The Fiction Factory: Being the experience of a writer who, for twenty-two years, has kept a story-mill grinding successfully — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
The Fiction Factory: Being the experience of a writer who, for twenty-two years, has kept a story-mill grinding successfully
John Stuart Mill · en
In submitting his stories Edwards always sends the serials flat,
between neatly-cut covers of tarboard girded with a pair of stout
rubber bands. This makes a handy package and brings the long story to
the editor's attention in a most convenient form for reading.
With double-spacing Edwards' typewriter will place 400 words on the
ordinary 8-1/2 by 11 sheet. Serials of 60,000 words, covering 150
sheets, and even novelettes of half that length, travel more safely and
more comfortably by express. Short stories, running up to 15--or in
rare instances, to 20--pages are folded twice, inclosed in a stamped
and self-addressed No. 9, cloth-lined envelope and this in turn slipped
into a No. 10 cloth-lined envelope. Both these envelopes open at the
end, which does not interfere with the typed superscription.
By always using typewriter paper and envelopes of the same weight,
Edwards knows exactly how much postage a story of so many sheets will
require.
In wrapping his serial stories for transportation by express, Edwards
is equally careful to make them into neat bundles. For 10 cents he can
secure enough light, strong wrapping paper for a dozen packages, and 25
cents will procure a ball of upholsterer's twine that will last a year.
Another helpful wrinkle, and one that makes for neatness, is an address
label printed on gummed paper. Edwards' name and address appear at the
top, following the word "From." Below are blank lines for name and
address of the consignee.
In his twenty-two years of work in the fiction field Edwards has
made certain of this, that there is not a detail in the preparation
or recording or forwarding of a manuscript that can be neglected.
Competition is keen. Big names, without big ideas back of them, are not
so prone to carry weight. It's the _stuff_, itself, that counts; yet a
business-like way of doing things carries a mute appeal to an editor
before even a line of the manuscript has been read. It is a powerful
appeal, and all on the writer's side.
Is it necessary to dwell upon the importance of a carbon copy of
every story offered through the mails, or entrusted to the express
companies? Edwards lost the sale of a $300 serial when an installment
of the story went into a railroad wreck at Shoemaker, Kansas, and,
blurred and illegible, was delivered in New York one week after another
writer had written another installment to take its place. In this
case the carbon copy served only as an aid in collecting $50 from the
express company.
At another time, when The _Woman's Home Companion_ was publishing a
short serial by Edwards, one complete chapter was lost through some
accident in the composing room. Upon receipt of a telegram, Edwards
dug the carbon copy of the missing chapter out of his files, sent it
on to New York, and presently received an extra $5 with the editor's
compliments.
"=My brow shall be garnished with bays.="
AMERICA
Editorial Rooms, Chicago.