Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-18
GETTING INTO PRINT.
A Magazine Editors Useful Advice to
Young Writers.
From the Philadelphia Times.

From the Philadelphia Times.
In reply to the question, care personal in
Productions helpful to young authors?" an edi-
tor of one of the great magazines said the
other day: There is no fallacy so great as
the idea that because an editor is introduced
to an aspiring contributor he will be more
favorably inclined toward his work. 1 only
speak, of course, of my own case, but L be-
heve the experience of others in my unhappy
walk of life is about the same. If / were Civ
ing advice to young author. whose success
had much at heart, / should say: Prepare
your manuscript and have it copied by a type
writer. and in reading il over you will have
almost the same ST nsatiOn which comes from
reading proof-eold print or cold typewriting
for that matter is a wonderful help in getting
correct view of your work; If your cOrrec-
tons are many or complicated have it
copied afresh and send it to the magazine
which to your mind it is best fitted for.
Don't go to n friend who knows the editor
and get letter of Introduction; it viii bore
the friend, the editor, and eventually your
self II you suggest the value of friend at
court. remember that the editor has met this
scheme thousand times. 1t means that you
ask him TO make exceptions in your case
against his Judgment. and this annovs him to
begin with. If you want to sell a firm bill of
goods. Won do not feel that you need letter of
introduction to the buyer. and an editor is in
exactly this position of one who is always buy
ing what he thinks is saleable. ] have become
something of cynic, fear, because | never
make an acquaintance without saying to nv
self. some day this man or Q friend of
his will want me to consider favOTably' manu-
script. L always feel that | make ten enemies
a day. but confess do not see whv an editor
should be put III an embarrassing position any
more than other business men who cannot pos
sibly accept all things offered to him even if the
would-be sellers have some personal acquaint-
ance with him"
Continuing in the same strain. this editor
said: Mr.. Jas. Payn. man of the greatest
experience not only as a writer but as an ed
itor, who has filled many important positions
on periodicals. says in d recent article entitled
Getting into Print Solomon tells US that
there is nothing new under the sun, but he
sp oke from insufficient data.
When he enumerates the various vanities to
which human nature is subjected he omitted 10
mention the desire of seeing ones self in print
for that desire was born a good MANY
years after his time. The exact date is not
known. but It was probably not much after
1852. In which year printing was invented He
goes ON 10 speak of the most universal charac-
teristics of the race-vanity and of the young
writer who, being decorated with his first
proof receives the congratulations of his fe-
male friends and energies from the ruck OF
mankind and becomes an author / believe If
the vanity was removed instead Of receiving
about six thousand manuscripts a year. as we
do now, We would not receive one thousand
II is the opportunity of displaying ones clev-
erness to ones friends that is mainly attractive
to the would-be author; if it were not so he
would write because he had something
definite to say and his satisfaction would
exist in writing and publishing it and
not In the glory it might bring him
among his small circle of friends. Editors
are like readers; they are attracted when
they are interested, and the moral of this
should be, therefore: Begin your story in the
first paragraph. clothe your plot only with the
words which help to tell the tale; attempt no
by-play-Only great writers can do this-and
be sure the interest of the subject will last I'M
I'll the end, or you waste your paper
great deal il said nowadays about mag gaines
having enough material to last for years in
the safe. l think there is great deal of
humbug about this statement. for If an editor
admits this he must admit that much of this
overstoek Is of little or value; but let this
be as 1t may. you never heard of an editor re-
fusing really good story or article on a sub
1eet which is fresh and of public interest be-
cause his safe is full of manuscripts The more
good contributions offered the higher becomes
the standard-that is the only result"