The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-08-18
WORTHLESS MANUSCRIPTS.


WORTHLESS MANUSCRIPTS.
HOW Publishers Dispose Of Most OF the
Works Submitted to Them.
OF the vast multitude OF manuscripts
offered to book publishers every year,
probably seventy-five per cent. are
worthless, or, ut least, are not worthy
Of publication in book form. It is
astonishing how many people there are
In the world who imagine they are
capable Of writing book. 1t is still
more astonishing how few ever dis
cover the truth Of Hie matter, and ac-
knowledge themselves mistaken. Even
though their manuscripts may have
been rejected by half score OF pub
fishers. they go down to their graves
believing themselves the victims of a
base conspiracy to crush aspiring
genius. Such loyal self-confidence
were almost sublime were IL not SO
ridiculous.
There seems to be q widespread be-
lief among would-be authors that pub
fishers are their natural enemies, and
they take Il peculiar, not to say fiendish,
delight in rejecting manuscripts and
crushing the hopes Of those who
aspire to the honors of authorship.
This is an altogether mistaken idea.
Publishers are human, like the rest Of
us. They follow the business for the
money there is in 1t, and they are
quick to take up good thing when
they have the opportunity. Nothing
pleases q publisher more than to
secure really valuable book for pub
lication, especially if he thinks it will
sell we'll. He is glad to recognize the
ability of the author, though the latter
may be utterly unknown to fame, for
henceforth their interests are mutual,
SO far as that book is concerned.
Neither will the author have any diff
Guilty in securing recognition from
other literary men. There is no
''charmed circle'' in literature which
an author of genuine merit may not
enter.
Publishers are generally correct in
their judgment Of manuscripts. Long
experience enables them to see their
merits or demerits almost at glance
A page here and there will give them a
key to the general style and character
of the work and will reveal to them
faults the existence of which the writer
has never even suspected. The manu-
script is returned with a polite note
''regretting that the present depressed
state of the book trade compels us to de-
cline it's publication" etc. This, with a
few words commenting the good points
of the book Gf there are any) serves
to sugar-co at the bitter pill of disap-
pointment. Publishers are kind-hearted
as rule, tn ough their kindness is not
always appreciated. In rejecting an
unworthy book the publisher does the
author a real favor, though the latter
seldom has the perception to see it or
the manliness to acknowledge it. What
greater favor can one man do another
than to prevent his making a fool Of
himself before the publicP Very often
a mans best friends are those who
save him from himself over his own
protest.
There are two essential points in
writing successful book-the writer
must have something to tell and he
must know how to tell it. AS to the
first, of course every one who under
takes to write a book thinks he has
something worth telling. Nine times
in ten this is not true; and this mistake
on the part of authors accounts in a
large measure for the failure of SO
many books. When the book fails to
command the attention and respect OF
the reading public, it is useless for the
writer to rail at the public for the fault is
pretty sure to lie at his own door. The
man who has something worth telling
and knows how to tell it is sure of an
audience.
A great deal depends on this second
point-knowing how to tell thing.
There is a certain tact in the use Of
language that is indispensable. Usually
this tact is gained only by years of ex-
perience, and by many it is never
gained at all. Very few people have
it intuitively. This tact teaches what
not to say as we'll as what to say. It
is valuable accomplishment to be able
to express ones thoughts both briefly
and clearly. The gods favor but few
mortals thus.
There is no royal road to successful
authorship, unless one is born king
that is to say, a genius. Is it any
wonder that SO many aspirants fail to
secure the coveted recognition from
publishers?
Unless you are very confident that
you have something of great import
ance to tell, and that you know how
to tell it, don't tempt the fates by put
ting your ideas between the covers of
book.
'If o man could be sure
That his life would endure
At least for q thousand years."
you might possibly live to get over the
disappointment; otherwise, not.-Indi.
auapolis Sentinel.
TWO GOOD REMEDIES.