XV.
FROM THE FACTORY’S FILES
A letter of commendation from the reader of a story to the writer is not only a pleasant thing in itself but it proves the reader a person of noble soul and high motives. Noblesse oblige!
The writer who loves his work is not of a sordid nature. The check an editor sends him for his story is the smallest part of his reward. His has been the joy to create, to see a thought take form and amplify under the spell of his inspiration. A joy which is scarcely less is to know that his work has been appreciated by others.
A letter like the one below, for instance, not only gives pleasure to the recipient but at the same time fires a writer with determination never to let his work fall short of a previous performance. This reader’s good will he must keep, at all hazards.
“Wayland, N. Y., March 22nd, 1905.
“Mr. John Milton Edwards,
Care The F.A. Munsey Co., New York.
My dear Sir:
I read the story in this last Argosy, entitled ‘Fate and the Figure Seven,’ and was in a way considering if it were possible that a man could act in the subconscious state you picture. Deem my surprise, last night, when I read of a similar case in the report of the Brockton accident
In case you should have failed to notice this item, I send you a clipping from a Buffalo paper.
I WISH INCIDENTALLY TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SHARE IN MAKING LIFE PLEASANT FOR ME. I have enjoyed your works immensely from time to time on account of their decidedly original ideas. They are always refreshingly out of the ordinary rut.
Yours truly,
“A.F. V—-.”
There is one sentence in this letter which Edwards has put in capitals. If possible, he would have written it in letters of gold. In this little world, so crowded with sorrow and tragedy, what is it worth to have had a share in making life pleasant for a stranger? To Edwards it has been worth infinitely more than he received for “Fate and the Figure Seven.”
Another letter carries an equally pleasant message:
“Livingstone, Montana, Sep. 16, 1903.
Mr. John Milton Edwards,
Care The Argosy, New York City.
Dear Sir:
Having read your former stories in The Argosy on Arizona, and last night having commenced ‘The Grains of Gold,’ I trust you will pardon my expression of appreciation of said stories. I lived ten years in Arizona as private secretary to several of the Federal Judges, and also lived in Mexico, and am still familiar with conditions in that section.
I have enjoyed most keenly your handling of thrilling scenes on Arizona soil. It is an exasperation that they appear in serial form, as I dislike the month’s interval.
My only purpose in writing is to express my admiration of your plots and local color, and I remain.
Sincerely yours,
“Richard S. S—–.”
Edwards has always prided himself on keeping true to the actual conditions of the country which forms the screen against which his plot and characters are thrown. This is a gratifying tribute, therefore, from one who knows.
A letter which rather startled Edwards, suggesting as it did the Maricopa Indian incident which trailed upon the heels of “A Study in Red,” is this:
“Colorado Springs, Colo., 2-25-‘09.
Mr. John Milton Edwards,
Dear Sir: Through the kindness of the editor of the Blue Book I received your address. I am very much interested in your story entitled, ‘Country Rock at Kish-Kish,’ and know the greater part of it to be true to life, but would like to know if it is ALL true. Did Sager have a daughter? And where did Sager go when he left Arizona? Or is that just a part of the story? I am very much interested in that character, Sager. Can you tell me if he is still living, and where? Any information that you may be able to give me will be more than appreciated.
Thanking you in advance for the favor, I am,
Yours respectfully,
Mrs. James R. S—–.”
Edwards answered this letter – he answers promptly all such letters that come to him and esteems it a privilege – and received a reply. It appeared that Mrs. S—– was the grand-daughter of a man whom “Sager” had robbed of a large amount of money. “Country Rock at Kish-Kish” was built on a newspaper clipping twenty years old. This clipping Edwards forwarded to Mrs. S—– in the hope that it might help her in her quest for “Sager.” The letter was returned as uncalled for. Should this ever fall under the eye of Mrs. S—– she will understand that Edwards did everything in his power to be of assistance to her.
Now and again a letter, which compliments an author indirectly, will chasten his mounting spirit with the reminder of a “slip:”
“Rochester, N.Y., Nov. 17, 1905.
“Mr. John Milton Edwards:
Dear Sir: – Will you please tell me where I can get more of your stories than in the Argosy; and also, in reference to your story which concludes in December Argosy, how many large autos were in use in New York in 1892?
Yours respectfully,
“Howard Z—–.”
Carelessness in a writer is inexcusable. It is the one thing which a reader will not forgive, for it is very apt to spoil his pleasure in what would otherwise have been a good story. This is a sublimated form of the “gold-brick game,” inasmuch as the reader pays his money for a magazine only to find that he has been “buncoed” by the table of contents. If there is a flaw in the factory’s product, rest assured that it will be discovered and react to the disadvantage of everything else that comes from the same mill.
Many readers will be found whose interest in a writer’s work is so keen that they are tempted to offer suggestions. Such suggestions are not to be lightly considered. Magazines are published to please their readers, and they are successful in a direct ratio with their ability to accomplish this end. Naturally, the old doggerel concerning “many men of many minds” will apply here, and a single suggestion that has not a wide appeal, or that fails to conform to the policy of the magazine, must be handled with great care.
“Cincinnati, Ohio, Oct. 31, 1905.
“Mr. John Milton Edwards,
Care Frank A. Munsey Co., New York.
Dear Sir:
Because of the increasing interest in Socialism, would it not be a geod idea to write a story showing under what conditions we should live in, say, the year 2,000, if the Socialists should come into power?
You might begin your story with the United States under a Socialistic form of government, and later on Socialize the rest of the world.
Your imaginative stories are the ones most eagerly sought in the pages of The Argosy, and I think that a story such as I have suggested would serve to increase your popularity among the readers of fiction. Sincerely yours,
“J.H. S—–.”
It frequently happens that a comedian will get after a writer with a stuffed club or a slapstick. Some anonymous humorist, upon reading a story of Edwards’ in The Argosy, labored and brought forth the following:
“November 19,1904.
“John Milton Edwards,
Care Frank A. Munsey Co., New York.
My dear John:–
I have read with much pleasure and delight the first six chapters of your latest story, ‘At Large in Terra Incognita,’ as published in the December number of The Argosy.
I cannot understand why you failed to send me the proof-sheets of this story for correction, as you did with ‘There and Back.’ It is evident so far as I have read the person who corrected your proof-sheets was as ignorant as yourself.
Where you got the material for this story is not within my memory, retrospective though it is, and I am sure you must have been on one of your periodical drunks, otherwise the flights of fancy you have taken would have been more rational and not so far removed beyond the pale of the human intellect.
Now, my dear John, I beg of you to give up going on these habitual tears, because you are not only ruining your constitution but your reputation as a writer is having reflections cast upon it. I trust you will not take this letter as a sermon but rather in a spirit of friendly counsel.
I hope you will send me at once the remaining chapters of this great ‘At Large in Terra Incognita.’
Your Nemesis,
“Theo. Roosenfeldt,
Pres’t Trust-Busters’ Asso.”
Readers have usually the courage of their convictions and not many anonymous letters find their way into the office of the Fiction Factory. Edwards remembers one other letter which was signed “Biff A. Hiram.” At that time Edwards did not know Mr. Biff A. Hiram from Adam, but he has since made the gentleman’s acquaintance, and discovered how wide is his circle of friends.
If praise from a reader has a tendency to exalt, then how much more of the flattering unction may a writer lay to his soil when approval comes from a brother or sister of the pen? With such a letter, this brief symposium from the Factory files may be brought to a close.
“Mr. John Milton Edwards,
Dear Sir:–
Allow me to congratulate you upon your success with the novelette in a recent issue of the Blue Book. It is to my mind the BEST short story of its kind I have EVER read. As I try to write short stories I see its merits doubly. The modelling is splendid. Will you pardon my display of interest?
Very truly yours,
“K. B—–.”
Rules for Authors.
Dr. Edward Everett Hale, author of “The Man without a Country” and other notable books, gives a few rules which are of interest to the author and the journalist. Dr. Hale’s success in the literary world makes these rules, gleaned from the field of experience, especially valuable to young writers:
- Know what you want to say.
- Say it.
- Use your own language.
- Leave out all fine phrases.
- A short word is better than a long one.
- The fewer words, other things being equal, the better.
- Cut it to pieces – which means revise, revise, revise.
