Opening the text

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

Name: The Fiction Factory: Being the experience of a writer who, for twenty-two years, has kept a story-mill grinding successfully
Author: Cook, William Wallace

Cook, William Wallace

Authorship; Fiction

In the first place, we only use the idea. The manuscript has to be
  revised in almost every instance in order to put it in practical
  shape for the directors.

  Again, they contain an idea which is more or less stereotyped or
  conventional and cannot be claimed as entirely original only as
  applied to the action of the play.

  Regarding your own idea, I will frankly say that the same idea has
  often been embodied in other plays, but the general suggestion of it
  gives a new phase to the action of the idea.

  THE EDITOR merely surmises, or so we think, that a thoroughly
  original manuscript in practical shape would be worth at least $25,
  but we seldom get one of that kind. We would welcome one at any time
  and would pay its full value.

  The members of our staff, who are obliged to write practical working
  scenarios, appreciate the above facts because they know what it means
  to perfect a scenario with the synopsis of the story, the properties,
  settings, &c., &c.

  We merely state these things so you will understand that we are
  thoroughly fair in your case and will certainly be so in every
  instance.

  Ideas, if they are entirely original, would be worth more than ten
  dollars, but they are scarcer than hen's teeth at any price.

  We find most of the ideas which we receive, and we receive hundreds
  of them, are nothing but repetition or old ones in new guises.

  Again we will say, if we can get original ideas we will pay their
  full value."

Another case of _sic transit_--this time, _sic transit mazuma_.

Here follows a transcript from the Factory's books for the two years
with which this chapter has dealt:

  1908:
  Dillingham, last royalties on "Tales of Two Towns"       $    1.50
  45 nickel novels @ $50 each                                2250.
  "The Shadow of the Unknown"                                 200.
  "The Shadow of the Unknown," translation rights              40.
  "Parker & O'Fallon"                                         300.
  "In the Valley's Shadow"                                    200.
  "The Man Who Left,"                                         300.
  "Trail of the Mydus,"                                       350.
  "Just A Dollar,"                                            350.
  "Frisbie's Folly,"                                          350.
  "The Man Called Dare,"                                      300.
  "The Streak of Yellow,"                                     200.
  7 paper-book rights at $100 each,                           700.
                                                            --------
      Total,                                                $5541.50

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

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

In the first place, we only use the idea. The manuscript has to be
  revised in almost every instance in order to put it in practical
  shape for the directors.

  Again, they contain an idea which is more or less stereotyped or
  conventional and cannot be claimed as entirely original only as
  applied to the action of the play.

  Regarding your own idea, I will frankly say that the same idea has
  often been embodied in other plays, but the general suggestion of it
  gives a new phase to the action of the idea.

  THE EDITOR merely surmises, or so we think, that a thoroughly
  original manuscript in practical shape would be worth at least $25,
  but we seldom get one of that kind. We would welcome one at any time
  and would pay its full value.

  The members of our staff, who are obliged to write practical working
  scenarios, appreciate the above facts because they know what it means
  to perfect a scenario with the synopsis of the story, the properties,
  settings, &c., &c.

  We merely state these things so you will understand that we are
  thoroughly fair in your case and will certainly be so in every
  instance.

  Ideas, if they are entirely original, would be worth more than ten
  dollars, but they are scarcer than hen's teeth at any price.

  We find most of the ideas which we receive, and we receive hundreds
  of them, are nothing but repetition or old ones in new guises.

  Again we will say, if we can get original ideas we will pay their
  full value."

Another case of _sic transit_--this time, _sic transit mazuma_.

Here follows a transcript from the Factory's books for the two years
with which this chapter has dealt:

  1908:
  Dillingham, last royalties on "Tales of Two Towns"       $    1.50
  45 nickel novels @ $50 each                                2250.
  "The Shadow of the Unknown"                                 200.
  "The Shadow of the Unknown," translation rights              40.
  "Parker & O'Fallon"                                         300.
  "In the Valley's Shadow"                                    200.
  "The Man Who Left,"                                         300.
  "Trail of the Mydus,"                                       350.
  "Just A Dollar,"                                            350.
  "Frisbie's Folly,"                                          350.
  "The Man Called Dare,"                                      300.
  "The Streak of Yellow,"                                     200.
  7 paper-book rights at $100 each,                           700.
                                                            --------
      Total,                                                $5541.50

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

The Fiction Factory: Being the experience of a writer who, for twenty-two years, has kept a story-mill grinding successfully

The Fiction Factory: Being the experience of a writer who, for twenty-two years, has kept a story-mill grinding successfully

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