How do you pay your writer?

[SimonLayton]

The topic title says pretty much everything, but this is particularly for paid writers and game developers who pay their writers, unless they're the writer themselves. Anyone can answer, though. I have a short story under consideration in a speculative magazine, and the magazines usually pay cents per word, but I wonder how do paid writers set up their rates here. Do they charge per word or do they make a price per thousand words? Is there a fixed or minimum price?

Also, how do the writers write? In a word processor of their choice or directly in the game script? Do they write side-by-side with the game developer? Do writers hire their own editors or do they work with the team editor too? Are writers limited to a certain amount of words?

[Juneberry]

I think the way writing works depends on the writer and the VN that you're working on. Some writers will go to outside sources for help with editing, but it depends on many things: Did you make the story yourself (is it your own idea)? Did someone hire you, or are you hiring others yourself?

I note right now, I'm a writer. I sometimes edit for people randomly- usually in PMs- just to help out. Usually it's their personal story, that they're getting help with. For me, I usually am getting help with mine too, so naturally, I ask writers to help me sometimes, or other people with skills I need.

I did write for another project however that was a story that wasn't mine. In that case, I sent the writing after I was told what was needed to the person in charge. They already had someone to look at it afterward, so I didn't need to look. But that was just a single situation. It really does depend on the writer, the team, and many other things. :/

As for how you pay, that depends on the team too. A lot of the time if it's a paid project, you'll pay a percentage similar to an artist, depending on the situation- or you can give them aid with one of your own skills. Or it's a free job and they're just helping out?

Sorry if this isn't much help, but it basically is depends on the situation. Personally, I tend to write in a simple manner: I write, they pay what they feel its worth if I'm getting paid- or if it's a kickstarter, it's a percentage of some sort. So...Sorta simple for me? But usually I'm writing for free projects or my own work so...

[Raithfyre]

Pay is generally done on a per-word basis, yes, though per-thousand-words would work too - just seems unnecessarily complicated, to me. When I write for pay, I usually charge 1.5-2 cents per word of finished draft, so that means anything after editing.

Word processor would be, I assume, the most common tool used. I personally prefer Google Docs, for cloud functionality and for how easy it makes collaboration, but really, it just comes down to personal preference. I'm usually given a prompt or a scene description, and then I write out everything in a prose format, similar to what I'm doing right here. Sometimes/some writers will write in a script format so that the text can be more easily copied into Ren'Py, but I don't believe it's a majority who does that. And lastly, editors usually vary from team to team, rather than being associated with a particular writer. I do have friends to whom I'll often send my work and get feedback, regardless of the associated project, but I'm hesitant to call them "my" editor(s).

[Starshine]

I remember when i did a google search somewhere around 2012 and i came across this website:
https://www.freelancer.co.uk/

(But personally i think it would cost alot of money to hire one... so it would probably be best to make your own story, or work in a group)