Now to take up the other types of stories that _Detective Story
Magazine_ is interested in: We are glad to consider any story into
which crime enters. When one stops to consider a moment, one must
realize how important a feature crime is in the life of every person.
In using the word crime, we mean deception in any form. All persons
constantly resort to some types of deception. Thus the crime story,
so called, lends itself to an infinite variety of situations from the
Atlantic to the Pacific. For instance, in almost every family there is
the urge for money, in many for the bare necessities of life, while in
others simply for more luxury. Thus hundreds of thousands of persons
are being sorely tempted every day to deceive. The stories of their
temptations cannot help, if well told, but be interesting. Above all
things in a detective story or a crime story, the narrative must get
on, move along. While character work is much desired, it is demanded
that this type of story have suspense and be written in such a way
that one is urged on from page to page to see what is going to happen
next. While this can be accomplished without dramatic situations and
unexpected happenings occurring every so often, it is usually found
necessary to resort to these methods for keeping up interest. Authors
must not fall into the common mistake, however, of feeling that when we
say a story should get on we simply mean that there should be action,
physical movement in it. Running up and down stairs alone does not make
for excitement, but very often does make for confusion. Also, saying
that people are excited or nervous or in fear does not interest the
reader very much. The author must show by the actions of his characters
that they are excited or frightened. A crime story, then, is one which
gets on, has plenty of strong situations, and in which the motive,
conflict, is the dominating feature. It is, perhaps, needless to add
that in a crime story the author must be fair to his readers--that
is, he must not explain the mystery by introducing a reason for the
commission of the crime of which the reader has not been made aware.
F. E. BLACKWELL.
_Detective Story Magazine._
STREET AND SMITH,
79 Seventh Avenue,
New York City.
EVERYBODY’S MAGAZINE
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