The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-07-14
FOR LITERARY AsPIRANTs.
A Professional Readers Talk About
the Needs of Literary Weeklies-
CCopyrightl
T7-NFF8' EE7IEsI
NV YORK. July I2.-Some skt


the Needs of Literary Weeklies-
(CopyrightO
NEW YORK, July 12-Some skepticism
may be pardoned regarding the truth Of the
sensational story which has been flashed
under the oceans, ard is now surprising the
literary world, to the effect that Robert
Louis Stevenson has picked out a Samoan
mountain slope as a permanent home, and
will at once begin TO build a house. To
whatever extent the gifted author of
"Jekyll and Hyde may indulge his
passion for studying wild and un-
familiar life in the remote hooks of
the globe to which his yacht carries
him, it seems improbable that mis- numer-
Gus literary engagements can admit of his
choosing as home place far removed
from the centers of thought and study
hundreds of leagues, indeed, from the near
est literary coIveniences and secluded from
the worlds activity and progress. The
writing, serials, sketches, ETC., for which he
is under contract, are sufficient TO occupy at
least twelve-month q the total remuner-
alton for the work is estimated at $4,000,
of which sum New York literary weekly
is to pay $4,000 for a serial story.
Curiosity is allowable concerning the
autograph of writer whose pen marks
bring him such remuneration. Mr.. Steven
sons signature is a disappointment to those
who believe that an authors personality
shows itself in his handwriting. IL is small,
fluent, delicate AMI almost graceful, indi-
eating none of his weird originality in
writing and none of the forceful disregard
for couventionality which the author shows
in his speech and his dress.
Observers who believe that a man mir
rors himself to some extent in his hand
writing could find many instances to sup.
port their theory in the MSS. which come
before the eye of professional reader"
and not a few instances which would puzzle
their faith. In any event they would learn
much of what the curious public is ever
eager to learn.
Harold Frederick has bold, simple and
easy handwriting which is a Joy to the
heart of the professional reader" and the
writing of James Parton is like unto it.
Elizabeth Stuart Phelps has a quick and
nervous hand and her manuscript is filled
with erasures and interlineations, Julian
Hawthorne's copy" averages eighteen
words to line this copy paper being seven
inches wide and is written with a peculiar
violet ink which flashes into old gold or
deadens to purple in certain lights. Edgar
Fawcetts handwriting is plsin
and full. Frank Dempster Sherman
prints his poems with fine pen, forming
beautifully delicate letters, his manuscript
being almost as delicate and lucid as his
NoTSeS. luc Stlut COulQ D6 s6lQ VI
Scollards pen products. Mrs. Amelia L.
Barr's writing is large and firm and angu-
lar, yet delicate. Judge Tourgee uses ink
which is like Julian Hawthorne's, only more
so. Mrs. Madeline Vinton Dahlgreen's
chirography is massive and Gothic, with
lofty arches and sky-aspiring Is. Anna
Katharine Green's handwriting is delicate,
graceful, imaginative and semi-fashionable.
writers who send in several MSS. in
he inPlOs,ra 10 hicy mic FOL 10
was the information recently vouchsafed to
me by a reader for one of the weeklies 1t
is much better for writer to take little
additional trouble and mail the articles at
intervals of a day or two. Few readers
care to recommend more than one out of
four of five short stories sent at one time
by the same author, and it Is fire.
quently the case that two or three of
those same stories might be recon-
mended if a week elapsed between the
receipt of each story. When an assortment
Of short stories, poems, sketches and comics
is received, the impression given is distinctly
unfavorable. The idea of the sender is too
boldly evident. perhaps I'll make a strike
out of the lott" is easily read between the
lines. Many publishers require their
READERS" to keep an elaborate record and
index of all articles submitted, and the
work of such ''readers" is increased dispro-
portionately when a job lot of stories,
POEMS etc, is received.
As for serials, it is in most cases compar-
atively simple to judge of them. Just now
the magazines and the higher grade week
lies have fewer serials than was the case
fifteen or twenty years ago, at which time
some of the weekles used to print as many
as six serials in each issue. To-day, how
ever, most of the superior periodicals use
only two serials, some of them only one
serial. Consequently only a serial of special
brilliancies has any show of being accented.
Accordingly, the niche being SO small,
most serials proffered are rejected off hand.
As a novel published serially must be in a
serial form chat is, be divided into
instruments nearly equal in length, and
have rattling, old-school suspenseful eli
max and as many new writer's do not
write in pursuance of this requisite, many
novels which would be salable and bright
in book form are thrown out by readers
for magazines and weeBhes. Above all, a
serial must have hair-liftipg first install
ment. 1t must lose no time in description
and analysis, but must get down at once to
action; the description and analysis may
come along about the third or fourth in
stalment.
But the fact is that serial by an I'M
known author has not one chance In thirty
of acceptance. Most publishers have
stored in their safes anywhere from ten to
twenty-five OF thirty serials by standard
and popular authors. and these may have
been awaiting insertion anywhere from six
months to three or four years or more.
With such a wealth of serial fiction on hand
and with lessening demand for fiction on
the part of readers, it is not strange that
magazine publishers should be reluctant to
accept a serial, no matter how excellent,
from an unknown genius
Just now magazines and weekles are on
the lookout for short sketches of travel,
adventure, exploration, etc, which are
capable of bizarre and artistic illustration.
Strange life ana scenery in remote hooks of
the earth, picturesque features of metro
politan life, higher phases of sports,
religious practices, etc, in fact, anything
anything of interest which can be illus
trated from photographs or by the fancy CT
a creative and poetical artist, have a better
show for acceptance to-day than fiction.
BY the way. amateur photography is DIES.
tined to play a dictatorial part in the
weeklies. A series of good photographs
will float an inferior article, the editors
touching up the manuscript, and, if neces-
Gary, giving it to a literary hack to rewrite.
Regarding poetry: As might be expected
most of the verses which come in ara evolved
from feminine cerebral cells. There is a
craze for metrical CONNECTIONS such as ron
deaux, roundels, villaveles, tr1olets, qua.
trains, huitrains and other fanciful products
in the line of verse de societe Such things
generally begin the round by being mailed
TO Life aud the weekly society IA Ders and