see some variety to
express your versitility along with your various strengths
and weaknesses.
Submission Guidelines for Artists 3. Variety of Mediums: You do not have to provide sample
illustrations within lots of different mediums, but you
We’re Always On the Lookout for Artists
should let us know which mediums you can work in and
We at Visionary Entertainment Studio are always looking
provides some samples of those mediums.
for new artists who possess professional skills and
4. Professionalism: Be capable of handling criticism, take
the work seriously, and stay in touch with developers as to GOOD LUCK!
the current status of the project. We hope that you will make it! Thanks again for your
5. Responsibility: You must be capable of meeting interest and support!
deadlines, completing work, and making changes in a
timely manner.
6. Familiarity with product line: If you are providing
artwork for The Everlasting, you must be familiar with the
setting. In other words, do not send us illustrations that do
not fit in with what is being illustrated, such as a grail
knights riding around on horses and in armor in modern
times or angels all flying around with flaming swords . . .
most of the time they look and dress like normal people.
7. Familiarity with Mythology, History, and Folklore: You
don’t have to be an expert; this just relates to knowing the
subject matter that you are illustrating. We are definitely
interested in artists who can capture the artistic styles of
various cultures, such as Asian, Celtic, and Arabic, in their
work.

What We Are Not Looking For in You and Your

Submission:
1. Poor Artistic Skills: Do not send in work that you would
not want to see in print.
2. Derivative Material: We do not want to see more
stereotypical portraits of leather clad bikers, cool dudes in
shades and armed with shotguns, trenchcoat-wearing
immortals, scantily clad (or nude) vixens, and so on.
3. Plagiarized Images: We do not want to see your tracing
of photos or your direct copying of Spawn or Batman from
a comic book cover. (Don’t risk it, I own a comic book
store, I’ll know.)
4. Unrelated Topics: We do not want to see your
illustrations of Gillian Anderson or Bill Shatner. We also do
not want to see your comic book work-in-progress.
However, this does not mean we will reject your work due
to content. In fact, if your best samples are of such
unrelated things, send them anyway just to provide a fair
example of your skills, but keep in mind that your best
chances are by sending illustrations relevant to The
Everlasting.
5. Pornographic (or Otherwise Offensive) Material:
Visionary Entertainment does not want to promote an
“adults only” image for its products, so keep your
submissions PG or PG-13 at worst. We will not publish
illustrations with nudity or lots of blood and gore.
6. Oversized Dimensions: Do not send us anything larger
than 8.5” wide or 13” tall.
7. Tiny pictures: Send us full size images or as close to full
size as acceptable dimensions allow. Do not send us a
bunch of shrunken down illustrations on a single page.
8. Cartoons: We do not publish any material that could
make use of cartoons.
9. Original Work: Do not send us your original work, even if
you are creating it specifically for the submission. Send us
photocopies or printer copies. We do not want to be
responsible for your originals and do not want to hassle
with having to send them back to you. We need copies of
your illustrations so that we can keep them on file if we
are interested.

Send Your Submissions to us at:

Visionary Entertainment Studio, Inc.

3705 New Macland Road Suite 200-314
Powder Springs, Ga.30127
Attn: Submissions