Technically, ExploderWizard has the right of it. Colloquially, we call people who earn a living at something a "Professional" at that thing. Calling someone who earns money at it, no matter how small, seems to be seriously diluting the meaning of the word.

So, for example, I am a professional writer - I make a nice living at it - and an amateur game designer.

-clash

In terms of creative work, "professional" means either "gets paid regularly" or, failing that, "gets paid enormously" (your J.D. Salingers & such).

Quote from: RPGPundit;675663Is it, on the other hand, only someone who's sole means of income is RPGs?  That would probably exclude just about every freelancer.

RPGPundit

And all but a handful of publishers.

I think the stricter definition of "professional" is what's behind the spread of the term "semi-pro", which I think I first saw in reference to photographers and videographers. These would be people who have either done spot contract work or self-publishing and received more than just a couple bucks (therefore, not an amateur,) but which don't make enough to really consider their work a full-time or part-time job. You could probably consider most of the small RPG publishers "semi-pro".

Quote from: Rincewind1;675721Considering existance of FATAL, Synnibarr, RaHoWa and  that Post Apocalyptic game with absolutely bizarre mutations generation (where many of them meant your character'd die suddenly during creation), I'm sure that's simply impossible.

That'd be deadEarth, I think.

Quote100 Death.You are dead. Over-exposure to radiation kills you.
cost:none. range:self. effect:binary.

Quote from: RPGPundit;675663What makes someone a "Professional" in this hobby?

Cheap living expenses and a spouse with a decent-paying job...

Exploderwizard got it in one. Even in the advent of photography the distinction had to rapidly be made. There's the amateur who is exploring the technology and art of a new medium, who may do pieces here and there for occasional pay. And then there's the guy who does it for a living (livelihood) by means of legal contracts, and thus liable for breaches during outcome -- thus professional bodies entering the picture.

(And photography was a lot more dangerous back then, too. But then professional bodies, qualifications, and codes of conduct were easily whipped up back then in the 19th Century, as everyone was excited to categorize every new thing and fart out a manifesto atop it. So perhaps it's all just a failing of our modern laziness.)

Quote from: RPGPundit;675663How do we define that?  Is anyone who "publishes" an RPG book on Lulu, even if it doesn't sell 10 copies, a "Professional RPG writer"?

Is it, on the other hand, only someone who's sole means of income is RPGs?  That would probably exclude just about every freelancer.

RPGPundit

A lot depends on their handling of several things: promotion, work ethic, dealing with others in the hobby/business, paying artists on time and treating them like they do real work too. Can I stress the latter part?

Someone who can write full-time, without having another job to support them.

Quote from: Rincewind1;675721Considering existance of FATAL, Synnibarr, RaHoWa and  that Post Apocalyptic game with absolutely bizarre mutations generation (where many of them meant your character'd die suddenly during creation), I'm sure that's simply impossible.

I mean, we have about 4000 - 3300 years of literary history (taking Epic of Gilgamesh as starting point), and we haven't a single example of someone suffering harm from reading it. Now, causing harm due to reading something is an entirely different sack of potatoes.

My idea for the worst rpg ever was this:

There is only one rule. You flip a coin to determine everything.

The rules would be written to sound serious about how that is the perfect system.

I seriously thought about doing this.

Quote from: RPGPundit;675663How do we define that?  Is anyone who "publishes" an RPG book on Lulu, even if it doesn't sell 10 copies, a "Professional RPG writer"?

It based on their charisma and if they are being paid royalties or not.

Quote from: Bill;675678What if you publish an rpg product that is so horrible people suffer actual harm from reading it?

I don't think HYBRID was written by a pro if that's what you mean

Quote from: Bill;675980My idea for the worst rpg ever was this:

There is only one rule. You flip a coin to determine everything.

The rules would be written to sound serious about how that is the perfect system.

I seriously thought about doing this.

D02 know no limit!

Professional vs X ?

If you do something professional rather than as an amateur, you are doing it for payment, and follow some measure of standard other than just pleasing yourself or your friends (as compared to customers who pay not because they like you, but they like your work as product).

I recall reading an essay about how HP Lovecraft should be considered one of the most successful amateurs in horror writing, not because of not seeking payment, but because he was often not open to revising or rewriting a story. On the other hand, he was a professional writer because he made money off of other types of writing he cared less about, travel writing, ghostwriting for others, etc.

Kurt Vonnegutt wrote for a living. When he wasnt making money from novels at first, he write for Better Homes & Gardens. You have to have a craft-for-client mentality.

If a contract and exchange of money are involved then you might be a professional, at least by hobby publishing standards. If you are making a living at it then you're a freakin' superstar.

If your work under contract leads to peer review (i.e. a real editor) then give yourself an extra star.

I made enough money off of my last major writing contract in the hobby to move to a new state and live comfortably for a few months while looking for a real job....so at least for that period of time I might have labelled myself a professional.