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
Several months before he visited New York Edwards had sold to The
McClure Syndicate, a juvenile serial which may be referred to here as
"The Campaign at Topeka." For this he had been offered $200, which
offer he promptly accepted. He had not received a check, however, and
was at a loss to understand the reason. To this day the reason remains
obscure, although later events pointed to a misunderstanding of some
kind regarding the story between the Syndicate and one of its readers.
Before Edwards left New York he was paid the $200. More than a year
afterward he was informed that the serial had been sold to the Century
Company for _St. Nicholas_, and that after publication in that magazine
it was to be brought out in book form.
It was Mr. T. C. McClure who put Edwards in touch with the Dillingham
Company and referred him to them as prospective publishers, in cloth,
of the successful Syndicate story, "A Tale of Two Towns." Edwards
submitted galley proofs of the serial to Mr. Cook of the Dillingham
Company, and ultimately signed a contract to have the book published on
the usual royalty basis of ten per cent.
For Harte & Perkins, during the year, the Factory ground out nickel
novels, juvenile serials, one sketch for the trade paper and a few
detective stories. On Nov. 28, after he had returned home from New
York, he was notified:
"Much as I regret to inform you of it, by a recent purchase of
copyright stories we are placed in a position where we will not
require any further material for any of our five-cent libraries for
some time to come, so we must discontinue orders to you for all this
material."
Edwards, in a way, had become hardened to messages of this kind.
_The Argosy_ was an anchor to windward, and he resolved to give his
attention to serials for Mr. White. In December, 1902, and January
and February, 1903, he wrote and forwarded "Ninety, North," a second
fantastic story called "There and Back," and the Arizona serial "Grains
of Gold." All three of these stories were sold at once, bringing in
$700. In a letter dated Oct. 14, 1903, Mr. White had this to say about
"There and Back:"
"Thanks for letting me see the enclosed letter regarding 'Ninety,
North.' I am equally pleased with yourself at its significance. I am
wondering whether you have heard much about your story 'There and
Back?' My impression is that that has been one of the most popular
stories you have ever written for _The Argosy_. When I see you I will
tell you an odd little circumstance that occurred in connection with
its run in the magazine."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account