Game Writing at a Distance (aka Game Writing under Contract) - Professional Techniques for Video Game Writing - page 68

Whatever your team calls these development phases, just smile and agree, but
try to work into the schedule a time when you hand in something that allows the
producers to review the work, give you feedback, and then gives you time to rework
and polish.

Understand That the Game Industry Only Pays for “Approved� Work
Writers coming to the game industry from outside, especially film, may not be aware
that simply submitting the work does not generate a payment. In film, if the writer
delivers a draft, whether the studio likes the draft or not, the fact that the draft was
delivered meets the contract requirement, and the payment for the draft is due.
In games, that's almost never the case. All work must be “accepted� before pay-
ment is due. Film writers find this bizarre, because the fear is it can lead to the
developer playing with the writer and changing their mind about what they want
and claiming the writing was “unacceptable� in order to avoid payment. In film,
every draft that the studio asks for, even something as small as a polish, is covered
under the basic agreement.
It just doesn't work that way in games, so if you want to work in the industry,
you'll just have to get used to it.

Understand That They are Probably Behind Schedule
When you have any interactions with the developer, keep in mind they are most
probably behind schedule. Filter all their demands on your time through that idea
and try to help them meet your own schedule as best you can.

7.4 Conclusion
To succeed at contract life, make sure to do the following.

•

Make yourself as available as often as you can.

•

Overcommunicate.

•

Offer to handle your incidental expenses.

•

Expect the job and schedule to both change radically.

•

Show them why they should always hire someone like you to write for them.

•

Smile always.