The Fiction Factory: Being the experience of a writer who, for twenty-two years, has kept a story-mill grinding successfullyCook, William Wallace
Philosophy
The Fiction Factory: Being the experience of a writer who, for twenty-two years, has kept a story-mill grinding successfully
Cook, William Wallace
Authorship; Fiction
_Washington_ "A Job in the Senate" 771-3
_Wild Animal Story_ "The Rebellion of a Millionaire" 477-4
_Washington, Booker T._ "Riddle of the Negro" 519-4
_White Cross_ "Work of the American W. C." 129-5
_Waitress_ "Diary of an Amateur W." 543-6
_Wall Street_ "The Shadow of High Finance" 336-8
_Woman Suffrage_ "Worlds Half-Citizens" 411-8
_Woman_ "How to Make Money" 495-9
The above is only part of one of many pages of W's, and will serve to
exemplify the advantages and disadvantages of the system in practical
use. For instance, if it was desired to find out something about Booker
T. Washington, all that was necessary was to take down old magazine No.
4 and turn to page 519.
This manifestly was an improvement over the old envelope method of
indexing, but still left much to be desired. To illustrate, if Edwards
wished to exhaust his material on Booker T. Washington it was necessary
for him to hunt through all the pages under "W," and then examine all
the magazines containing the articles in which he was mentioned. It is
patent that if the indexing were properly done, every reference having
to do with Booker T. Washington should follow a single reference to
him in the index; and, further, the various articles should be grouped
together.
Two years later, Edwards discarded the loose-leaf for the card system.
This, he found, was as near perfection as could be hoped for.
His first step was to buy a number of strong box letter-files. These he
numbered consecutively, just as he had numbered the manila envelopes.
Articles are cut from magazines, the leaves secured together with brass
fasteners, and on the first page margin at the top are marked the file
number and letter of compartment where the article belongs. Thus, if
the article is kept out of the file for any length of time it can be
readily returned to its proper place. Newspaper clippings are handled
in precisely the same way.
The card index has its divisions and sub-divisions. Cards indexing
articles on various countries have a place under the general letter,
and another place in the geographical section under the same letter. So
with articles concerning Noted Personages, Astronomy, Antiquities, etc.
Below, for the benefit of any one who may wish to use the system, is
reproduced a card from the file:
ARMY, U. S.
Hand Bill used to secure enlistments "A" 1
Army Story "Knew It" "K" 1
Army Story "A Philippine Romance" "P" 1
Army Story "He is Crazy Jack" "C" 1
Army Story "Their Very Costly Meal" "T" 1
Army Story "Siege of Bigbag" "S" 1
"Fighting Life in the Philippines" "F" 1
Pay of Soldiers "Young Man--" "Y" 2
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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