Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1890-03-01
causnso coNrRIauroRa.
A ResssaaAis TAik 10 writers of Reieetta
Articles Tor fhp Press

a Resasnahis TAik 10 writer's ~ Hsieetta
Articles Tor thn Press.
There Il a constant complaint from
new and ambitious writers that they can
not get proper hearing In the maya
zines and newspapers They send their
wares to one market after another only
70 have them repeatedly declined: and
out OF these successive disappointmcnts
they evolve the belief that there Is
conspiracy against them on the part OF
the editors who thus complacently dis
pose Of their pretty dreams. IL seems
impossible TO them that there can be
two opinions about the value OF the pro-
auctions TO which they have devoted
30 much time and thought
Now and then, 70 be sure. they re-
ceive nice little notes from these
vailed autocrats, commanding their
work and regretting that IL is not avail
able, and that simply strikes them as
insult added 10 injury. IL their manu-
scripts are really worth praising, they
argue, why are they not worth buying
and publishing? The inconsistency Of
the thing Is palpable, from their point
OF view; and they can not understand
why editors should take tho trouble 10
disclaim sincerity in such a deliberate
and conclusive way. They see material
used by these same editors which they
are sure does not surpass theirs In lit
erary merit. Perhaps they detect some
OF their own ideas In the accepted con-
tributions; and 1t Is difficult for them to
avoid the conviction that they have
somehow furnished fuel To boil the pots
OF lurking and favored competitors.
In . certain sense. these industrious
poets, essayists and novelists are not TO
blame for harboring tho feeling that
some sinister influence Is at the bottom
Of their numerous disappointments.
They are often right when they think
that their efforts are at least equal TO
the average of those that find purchase
ers. Many of them do really good work,
and IL Is no wonder that they are sur
prised and chagrined when IL comes
steadily back to them. But they do not
understand the conditions which oper-
ate 10 their disadvantage. They are on
the outside, and the controlling facts are
on the inside. II Is not impossible for
them TO realize the circumstances
under which their manuscripts
are necessarily considered. They
do not know how many other people ara
capable of doing work rs admirable as
their own in every respect, and how
little out Of the abundance of such mat
ter that Is offered tho editors can make
place for. 1t is possible that the best
choice Is not always made; but when
mistakes OF that kind are made they ara
not intentional So when editors write
complimentary notes they are actuated
by honest motives, and mean Just what
they say. They can not furnish an ex-
PLANTATION In detail: but they do the
next best thing. and may safely be
taken at their word when they assure
contributors that given productions,
though meritorious. arc not available.
The whole matter 10 one OF demand
and supply. There Is no sentiment in
IL and no discrimination except ON strict
business lines. The editors are not less
anxious 10 buy good things than con-
tributors are to sell them; but they can
utilize only a stipulated amount, and
that Is very small in comparison TO the
quantity from which the selections are
made. During recent years there has
been a wonderful increase OF the writing
habit in this country. The time was,
and not very long ago. when tho peopls
who could perform literary service OF
reasonable merit were exceptional,
whereas they arc now plentiful in every
section. This causes reproduction,
and the multipl' -ation OF manu-
scripts that truly deserve praise is
greatly in excess of tho wants OF the
editors. A thing OF superior quality is
certain to be taken at fair price, no
matter where IL comes from. But liter
airy miracles are scarce, and the editors
must accordingly purchase what they
need out of what they find In the mar
ket-not all that meets their approval,
but only 50 much of IL as Is essential to
their purposes. They give preference
TO writers Of established reputation,
naturally enough, for reasons of n
practical sort, which prevail in every
business; and beyond that they do their
choosing with trained intelligence and
degree of impartiality that leaves no
just cause of compiaint-St Louis
Globe Democrat