Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-03-24
WRITING FOR A MAGAZINE.
The Thorns That Beset the Pathway Of
Those Ambitious for Literary Fame.

scarcely half a dozen magazines for
mature readers in the whole Republic,
and he who should appear in all their
pages once a month would seem to be
everlastingly before the public. Hardly
any one contributor is so often in print:
but, if he should be, 5000 to 81, 200
would be very generous estimate of
his annual earnings. Nobody outside
the profession has any idea how the
magazines are crowded, and what
masses of MSS. the editors continually
receive. Each periodical has sufficient
accepted matter on hand to publish it
for at least two years, without any ad-
dition to the stock. Consequently the
editors have habit of returning all
articles regardless of the writers unless
they have been pre-engaged. There is
barely chance for new writer, even
if he writes exceedingly well, so great
and incessant is the pressure. A man
who should talk of supporting himself
by contributing to the magazines would
be regarded here as a man who should
talk of gaining livelihood by picking
up gold eagles in Broadway.
There are fewer magazines than there
have been, and the opportunities for
writers are, therefore, materially less.
Some of them do not pay much more than
half what they used to. and are pre-
sumed to be issued at steady loss. In
truth, only two of the number are real
ly prosperous, and they cover the
ground that eight or ten would ordi-
narily cover. Several of the monthlies
that have expired richly deserved death,
so badly were they managed, so odious-
" unjust were they to contributors.
Their rule was never to pay until pub
ication, which might be within sea-
son or year, or several years. The
poor contributor might starve or COM
NIT suicide meantime, if he chose to;
that was no affair of the editor, always
obliged to pay the publisher and his
eXactions. Not frequently, long after
its acceptance, an article would be sent
back as if 1t had been rejected, and it
was useless to present the facts. No
redress could be obtained. When an
article had been written to order, and
there had been meanwhile a change in
the editors mind or the publishers
opinion, the writer would have to suf-
fer, of course His Ms. would be re-
turned and the blame put on him, al
though he had fulfilled every condition
to the last iota. A paper would be
carefully prepared by request, with the
assurance that it should appear the
next month, and it might not appear
in twelve months-perhaps not at all.
When the writer would protest against
such violation of promise, he would
be graciously told that he could take
away his article when he liked. But
no hint of recompense or reparation
would be conveyed. The editor acting
for the publisher was SO accustomed to
the grossest injustice as to seem un-
conscious of doing wrong.
The editor of very clever, though
peculiarly administered monthly, was
so wanting in decision that he printed
this form for the benefit of contribu-
tors:
DEAR SIR-Your article has been accept
ed; but if you should wish at any time to
withdraw il, you may do SO by applying
for il, giving the number t9999) as here
in stated. Respectfully yours,
THE EDITOR.
dlc uOl 81 bsiu dS lutf
formerly were, but they are bad enough,
from the writer's point of view. Some
of them still refuse to pay on accept
ance-the only equitable method, since
it is plain that a worker should receive
his wages when his work is done.
What inducement is there to prepare
an article if one cannot tell when one
will get the money for it? Articles un-
paid for ale notoriously naturally neg
Iected and delayed, and often allowed
to spoil by the passage of time, in
which case the author bears the entire
loss. On him. indeed, the whole bur-
den and responsibility are placed, and
he is made answerable generally for
every editorial mistake and all the pub
lisher's vagaries.
Some writers, who are practical and
business-like in their dealings with
publishers, try to make such arrange
ments as will prevent them from suf-
fering disadvantage. But, despite every
prccaution and clear understanding,
they are put periodically in the wrong
and deprived of their proper dues. A
well-known magazinist declares that,
in long series of years, he has never had
completely satisfactory transaction
with a magazine editor. Attempts of
some kind were apt to be made to get
the better of him, and if they had fail
ed of success, it was, he says, on ac-
count of his stubborn resistance. His
experience has been unfortunate.
Many contributors of my acquaintance
attest that they have never had an un-
pleasantneSs with any periodical they
have written for. They have been for
tunate, for Understandings with ed
itors. to put it mildly. are by no means
uncommon.
The editors who are accused of act
Ing so queer are, it may be supposed,
but doing the behests of their employ
ers, on whom their situations depend.
Frequently, no doubt, they are simply
agents, and ought not to be censured,
perhaps, unless it be for lack of candor.
In behalf of one magazine there is uni
versal testimony. Every man and wo-
man who has had business with it is its
ardent eulogist.
The prices paid by periodicals vary.
The best rate is supposed to be $40
printed page, the page ranging from
700 to 1000 words. But more than
this is often allowed. as high as SlS,
and occasionally $50. On the other
hand, Sc and SO a page is often thought
sufficient compensation. When par
ticular contributor is in active demand.
and has been specially engaged, he is
treated. When man is
anxious to be contributor, his path
way is likely to be full of thorns.
mas Henri Br0s0ne IN Louisville Cou-
A NEW MONASTIC ORDER.